Thursday September 27, 2001

UA students planning to live in residence halls beyond their freshman year may be faced with fewer available rooms because of a recommended cap.

The housing cap is part of a plan Residence Housing Association representatives unveiled to Associated Students of the University of Arizona senators yesterday.

Ben Bush, RHA president, said the committee that conceived the plan realizes it is only a recommendation and not necessarily a solution to the housing crunch students faced this year.

Currently, Bush said, 26 percent of students return to live in residence halls in their sophomore year, and that number decreases as students move to upper-class status.

For that reason, RHA recommended allowing only 18-percent of returning students into residence halls.

Bush said the cap reflects the 400 spaces the UA did not have for freshmen this semester, and the 18 percent cap would alleviate that problem next year.

The number does not, however, take into account the possibility of a larger incoming freshmen class next year, he said.

Gary Yee, Yavapai Residence Hall president, made calls earlier this week to other hall presidents and found the majority he talked to disagreed with the cap.

"What we'd like to do is put together an residence hall presidents' council," Bush said. "Obviously there is a diversity of opinions and we hope as students to be able to come to a resolution."

Bush suggested the idea of weaning students from the system to open it to more first year students.

Sen. Jared Mansell said the system must be sensitive to returning students who have to live on campus in order to receive financial aid.

"The primary goal needs to be keeping students on campus," he said.

Mansell said the UA needs to build more undergraduate residence halls, and construction of those halls should take priority over planned graduate housing.

Sen. Gloria Macias said she would be willing to give up her spot in a residence hall for a freshman, but also said she realizes it may be more difficult for other returning students.

Bush said apartment housing - such as Palm Shadows Apartments - would remain open to returning students.

ASUA plans to use their PULSE Survey system to get student opinion on the cap.

Senators agreed that after taking student feedback, they would reconvene and decide whether to take formal action on the matter.

The recommendations, formed by a committee of students and administrators, will still eventually be given to UA President Peter Likins for approval.

ASUA President Ray Quintero said he thinks Likins will agree with it.