Section selection postponed

The section shuffle for selective living groups and fraternities has been postponed.

Administrators and students involved in the residential group assessment process must further discuss issues raised at the Wednesday night meeting with stakeholders, Associate Dean for Residential Life Joe Gonzalez said at the Campus Council meeting Thursday.

Gonzalez said he is not sure when the selection process, originally intended to take place Sunday afternoon, will be rescheduled.

“The group that’s talking needs some more time to figure things out some more,” he said. “I guess one of the things we’re doing is sort of pushing the pause button.”

Officials from Residence Life and Housing Services, Student Affairs, Campus Council and the Residential Group Assessment Committee met Wednesday night until almost 3 a.m. and again Thursday afternoon to discuss concerns and future plans.

At their Thursday night meeting, Campus Council members also heard updates on living communities including sophomores on Central Campus, substance-free living and East meets West.

Junior Ryan Echternacht, a member of the policy committee, said interviews and surveys revealed that sophomores living on Central are happy with their living arrangements and would enjoy living there again. 

The major complaint from sophomores—echoing the complaints of upperclassmen—was that the availability of transportation to and from the middle campus is inconsistent, Echternacht said. He added that residents suggested adding amenities like study spaces to Central and that many did not know the status of renovations.

Gonzalez said Mill Village, currently under construction, should be completed in February 2010 and will include a small computer lab.

But Echternacht said he is “troubled” by what he heard from residents of the East meets West sections in Kilgo and Few Quadrangles. Eighty percent of students surveyed in the section said their primary motivation for applying to the block was the desirable location or to stay on West Campus. 

“What’s really scary is that people weren’t lying,” Echternacht said. “They could easily say, ‘Oh, [I wanted] to meet new people, that sounds good,’ but they didn’t, so I actually found those results very troubling.”

In other business:

Junior John Pryor, facilities and services committee chair, updated the Council on ongoing and future projects. He said there are plans to reduce the computer labs, implement an online laundry tracking program, improve handicapped access to residential features and install a reverse vending machine in Wannamaker Quadrangle in January. The machine will cost about $11,000 to install.