Students React to Changes in UMass Housing Policy

The Daily Collegian - 2/23/07

As the deadline for housing selection approaches, many returning students at the University of Massachusetts are noticing a change in the application process. Due to a Housing Assignment Office (HAO) policy implemented earlier this year, the same room reservations - once a campus commonplace - are no longer available to returning students.

According to the HAO Room Selection Bulletin for Fall 2007, only 1000 students opted to keep the same room. Many students, even if they do not decide to follow through with the reservation, would still like the option to be kept open.

A Facebook.com group, "Same Room Reservation Petition", is designed to lobby for the "Student's right to reserve their housing assignment." This group claims that students should "stick up for [their] ability to stay in [their] current assignment."

Nate Pitcher, founder of the group, wrote on the group's wall that he "has a feeling that if students were consulted in these new changes, the same room reservation would have been kept in place, and the new room selection system would be used."

Junior Sean McNair, one of the officers for the Facebook group, commented that "it's not about how many students use the feature - it's about how many students want the security of it."

Some students, including McNair, are upset and confused by this new housing policy and are concerned about their current housing situation. McNair is worried about his future residence in the North apartments, saying, "Students need ample notice in order to make preparations for the possibility of losing housing."

Jenna Patla, a sophomore who wanted to "pull" a friend into her room next semester is upset by the HAO's decision to put an end to same room reservations. She believes that the issue should have been addressed sooner so students could make prior arrangements.

But some HAO staff members believe the changes in the housing policy will benefit the on-campus housing situation. Jean Ahlstrand MacKimmie believes the cancellation of this housing policy to be a "positive change."
Citing the fact that many first year and Residential Academic Progams (RAP) students would not be able to return to their rooms while many other students are being displaced due to the increase in Epoch housing, MacKimmie said that this change "makes the housing process fair" by allowing an equal chance for each student to live where they want.

In response to student outcry about the issue, MacKimmie commented that "people are surprised by change." She said the decision to stop the same room reservation has been part of the residence hall contract for this entire academic year.

"While Student Affairs always makes an effort to get student input, I'm not sure why the Housing Assignments Office couldn't do the same before they created this policy," said McNair.

The HAO Bulletin reads: "the residence hall contract was amended in July 2006 to eliminate same room selection from the room selection process. All students will have an opportunity to participate in [the housing selection] and that the students [Room Selection] Priority will be used to determine their appointment times and selection order." Priority will be used in all housing requests, including single room assignments and the North Apartments.

The upcoming housing selection dates can be found on the HAO website.