Thursday October 25, 2001

Parents and students who want to discuss the UA housing crisis will be able to do so at a forum tomorrow.

Jim Van Arsdel, director of Residence Life and University Housing, said he hoped the forum would help students and their parents understand both the reason for the shortage and the steps Residence Life is taking to solve the problem.

"This is a situation with potential for misunderstanding," Van Arsdel said. "We realize that there is a great deal of disagreement about what's going on, but we want people to understand what they're disagreeing about."

Pamela Obando, associate director of marketing for Residence Life, said the department sent letters to students living in residence halls and to their parents to inform them of the forum - which is being held at the start of Family Weekend.

"The letter basically filled them in on the background of the situation," Obando said.

It also contained an e-mail address at which students and their parents can ask questions and submit suggestions concerning the shortage directly to Residence Life.

Van Arsdel said the forum will be an opportunity for dialogue. However, it will also provide an opportunity for people to seek clarification, to provide feedback and to give suggestions.

"There's always the possibility that someone might suggest something we've overlooked," he said.

The forum is at 3 p.m. tomorrow in Room 111 of the Economics building.