After receiving notice of their housing contract status via e-mail at the end of last week, students have expressed mixed emotions to university housing officials.

Many angry student voices flooded the phone lines of the assignment office Friday to voice their concerns.

"It's been a hectic day," said Kathy Krinks, assignment office manager. "I've learned words I never knew before.

"There's a lot of frustration, there's some anger and there are lots of questions," she said, adding the students who received temporary or supplemental status seem to be angrier than the students who were denied housing completely.

"They ask, 'How will I study? How can I live with six other people?' " Krinks said.

Students who were denied a space have the option of being put on a waiting list, and hopefully filtered into the system after Jan. 31, the deadline for the first round of contracts.

Kurt Miller (freshman-finance) was denied a contract, and is hoping to be assigned to a room in the near future.

"I am hoping to get on the waiting list and even get a room eventually," Miller said.

Miller posted his request on the Office of Off-Campus Living's Web site, (www.sa.psu.edu/OCL) a free online bulletin board for students looking to buy or sell housing contracts. The site also displays roommate requests for students currently living in apartments.

Miller is also turning to another option in case no one responds to his contract request on the Web site.

"I'm looking at apartments," Miller said.

Other students who were denied contracts are frustrated. Chris Zaccaria (freshman-finance and international business) already found a contract he can buy. Still, Zaccaria is perturbed about the lottery process itself.

"About the process, I think it's really screwed up. There's no benefit to applying early. I think it's really disorganized and I don't like it at all," he said.

Krinks said there is hope for the 1,200 students who received supplemental contracts and the 800 students who were rejected.

"I really want to say, hang in there. This is only the first round of contracts. There will be movement. We're going to have a bunch of cancellations between now and fall semester."

Of the 4,000 students who received permanent housing contracts, many do not necessarily agree that the lottery is the best way to determine housing status, but they are thankful that they received what they did.

"I'm pretty happy because a lot of people got supplemental or no housing at all," said Bryan Subach (freshman-division of undergraduate studies), a student who received a permanent space.

"I think this would make it more fair overall."

Students will receive their official housing contracts in the mail some time this week and must return them by Jan. 31 to reserve their spot.