Housing relieved by no overflows

For the first time in years, all incoming University students who requested rooms in residence halls found themselves where they belong - in permanent rooms.

In the past, an overflow of housing applicants forced the University to set up temporary bunks in hall lounges, where students lived for up to 11 days before they could be properly placed.

This year, residence halls still are not full.

LSA sophomore Orin Kennedy, who returned to South Quad Residence Hall this year, said he was scared to look in his hall's lounge.

"Last year, when I moved in, they had bunk beds set up in the lounges of South Quad," Kennedy said. "This year, I haven't seen anyone in there."

The significant decrease in dorm overcrowding showed definite progress in overcoming the University's housing problems of the '90s, said Alan Levy, director of Housing public affairs.

"Last year we had 300 overflow triples and 34 students living temporarily in lounges," Levy said. "This year is unquestionably better. There were no students in lounges and we have under 20 converted triples."

Levy said he attributes the reduction in overcrowding to a smaller class of first-year students and the on-campus housing change imposed last year, which was intended to reduce the number of juniors and seniors living in traditional residence halls.

"Our initial statement last year that restricted junior and seniors from returning helped to ensure that in the fall of 1998 we would not have so much overcrowding," Levy said. The regents opted to enforce the restriction, he said, because it was clear the housing problem "should not continue."

"We guarantee on-campus housing to freshmen regardless of when they apply," Levy said.

"For the better part of this decade, we had nothing to offer students who made their decision in August and off-campus housing at that point was very tight. This year, we could offer undergraduate and graduate on-campus housing all along."

University spokesperson Julie Peterson said that although exact numbers will not be released until later this week, the enrollment target for the class of 2002 was 5,200 - reduced from 5,500 the year before.

Last year, Peterson said, the high enrollment numbers put a lot of pressure on the University to reduce overcrowding.

LSA sophomore Nicole Bryson, who witnessed the overflow housing last year, said the residence halls are less crowded this year because of the housing restriction.

"I think the ban was a part of the housing solution," said Bryson, who works at West Quad Residence Hall's front desk. "From what I know, there is definitely not as much overcrowding. I think the ban scared lots of students into off-campus housing."

Students will most likely be happy with the reduction in overcrowding, Levy said, despite complaints last year that the housing restriction was enforced too late for students to find adequate off-campus housing.

Regent Dan Horning (R-Grand Haven) said he was pleased with the housing changes.

"I think it's something we've always pushed for," Horning said, adding that less packed residence halls will make the on-campus living experience more positive for incoming and returning students.

"We need to aim for an environment conducive for academics and continue to strive to make living more enjoyable in the dorms," Horning said.

Levy said the University will decide whether to continue the housing restriction in future years as soon as numbers are reviewed later this week.

Some students returning to campus this year said they have already noticed that the residence halls are more comfortable.

"Last year, we had 10 people assigned temporarily to lounges," said Engineering senior Nikki Roth, who works at South Quad. "But this year, a lot of triples have been changed back to doubles. In fact, students this year are more likely to have overall better housing."

Roth said occupancy is lower this year because many returning students were scared off by the restriction.

"Some people who could have signed up still didn't," Roth said. "Now we have more available housing."

09-08-98