Garner razing to displace residents next month to new halls

Some residents of Garner are having problems with the situation caused by plans to tear down the residence hall at the end of the semester.

One freshman resident said she did not feel she had been fully informed of planned changes in housing before the semester started.

"It's very frustrating not knowing (where I'm going to live)," she said. "We have talked to many CAs and people at the front desks of several residence halls, including the one we are moving to."

One of the girl's roommates had similar misgivings.

"If we ask, they say they don't know or don't want to tell us," she said. "What upsets me is the fact that we are unaware of what is going on."

Garner was once a traditional, suite-style dorm set up much like Steen Hall, but in more recent years it has been set up as Garner Apartments. Recently, it was converted back into a typical dorm setting-the kitchen units were disconnected or turned off, and two extra beds were moved into what had been the living area.

Jenny Waters, assistant director of residence life, said Garner was not advertised to prospective residents as apartments this semester but as a regular dorm setting.

"Garner has not been filled to capacity in the last few years, so they went to apartment setup," she said. "We reverted back to its original structure this semester."

The two new roommates moved into the former living area, however, they do not have the shelves or desks that residents in the original bedroom have.

"I was not given an adjustable bed until a month into the semester, which only made living here that much more cramped," the freshman said. "I can turn on the garbage disposable without even moving from my bed."

According to Waters, this year, 300 of Garner's 398 residents are first-year students.

"Garner is mostly freshmen this semester, because there was no space anywhere else," she said. "It worked out well because that area is where most freshmen live anyway. It's good for their comfort and for meeting other students."

Because students are being moved out at the end of the semester, they are only paying half of Garner's usual once-a-year payment.

"They're only paying for their time there, and the set amount per student. We've been undercharging for years, but the facilities were not kept up," Waters said. "That's why it's in the condition it's in now and the reason we're tearing it down; it would cost more to repair it than to rebuild."

Housing has asked current residents across campus to share their plans for next year-be it graduation, internship or otherwise leaving their residence hall-so Garner residents may be given "first priority" for the Spring Semester. They were given the chance to pick spots they wanted earlier this month, Waters said.

"The words 'first priority' are misleading. It is better explained in the words 'You will get first pick of what is left of housing,'" the Garner resident said. "We knew that pickings were slim, and when a room opened up you had to act quickly, or be forced into a space that you may or may not be able to afford."

The roommate said students were not given enough time to get a spot for next semester. "They gave us three days. How are so many students supposed to get a room in three days?"

One of the women will be moved to Hall 14, while the other will be moved to share a room in the Village.

"I didn't pick the Village," she said. "I'm happy to have a room, and happy to pay for what I get, but in the Village I may be sharing with other people in rooms smaller than (Garner's)."

She said she tried to contact housing about whether prices would be lowered.

"Through the phone, they told me that prices would be lowered, while in person they laughed when I asked them… If they are going to stick me in a room that is smaller than a normal room because it is meant for one person, they should lower the price."

Housing has not made a decision on whether prices will be discounted if rooms are overbooked.

"We're considering different possibilities," Waters said. "No final decision has been made, but we're looking for the most appropriate thing. Price discounts are something the Board of Regents has to approve."

She said that as of now, rooms are not overfilled.

"All current residents will have assignments before the semester ends," she said. "They may have to temporarily room with a CA, but they will all have somewhere to go in December."