Housing struggles to find bed spaces

The large incoming freshman class is creating a possible overcrowding situation in housing this coming year.

"Size of the freshman class is not getting smaller. We're not getting the cancellations to the extent that we would like," said Dan Morrison, associate director of Housing for resident life.

Most students who were accepted to Tech are applying for FASET, which, according to Morrison, is a good indicator that they are planning to attend this school.

"The big deadline is July 1. That is when you will lose your entire deposit if you decide that you don't want to live in housing," Morrison said.

According to Morrison, Housing can cover the sophomores but not all the freshmen without churning up vacancies.

The first solution to the situation was to send an email out to students.

"We are allowing students who want to back out of their housing contract to do so with no penalty. Those students would get their $600 deposit back. This should create enough vacancies to get the ball rolling again," Morrison said.

"The email only went out to rising sophomores and to people who have [spaces on campus this fall]," said Michael Black, director of Housing.

According to Black, the email is only step one. "We are waiting to see what happens," Black said.

"The email was a good first step, but I don't know how much it will help. I don't know how many students are willing to commit in the short time that housing allowed," said Tim Gallagher, president of the Residence Hall Association.

The issue will not only affect Housing, but all of campus.

"It's our dilemma right now, but it's a campus-wide issue. It stretches everybody," Morrison said.

"It's good that Tech is growing, but if it's a sustainable growth, there needs to be some planning. Housing is the first and most visibly hit. We're worried about other aspects, as well, such as dining, health services and counseling," Gallagher said.

Housing is trying to take an active approach to the situation.

"We are trying to create openings instead of waiting for the natural attrition to take place," Morrison said.

If the email doesn't create enough space, other options are available.

"A possible plan b is to use flex spaces. We have 38 flex spaces on campus. Two years ago there was a large incoming class and spaces had to be flexed into. Flex spaces are lounges and other spaces that can be used as a room to house students. They have to have two exits, meaning a door and a window," Morrison said.

According to Morrison, the next step is to ask freshmen who live locally to give up their space.

"Step two is being formulated as the situation progresses," Black said.

According to Gallagher, the worst case scenario is to create more flex space.

"We are trying to keep at least one lounge per building. We can possibly buy out housing near Tech, but I don't think it will come to that," Gallagher said.

"We are worried about the freshmen. However, with students receiving co-ops at the last minute, academic dropouts and normal attrition, every freshman should have a bed when the semester starts," Morrison said.

According to Black, the key emphasis is on the life, health and safety of the students.

"It may not be ideal, but it will be clean and a place for freshmen to put their heads at night. We have several people burning the midnight oil to solve the situation. Come Aug. 18 everyone will have a place to live," Black said.