The housing reservation process has begun.

Running through April 15 at 5 p.m., the online registration is four-week process that determines with whom and where current Syracuse students will live next semester.

Today, the housing department is processing the thousands of registrations currently underway. So far, nearly 4,000 Syracuse students have paid the housing deposit, said Eileen Simmons, director of housing. Learning communities, single rooms and a majority of three and four-person suites have been assigned to students.

And for the first time, a strict, non-negotiable two-year on-campus living policy is being enforced within that available housing.

‘What got lost were real reasons,’ said Simmons, in regard to exemptions and requests to forgo the two-year housing requirement. ‘But between North and South Campus housing, there is no reason one can’t manage, for whatever reason.’

But in 2005, housing couldn’t manage to find room for all who needed a room. It’s been three years since ‘the blip year.’

Known as ‘the blip year,’ 2005 saw 40 Syracuse University students turning the Sheraton Hotel into home for the school year. All because of a breakdown in communication between the housing department and admissions office, as student enrollment numbers were not compared enough with the amount of available housing.

The 2005 error in available housing was reviewed, and the department is working to ensure there is space for everyone who needs and requests a room.

In addition to the 17 main campus dorms and South Campus housing, construction on ‘619,’ (the dorm under construction in front DellPlain) located at that address on Comstock Avenue, is under way. Plans for two additional dorms – one each on North and South Campus – are in the works.

While students’ opinions on dorms vary, living in one – or two or three or more – is part of the college experience. The Daily Orange breaks down available housing at Syracuse.

akalliso@syr.edu

Published on March 31, 2008 at 12:00 pm