"I will pay you to buy my dorm contract!" reads a desperate classified ad.

Such drastic measures are not unusual for students who want to sell their University housing contracts before the end of the academic year.

One of the problems facing buyers and sellers alike is a lack of understanding about the requirements for dorm contract sales.

Confusion about the policy was an obstacle for Christy Nipe (sophomore-theater arts), who was unable to sell her dorm contract despite the 100 fliers she posted around campus.

"Most of the calls I got were from people, mostly freshmen, who didn't understand and wanted a direct room switch," Nipe said.

In fact, the process of unloading a dorm contract is officially known as a "contract exchange," and all the information about it is available in the Terms and Conditions Brochure that students must read before signing their contracts, said Chris Hurley, manager of the Assignment Office for Campus Residences.

When students sign housing contracts, they are under a year-long obligation, Hurley said, adding that selling contracts back to the University is not an option for students.

The only circumstance that allows students to end their contracts before the agreed-upon date is "when the student is no longer a student" at the University, Hurley said.

But when the dorms are overbooked for a certain semester, the Assignment Office will sometimes send letters to selected students, offering them the opportunity to be released from their contract, Hurley added.

Students cite a variety of reasons for wanting to leave the dorms during the year. Some find vacancies in off-campus apartments. Others join social organizations that have their own houses.

"I joined a fraternity and wanted to move into the house this semester," said Tom Olliver (sophomore-landscape contracting), who was also unable to sell his contract.

But the University does not provide for circumstances like these in its contract agreements.

"Whatever happens to cause students to want to sell is not caused by us," Hurley said, adding that the students are obligated to find eligible buyers for their dorm contracts.

Hurley acknowledged that the University does not match buyers and sellers, but added that the lack of such a list has not been a problem.

The lack of a definite system for matching prospective buyers and sellers adds to the difficulty of selling a contract.

"I was sure there must be some sort of a list," Nipe said.