by Tim Tevault
Arts & Entertainment Editor
To accommodate the growing number of students attending the University of La Verne, the Office of Housing and Residential Life has put three students per room in residence hall rooms designed to house two students.
Approximately 40 rooms were converted from double-occupancy to triple-occupancy over the summer. While some students are angry at their new living situation, others have learned to get used to their new, cramped situation.
Sophomore Nicole Nash, who lives in a newly tripled room in the Oaks buildings said living in a tripled room allows for little privacy and less closet space. Last year she had only one roommate.
“What sucks is my room in Brandt seemed bigger,” she said, adding that Housing should have tripled the bigger doubles, and not smaller ones.
Freshman Adela Felix, also living in a tripled room, felt the same way. “It’s okay but there isn’t enough room,” Felix said.
Yet another tripled-room resident, freshman Ray Martinez, is more optimistic about living in such close quarters.
“It’s cool, it doesn’t bother me at all,” he said of his tripled room.
Martinez admits that being in a doubled room would give him more room, but does not mind living with other freshmen.
Both Felix and Martinez also live in the Oaks buildings.
Julie Hurst, acting director of Housing, said many students say the arrangement is not as bad as they thought it would be. To help alleviate concerns new and old students had, Hurst said students received advance information about their living situation, including a booklet containing rules, policies and a Q&A section. Hurst said students were “very, very aware” of their future living situation.
The booklet also talked about how students might get placed into a tripled room, depending on how fast their applications were received. Once Housing determined who received which rooms, students were sent letters informing them of where they would be, and how many roommates they had. They (along with interested parents) were also given the opportunity to view rooms that were tripled over the summer, to see first hand what was to come. Hurst and Melissa Ann Negrete, assistant director of housing services, agreed that everyone was well informed of the situation.
Although most students would prefer a double room, some students opted for a triple because of the 20 percent discount that was offered. Also, once students were placed in tripled rooms, their room was automatically entered into a list of de-triplings. Negrete said they are currently in the process of de-tripling approximately five rooms, with more potentially on the horizon.
This happens when a student expected to dorm in the room does not show up.
“They [the students who did not show up] have been dropped out of housing automatically,” Negrete said.
An added bonus for students whose rooms get de-tripled is they still only are required to pay for a tripled room even if there are only two people living there.
“As we have openings, it is our priority to de-triple (rooms). We’re very optimistic that we’ll de-triple,” Hurst said.
When asked about the University’s future plans to build or acquire a new dorm, Hurst said that issue is not under her control.
“I know there is talk about a new building,” she said, but said she was not sure as to how far down the line those plans will take shape.
“Just because we have enough room for people in the spring doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll have enough room in the fall,” Negrete said.
