High Rise residents rush to retain rooms

More students applied to be part of the Community Living program in the High Rises this year than last year, Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone said yesterday, and the number of students who chose to retain their High Rise rooms also increased. Associate Director of Residential Living Eleanor Rupsis said a larger freshman class this year contributed to the increase in Community Living applications. "Mostly freshmen apply for community living in the High Rises for their second year," Rupsis said. The Community Living program received applications from 767 students this year, an increase of 137 students. Simeone said that unlike last year, Residential Living distributed posters around campus that specifically focused on the Community Living program. Rupsis said the posters targeted the freshman class to make sure that Community Living was well known to them. The idea for the poster came from the Residential Advisory Board, a group of students who voice student concerns about Residential Living programs to the department. Suma C M, chairperson of the Residential Advisory Board, said she and other RAB members think the Community Living program in the High Rises deserved more publicity. "Community Living makes the High Rises a friendlier place to live," the College sophomore said. Simeone said Residential Living has put up four different posters around campus that stress the conveniences of on-campus living. She added that many students do not think about certain issues when contemplating whether to stay on or move off campus. In the posters, certain facts about on-campus living are emphasized. An occupancy period which is geared toward the academic year and not the calendar year, furniture already provided and no security deposits are among the items listed on these posters. "The intention of our campaign is to bring these things to students' minds," Simeone said. The number of students retaining rooms, 474, increased by 31 over last year. This number, however, is a little misleading since some students who retain their rooms often have different roommates join in with them. Rupsis said Residential Living does not break down the figures to determine exactly how many students who retained rooms for next year actually live in them this year. Simeone said the Resnet program, currently in place in High Rise North and scheduled to be installed in the remaining two High Rises this summer, probably helped increase the number of retentions. C M added that many students who do not want to risk moving off campus or to another room on campus found the option of retention appealing. "It's nice to know you're the ones who had the room last," she said.