For upperclassmen, the scene is all too familiar. It’s summer-time for carefree days, spending time with friends, hanging out at the beach-and then comes the fall tuition bill.
And to top it all off, included on the bill are the fees for housing damages from the previous year. For some, these charges are no small chunk of change.
According to Gary Stephenson, director of housing operations, the campus-wide bill for damages last year totaled almost $180,000. This total includes both common area damages, which are divided among all residents of a building, and individual room damages.
As of April 25, Campion is leading the way with common area damages, with a total of $9,203.55.
Gonzaga Hall is fourth, with $7,034.63 in common area damages so far. However, Gonzaga has seen the most problematic damages this year, according to Stephenson.
In the past semester, five sinks have been ripped out of the wall there, said Jon Kugler ’04, a resident assistant in the building.
The total cost of about $7,000 doesn’t include the charges for these actions, said Stephenson. Once added in, Gonzaga will most likely be the dorm with the highest charges for the year.
Meanwhile, Jogues Hall, which has been notorious in the past for its high damage fees, has actually seen less damage since becoming an all-freshmen dorm last fall. “The damage is right where we had hoped it would be,” said Stephenson.
In comparison,buildings like Kostka, Claver, Dolan, and Loyola see fewer common area damage problems (see Snapshot, above).
“I think it’s because people have taken more ownership of the building,” said Rob Keder, ’04, an RA in Loyola Hall, where damages so far are $3,450.77. However, he added, it only takes one person to cause damage, so you can’t speak for a whole building.
According to the student handbook, “Damages caused to the room, townhouse, or apartment and its furnishings will be charged to residents of that room or unit,” while damages caused to common areas will be charged to either the residents of the entire building or to a specific floor within the building, unless the perpetrator can be identified.
“It’s all about being in a respectful community,” said Stephenson. Students are urged to report anything they know about individuals responsible for common area damages to an RA or to the department of housing.
The highest bills occur when an elevator is damaged, according to Stephenson. When this occurs, the whole building is usually charged to have the elevator repaired. In addition, since the repairs typically take place on the weekends, then students are charged to pay the maintenance workers time and a half.
During the year, said Keder, charges usually come from people ripping down posters from bulletin boards or leaving messes in the hallways that must be cleaned up. He also said a floor is usually charged every time a toilet or water fountain needs to be fixed.
In cases where building damage is continuously a problem, said Kugler, the RAs usually talk to the residents to see if they know anything about the responsible individuals. Then, there is usually a mandatory meeting with housing, along with increased rounds by RAs as well as an increased presence of security.
In extreme cases, according to Stephenson, it might be necessary to hire a security officer to remain in the building constantly. When this happens, the residents of the building are charged to pay for the cost of the security officer.
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