Temporary lift possible because of new dorms

Residence Life will temporarily lift a housing cap this year that prevents students who have lived in the residence halls for four semesters from returning another year.

Because new residence halls will be opening, Posada San Pedro and Puebla de la Cienega, there will be 550 extra spaces to fill, said Director of Residence Life Jim Van Arsdel.

"We should be able to accommodate all freshmen that apply by a reasonable time and more return residents than we have in the past," Van Arsdel said.

Residence Life will offer housing to those who have been ineligible because of the four-semester housing cap.

"Action is being taken to get a sufficient number of people to fill housing," said Dan Tuttle, president of the Residence Hall Association.

After freshmen receive housing and 50 percent of the halls are filled with students who have not lived in dorms for four semesters, an estimated 300 spaces will still be vacant, Van Arsdel said.

But Van Arsdel stressed that the housing cap will remain in place and that this year's lifting is only an exception.

"We have no intention of walking away from the idea that we are wanting to adhere to the same availability of housing for new and old students, " Van Arsdel said.

Applications for returning students will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Van Arsdel said he plans to send an e-mail to eligible students this week to inform them of the application process and deadlines.

Van Arsdel estimates that Residence Life will receive close to the same amount of applicants as they received last year.

"If we go to the Final Four and win the basketball tournament, we could see an increase in applicants, but it is not likely," Van Arsdel said.

Fifth-semester residents will probably not be able to live in Pima, La Paz or any of the new residence halls on North Highland Avenue because of their high demand.

"These dorms are clearly seen as the best living environment," Van Arsdel said.

Residence Life plans to encourage but not require older students to occupy the apartment complexes such as Corleone, Babcock and Sky View. That way upperclassmen will be in a more mature environment.

"In a perfect world, these complexes would not include freshmen. These are not the right environment for freshmen anyway," Van Arsdel said.

Alex Grubb, a journalism sophomore, said the differences in age between two roommates could be a challenge.

"If I were a junior living with a freshman, it might be a little weird because they were just starting college, and they would be so unfamiliar with how everything works. But I'd also like to be that cool older person to take them under my wing and show them the ropes," he said.

Others think having older students around would be a benefit.

"It might be better to have older people in dorms to give advice about campus and help you get around. It's like having an extra (resident assistant)," said Adam Johns, mechanical engineering freshman.

Leah Gentry, a history and secondary education sophomore, is excited about the possibility of getting to live in the residence halls next year.

"I applied to be an RA, but if that does not happen, then I would definitely consider returning to the dorms. My roommate this year is a freshman and essentially my best friend, and I would love to be able to live in the dorms with her again next semester," said Gentry.

In fall 2001, the UA faced a severe housing shortage that forced officials to house students in hotels. The housing cap implemented in the spring of 2002 alleviated the overcrowding problem.

The Wildcat Regrets the error.