Simpsonian

Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: News

Students with higher grades will be given an additional boost in the housing lottery with a 100-point deduction for a GPA of 3.75 or higher. Jessie Springer/Staff Photographer

There has been one significant change to the Residence Life lottery system this semester. Those with a grade point average of a 3.75 or higher will get an additional 100-point deduction from their original lottery number.

Originally, those that had a GPA of 3.5 and above got only a 100-point deduction. Now, the change will benefit those with high GPAs and give them a better chance of better housing.

Mandy Fox, director of residence life, is very enthusiastic about the change and feels that those with high GPAs will be rewarded for their hard work.

"The decision stemmed from feedback from our annual quality of life survey and through discussions with the Residence Hall Association," Fox said. "

Fox said this change is a far cry from how the lottery system has worked in years past where students were punished for low GPAs and were not allowed to apply for apartment housing.

"Some people feel like people who have bad GPAs shouldn't be ahead of them in the lottery and for many reasons, that argument has little merit in my mind anyway," Fox said. "We wanted to benefit those who do work hard and that is what this is about, and I do not think that anyone is going to argue with that."

Luke Behanuek, area coordinator for Buxton, Picken, Worth and the theme houses, has similar feelings about the lottery change. Behanuek, who feels the deduction will aide students in acquiring a better number, says the change will not drastically affect everyone. It will just give some an edge.

"The department and myself see the GPA number deduction purpose as two-fold; one, being an incentive to those students to strive to get a GPA above a 3.5 or a 3.75, and secondly, to reward those students who already have that GPA," Behanuek said. "Hopefully, it will be an incentive to all students."

Behanuek also feels the addition of the Clinton Apartments to housing next semester will aide more juniors in getting apartment housing.

"Station Square has been seen as the best apartments and now that there are more apartment options, maybe Station Square will be comprised of residents who really want it for its 24-hour quite hours and its alcohol-free environment."

Continued...

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