By Stephen George
New Housing policy stirs controversyStephen GeorgeAny issue that pits U of L students against administrative offices is bound
for controversial disagreement. And that is exactly what is happening
between on-campus residents and the Housing Division.
Over the past several years, the Housing Division has modified many of its
policies and procedures concerning residence halls. Two articles of debate
among students and the department this year are the increased monetary
penalties assessed to students who back out of their housing agreements, as
well as the shift to a lottery system for returning residents.
Since 1999, the state has been consistently reducing funding for university
programs. To help preserve limited state funds for academic programs, the
university has directed the Housing Division to become an auxiliary; that
is, to become self-sufficient.
Acting Director of Housing Shannon Staten said that, in order to maintain
optimal living conditions for students, the department has been forced to
impose these penalties. She said that the department’s budget must be
strictly adhered to. If not, the department would be losing money that is no
longer provided by the university. “If we can’t control the income
prediction, then it becomes a problem,” Staten said. “You budget for what
you think you’ll be housing, but if it falls below that percentage, all of a
sudden you’re not making your income.”
This year, if a student wishes to break his or her housing agreement, that
student must pay a minimum $200 penalty, only if they leave by June 30. If
the student decides to leave any time between July 1 and July 31, an
additional $500 cancellation fee is applied. And if the student leaves any
time after August 1, the student must pay the entire year’s rent.
“It’s becoming more apparent to me throughout this year of all the different
things they’ll charge,” said undecided freshman Morgan Durham, who disagrees
with the increased penalization policy.
“Basically, people have to stay in their room now, unless they’re rich,”
said John Daniel, Resident Student Association President and junior
Political Science major.
Staten partially blames the increase on the additional expenses for the
residence halls this year. For instance, the cost of phone lines for the
residence halls will increase 24% this year. The cost of Internet data lines
is going up 25%, while the maintenance costs, according to Staten, increase
5 to 10% each year, based on current energy costs. “The whole cost of living
has gone up quite a bit in the last year and a half,” she said. “Covering
the additional expenses, as well as becoming an auxiliary, is causing us to
raise rates. We have to be able to say that we’re a self-sufficient area,
that we make (monetarily) what we need. The quality of life for students
will suffer if we don’t have our consistent income.”
One of the implications of the increased penalties is that the campus is
becoming more freshman-based. Next year, only four of the eight residence
halls-Louisville Hall, West Hall, Wellness Hall, and Threlkeld Hall, which
will become exclusive to honors students-will be available for returning
students. The remaining four, not including Bettie Johnson Hall, will be
exclusive to freshman.
“What I don’t understand is why they’re trying to make this whole campus
freshman,” said sophomore Psychology major Alishia Shelton. “They’re pushing
us out.”
Freshman Biology major Paul Schlotterbeck attempted to explain. “I’d say
it’s helping the freshmen build a stronger community, an easier environment
to meet people,” he said. “But I can also see how upperclassmen would be
bothered by it.”
Yet another point of disdain among students is the Housing Division’s recent
shift to a lottery system for returning students wishing to live in the
residence halls. Students must first apply for a position in the lottery. It
works as regular lotteries do, as each application is assigned a number,
followed by a random drawing.
“We’ve looked at different procedures and policies over the years, and a
lottery seems to be the most fair way to at least give everybody a chance to
get a space,” said Staten. “There are more people than there will be space
(next year).”
Sophomore Math major Laundra Hawkins got a bad draw in this year’s lottery.
“That’s why I’m stuck in a freshman dorm,” she explained. “If you don’t get
your number pulled, you could end up not even having housing.” This seems a
harsh reality, but it is the truth. According to Staten, those whose numbers
are not drawn “must make their own arrangements.”
Shelton articulated an attitude, though not financially feasible, that is
common among many students. “With how much money we’re spending (on housing)
we should get a choice of where we want to live,” she said.
“It seems like a lot of student views aren’t taken into consideration,” said
freshman Durham. “They say we have a voice, but we really don’t.”
Many times ideologies run rampant. Unfortunately the confines of the
university sometimes don’t allow them to be realized.
