After weeks of heated debate about the point system used to determine housing preference, two student groups have passed a pair of unanimous new resolutions to address the issue.
In two meetings Tuesday night, the Georgetown University Student Association and the Georgetown University InterHall Council passed concurrent resolutions that recommended that juniors who live off-campus this year receive five points in the housing lottery, the most of any student group.
In September, Housing Services announced that rising seniors living off-campus this year would receive the same number of points in the upcoming lottery as all current sophomores.
According to Adam Giblin (SFS ‘06), who gathered over 300 signatures last month in a petition to contest the changes in the housing system, some members of the class of 2006 were upset because the new policy does not guarantee these rising seniors the privileged position in housing they have traditionally enjoyed.
“We would accept any weighting system that would give the seniors preference,” Jenny Bridgers (SFS ‘07), Chair of GUSA’s Housing and Facilities Advocacy Committee, said.
Both resolutions contained similar language demanding that the point-system inequality be rectified and the housing process be made more transparent to the student community.
According to InterHall President Jon Deutsch (CAS ‘07), a copy of InterHall’s resolution was sent to the community council of each residence hall, and class committees will also be informed of the proposed changes.
“My most important feeling is that GUSA and InterHall and other student groups will now be working together with Housing Services to get this resolved in a very constructive manner,” Deutsch said.
Junior class representative Drew Rau (CAS ‘06) echoed Deutsch’s sentiments.
“We want to make sure that other organizations are involved,” he said. “It’s not just GUSA-this is something everyone is talking about.”
According to Bridgers, the new resolutions are the first step in a more long-term goal to improve the housing system for all students.
“This is all that can be done this year, since the housing selection process is already in motion,” she said. “The resolution is a short-term solution.”
