Housing survey to ask for best, worst dorms to add to res. colleges

The survey, which has already been sent to several members of the USG and other students in a trial run, allows students to rank their preferences for adding parts of upperclass dormitories to the four-year colleges in the event that “demand for upper-class spaces in residential colleges next year exceeds planned supply.”

Proposed additions to the college system include parts of Scully, Cuyler or Patton-Wright halls to Butler College; parts of Little, Lockhart or Foulke halls to Mathey College; and parts of Spelman, Cuyler, Patton-Wright or Pyne halls to Whitman College.

“I think that it’s a great survey,” USG president Josh Weinstein ’09 said. He noted, however, that that he does not believe demand for residential college housing is increasing.

“Since all it takes is checking a box on a form ... people just click all the boxes and hope for the best,” he said. “If they happen to get the first draw on the residential college pool, then they take the shared meal plan.” Otherwise, he added, they simply choose an upperclass dorm.

Though the number of students checking the “residential college” box when signing up for room draw may be greater than in years past, Weinstein explained that this does not necessarily translate into increased demand.

Undergraduate Housing Manager Angela Hodgeman, however, said in an interview last month that “a lot of students get closed out of the colleges due to the limited number of spaces available for upperclassmen.”

Weinstein said that based on his discussions with the administration, he believes that “the number of upperclassmen [in residential colleges] will stay constant.”

Officials from the Housing Department declined to comment for this article.

A previous attempt by the administration to change the allocation of dormitories to residential colleges met with opposition. In spring 2008, the University proposed adding Spelman 7 and 8 as well as Wright Hall to Whitman in an effort to house the many students expected to attempt to draw into Whitman. The Housing Department cited declining student interest in becoming independent as a motive for this move.

“It seems like there’s an overall trend away from the independent choice,” Executive Vice President Mark Burstein said in a February 2008 interview.

According to a USG survey conducted after that initial proposal, however, even students drawing into the residential college program were not in favor of adding parts of upperclass dorms to residential colleges, Weinstein said.

After lobbying by the USG, only Spelman 8 was added to Whitman, and a portion of Little Hall was added to Mathey. This decision was largely due to unexpected interest in the independent option, Assistant Director for Student Housing Lisa DePaul told The Daily Princetonian in a March 2008 interview.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

Expanding the residential colleges may not necessarily benefit upperclassmen, Weinstein said.

“I think right now that you have a lot of upperclassmen in residential colleges who aren’t necessarily interacting with underclassmen,” he said. “Even worse, you’re forcing students to buy an expensive meal plan.”

“You could basically eat on Nassau Street, breakfast, lunch and dinner, and pay significantly less,” he added.

Throughout the survey, students are asked to comment on the extent to which they value living in the same building as upperclassmen, especially if they choose to live in a residential college. The survey also allows students to name the most and least favorable dormitories that are not currently part of a residential college.

Anton Li ’11 cited the convenience of the dining hall as one of the reasons he might stay in Whitman.

“I find Whitman pretty comfortable at the moment,” he said. He added, however, that “it might be nice to try something ... besides just dining hall food.”

Li said he has yet to decide whether to join an eating club.

He was not particularly troubled by the prospect of the University adding upperclass dorms to his college.

“I think the residential college system is quite good,” he said. “I don’t see any particular harm in having [under]classmen in the current upperclass housing.”

In addition to asking participants to rank their preferences for transferring upperclass dorms to residential colleges, the survey asks students which factors are important in “determining a positive housing experience.” Choices include room size and location, proximity to kitchens and study spaces, and the age of the building. Additionally, students are asked state their preference for living in a newly constructed or ecologically friendly dorm.

Another component of the survey has students evaluate the extent to which certain residential-college-related factors affect their living experience. Beyond questions relating to room size and proximity to various amenities, participants must determine the importance of residential college events and trips, academic support and programs, and dining hall food quality.