Housing process kicks off this week

By Rebecca Huval

The Daily Northwestern

The housing assignment process for students who want to live on-campus next year begins today in Parkes Hall and will stretch over the next two weeks.

Assignments first will be made today and Tuesday for students who want to live in triples and quads.

Students who want to live in Kemper Hall suites, as well as groups of three or four students who want to live in adjacent rooms in Foster-Walker Complex, also will be assigned.

The housing process may cause stress for some students, but officials said no one should worry.

“Everyone’s going to get a room,” said Mark D’Arienzo, associate director of university housing. “Nobody’s going to be living in a tent by the Lakefill. Our first concern is to get everyone housed.”

Singles will be assigned on Wednesday and Thursday, while students who want to live in doubles will have to wait until April 12 and 13. All remaining available spaces will be assigned on April 14.

Students should bring their housing cards, which they should have received from their resident assistants, to Parkes to have their priority numbers verified.

Students were e-mailed priority numbers, which determine their place in line. D’Arienzo said officials will check cards to verify appointments.

The student with the highest priority number in a group will have the controlling priority number.

Assignments will be made from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. until April 14.

Arriving early for the designated assignment time will not affect priority, D’Arienzo cautioned.

Although D’Arienzo said students should not worry about the process, he added that they should not expect to receive their first housing choices.

“I’m still not going to have a room with a jacuzzi and a private view of the lake for everyone who wants one,” he said. “(But) I think everyone’s going to live with the people they want.”

Kyle Luhr, a Weinberg freshman who currently lives in Allison Hall, said he is not worried about the housing process.

“I guess I haven’t heard any bad stories or anything,” Luhr said. “Even if I get a bad number, the person I’d be living with has a good number.”

Some students still are skeptical of the process. Weinberg freshman Samar Ghias, said she isn’t sure what to expect in the coming weeks.

“I don’t even know what a good priority number is,” said Ghias, who lives in 1835 Hinman. “Even though we were given vague instructions, I don’t feel like I’m comfortable with the whole process.”

Parkes is located at 1870 Sheridan Road. Students should report to room 122.