Kelly Dickerson, Campus Carrier Managing Editor
Residence Life will not be inviting rising seniors to live off campus before room selection on April 7 and 8, but the option may become available once the incoming freshman class number becomes more definite.
Last year, rising seniors could apply to live off campus before room selection. However, Assistant Dean of Students Lindsey Taylor said there were about 100 extra spots on campus this year because many students chose not to return in fall 2012.
Taylor said once the numbers for the incoming freshman class are more definite, Residence Life will look to seniors if space constraints mean students are needed to live off campus.
“Berry is primarily a residential campus,” Taylor said. “We want and need our seniors to be a part of that.”
Off-campus housing will still be available to fifth-year seniors, married students or students whose family lives in a 40-mile radius.
Junior Alex La Pierre said she believes Residence Life should continue to allow seniors the option to live off campus.
“Academically I feel that Berry has prepared me because I’ve excelled here, but now I’m more worried about being able to be an adult,” La Pierre said.
La Pierre said there are many more responsibilities that come with living off campus and seniors should be allowed to start getting accustomed to those responsibilities.
“I understand the value of living on campus,” La Pierre said. “And it’s nice to be able to wake up, take a quick shower and run to class. But it’s a hindrance for seniors to be required to live on campus like little children. Eventually we are going to live away from our jobs and have to do things like wake up early and pack lunches.”
Taylor said housing is always difficult to predict since deposit day for incoming students is not until May 1 and because students may decide after room selection not to return to Berry.
“Students are so unpredictable,” Taylor said. “Some make the decision not to return because of personal or financial issues.”
Taylor said the goal is always to minimize extra space and Residence Life has considered scenarios with a small, medium and large incoming class.
Taylor said as of Wednesday, 1,129 students have paid the $200 housing prepayment. Next year there are 1,253 spots on campus guaranteed for returning students.
Taylor said that while that means there are 124 extra spots on campus for returning students, some may have not paid the $200 housing deposit because they were not able to secure the funds in time or are unsure if they will be returning or not.
Taylor said male students will have more options than usual next year. One floor of Morton-Lemley will be designated for incoming freshman men and one floor in Thomas Berry will be designated for returning men.
Taylor said she believes the changes will be positive.
“I think it will be a good move for all students,” Taylor said. “I’m glad we are able to provide the guys more options this time—they need it.”
Taylor said plans for the “Village,” a group of apartment-style housing dorms discussed in fall 2011, have been put on hold. Taylor said this decision is partly due to the addition of the Cottages to student housing.
“The choice became whether to continue with the Village model or explore the cottage options,” Taylor said. “We made the decision to hit the pause button on the Village.”
Julia, Sunshine, Hope, Louise and the newly added Catherine cottage will function as service houses. Each group of students living in each cottage have their own service theme such as “Pay it Forward” and “Wellness” and will be affiliated with a community partner. Poland will function as a Spanish language house next year.
Taylor said there will not be any major dorm renovations over the summer.