Meter

Issue date: 9/8/09 Section: Campus News

Students and parents discuss their on-campus housing issues with Jeanette Smith in the Department of Residence Life.

Latisha Hurt remains frustrated with TSU's Office of Residence Life, although classes have been in session since Aug. 31.
Like Hurt, other angry students bundle together in the small lobby of the office's FPCC suite, waiting to be properly assigned to a residence center on campus.

"I have been up here three times and (my problem) still has not been resolved," said Hurt, a junior dental hygiene major from Detroit. "I came at 9:30 a.m. and (two hours later) I still have not been seen."

Hurt said she was assigned to Merl B. Eppse Hall. However, during the spring 2009 semester she requested to live in the Ford Residential Apartment Complex.

She also said earlier in the week Residence Life officials confirmed her stay in Ford.

"This is very unprofessional," Hurt said. "They need to have more staff to help because its only (Jeanette Smith) and she can not do it all herself."

Smith, administrative assistant for Residence Life, said she typically deals with the day-to-day questions and concerns of students.

Smith said many students call frequently throughout the day and many calls come through at the same time, which makes it difficult for all calls to be received.

Frustrated students are not accurate when pointing blame, she suggested.

"More than likely if a student does not have a housing assignment, they are at fault, not residence life," Smith said.

"Returning students had plenty of time to apply and pay housing fees."

Last semester, students were required to pay a $100 housing
fee, which reserved their spot for the fall semester.

In previous years, students did not pay a reservation fee prior to the start of each school year, and all housing fees were included with room and board prices.

"I think it was a bunch of bull," said junior accounting major Jarvis Tillman from Marietta, Ga. "TSU should stop with the shenanigans."

Low enrollment and financial strain for the university last fall were to blame for the new housing mandates. Students were also forced to fully register for classes before requesting a room.

Failure to pay reservation fees placed several room assignments in limbo throughout the summer. Procrastination, on students' part, prevented assignments being made.

Continued...

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