UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 17, Page 4
January 21, 1993
New expanded housing options

     While housing directors across the country are desperately trying to
fill empty residence halls, David Butler, director of housing and residence
life, is taking a slight drop in demand as an opportunity to expand housing
options, with the hope that the changes will keep resident students coming
back.
     What kind of changes?
     More coed housing in South Central halls, an option for groups of
friends to request neighboring rooms or apartments, two complexes reserved
for upper class students in East Campus, some economy-priced rooms and
cable TV.
     According to Maggie Passero, assistant director for housing and
residence life, "We are finally able to expand coed housing to include
Sussex, Squire and Smyth halls, which have traditionally been all-women's
halls."
     "The demand for single-sex housing has nearly disappeared. Warner and
Kent, however, will still be all-female halls," said Linda Carey, assistant
director for occupancy management.
     Passero said she is excited about a new "Friends-Together" housing
option. "Students can get together with almost any number of friends and
request neighboring rooms or apartments in either Pencader, Rodney or the
Christiana Towers. Sometimes students want to get out of the same old place
but would really like to stay with their friends. We have found a way to
make that possible."
     In addition, Harrington and Gilbert halls on East Campus have been
reserved for upper-class students for fall 1993, and a number of Rodney
"Economy Singles" will be available to students who want single rooms but
do not want to pay the full single price.
     Of all the changes planned, Butler said he expects that students will
be most excited about cable TV, scheduled to be available in all student
rooms next fall.
     "When students come back, they will plug in their TV sets and, for the
first time in history, actually be able to get decent reception in a
residence hall," he said. "Their biggest problem may be choosing which of
the 30 or 40 channels to watch. We are expecting that, by buying in bulk,
we will be able to get a great price and deliver this service to every
student's room."