Housing allocations announced: Spelman 8 returns to independent draw

Data gathered from the Undergraduate Housing Demand Survey, conducted this fall, informed the Housing Department’s new policies. This data was supplemented by information from meetings of the Council of Masters, the ICC, Residence Committees and student groups.

To increase the number of slots available in residential colleges, the portion of Walker Hall that is currently assigned to upperclassmen will be added to Wilson College. Additional rooms in Little Hall will be incorporated into Mathey College.

This year’s plan reverses last year’s transfer of Spelman 8 to Whitman College. The Spelman building was removed from independent draw because of statistics indicating a trend of declining interest in independent living. Between 2005 and 2008, there was a 28 percent drop in student demand for independent housing.

The initial plan was to add Spelman 7 and 8 to Whitman. The Spelman transition aroused significant controversy among students, however, instigating a student-led protest. Eventually, only Spelman 8 was transferred, following a slight increase in demand for Spelman housing. This year, Spelman 8 will return to independent draw.

Wilf Hall, a part of the new Butler College, will be split between the Butler, independent and upperclass draws. Cuyler Hall will move to upperclass draw. Some rooms in Brown Hall will also be removed from the upperclass draw due to construction of a new exit from the Brown courtyard.