Seeking in part to amend a housing lottery that caused anger among many students last spring, Assistant Dean of Residence Life Bill Burig will unveil this year's undergraduate housing plan at tonight's Campus Council meeting.
Although Burig and Director of Residence Life and Housing Services Eddie Hull would not disclose any details before the meeting, the plan is expected to maintain a number of last year's policies, including some form of seniority, all sophomores living on West Campus, linked housing for rising sophomores and an independent corridor.
Last year's system was intended to implement a new upperclass residential life plan, which included opening the West-Edens Link, moving all selective organizations off the center of Main West Campus and adding a new sophomores-on-West requirement.
The initial plan last year met with some opposition, as juniors were granted first picks in the lottery process. Both Campus Council and Duke Student Government criticized the policy as unfair to seniors, convincing Burig's office to institute a seniority-driven process.
With seniors guaranteed first crack at the most coveted spots on Main West and the West-Edens Link, and sophomores taking many of the remaining spots via the new linked dormitory system, many juniors - especially independent male students - were disappointed with their lack of West Campus options. Some juniors were forced to choose Trent singles or Central Campus apartments.
Compounding those problems was perhaps the most controversial and problematic element of last year's plan - "the reservation of some West Campus singles for rising sophomores.
Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta has admitted that the move was a mistake that will not be repeated this year, and said a new policy will ensure that rising seniors who have never lived on West Campus will have that opportunity.
Housing officials will also not have to deal with the reallocation of space to selective houses. In 2002, every residential selective living group was relocated throughout campus. This year, the only change anticipated is the arrival of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity on campus after a 10-year absence. The group will most likely take the Edens Quadrangle section that members of the former Kappa Sigma fraternity now occupy. Kappa Sig decided to dissolve itself earlier this year.
Furthermore, for the first time since the mid-1970s, the often-disparaged Trent Drive Hall will not house undergraduate students next year. The long-anticipated move will eliminate what has historically been the least popular dorm on campus.
This semester's process marks the first that Hull will oversee since taking over his newly-created position last semester. In anticipation of Hull's arrival, Campus Council members discussed in November important questions they hoped he would address in forming the new policy, including:
What role should seniority play?
What is the ratio of bed space for different living options?
Is linked housing going to happen?
Is the linking process actually creating a sense of community?
Will there be quad "squatting"?
Will the housing contract be binding like last year?
Are selective living groups going to receive more beds?
Will the three-consecutive-year on-campus requirement begin this year?
Will Southgate Dormitory continue to be linked to Edens?
Campus Council President Andrew Nurkin declined comment until after tonight's meeting, which will be held at 7 p.m. in the Griffith Board Room in the Bryan Center.
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