Spring Break
The number nobody wants
Kristi Tousignant
Issue date: 11/27/07 Section: News
As Aneka Reid walked out of class last week, she listened to friends chat excitedly about their low housing priority numbers that almost certainly ensured them a room on the campus next year.
Reid hadn't been so lucky. Her number was 1,517 - out of 1,517.
Dead last.
"I thought it was a misprint," said Reid, a sophomore chemistry major. "I saw it and thought, 'Well, maybe I'm tired.' Then I showed my other friend and read it out loud. I was more shocked than anything. I knew my number was not going to be great, but I did not expect the last number."
As the university scrambles for more beds to handle the shortage of on-campus housing, Resident Life has been forced to take the drastic step of selecting the unlucky sophomores who will be denied a room next year through a lottery system.
The department randomly assigned priority numbers to about 3,000 sophomores last week. The lower the number, the better shot the student has of getting on-campus housing. That means that Reid's chances of living in dorms next year are almost impossible.
"I was like, 'huh'?" Reid said. "I was like, well, my chance of getting housing is shot. I thought I would have a number at least in the 100s. I knew it would not have been great. I hoped it would be in the middle where I would have a choice, but it didn't go that way. I just think I am unlucky."
The thought to check the site had not crossed her mind all day, but when her rejoicing friends reminded her that her housing future hung in the balance, she reached for her friend's iPhone, which brought her the bad news.
Reid's roommate, Melissa Jorquera, a sophomore in the pre-nursing program, was with Reid when she found out. Her first reaction was to laugh at the irony of the situation, but her peals of laughter soon dissolved into worry.
Woeful priority numbers last year landed the roommates on North Campus, and both hoped for a change of fortune this year. Jorquera's chances were looking up with a number in the 300s, but since she is going to nursing school in Baltimore next year, her low number does not even help her.
Reid hadn't been so lucky. Her number was 1,517 - out of 1,517.
Dead last.
"I thought it was a misprint," said Reid, a sophomore chemistry major. "I saw it and thought, 'Well, maybe I'm tired.' Then I showed my other friend and read it out loud. I was more shocked than anything. I knew my number was not going to be great, but I did not expect the last number."
As the university scrambles for more beds to handle the shortage of on-campus housing, Resident Life has been forced to take the drastic step of selecting the unlucky sophomores who will be denied a room next year through a lottery system.
The department randomly assigned priority numbers to about 3,000 sophomores last week. The lower the number, the better shot the student has of getting on-campus housing. That means that Reid's chances of living in dorms next year are almost impossible.
"I was like, 'huh'?" Reid said. "I was like, well, my chance of getting housing is shot. I thought I would have a number at least in the 100s. I knew it would not have been great. I hoped it would be in the middle where I would have a choice, but it didn't go that way. I just think I am unlucky."
The thought to check the site had not crossed her mind all day, but when her rejoicing friends reminded her that her housing future hung in the balance, she reached for her friend's iPhone, which brought her the bad news.
Reid's roommate, Melissa Jorquera, a sophomore in the pre-nursing program, was with Reid when she found out. Her first reaction was to laugh at the irony of the situation, but her peals of laughter soon dissolved into worry.
Woeful priority numbers last year landed the roommates on North Campus, and both hoped for a change of fortune this year. Jorquera's chances were looking up with a number in the 300s, but since she is going to nursing school in Baltimore next year, her low number does not even help her.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Jen
posted 11/27/07 @ 10:34 AM EST
I don't see what the big deal is, yeah it sucks she may not be able to room with her friends in the dorms, but she can still go to the Commons. Or her AND her friends can go to the Commons. (Continued…)
Harris
posted 11/27/07 @ 11:07 AM EST
Fuck you reslife, fuck the inept administration!
James
posted 11/27/07 @ 11:14 AM EST
I've never been more ashamed to be a Terp. Reslife and residential facilities created this fucking mess by not working with the board of regents and developers to create viable public-private partnerships for on campus housing. (Continued…)
CP
posted 11/29/07 @ 12:55 AM EST
ya she is ELIGIBLE to go to commons or courtyards, but with both places with very few beds as well, it is a toss up situation.
also, commons and courtyards are much more expensive than living in the dorms or suites. (Continued…)
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