Students rely on lofts for space

Due to the lack of space in most University residence hall rooms, many students rely on lofts to maximize their modest space.

To assist in the pursuit of finding lofts and other living comforts University Housing organizes a commercial vendor fair each year.

For those that missed the fair, registered University vendors can provide the best lofts.

LSA sophomore Becky Kinney, who lived in Mary Markley Residence Hall last year, paid $400 for a double loft - which is the average going rate.

"Although we could have arranged the room without buying lofts, our room was much more comfortable with them," Kinney said. "The company we used was very attentive to any repairs we needed."

FILE PHOTO Many students living in University residence halls build lofts to create extra space in their rooms. University Housing sponsors an annual Commercial Vendor Fair in the Fall to assist students in purchasing lofts.

Lofts are not permitted in residence halls with new convertible furniture, including Betsey Barbour, Couzens, Alice Lloyd residence halls, as well as parts of Mary Markley and West Quad residence halls have the convertible furniture which can be stacked and arranged to maximize space in the residence halls.

Monica Dougherty, an LSA first-year student living in Alice Lloyd, said the convertible furniture has been extremely convenient.

"Although the furniture is heavy, it's very mobile and easy to put together," Dougherty said.

Only vendors registered with University Housing are permitted to sell items on campus, but neither the University nor the Housing Department endorses particular vendors or items.

"The vendor fair was developed to compel companies to tell the University they are doing business on campus," said Alan Levy, director of University Housing. "We don't actively solicit business."

By registering the vendors, the University keeps a record of company names and telephone numbers, and maintains control over where a given company conducts business.

In the spring, Housing published a pamphlet of commercial guidelines for participation in the fair. The pamphlet includes restrictions on the dimensions of lofts in each residence hall.

"The objective of the vendor fair is to have better control over the commercial sales in residence halls and to provide students with the ability to avail themselves to companies that sell on campus," Levy said.

Both students and their parents have found it convenient to be able to buy such cumbersome products near the residence halls rather than having to travel to a store off campus, Levy said.

LSA junior Colleen Hilton said she had a few problems with the loft she bought her first year for her former room in Helen Newberry Residence Hall.

She said the company built the loft quickly, but failed to give them a ladder. After some time, the loft began to come loose from the wall, making it dangerous. The company never answered her requests for repairs.

Despite the problems, Hilton said "the loft was definitely worth it. The room would not have been livable without it."

"We do get a handful of complaints about various vendors each year," Levy said. "In a recent incident, we were able to prohibit (an inadequate) vendor from selling merchandise on campus next year."

Levy said carpenters not registered with the University post signs on kiosks and in dorms around campus or are recruited by word of mouth.

09-09-98