In just a couple of short weeks, the all-important housing selection day will be upon University residents. Just after the relaxation of Spring Break, residents returned to emails with a random number which would determine their options for housing.
For some, the decision was easy; a roommate got a low number and housing was. But for others, their day to choose could not come any sooner.
Carolyn Taylor, a former resident assistant (RA) said, “The most common fear is that there will not be a spot and they will have to hurry and find something off campus.”
This almost was the case for sophomore Courtney Carr. “I got a bad number in the 500s but someone was able to pull me into Redwood at the last minute,” said Carr. Numbers in the double digits, however, do not guarantee the spot someone may want or have in mind.
Sophomore Briana Dunlap said, “I had a number in the 50’s. I wanted to get into two triples in Redwood but I ended up getting two triples in Oakwood with my friends.” She added that this worked out better for her and her roommates later in the year.
There are some students who live with a couple of friends, but will be forced to move in a suite with seven or eight others next year. Deanna Lukac is in her first lottery process and is hoping for Spruce, but is concerned who some of her new roommates will be. “I got a number in the 600’s, but only have three others who I want to live with. I may find out selection day who the others will be because it is random.” Waiting until the last minute to be assigned can provide some anxiety.
There are some students who may need specific accommodations, but as Erin Kenney, disability specialist said, “With the exception of students who are in a single room (as there is a different procedure), all students must go through the process and I encourage roommates to pull others in increasing the chance of getting the request.” This helps even the playing field, despite difficulties that are involved.
For students who want a different roommate, residential life holds a “roommates wanted” social to help with this. Kristen Harz considered going for the reason of filling up a suite with people she knew. “I got a number in the 300s, but would prefer I live with friends so living in the suite would go smoothly,” said Harz.
Students with lower numbers can pull their friends in to fill up a room or suite helping with this. Numbers cannot be traded however so if all the numbers are high, such as 400’s or 500’s, the person with the lowest number has this option of pulling the rest of his friends in. This does not allow for many options, but can fill up most or all of a large suite.
Some students think the lottery process is very fair. Health studies major Jacqueline Leming said, “In my opinion the housing selection process at Monmouth University is very fair. By making the process completely random, no student is given an unfair advantage over another.”
Leming added, “Although I believe that it is unfortunate that the University cannot guarantee housing for all students, the process that is used is the most effective for the University. In my personal experience I have had no issues with the process. Going into my sophomore year I did not receive a great number, but a friend of mine was able to pull me in.”
This year Leming has housing lottery number nine and is excited to have one of the first picks and plenty of options.
A professor who wishes to remain anonymous said that, years ago, people would have to spend hours outside and who ever came first got a spot as there was no number system.
While not always the best for students with high numbers, the housing selection number system allows students an equal chance by making the process random and fair for all students living on campus.
IMAGE TAKEN from blogs.independent.co.uk
