Several soon-to-be juniors were left empty-handed at Apartment Selection Monday night after space ran out in the Apartment Village.
Six groups of four students were left without apartments at the end of the night.
As of now, the university has received 503 contracts for the Apartment Village. There are 492 spaces available.
“We’re shuffling,” Dean of Student Life Irene Stevens said. “It is tight right now.”
Stevens said she is not worried about being able to house everyone, armed with the knowledge that there will be students who transfer, drop out or decide to live in Greek Houses that will cause the number of available apartments to rise.
Stevens said Associate Director of Residence Life Doug Howell is currently trying to get juniors who plan on returning next year to consolidate, which would also open room.
Soon-to-be juniors who were left without apartments see the space shortage as a lack of concern on the university’s part.
“I’m tired of being treated like a number instead of a student,” said sophomore communication disorders major Heather Iwinski in a letter to The Butler Collegian. “One would think that once Butler decided to force all juniors into the Apartment Village, they would at least consider the possibility that there might not be enough room for everyone.”
Sophomore theater major Thomas Benoist said he doesn’t understand how the discrepancy happened.
“In my head, this is simple addition,” Benoist said.
Concerned students blame the housing shortage on the large freshman class and increased enrollment.
“The influx of freshmen definitely has to do with it,” Benoist said. “I think it’s been tough on everyone.”
Stevens said she agrees that the university has to address the increase in enrollment from a housing standpoint. The first step was renovating Schwitzer to create 35 more beds, which Stevens said really helped.
“We know that it’s stressful,” Stevens said. “We’re asking everyone to be patient right now.”
Vice President for Student Affairs Levester Johnson, along with students, faculty, staff and board members are part of the new Commission on Undergrad Residential Living, with one of the goals being solving the housing crunch.
Options on the table are renovating existing residence halls and creating a brand new residence hall, although Stevens said it’s too early to report any final decisions.
The students who were left apartment-less as of Monday night were put on an official waiting list.
“The ‘waiting list’ was on a loose leaf sheet of paper,” Benoist said. “That worries me.”
Stevens said all students will be notified of their housing placement in July at the latest.
“There will be a space for them,” Stevens said. “They may not have a space right now but we will.”
In a March 28 email, Howell said it was possible that they would run out of space.
Butler’s on-campus housing policy requires all freshman, sophomore, and junior students—not living at home with a parent—to live in on-campus housing or their Greek chapter’s approved housing unit.
