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| Housing complications could cause
transfers |
Jessica Sellers
Clubs | Organizations Beat
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Recently I got up
on a day when classes were cancelled and trekked across campus to
the John E. Thomas Hall (JET). I waded through the snow, slush and
ice that was bad enough to cancel classes for the day.
The only reason I arose from bed that morning was to try and get
into Newland Residence Hall for next year. So three friends and
I met in the lobby of the JET building.
The sophomore choose and pay would start at noon, and we were thinking
that because of the weather and classes being cancelled that no
one would be there early. We found out we were wrong when we showed
up at 11:30 a.m.
A long line wrapped around three corners of the hall. My friends
and I, hoping for a miracle, proceeded to walk to the end of the
line.
We waited for over an hour, standing ready to hand over our forms
and $250 deposit.
We stood there talking to our friends and asking people around us
where they were trying to get housing. I was sure that most of the
girls in groups of four were trying to get into the left-over spots
in Newland.
My friends and I continued to wait, occasionally asking the women
with the Department of Housing and Residence Life how many spots
were still left. After about 30 minutes, we were told that 11 spots
were still open.
I guess we thought we would get one of the lucky spots. Thirty minutes
later, an announcement was made that all available suites in Newland
Hall were taken.
My roommate and I left the building feeling very defeated and depressed.
Because we both rely on financial aid to pay for our tuition and
housing, this was a low blow for us. We desperately needed to find
a room on campus, and this was one of our last chances to do so.
It’s not like we care what room we get in. We only went the
first day because one of the girls with us could go on the first
day of the process.
The process of going to sign up for a room deals with the student
identification number. On each day, if your social security number
ends in one of the two numbers for that specific day, you get to
go choose a room.
Unfortunately the student identification numbers of myself and my
future roommate fall on the very last day.
This process is extremely unfair and complicated to me. I think
that the students with the most financial need should have the first
priority when it comes to on-campus housing.
Or perhaps the sophomores with the most hours should be considered
first, which is similar to the way class registration is done. Numbers
should not be chosen at random in order for students to try and
remain on campus.
There is a definite problem with the whole process of trying to
stay on campus. Students who could afford to live off campus are
trying to stay on campus, and they succeed.
This leaves the people who can’t afford to live off campus
without much choice in the matter.
I find the whole housing process unfair and inconvenient to those
of us who need more than anything to stay on campus. This whole
housing dilemma could force students to return home because they
can’t pay the high costs of apartment rent in and around the
Boone community.
Students may even have to transfer to other schools with better
housing situations.
If students end up having to leave Appalachian, how can this process
be good for the university? |
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