Housing selection gets stressful with remote learning

By Georgiana Ploss

With housing times unknown until the day of housing selections, housing selection is always a stressful time for students. However, as students are not on campus to discuss possible room situations with their friends, housing is “definitely more stressful this year,” junior Eliza Lester said. The housing selection process started on Monday, April 13 for students in special interesting housing along with the honors and quiet housing students. During the two days following, rising seniors could choose their suites. The most common dorm chosen for seniors was New Hall, with all suites having been filled by 8:30 p.m. on April 14, about an hour and a half after the lottery opened. “My group was really frustrated because we have eight, but two girls needed singles, and New Hall was the only way we’d stick together,” Lester said. “We had to completely change our plans, and have still been trying to figure things out since then. I have also never gotten the chance to get what I wanted for housing in all four years, which is annoying because we pay a lot of money to live here.” Other popular places for seniors include the Colonial Courts and Commonwealth Courts. Rising juniors’ housing selection occurred on April 16 and 20, with popular places including the Colonial Courts, Commonwealth Courts, and Pilgrim Heights. Junior Laura Cunningham, who is living in the Colonial Courts next year, is “super excited” about living there after spending this past year in Boland. Rising sophomores’ housing selection occurred on April 21. Although there are six places to choose – Corr, O’Hara Village, Pilgrim Heights, Pilgrim Heights Village, Boland, and Villa Theresa – the Heights typically fill up with upperclassmen first. After the primary housing selection days were finished, the Office of Residence Life emailed students notifying them that if they wish to change their housing assignment, there are forms available to be filled out. However, one thing which Residence Life clearly states, is that, “the Office of Residence Life does not recognize claims on spaces made on social media or via other means.” Additionally, according to Residence Life’s website, singles are “typically assigned to students who demonstrate a need for that type of space through the Housing Accommodation Process.” Please visit Residence Life’s website for more details: https://www.stonehill.edu/offices-and-services/residence-life/housing-selection/