Room draw goes online as senior open draw postponed

Issue date: 2/14/07
Publication: Middlebury Campus
Section: News
Kerren McKeeman

This spring, the College's room draw process will take place for the first time entirely online. The change represents the continuation of an ongoing effort to reform room draw.

Using Banner Web will not only eliminate the need to relocate Commons staff to Kenyon Arena during the week of room draw, but will also save students time by not requiring them to wait in line. Additionally, students studying abroad will be able to participate in room draw from their own computers, eliminating the need for others to stand in on their behalf.

Some students have run into specific problems with room draw, however, that will not be solved by the online switch.

"I had the same Commons number three years in a row," said Becca Marcus '07.5. "And when I took one semester off my junior year, they subtracted two semester points, which bumped me out of senior room draw altogether."

In both cases, Marcus was told the system could not be changed.

Brainerd Commons Coordinator Karin Hall-Kolts said she believes students complain too much about the Commons affiliation with room draw.

"Students complained when room draw had nothing to do with the Commons," Hall-Kolts said, "so we changed the system. Now that room draw includes the Commons, students still complain."

Some students believe that several Commons have much better senior housing than others, but Hall-Kolts believes housing differences do not keep students from enjoying their life on campus.

"Middlebury students are so busy-how much time do they spend in their room anyway?" Hall-Kolts said. "No matter what room you live in, you will still be able to hang out with your friends."

Commons-related changes have been presented to the administration. Earlier this academic year, the Student Government Association (SGA) gathered student opinions using an online survey about room draw. In October, it met to debate and formed its proposal to the Presidential Staff on room draw reform.

"The official SGA recommendation," said SGA President Alex Stanton '07, "was a completely open draw for seniors, without any consideration of Commons affiliation." Stanton's proposal, if enacted, would effectively end senior Commons draw.

Also included in the SGA proposal was a suggestion by representative Andrew Herzik '07.5 to allow students who had earned Commons points to apply for housing in Commons that are not their own. For instance, students who remained in Brainerd Commons through their junior year could use their cumulative Commons points in Atwater senior draw, if they so chose.

According to Dean of the College Tim Spears, removing the Commons from the room draw process could potentially cause problems. Students may feel less inclined to stick with their Commons if they cannot benefit from the system during their senior year.

"If Commons affiliation to housing only applies to [first-years] and sophomores," said Spears, "what does the Commons mean?"

In addition to the SGA's recommendation, the Presidential Staff has also been discussing ways in which housing facilities can be equalized among the College's five Commons. Suggestions include assigning an equal number of first-years to each Commons as well as redistributing dorms and houses among Commons.