Res. Life revamps contested dorm plan

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat James Van Arsdel Residence Life Director

By converting office space, increasing occupancy in dorms and purchasing a sorority house, residence life officials hope to accommodate a large influx of freshmen and all returning residents.

"We want to stand behind the commitments people see us making," Van Arsdel said last night. "We need to honor the messages people think they have heard from us."

Van Arsdel announced Jan. 21 that about 200 returning residents would be forced out of the halls to make room for incoming freshmen. He modified the policy after a number of students and parents openly criticized the idea.

Under the new policy, announced in a memo to residents last night, all Arizona-Sonora Residence Hall rooms will house three students. This year, many rooms in Arizona-Sonora have two occupants, but Van Arsdel said he does not expect residents to be angered by this change.

"This is an idea consistently raised by students," he said.

Babcock Hall office space previously used by the English department will also be converted into dorm rooms. Babcock, built in the 1970s, is being phased out as a residence hall during the next two to four years.

Residence Life will also purchase a campus sorority building and convert it into a dorm, but Van Arsdel said he did not know which house would be acquired.

While Van Arsdel backed down from dorm policy changes this semester, he said a shakeup of the system is "likely" for fall, 2000.

"I can't really predict where it will end up next year," Van Arsdel said, adding that he will work with the UA's Residence Hall Association to form a students committee for input.

Landon Vincent, a photography freshman who helped draft a proposal presented to Van Arsdel after the January announcement, said yesterday he was "personally ecstatic."

"It's pretty much exactly what we proposed to them," Vincent said.

Vincent said dorm residents are pleased with the plan.

"The sentiment around the hall is that of victory," he said, "Students feel like they've won the right to live in their hall."

Undeclared freshman Jessica Lohnberg said she felt "relieved" after hearing the news.

"I'm glad I can come back," Lohnberg said.