Student leaders hope board of regents will reverse policy

ASUA unanimously approved a resolution last night opposing the recently implemented cap on students returning to the dorms.

The resolution states that the student body officially opposes the cap - which prevents any juniors and seniors from living in the residence halls beginning in the fall - and that it should be delayed for another year.

Senators hope to send the resolution to the Arizona Board of Regents, who could reverse the university-mandated housing cap.

Associated Students of the University of Arizona Sen. Doug Hartz, who drafted the proposal, said he believes the university acted unethically in creating the housing cap. He added that both the Department of Housing and Residence Life and the university administration were to blame for this treatment.

University officials implemented the policy to combat a housing shortage that left more than 200 students living in dorm lounges and hotels this fall.

Hartz said current students were led to believe they would have the option of living on campus for all four years.

Mike Urbancic, a resident assistant at La Paz Residence Hall, said he is not in favor of the housing cap.

"If we eliminate juniors and seniors living on campus, the learning environment of residence halls on campus will not be at the level of quality they are at now," he said.

Anne Brooksher, vicepresident of the Residence Hall Association and a resident assistant at Babcock Inn, said she opposes ASUA's decision because it does not accurately reflect most students' opinions.

Brooksher said she believes that it represents a small but vocal minority.

RHA president Ben Bush agrees that these students represent a minority of the entire student body but that the ASUA resolution was necessary to protect current students from being unfairly left out of the dorms.

ASUA President Ray Quintero spoke to the senate and told them he will sign the proposal.