As a junior class representative in the Georgetown University Student Assembly I would like to express my disappointment with the new residential point system that will possibly create a housing fiasco in the upcoming year. Since the annoucement of the new hosuing selection system, many have complained that student input was not gathered and taken into account when formulating the current housing eligibility process. As a result, I want to share some of those thoughts and concerns that were expressed to me.
While I commend the effort of University housing to make students aware of their eligibility situation much sooner, I disagree with the way they are determining eligibility.
I believe that all seniors and graduating juniors should get priority in housing selection because it is their last year, and they should have quick and easy access to all University resources. Many seniors and graduating juniors need to live on campus because many, like myself, will be preparing thesis papers and working on research projects to fulfill graduation requirements. It is very inconvenient to oust upperclassman from campus housing at this very crucial time.
Furthermore, the class of 2005 has taken the brunt of the housing eligibility modifications over the past two years. First-and second-year students must live on campus so they don’t have to worry about the ramifications of the housing process. During the transition, many members of the class of 2005 have disproportionately been overlooked by the housing selection process. As an example, current seniors were given priority in the singles and apartment lotteries last year so that when the number of available apartments ran out, more of the members of the Class of 2005 were left without housing while some current second year students were able to get apartments in Village A, Village B, or Henle. Furthermore, once housing realized its inability to accommodate the amount of students that needed housing, members of the Class of 2005 were not even allowed to enter the dorm lottery.
Athough housing has attempted to address this issue by allotting these particular students with four points in the current eligibility process, many rising seniors who chose not to live on campus this year are being negatively affected in next year’s eligibility process. These students did not know that their prior decisions would have such effects because housing led everyone to believe that there would be sufficient housing to accomodate all those students interested.
Moreover, all students who might be caught in limbo should not include any rising seniors who are clear of residential violation or infractions. Those people in limbo should be the residents that have committed residential violations (destruction of property, behavioral sanctions, severe alcohol violations, etc.) These violations should be taken into account across the board regardless of if you are a first-year or a last-year student. Living on campus is a privilege, and many students abuse that privilege without consequence. I believe taking these violations into account is a fair way of determining eligibility. In the future, students should not be told that they are guaranteed housing for a certain number of years at Georgetown if our University is not completely certain that it can uphold this commitment.
Aside from these pertinent factors, there are also monetary issues involved. Off-campus housing can be expensive. Off-campus housing includes the additional factors of fluctuating living expenses such as utilities, gas, transportation and even food, being that many off-campus students don’t have meal plans because the cafeteria is too far away.
I have contacted housing regarding these student concerns, and I urge them to rethink the whole process. I know that Residential Life has a very complex and hectic job, but we the students are tired of both limited quantity and poor quality housing. And a lack of improvement and response is even worse.
Luis Torres is a junior in the College. He serves as a GUSA representative and a SAC commissioner.
