Off-Campus Approvals Dwindle

The annual off-campus housing lottery was conducted on Tuesday, Feb. 16 in Crossroads Café as a part of the 2016-17 Housing Process. The lottery brought the total number of students approved to live-off campus next fall to 75, marking a nearly 25 percent drop from last year’s 95 and the preceding year’s 106.

According to Associate Dean of Students for Residential and Student Life Doug Adams, the ongoing construction of the new Ridgeline Residence Complex served as the greatest factor in the decision to lower the off-campus approval number for the upcoming academic year. Upon completion, the complex — which will consist of four buildings with townhouse and suite-style apartments — is set to provide new housing for 158 upperclassmen students.

“In the spring of 2015, the College announced that the new construction would serve three purposes: the removal of the Mods, the return of residential lounges currently used as rooms and the reduction in the number of students living off-campus,” said Adams. “The new housing is on track to open this fall and we anticipate continuing with all of these plans.”

Concerns regarding town-gown relations and off-campus incidents with partying were not responsible for the upcoming school year’s approval drop.

“The reduction in the number of students living off-campus has been our plan since the announcement [of the new residence complex] last year,” Adams said.

The lottery was a random selection process that permitted students to apply as individuals or groups of up to eight peers. 28 students currently living off campus extended their status to the fall semester, leaving 47 spots available to be included in this year’s lottery. In total, 119 students applied for these remaining spots and were invited to observe the process, which was intentionally made transparent to mitigate concerns of tampering.

Controversy rose last year when several students accused the administration of rigging the lottery against varsity athletes who may have been likely to throw off-campus parties. 37 varsity athletes applied and only eight were accepted.  A study conducted by the Paige-Wright Professor of Economics Paul Somers reported the probability of this outcome occuring was .0035 percent. However, Adams maintained the lottery was and continues to be completely random and noted it has always been an open process that permits students to observe the proceedings.

The only change to this year’s lottery was the creation of a “reserve list” that included students who were not selected to live off campus. Applicants in this list will be contacted in the event there is an emergency need for students to live off campus. However, Adams does not anticipate such a need for the upcoming year, remaining optimistic the Ridgeline Housing Complex will be ready by its projected September 2016 completion date.

In an article released following the announcement of the construction project, Adams said, “The design of these buildings will allow students to live near their academic and social centers while continuing the small-community feel they’ve enjoyed in the ‘mods’ or off campus.”