Residential Life makes changes to 2012-2013 room draw process

by callie radke
staff writer

With room draws just around the corner (the event will take place at the end of March to early April), awkward roommate discussions and frantic searches for the fifth apartment member are abounding.
This year’s room-draw process looks a little different than it has in years past. To help alleviate stress, Residential Life has decided to use a preset randomized list to create appointments for groups to select their rooms.
This list will be created ahead of time by representatives from ASB and Student Congress. Roommate groups will go to the caf during their 15-minute appointment to participate in the actual drawing, removing the hassle of spending time waiting.
The focus of the new system is to try to be proactive and transparent in order to help students with housing, said Molly Peterson, the housing coordinator and resident director of Finch Hall.
“[Students] just want their experience to be the best it can be, and I want it to be the best it can be,” said Peterson. “It’s like a giant puzzle where you try and fit everyone in a room that they want, but that’s also the best for them.”
Until the time for room draws arrives, students living in the dorms will fill out housing forms in their resident hall’s box to ensure that housing preferences are entered into an Excel spreadsheet being created by Residential Life.
Students living off campus who wish to move on campus and those who live in Flex also need to complete the forms, and they can pick them up in the Student Development offices.
Some students said they are relieved to hear about the changes, noting how stressful the process was. Sophomore Ali Turnquist, who was left without a room most of the summer last year, was pleased to hear that the method would not be the same.
“I’m excited to see that they’ve changed the process this year,” Turnquist said. “Hopefully it works out better for everyone.”
A few of the other changes made by Residential Life include more information being sent to students via e-mail and a Facebook page to help facilitate roommate connections. The page can be found by searching “PLNU Room Draw Process 2012-2013.”
Peterson said students should contact her with questions before room draws and make sure to check their e-mails.
“Our goal is to be transparent with everything we do,” said Peterson. “The only way we have to do this is through e-mail.”
Students can also contact their resident assistants, who are informed about the room draws and may have either gone through the process themselves. Klassen RA Megan Leih said the job of the RA is to help students who are struggling, even if they have a unique situation.
“We just need to be informative and understand the process ourselves, which is sometimes difficult for certain circumstances,” said Leih.
Leih also said housing might seem daunting, but the new process should make it easier.
“In reality, housing is not an issue,” said Leih. “You’re going to have a place to live.”