Colleges everywhere experiencing overcrowding

Not only is Cabrini experiencing overcrowding problems, but so are many other schools in our area, like Temple, Drexel, Neumann and Villanova. It does not matter how big or small the college is; rather, it is the amount of students who are applying. Many more students want to receive the full college experience by becoming residents.

by Chris Nielsen staff writer

Due to increasing enrollment and a growing demand for oncampus housing, several colleges, big and small, are experiencing overcrowding.

The boom in students who want •. to experience campus life has left many colleges with no other choice but to house their residents off-campus.

Among the colleges experiencing increases in residential student enrollment are Drexel University, Temple University and Villanova University.

Terry Scanlon, director of residential living at Drexel, said, "Enrollment has gone up, and that has impacted the space for our returning students."

Sophomore Keith Thompson, a previous Drexel resident who now commutes, said, ''The situation down there is pretty messed up."

One of Drexel's responses has been to move some students to available off-campus locations.

Where the resident students end up living is decided by a lottery system somewhat similar to Cabrini's.

In addition to on-campus cites, they now house students at such spots as the University of Pennsylvania and at hotels such as the Sheraton.

All in all, there are Drexel students housed at six different locations throughout the city.

One of the ways Drexel plans to alleviate their overcrowding problem is by building a new on-campus apartment building with 500 spots, which is scheduled for completion in March.

Scanlon feels that these extra spaces on campus, in addition to the 400 spots at Penn's International House, will have the students more satisfied.

Villanova University also is experiencing overcrowding, and they too have been forced to house some of their resident students off campus.

The university rents 100 spaces on Rosemont College's campus.

According to Villanova's dean of students, The Rev. Robert Stack, Villanova is experiencing a significant change in their enroll- ment.

Of the 10,000 applicants to Villanova last year, 9,200 requested on-campus housing.

Like Drexel, Villanova is re- campus. sponding by building an apartment complex to house more students on campus.

Some of Neumann's students are currently living in converted trailer homes behind the current dorm while a new one is being built.

The trailers house six students each.

For now, Temple is forced to house four students in rooms designed for three, and they converted some lounges into living spaces.

Like Temple. Cabrini has been forced to make some lounges into living spaces.

Also, many of the rooms which were originally doubles now serve as triples, particularly in Woodcrest Hall.

Another reason for the crowded situation is the end of Cabrini's association with Kingswood Apartments.

For the past four years, Cabrini students had lived at Kingswood through resident life.

The end of the agreement with them came as a smprise, according to Caulfield.

There are ongoing plans to build a new residence hall by 2000.

It will resemble Dixon House somewhat in its style and will house about 160 students.

This complex, which will house 620 students, is scheduled to be completed in 2000.

Even traditionally commuterbased colleges such as Neumann College and Temple University have, or are planning to build, more residences to satisfy student demand.

Cathy Caulfield, director of resident life at Cabrini, said that these are some of the drawbacks to the increased demand for oncampus housing.

She cites one of the reasons for the crowded situation to be the increase in first-year students interested in living on campus.

Whereas the average number of first-year students living on campus used to be around 70 percent, now 85 percent want to live on

In response to questions regarding why commuters were sent invitations to move onto campus in the spring, Caulfield cited the importance of using the maximum space on campus.

By this she meant that every single living space currently available on campus should be filled. Because there are typically fewer students living on campus in the spring than the fall semester, the commuters have been invited to move on campus next semester. ..

Typically, residence halls close on the same day that the last final is given. However, faculty have concerns about students driving too late at night or parents making all-night trips to pick up their sons and daughters. Resident life director Cathy Caulfield said that in the past, students from far distances have been offered the option of staying on campus an extra night to avoid late-night trips home.

by Melissa Lessig news editor

Some faculty members have expressed concern regarding the closing of residence halls for the Christmas break.

They believe the halls close too soon after final exams, forcing students from far distances to drive late at night or rely on parents making an all-night trip.

According to Nancy Gardner, assistant to provost/academic dean, the faculty did show some concern in a faculty meeting.

"I was unaware that there was concern," Caulfield said. "No faculty member ever talked to me."

According to Caulfield, the resident life office determines when the residence halls close based on the final exam schedule.

"We coordinate with the final exam schedule," Caulfield said. "Typically, we close the same day as the last final."

For example, if the last final were held at 1 p.m., residence halls would close at 7 p.m. that night, according to Caulfield.

However, Caulfield said that if a student lives if Connecticut, for example, and their parents

-Cathy can not pick them up until the next day, they would allow the student to stay.

"Students need to talk to their hall directors," Caulfield said.

As for this year's semester break, resident life is unsure as to the exact day they will close the halls.

"Last year, we stayed open until Sunday because of all the moves that took place,"

Caulfield said, referring to the large number of students moving into the then-new apartment complex.

"There were 120 students to move into halls, but there will not be so large a number this year."

According to Caulfield, the office is obtaining a list from the registrar to see how many residents have Saturday classes and therefore will be having a Saturday final exam.

"Most likely, we'll close on Friday or Saturday night," Caulfield said.

Caulfield does not see a problem with the closing of the residence halls as long as students contact t:heir hall directors to notify them that they need an extra day due to their distance from home.

"We accommodate students,'' Caulfield said.