by Andreas Hahn
Staff Writer
Three meetings attended by a total of 47 students, as well as a memorandum distributed in the University of La Verne’s residence halls informed students about the new room selection process for next year.
Similar to the process used last year, the new process allows current on-campus students the opportunity to “squat” their same room in one of the resident halls for next year. The application process for the new procedure began April 12.
Melissa Negrete, housing service coordinator for the Office of Housing and Residential Life, said that, compared to last year, some details changed in the selection process.
“Some things didn’t go right on our side,” Negrete said in reference to the former process and the overcrowding in rooms at the beginning of last semester.
“We have changed it to improve for us … basically for the residents, nothing should change,” said Negrete.
In order to participate in the room selection process, residents must have the full Housing Room Security Deposit balance of $100 in their Housing account. Moreover, students have to purchase a housing application, which can be picked up for $25 at the Housing office, to participate in the room selection process.
The application fee covers costs for printing and processing information. Negrete said she complained about this fee when she was not involved in the Housing process, but “now I’m part of the process and I understand the costs,” she said.
Students who want to “squat” their current room must return completed application forms beginning Monday and through Thursday. Spaces not “squatted” by this time will be available for general reservations.
Participating in the “squatting” process automatically excludes one from reserving a different room. The wish for a new roommate may be expressed, but the “current roommates have equal rights to squat the room,” according to the memorandum.
If a new roommate is desired, the prospective new roommate must go to the Housing office on Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to make arrangements and “squat” the same room.
A separate set of guidelines and dates applies for the process of reserving a different room for next year.
Seniors may begin reserving rooms on Monday, May 3, and thereafter; juniors are scheduled to participate in the selection process on May 4, and thereafter; sophomores will have the chance to reserve their desired rooms on May 5 and thereafter; and freshman may begin the reservation process May 6.
May 7 is open for all returners who did not have the opportunity to reserve a room on their designated dates. The Housing office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to help accommodate students still needing to reserve a room.
“I think everybody who plans to live on campus will squat or reserve,” said Negrete. As of Tuesday, 35 students had picked up applications.
Negrete highly recommended that students take advantage of these opportunities. After the application process is finished, all incoming students will have priority in being placed in the residence halls.
“Then we place the remaining returners … most likely there will be no rooms available anymore,” said Negrete, adding that, as a result of this year’s enrollment rate, the University expects a large amount of incoming students next year. Moreover, the squatting and reserving process is a good possibility to live with friends or to move to another resident hall, said Negrete.
Since the Oaks residence hall is more modern than other residence halls and is equipped with air conditioning, Negrete expects many people to apply for a room in this residence hall.
Teriy Castro, a junior diversified major, wants to apply for a single room. She said she has no problems with her roommate, but “sometimes you just want to be on your own,” she said.
Junior Henry Nuñez, a political science major, heard about the “squatting” and reserving process two weeks ago. He did not attend the information meetings but still wants to utilize the system. “It is a good idea to have priority to reserve your room,” said Nuñez.
“It is a good thing to have diversity. I want to learn more about other cultures,” he said. “[But] I don’t think students should be made to pay $25 for an application. It’s absurd.”
Anna Caples, a junior diversified major, is also applying for a single room for the upcoming school year. She said she has already picked up an application and intends to turn it in as soon as possible.
“If they can lessen it, especially for returning students, that would be nice,” Caples said about the application fee.
Andreas Hahn
