EVAN CARAVELLI/Arizona Daily Wildcat Eugene Oberlander, a dance and pre-physiological sciences freshman, studies yesterday in the second floor Yuma Residence Hall study lounge. Some students are upset that the space will soon be converted to more dorm room.

7 percent increase proposed for fall

Students returning to the residence halls can expect another rent increase next year.

A 7 percent increase for residence halls ÷ with an additional 2 percent hike for Yuma and Gila halls ÷ will be proposed at the Arizona Board of Regents meeting on March 11 - 12.

Jim Van Arsdel, director of Residence Life, said there is an increase every year, and this increase was necessary to handle expenses.

"If we are going to keep our doors open, we have to pay for it," he said.

Villa Del Puente, which costs $3,848 for a double per year, will increase by $269 to $4,117. Sierra Residence Hall, which costs $2,680, will increase by $187 to $2,867. Yuma and Gila halls will increase by $316, from $3,514 to $3,830.

Van Arsdel said the money will be used to renovate Yuma and Gila this summer and buy new furniture. The study lounges in Yuma and Gila are being converted into bedrooms.

The higher rates will also be used to fund the $315,000 needed for employee-related expenses, including vacation, sick leave and retirement, he said.

"The only money to pay for this is from residence hall rates," Van Arsdel said.

If the regents vote for the increase, 3.89 percent will be used for operating expenses and 3.11 percent will be used to pay debt service. The sewer and water pipes of several halls will also be repaired.

"Some (halls were) built in the 1920s, and others in the 1940s, that are pretty old and have never had the pipes replaced," Van Arsdel said.

Arizona-Sonora Residence Hall will also be re-carpeted and repainted over the next few summers.

The Residence Hall Association decides on the methods used to determine rate increases.

Dan Tuttle, RHA president, said RHA decided to propose the fixed percentage rates because it made the most sense to raise the rent across the board.

RHA decided to move Yuma and Gila into the next price bracket, joining Kaibab-Huachuca Residence Hall, because of the renovations and refurnishing that will be done to the halls, Tuttle said.

"Some residents of Yuma feel it shouldn't be a higher bracket, but it's an even trade- off for renovations," he said.

Stephanie Milner, a special education junior, said she does not appreciate the rate increase for a hall that is gaining more people and losing lounge space.

"The most important thing was that Residence Life was making improvements, but we are losing space (and) still have to pay for it," she said.

Residents of Yuma use the study space for studying as well as social events and hall government meetings, Milner said.

Other students in Yuma said the change could be for the better, even though they don't necessarily want to pay more to live there.

"I'm willing to pay more for the community; it's more about the people than the building. And there are certain expenses to maintain a building of this age," said Clay Barnes, a physics and computer sciences freshman.

While Gila residents said they were concerned that they were paying more money for less space, they were open to the price change.

"I don't appreciate that I have to go to another floor to study, and the price is never fun. But it's not that inconvenient," said Nick Beltran, a biology senior.

The Arizona Board of Regents will meet in the Student Union Memorial Center March 11-12.