Reconciling Room Draw and the Commons System

Author: Tom Drescher

Housing is always a major concern for the student body this time of year, with room draw and Student Government Association (SGA) elections both falling in April.
More than 100 rising sophomores failed to draw rooms earlier this month, and to further exacerbate the situation, it is possible that there will be a significant decline in the number of students going abroad next fall. Additionally, students, faculty and staff are still seeking a way for the current room draw process and the commons system to coexist.
According to the Middlebury College Board of Trustees, the commons system is bolstered by three founding principles: decentralized dining, proximate housing for a Faculty Head and continuing membership for students. In its "Enhanced Residential Plan," submitted on May 8, 1998, the Residential Life Committee recommended "that all students be assigned to a commons after admission and that they retain their affiliation for all four years. [. . . ] Students should be required to live in their commons cluster for the first two years."
The plan also suggested that juniors and seniors transfer from one commons to another only "in special cases."
Currently, the housing situation has prevented these goals from being realized. Making it mandatory for students to remain in their commons for the first two years is not even an option at this point. In fact, many rising sophomores are forced to switch commons.
David Edleson, dean of Cook Commons, explained that the most common criticism he has heard concerning room draw and the commons system is that "students can't continue, that they create strong relationships with their dean, the Faculty Head, their [commons] coordinator, and then have to move. This undermines the sense of community we are striving to build."
Additional buildings have created an imbalance in senior housing among the commons. Ross and Cook in particular favor seniors, while Brainerd's senior housing is limited.
"I think it is true that the new senior housing has had a big impact on room draw, and in the short term, it does undermine the commons idea," said Edleson. "However, in the long run, it will most likely balance out as we revise room draw to take such matters into consideration."
"I am hoping to find [a solution] that recognizes senior priority but also designates a certain amount of rooms for continuing [in one's] commons," he explained. "Next year, we hope to work all year on just this matter."
Future construction projects are intended to create a balance and make continuing in one's commons more feasible. The commons system is far from being perfected, but the College community is beginning to adjust, according to Residential Systems Coordinator Mariah McKechnie. "I suspect there will be an attempt to make continuing commons more feasible and important in room draw," she said. "Students seem to have developed a strong attachment to their commons and look forward to continuing. This is exactly what everyone hoped would happen, and as soon as facilities can accommodate continuing commons, I expect that it will continue to increase in popularity."
Block draw is another example of the imbalance between seniority and continuing commons. "Blocks do allow one person to draw in students from other commons. That is good for upperclassmen who want to live with their friends, but it places those wanting to continue in their commons at a disadvantage," said Edelson. "Again, the goal is to balance the various needs, wishes and priorities, but it can be tricky."
The commons draw has been an attempt to promote continuing within a particuar commons. "As the common system takes root, students' desire to continue in their commons has become a significant concern and one that we address through commons draw," said Edleson.
Students drawing in their current commons have priority over those attempting to draw in from other commons, but seniority still has precedence. As a result, many rising sophomores are squeezed out of commons that have better senior housing.
It is important to realize, however, that the results of this year's room draw reflect a recent trend, and students should not be overly concerned. According to McKechnie, "The bottom line is that things appear to be normal, and unhoused students will be dealt with as best as possible."
It is possible that the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) will impact the College's housing situation for the next academic year. If students are persuaded to stay on campus instead of studying abroad next fall, a housing shortage could ensue. At room draw, it is assumed that a certain number of junior rooms will become available for unhoused students in summer draw, but if there is a significant decline in the number of students going abroad, the supply of rooms might not satisfy demand.
SARS could potentially influence housing, but come September, every student will have a room, said McKechnie. The College has worked hard to meet the housing needs of its students, and next year will not be an exception. The real issue is finding a way for the room draw process to complement the increasingly popular ideals of the commons system.