Students find temporary homes

It's loved, it's hated.

It's temporary housing -- and it's back.

Spring Semester brings a whole new batch of students that will form its own first-hand opinions about temporary housing.

"Anybody who is transferring from another university or from off-campus housing is given temp housing (in the spring)," said Kathy Krinks, manager of the assignment office for campus residences.

Spring Semester typically begins with about 200 students in temporary housing and is usually emptied by the end of January, Krinks said. The University will offer a $75 housing cost rebate to students who remain in temporary housing longer than a month this semester, Krinks said.

As for the almost 700 Fall Semester temporary housing residents, all were moved into permanent housing residences for the Spring Semester, she said.

Some dreaded leaving their spacious, make-shift rooms, while others looked forward to leaving temporary housing behind.

Fall Semester temporary housing resident Katy Wilner (freshman-engineering) is enjoying her new Spring Semester residence.

"Last semester I was never sure when I was going to have to leave," Wilner said, "but this semester I know that I'm here permanently and don't have to worry about moving mid-semester."

New Spring Semester resident Jeff Rudnicki (freshman-business) has a different spin on his temporary housing experience.

"I don't like the fact that I have to move out (eventually), but I do like the fact that it's a big room and there are only two of us in it," Rudnicki said.

Students in temporary housing receive large rooms, but a bonus that the Spring Semester residents will not get is the complimentary soda and popcorn that Fall Semester residents found their rooms equipped with.

These gifts were often negatively received by temporary housing residents last semester, Krinks said, so adjustments were made.

"If students believe that we're trying to make up for something not as good, then we need to revisit how it is we can improve the accommodations besides providing goodies," Krinks said.

Students can also play a role in improving the temporary housing situation, Krinks said. Spring Semester temporary housing exists largely because some Fall Semester students decide to drop out or transfer from the University and do not inform the assignment office, she added.

"If we could somehow get students to let us know they aren't coming back," Krinks said, "it would be our dream come true."