Housing woes trouble some sophomores and juniors

By Erin Brodbeck
Collegian Editor
April 4, 2007

As La Salle juniors and sophomores submitted their group/individual intention forms for the St. Miguel Townhouses, La Salle Apartments and St. Teresa Court, many discovered that one or more of their potential roommates hadn’t completed their housing application.

This year, Housing Services saw a decrease in the number of completed housing applications, the lowest it’s been in two years, according to Jeffrey Hershberger, Director of Administrative Services.

“It’s frustrating to see that older students haven’t completed the form,” Hershberger said. “We really pushed the word out this year.”

Administrative Services staff members used a number of methods to remind students to turn in the required $200 deposit and fill out the housing contract either online or on paper. E-mails with students’ housing point totals were sent out Feb. 2, with the reminder to complete the contract. Door hangers, posters, fliers and other advertisements were distributed throughout the residence halls until the March 2 deadline.

Nothing about the process was changed this year, according to Hershberger. Even the contract completion deadline of 3 p.m. March 2 has been the same for the past three years.

Hershberger isn’t sure why so many students dropped the ball, but he and his coworkers are developing plans to handle the application process differently in the future.

“But it really comes down to individual responsibility,” Hershberger said.

Many students remain dissatisfied with the system. Sophomore English and Spanish major Mark Howell planned on living in the La Salle Apartments with three other friends. When they filled out the group form online, they were denied because one student hadn’t completed the application. It turned out that the student who was denied hadn’t received a confirmation number from the Bursar’s office, so he couldn’t fill out the contract.

“After a series of e-mails and phone calls, we managed to work everything out just minutes before the application for the La Salle Apartments was due,” Howell said.

Other students weren’t as lucky, and those who hadn’t filled out the contract online were put on the waiting list. Appointments for students on the wait list will begin April 12.

Some students didn’t understand why they were put on the waiting list after forgetting to complete the contract despite paying the $200 deposit.

“If you submit your $200 deposit there should be no need for a housing application; the $200 should be enough to show that you plan on living on campus,” Howell said.

However, according to Hershberger, the $200 isn’t enough. The contract is a legally binding document in which the student agrees to live on campus.

Although the rules probably won’t change, Administrative Services is trying to do what they can to make residents happy with their living situation.

“The key here is patience,” Hershberger said. “We’re going to do all we can to get students on the wait list their first choice, but we can’t guarantee anything.”

Since the number of completed contracts decreased, more housing options were left over. According to Hershberger, everyone who applied for a townhouse this year was admitted. Last year, many hopefuls were turned away because of a lack of space.

Administrative Services also plans on keeping students posted about openings over the summer. Students can get out of the housing contract and get their $200 deposit back if they notify the school of their decision by May 31. Any open spots will be given to wait-listed students who wanted to live there.

“We are willing to listen to students’ wishes,” Hershberger said. “But our ultimate goal is to fill beds.”

brodbecke1@lasalle.edu