Author: Soo Jin Kim
The Department of Residential Education and Housing Services (REHS) began initial planning for a program through which rising juniors can apply to live off campus during the 2011-2012 school year and skirt the current three-year housing policy.
Students who demonstrate proficiency in academics, display maturity and are actively involved in campus activities may qualify to live off campus, Assistant Dean of Students for REHS Tim Chang said. The terms on which REHS will judge student’s eligibility to live off campus will be finalized later this semester.
The administration reassessed the current housing policy in response to student requests. “Students asked me, ‘What if I have good grades, am involved and have made good decisions?'” Chang said. “I talked with my colleagues and said that if this was the case, we have accomplished our goals in helping students out in these areas.”
The standing policy, which currently affects all students starting from the current sophomores (class of 2013), mandates that students must live on campus for at least three years before being allowed to live off campus.
The three-year housing policy was originally implemented to increase focus on the college’s identity as a residential institution, despite its location in a major metropolis.
“It’s an effort to provide students with an engaged experience,” Saldana said. “Research shows that students that have lived on campus tend to succeed intellectually, maturely and are more involved in the campus activities, especially for liberal arts colleges.”
However, the three-year housing policy put great strain on the college’s infrastructure, requiring would-be roommates to break up and live in forced triples with other students in rooms designed specifically for doubles, and forcing incoming freshmen into triples.
“I was surprised when I first saw my room and how small it was … especially for the price that we’re paying, it shouldn’t be like that,” said Young.
The new policy will potentially lessen the logistical problems that the large number of students who are guaranteed room and board have placed on REHS and Dining Services.
Although looking to fulfill students’ wishes to live off campus, REHS is using an application process to determine students’ eligibility to live off campus to maintain the goals set in place by the three year policy. Assistant Director of Housing Services Michelle Saldana said that the students who are given a chance to live off campus next year will be students who exemplify the ideal Occidental student.
According to Saldana, the ideal Oxy student is “involved with campus life, strong with academics, ready to engage with the outside world.”
In order to evaluate how the student fits with this image, applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation, an essay and a transcript.
However, some students are skeptical about the application process. “The amendment is good in the sense that it gives an option for students,” said Sarah Kim (sophomore), “but it sounds like [the requirements] are not very objective and very vague … the [requirements] don’t mean anything and I don’t know why they have it.” However, the administration has not developed or released a finalized set of criteria.
In response to the administration’s initial requirements for those students who wish to live off campus, students have also expressed concerns with the academic components. “As juniors, [we] should be able to be responsible enough without people telling [us] you can’t [live off campus] because your GPA isn’t high enough,” Kendra Young (sophomore) said. “Students aren’t necessarily bad [if they don’t fulfill the requirements].”
Young also believes that the rule may compete with a student’s ability to realize his or her own potential. “I think [the requirements are] like a leash, trying to keep control on the students more,” said Young, “College is in part about growing up and taking care of yourself, and freedom is supposed to come with college … I can see how [the college] is trying to get students to become more involved, but at the same time it’s restricting.”
Despite these complaints, Chang remained optimistic. “I can’t imagine there being anything but good because students brought this up. It was the students who came up with it,” Chang said.
Because the amendment is currently still being formalized, sophomores have not yet received an official announcement about it. Applications for the opportunity to live off campus will be made available in November if the amendment is agreed upon.
More information will be presented at a town hall meeting on Sept. 29 in Haines Hall.
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