Record demand for on-campus housing creates need for upperclassman triples
Christopher Barrett
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: News
04/25/08 - The University of Rhode Island has received a record 2,750 applications from upperclassmen seeking on-campus housing next semester.
Director of Housing and Residential Life Chip Yensan said yesterday that the department expects to house at least 2,700 freshmen next year. The university's residence halls have a design capacity of 4,600 beds, leaving about 1,900 slots for the 2,750 upperclassmen. But that number can rise if upperclassmen agree to triples, as some have.
Others, unhappy with the choices available during their registration times, chose to leave. As of yesterday, HRL had issued 113 deposit refunds and is considering holding a second refund week if additional students are unsatisfied with their options.
Still, HRL is offering housing to all 2,637 remaining upperclassmen by making room in the currently all-freshman Heathman Hall and asking sophomores to triple up.
"We have made space available for every upperclassman that was seeking it," Yensan said.
The triples were part of "an attempt to offer more options," Yensan said, adding the option was developed in partnership with the Student Senate a few years ago.
And while some students have taken the offer, which comes with a reduced rate, others are upset about repeating their freshman year housing experience.
"If we have to move to Heathman and a smaller room with three people, that doesn't seem fair," said freshman Laura Federico, who lives in a double in Bressler Hall and had the last housing registration appointment.
She and roommate Rachel Lynch went to their appointment expecting to sign up for a room in an upperclassman building at the encouragement of their parents, who wanted them to stay on campus.
However, HRL told them that they could live in a Heathman triple or, alternatively, a North Village Condo if they put down a $700 deposit and part of the rent within one week. Lacking the money to do the latter, the pair decided to take their chances and add their names to a waiting list of people called if a room in an upperclassman building opens up.
Director of Housing and Residential Life Chip Yensan said yesterday that the department expects to house at least 2,700 freshmen next year. The university's residence halls have a design capacity of 4,600 beds, leaving about 1,900 slots for the 2,750 upperclassmen. But that number can rise if upperclassmen agree to triples, as some have.
Others, unhappy with the choices available during their registration times, chose to leave. As of yesterday, HRL had issued 113 deposit refunds and is considering holding a second refund week if additional students are unsatisfied with their options.
Still, HRL is offering housing to all 2,637 remaining upperclassmen by making room in the currently all-freshman Heathman Hall and asking sophomores to triple up.
"We have made space available for every upperclassman that was seeking it," Yensan said.
The triples were part of "an attempt to offer more options," Yensan said, adding the option was developed in partnership with the Student Senate a few years ago.
And while some students have taken the offer, which comes with a reduced rate, others are upset about repeating their freshman year housing experience.
"If we have to move to Heathman and a smaller room with three people, that doesn't seem fair," said freshman Laura Federico, who lives in a double in Bressler Hall and had the last housing registration appointment.
She and roommate Rachel Lynch went to their appointment expecting to sign up for a room in an upperclassman building at the encouragement of their parents, who wanted them to stay on campus.
However, HRL told them that they could live in a Heathman triple or, alternatively, a North Village Condo if they put down a $700 deposit and part of the rent within one week. Lacking the money to do the latter, the pair decided to take their chances and add their names to a waiting list of people called if a room in an upperclassman building opens up.
