Draw times released early by fluke

Michael Davenport '06 was working on a paper at 1:30 a.m. Thursday morning when he received an instant message from a friend containing an apology and a web address. Davenport followed the link to the upperclass drawtimes, which were inadvertently posted two days early on the Housing Department's website, and discovered he had been assigned the last slot.

"I didn't have time to think about it," said Davenport, who had two midterms and a take-home examination in the last two days. "I'm just kind of taking the position that I can't really do anything about it — I'll worry about it come August or whenever the people on the wait list find out."

Upperclass draw times, which were supposed to be released today by 5 p.m., were mistakenly made available Wednesday through a link off the Housing Department's homepage.

The list was removed Thursday morning after housing received notice of the problem, and the official list, which included times for the 12 students who missed the draw application deadline, was posted later that afternoon.

The mistake compounded midterm week stress for some and resulted in tentative joy for others.

Mary Bynum '05 was putting off studying for two exams Wednesday night when she found out her group had been assigned the first slot.

"I feel like this is retribution," said Bynum, who was wait-listed freshman year after drawing the last time in Mathey.

But before the times were verified Thursday, she worried that the list would change. "If it's a test and that's not how it is, I'm going to be very upset," she said.

News of the accidental posting spread rapidly Wednesday night through word-of-mouth, emails and instant messages.

Rehan Shamim '05 sent the link to all of the members in Quadrangle Club, prefacing it with the words, "Please do not panic."

For some, though, the list was indeed cause for panic.

Like many students, Russ Cannon '06 followed the link Wednesday night, only to discover his draw group was not listed.

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He eventually realized he had forgotten to verify his draw group and stayed up late worrying about the situation. After meeting with housing officials Thursday morning, his group had to reregister late and was added to the end of the draw list.

Cannon, who had stayed up all night Tuesday studying, said finding out the draw times was "definitely an added source of stress."

But Davenport, who drew the last time of those who made the regular deadline, tried to take an optimistic view of his situation. "I do have a slight sense of relief," he said. "At least I don't have to choose a room."

Davenport noted that housing draw at the University can be stressful compared to other schools due to its randomness and the lack of off-campus options. But he added that he was amused to find his friends apologizing and consoling him all day.

"There was a sincerity and sympathy in their voice that was like someone had died," Davenport said. "Despite what Lisa DePaul, Adam Rockman and the other housing despots say, at Princeton, bad housing really is like death."