The Red and Black

Issue date: 2/1/02 Section: News

After learning University Housing will use a lottery to allocate spaces for returning campus residents, many students said they were frustrated and disappointed at the decision.

Skye Henderson, a freshman from Cartersville, said it was unfair that students are bearing the burden of the housing shortage.

"They shouldn't accept more people than they have room for," she said. "Everyone that lived on campus this year should have the chance to live on campus next year, regardless of whatever problems (the University) is having."

Kristine Fortunato, a junior from Peachtree City, said seniority should play a factor in deciding where returning students live.

"It just seems like you have seniority, you've been here for so long, you deserve the right to have things go your way finally," she said.

However, with 2,265 students interested in on-campus housing, only 1,211 open spaces are available, according to staff reports.

"It would've helped if they had done this earlier because people are starting to sign leases, and I think knowing (if you can live on campus) mid-to-late February is just too late," said Melissa Silverman, a junior from Alpharetta.

Several students said the University should be involved in helping those students that don't win the lottery.

"The least they could do is put students up somewhere -- if not on campus, then somewhere close to campus," said Steven Small, a sophomore from Marietta.

Adam Boze, a freshman from Marietta said, "They should at least be helping assist us, if there's no other options, to find an apartment, or maybe talk to the officials at the apartments to see what they can do for us."

Residence Hall Association members said they plan to have apartment representatives visit with students to inform them about their choices for off-campus living.

While many students told The Red & Black they are planning to move into apartments instead of waiting for the lottery, they said they were concerned about the availability of affordable housing options.

"I know a lot of people that don't have the money or the resources to live off campus, so if they want to live on campus, they should be allowed to do so," said Justin Kanitz, a freshman from Nashville, Tenn.

Another source of student frustration was the feeling that this situation was caused by a lack of foresight on the part of the University.

"Didn't they plan for this? Didn't they think this would happen sooner or later?" asked Josh Carter, a freshman from Lilburn.

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