By Tori Woods
Contributing Writer
Every spring, students planning to live on campus the following year attend required meetings, turn in necessary applications and hope for the best.
A few weeks later, students gather in the Reilly Center to select the apartment or room they want. Unfortunately, the anticipated room or apartment isn’t always available. This year, minor changes have been made in the housing procedures to better accommodate students.
Changes in the housing selection process spread quickly after apartment information meetings took place this week. Campus living spaces will be more limited due to the increasing number of students enrolling and the number of upperclassmen who will continue living on campus.
The main focus of residential living is to ensure every student has a place to live whether or not it is their first choice.
“There are not many significant changes, but a bit more is being done to help accommodate transfer students,” Nichole Gonzalez, executive director for residential living and conduct and chief judicial officer, said.
According to Gonzalez, transfer students who have paid their housing deposits and confirmed their enrollment, can select housing along with current students. In previous years, transfer students only had the option to make their room selections in the summer.
Residential education staff will be enforcing the updated rules in order to make sure housing selection is fair.
“Things will be a little more clean cut in verifying who is going to be in apartments based on eligibility,” Kristin Marsicovetere, resident director for Francis, Townhouses and Gardens, said. “It will not negatively affect students, but they might get frustrated and it might hurt relationships with friends.”
In the past, there have been socials that allowed students to meet in hopes of finding a roommate. This year, no social took place.
“Spring is a condensed time with housing and resident assistant selection,” said Marsicovetere. “There just was not time for planning. It has been beneficial in the past to assist people in reaching out to others.”
It may be harder for students to find roommates this year without the social. However, students still need to choose wisely when selecting who they will be living with.
“As much as students may want to live with their friends, not all friends are compatible to live together,” Marsicovetere said.
Whether students choose to live with friends or random people, it is essential to know the type of person they are.
“You should really get to know the person first. Know their habits, good and bad,” Katie Kaiser, a sophomore journalism and mass communications major, said.
When choosing roommates and housing, there are aspects that every student should consider.
“Consider what you want early on,” Gonzalez said. “Let it be the one time you are honest with yourself and others.”
“Make sure it’s someone you’ll be comfortable with. You have to be able to get along for long periods of time,” Kelli Rohan, a sophomore accounting major, said.
Gonzalez concluded that not everyone can get their ideal room, but every space on campus has something valuable to offer.
