Renovations, re-chartering affect housing lottery
By Liz Gobeski
Staff Writer

Various changes to the current living options on campus have led to a restructuring of the Residential Life lottery system that determines where students live.

These changes are a result of the closing of Twin South Tower, Erie St. Hall, and the need to accommodate a projected incoming class of 450 students.

Also, Sigma Nu fraternity will move back to campus next year, forcing current residents out of the Sigma Nu building which has been used as a residence hall in Sigma Nu’s absence.

According to Ellen Newyear, Associate Director of Residential Life, the lottery had to be changed “in order to insure both an equitable system as well as a progressive system.”

The new policy requires roommates to combine their assigned lottery numbers, using the average to select a room, and it prohibits squatting and signing up for a room without a roommate. Additionally, there will likely be less singles offered initially, according to Newyear.

“There will be no squatting allowed due to the displacement of so many students,” Newyear said. “If we allowed squatting, many of these upper-class students may be forced back into less independent housing - this would not be in line with our progressive system.”

“With the numbers structured the way they are, priority will be given to our older students and this should allow them to live in one of their top preferences. The same reasons apply to students not being able to pull-in suite mates.”

Student reactions to the new lottery system have been mixed.

“I think it is unfair that we have to combine lottery numbers with the person we are rooming with. I want to room with one of my best friends, but I am a sophomore and she is a freshman. I have a really good number, and she has a really bad number, so most likely, we won’t get into the dorm we want to live in, nor will we be able to suite with two of our other good friends who are upperclassmen as well,” said Melissa Mabry, Oregon, Ohio sophomore.

“I think it’s good,” said Melissa Wood, Grosse Pointe sophomore. “I think that now room selection will go how it’s supposed to and the people who have been here longest will really get the first choice, rather than having people in lower grades get pulled into dorms like Whitehouse.”

“This new system seems logical but it could be unfair to underclassmen,” said Vinson Carter, Flint sophomore. “I myself should be fine with getting into the dorm I want to live in but with the new regulations it may be difficult for freshmen and sophomores next year.”

Residential Life is not blind to student resistance. “Anytime there are changes students are resistant,” Newyear said.

“This is to be expected. I think once students fully understand the process, they feel better. Most of the anger is a result of confusion and misunderstanding.”

Any student will also be allowed to sign up for a room in Wesley. Newyear hopes that this will encourage the current freshman class to stay together and sign up for rooms in clusters.

All of this relates back to goal of Residential Life to have a “progressive” system, according to Newyear. The idea is that students will begin their Albion experience living in more of a community atmosphere, such as in Seaton and Wesley. They will then progress into a more independent environment, such as Whitehouse or Twin, with the most independent arrangements being the apartment buildings like Burns Street and Karro Village.

“If students work with the process and communicate with our office, things should go very smoothly,” Newyear said. “I am trying to be as helpful and flexible as I can but students need to communicate with me if they have questions or concerns.”