Rising sophomores were notified on April 7 of their housing lottery pick-time. Several groups were notified that they would be unable to participate in the initial lottery process. On April 9, eligible rising sophomores picked housing for the upcoming academic year.
An email sent out to rising sophomores on April 7 listed the available housing arrangements they could pick from. The email explained that groups of four in a non-residential college lottery could select a room from Kostka Hall, Claver Hall or Faber Hall. Additionally, groups of two could be placed into traditional housing which would be Loyola Hall and 70 McCormick Road where residents live in doubles
Options for groups of eight were only eight-person suites in 42 Langguth Road.
These options differed in various years with Loyola Hall previously housing both first-years and sophomores as well. In the upcoming year, Loyola Hall will be for sophomore students only, and will not act as a residential college.
Many groups during the initial lottery faced disappointment after they were informed they would be unable to participate in the initial housing selection.
First-year Alexandria Morrissey expressed her disappointment with the Office of Residence Life’s handling of the situation and stated, “I was very unhappy with the housing process this year because so many students are not able to live where sophomores typically live. I wish the school could have communicated earlier about how many students would not be able live in the village.”
The Mirror reached out to the Office of Residence Life regarding the housing waitlist for the rising sophomore class.
Charles Sousa, senior associate director of housing operations stated there were 70 rising sophomore groups on the waitlist. Sousa stated this was because “this year suites were a very popular option for the rising sophomores.”
First-year Megan Rogoz expressed her disappointment for being placed on the waitlist stating, “It felt very frustrating being communicated thinking you could get into a suite when there aren’t enough.”
First-year Carina Kortick had a similar sentiment “I felt overwhelmed not being able to choose where I’m living next year and hearing from others who were able to pick and be close to their friends.”
Similar situations were experienced by the rising junior class who picked before the sophomores for housing, as reported by The Mirror o. Many groups were also put on a supplemental lottery, forcing a rearrangement of their suitemates with little time to plan.
The 70 rising sophomore groups who are on the waitlist, according to Sousa “are eligible to configure their group of four into two groups of two and select housing in 70 McCormick Rd. or Loyola Hall.”
Likewise, in both grades groups of students are on a waitlist and housing arrangements will be unknown until late summer.
First-year Nicholas DiStefano is part of one of the groups placed on the waitlist. He felt disappointed in the lack of communication from ResLife. Moreso, he wished it was communicated that there would be a high possibility that “we will be across campus far away from all the other sophomores in our class living in the quad once again.”
Students who have expressed disappointment in the housing selection process this year have also provided insight into potential changes they would like to see in the future.
First-year students Ashley Krol and Megan Rogoz commented in a joint statement on the situation saying that “Fairfield advertises that sophomores get a private bathroom and if they are very lucky they get a kitchen.”
They continued, “they fail to mention the many groups of sophomores who will have to reconfigure and stay in the quad two years in a row.”
Suggestions of changing the system to where it is a more reward-based system versus random was suggested.
Krol and Rogoz stated that “the only way to fix the situation for the future is to either stop admitting so many people and or build more housing to accommodate their growing population.”
Krol and Rogoz closed their statement by emphasizing how Fairfield continues to express “they are understanding about student body’s needs, wants, opinions — however, they don’t see eye to eye with the amount of money undergraduates pay yearly plus their endowment you assume this wouldn’t be an issue.”
Students who have concerns about housing arrangements or any other questions are urged to reach out to Res Life @residencelife@fairfield.edu to schedule an appointment.
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