Lesli Marchese, Campus Carrier News Editor

For the first time, students were able to remotely choose their future room and roommate(s) last week, when they participated in the new online housing system for the 2016 – 2017 year.

Residence Life announced earlier in the year that they were implementing an online housing system, which was met with mixed results by the student body. 

However, according to Lindsay Norman, assistant dean of students for Residence Life, many students have sent her thank-you letters and emails about the system and the aid of Residence Life through the housing process.

“I think we were excited to try something new,” Norman said. “We knew that it wouldn’t be exactly perfect and we were pleased with the overall outcome of it.”

On the three days that room selection took place, Norman and other Residence Life staff tabled in Krannert to help students through the registration process.

Norman said that the online system was easier for Residence Life staff in this way. With the previous system, they had to mobilize their entire team, nearly 100 staff and students, to run the in-person system, for three weeknights for about six hours each night.

However, with the online system, they only needed the five main staff to aid students through the process.

Many students had difficulties with the system, but most were happy with their housing assignment overall.

Sophomore Joey Miller said she and her housemates had technical difficulties when using the online system, but were able to resolve them after speaking with Residence Life.

“They were really there throughout the process,” Miller said. “And for the three days housing went on, they were there in the lobby all the time.”

Junior Stephanie Ross wasn’t unhappy with the changes to the system, but she felt like Residence Life could have made the various application processes easier for students.

“It was kind of difficult,” Ross said. “I feel like they put us through a lot of hoops to live off campus.”

Norman said she believes that there is a learning curve that comes with moving to a new system.

“There’s a time of learning and that’s where we are now,” Norman said. “I think some students had trouble because it’s live, so it was really great we could be there.”

During registration, Residence Life estimates that 95 to 100 students chose to participate in room reclaim, the process where two students could choose to live together in the same building again.

“I think we want to continue [room reclaim],” Norman said. “We hope that it will grow and that students will want to stay in their communities because we think that builds great relationships.”

The waitlist for students who wish to be in a different room opened last Thursday, and will continue to be used through Aug. 1.

Residence Life encourages students who have questions or concerns to contact them via email or phone, or to come by the Residence Life office in person.