Unknown to many campus dwellers, a new policy was announced last week at the West Halls Residence Association (WHRA) meeting. The director of housing dropped by to let everyone know that he decided to invoke housecleaning seven days a week as opposed to the current weekday cleaning.

What that means for the housing staff is less manpower on the weekdays and required weekend shifts for some. For the students on campus, it means that on Saturday and Sunday mornings, the housing staff will be busy in their bathrooms and maintenance men will roam the halls. While paint chips drift from the ceiling and walls of many parts of campus dormitories, our new director of housing, Fred Fotis, has made an unpopular decision that has enflamed both students and housing staffs.

Also notable is that Mr. Fotis claims no raise in room and board costs is required for these changes, which introduces the most major question of all: Where does the money come from? Will there be less money for repairs and renovations for which it seems money is already limited? Will some hidden costs show up on our next semester bill? Will the housing staff get a pay cut? Too many questions haunt Mr. Fotis' decision.

Last week, many WHRA representatives were prepared to express their concerns on the matter, but Mr. Fotis had already come to his own conclusions which excluded any true open forum with the bill-payers of Penn State. How considerate. If that decision was so easy for Mr. Fotis, what else may be on his blank-check agenda?

For years, the students on campus have survived not having their bathrooms and lounges cleaned for two days on the weekend. I'm certain there are other needs that housing can attend to that are far more urgent and make far more sense.