Tri-Campus commissioner Alison Spurlock reported to the Board of Governance that many rising juniors have complaints about the quota system applied to Saint Mary's residence halls.
"The Class of 2011 is the first class to have to live on campus for all three years," Spurlock said. "Many students are concerned about having to live in Regina and McCandless."
Residence Hall Association President Maura Clougherty met with the Director of Residence Life and Community Standards Slandie Dieujuste to discuss the situation.
"Slandie said that the reason they put quotas in the halls is to increase diversity among the classes and increase a sense of community," Clougherty said.
According to quotas from the 2008-2009 academic year, 130 spots in LeMans and 80 in Holy Cross, which Clougherty states students think of as the "desired" halls, were reserved for juniors. Ninety-five spots were reserved in McCandless Hall and 90 were reserved in Regina Hall for juniors this year.
Admissions commissioner Kristle Hodges said that parents have made comments when they visited campus saying they prefer their daughters live on campus as long as possible.
Clougherty also mentioned the renovations of Annunciata, the top floor of Holy Cross.
"Slandie said we are 100 percent sure that Annunciata will be getting a full kitchen and students can apply for the off-campus meal plan. This should encourage more students to live on campus," Clougherty said.
Two senior Saint Mary's Communication Studies majors asked for a co-sponsorship to attend the Central States Communication Conference in St. Louis. Stephanie Kornexl's comprehensive project was on Potowatami Indians and Lauren Kleinschimdt's was on Harry Potter. Both students were selected to present their research at the conference.
"This is a great opportunity for undergrads and grads to present their scholarly research to other schools," Kornexl said.
Senior Alyssa Ryan, a member of the National Psychology Honor Society Psi Chi asked for a co-sponsorship for the 13 members of the Saint Mary's chapter to go to the Midwestern Psychological Conference in Chicago.
"It will be a two-night conference in Chicago for the eight of us to hear talks on psychiatrists and psychologists and to go talks and lectures to approve our club on campus and campus involvement," Ryan said.
