While many undergraduates think that room draw is a traumatic experience, a number of graduate students say that, in light of recent shortages and rising prices, finding affordable graduate housing may be a worse problem.
In response to graduate students' needs, the University is expanding the Lawrence Apartments, located on West Drive to the south of Springdale Golf Course.
The complex will include an additional seven buildings housing 346 beds. One new building opened three weeks ago and six more will open this summer.
"The main issue is simply space," Eric Adelizzi GS, a former chair of the Graduate Student Government's housing committee, said in an email.
He added that graduate enrollment has increased over seven percent in the last five years, leaving a greater demand for housing than in past years.
Leonard Pease GS said that while 75 percent of graduate students get housing, the figure is slightly skewed because it includes only those who actually enter the housing draw.
"Basically, only first, second and third year graduate students are guaranteed (unofficially) housing," Carolyn Mordas GS, social chair of the Lawrence Apartments Committee, said in an email.
Though she said she has been satisfied in general with her living arrangements, Mordas still has some complaints.
"I'd have to say the downside to living in Lawrence is that it's the furthest graduate housing from campus . . . and the ongoing construction for the past two years is a major distraction and inconvenience," she wrote.
The high cost of living at the new apartment complex also remains a concern for students. "Graduate students cannot reasonably afford off-campus housing in this expensive area based on their stipend income," Mordas said in an email.
Some graduate students that do not live in University housing said they regretted the loss of community, which makes their education feel like a "day job." However, the Lawrence apartments have, in part, addressed this concern.
"The GC is overcrowded and there are a good number of maintenance issues, but all in all, it's a nice community," wrote Adelizzi in an email.
The 2002 Graduate Student Life Initiative, prepared by the GSG, attributed the housing shortage to poor communication between University administrative branches, incoherent admissions policies and unrealistic expectations.
Though much progress is required to meet graduate housing needs, many students consider the Lawrence Apartments' expansion a good beginning.
"Lawrence is not everything we want, but it's a nice step in the right direction," said Sinead MacNamara GS.
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