Overcrowding Continues to Plague U of I Resii
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U of I football is How did all those ready for plants get here? GLIAC action. See page 2 to See page 3 for learn about the the hard-hitting u N I V E R S ITY 0 F 1 N D IA N A P 0 I, I S Centennial details. 1400 EASIHANKA AVENUE INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46227 Garden. RESIDENCE LIFE Overcrowding continues to plague U of I resii seem worse to those males who were Some study lounges denied their request for a single room. More students than usual requested may house up to six singles this year because they saw that single rooms were available last year. male students But the unusual availability of single rooms last year came about because U of I was not overcrowded. Smith says that if students are still Julie Anderson living in the ctudy lounges next semes- News Editor ter, it will be by their own choice. “Since we inconvenienced them to begin with, we try not to force them out Accommodations will be a little snug if they’re comfortable,” he said. “If this year in the U of I residence halls. For they’ve got ;I group ofthree kids and they the fourth time in the past five years, the want to stay there, we try to honor that.” university faces an overcrowding prob- The university should have space lem for its resident students. available next semester. Some students Approximately 1,060 spaces exist for will not return second semester and few students in residence halls and campus new qtudents will enroll mid-year. apartments. All of these spaces have The problem of overcrowding is not been filled for the current school year, new to IT of I. Three years ago, about 13 with almost as many new students as students lived at the Days Inn on East returning students moving into the resi- Thompson Road and took an hourly dence halls. shuttle to and from campus. The 1,060spaces include single rooms “We didn’t consider that a success for 45 resident assistants. The Campus becauce many students left the institu- Apartments are also included, but not tion,” said Smith. every spot in the apartments is filled, Most of these students did not leave because the university does not force because they were unhappy with their four people to live in each unit. living situation. Instead, they were late Greg Smith, director of residence life to enroll at thc university and left early, for the past five years, offers two expla- as many late arrivals often do. nations for the increased housing de- Photo by Kuthleen Oshortw “The folks that are coming in the door mand. Warren Hall is just one of the resident halls that has experienced an overcrowding problem. The resident now are more likely to leave than people “Some of the programs.. .on campus halls are filled to capacity, including putting as many students as possible into study lounges. who turned in their app1ic;itions.. .earlier are making campus life more attractive,” on,” Smith said. he said. He added that as the university Smith with hispredictions. He also works housing-about 140 more than the uni- study lounges on the men’s side in Cory Two years ago, the university offered draws more incoming students, these with the Office of Admissions and the versity can handle at maximum capacity. Bretz Hall will be used to house resi- to buy students out for $1000 or move students are more likely to want to stay Director of Institutional Research to pre- Returning students’ contracts must dents. Those lounges can accornniodatc them to ;in off-campus apartment. on-campus for their sophomore year. dict overall enrollment. Some underly- be collected by the end of Spring Term, about 10- 12 students. This situation also had problems. Because the University of Indianapo- ing patterns have developed over the so it is easier to estimate the number of Although the prospect of living in a Some students were far from campus lis is tuition-dependent it does not close years. For instance, females tend to sub- returning residents. Once these students study lounge may seem less than ideal at and still had to pay for utilities. If the enrollment. or housing. Keeping enroll- mit their housing contracts and deposits sign up for housing, it becomes (easierto first, the idea grows on many students. university ran into more overcrowding, ment open brings more money that can earlier than males, who often wait until forecast how much room will be needed “We’ll get five or six kids in those “that might be the avenue we would go,“ be used to improve the campus housing the summer to make a rinal decisroii. iii tlic residence halls. Keturning stu- lounges and within the tirst ~zccli01 Sniilh sind. situation. Solutions may include open- Smith keeps track of these trends begin- dents‘ contracts and deposits are consid- school we may move one or two out,” .‘But in effect, we lost a lot of money ing up the fourth floor of Central Hall ning in April. ered before incoming students, are as- Smith said.Sometimes, the remaining two on those two deals and we didn’t get a lot and allowing more students into Campus This year, an initial spike in the num- signed rooms. to four students decide that they don‘t of good publicity out of it either.” Apartments. ber of potential residents caused a mild Several options are currently in place want to leave because they are living in Overall, Smith does not see an end to Predicting how many students will panic. Had the numbers continued to to ease the overcrowding. As in past a space much larger than a regular room. the overcrowding situation. request housing can be tricky. Past hous- climb at that rate, officials would have years, females will occupy the fifth floor The overcrowding problem involves “I expect us to continue to be tight for ing trends and educated guesswork help expected about 1200 students to request of Warren Hall on the men’s side. All male residents only, so the problem may probably the next couple of years.” RESIDENCE LIFE North Hall becomes Corv Bretz Hall U Jessica Roberts and planned to use the other items given sor who worked at the Illinois Institute of Managing Editor to them. Technology for 29 years, was honored At both dedication ceremonies, the for hi5 loyalty to the university in June Bretzes expressed appreciation for the 1995, when he was recognized as an faculty, trustees and students. honorary alumnus of the University of In April, President Jerry Israel, “At times like this, all one can really Indianapolis. He was recognized as such Christel DeHaan, and several trustees do is smile and say ‘thank you’ with because of the time and money he do- informed the campus that North Hall humility,” Harold said. “Other notable nated to the university. would be renamed Cory Bretz Hall, after couples have given much to U of 1 also, In June1990, the Bretzes were the a couple long associated with the uni- but we were asked to represent all of first couple to receive the Gene and versity. them in the renaming of this hall.” Joanne Sease Award. The award honors Twodedicationceremonies were held The Bretzes were honored this way couples who have given their time, talent to honor the Bretzes and the residence because of their long connection to the and treasure to the university. hall’s new name, which includes Ann university. The Bretzes value their ability to of- Bretz’s maiden name, Cory. The first Ann first became affiliated with the fer service to others in their lives. The ceremony,onApril25,wasasurprisefor university when she became a U of I couple had no children but feel they students living in North Hall. The sec- student in 1945. She earned undergradu- lived up to the university’s motto of ond, on June 1, was part of Alumni ate degrees in English education and “EducationforService”by teaching other Weekend. history and went on to earn a graduate people’s children. “I appreciate that my maiden name is degree at Purdue University and a Ph.D. They also consider religion a part of recognized, because I was married while at the University of Chicago Divinity their life of service. Both are faithful I was a student here,” Ann said. “And [I School. members of Irvington Presbyterian appreciate] that Harold, too, is recog- During the Bretzes’ 29 years of living Church. nized because he became an honorary in Chicago, Ann stayed committed to the Because service is such a large part of alumnus in 1995.” university. She traveled to Indianapolis the Bretzes’ lives, they view their contri- At the student ceremony, members of to attend board meetings and speak on butions to the university as second na- the Residence Hall Association presented Career Days. ture. They echo a statement made by the Bretzes with appropriate gifts: their Later. she became a professor for the Julia Ward Howe, author of The Buttle own set of keys to the hall and a shower Women Aware Series, a U of I adult Hymn of‘thlr Repihlic, that explains her caddy full of college staple items such as learning program created during the late ideal aim of life: “To learn, to teach, to Ramen noodles, popcorn, flip-flops, soap, 1960s. She also became a Distinguished serve, to enjoy.” and toothbrushes and toothpaste. Trustee after several terms on the board “Considered in this tradition,” Ann The couple was pleased with the gifts of trustees.