Alec Simpson has been living in a Dykstra Hall study lounge for
over a week now, the result of an unexpected inflow of students and
not enough rooms to handle the demand.
Simpson, a first-year undeclared student, is one of 248
Guaranteed Transfer Option students who were originally promised
admittance to UCLA after two years at a community college, but were
then admitted this quarter because of an additional $12 million in
state funding provided for enrollment.
The UCLA Housing Administration said the combination of the new
transfer students and a lower-than-expected rate of housing
cancellations after fall quarter led to the housing deficit,
placing seven of these winter transfer students in lounges at the
beginning of this quarter.
But though the students in lounges were not given their
originally promised rooms, the residents say they have nothing
against their new homes on the second- and fourth-floor Dykstra
study lounges.
“Before I came here, I heard dorms were really small and
tiny. I was rather pleasantly surprised to be placed in the study
lounge, for I’ve never had a room this big,” said
Simpson, who lives in the second-floor Dykstra study lounge.
This is not the first time students have been placed in study
lounges. In fall 2001, housing was severely taxed by delays in the
construction of De Neve Plaza, resulting in 7,415 students being
placed into facilities meant to accommodate 6,239, according to the
2000 UC Housing Occupancy Report.
Hundreds of students lived in study lounges, with up to six
people in one lounge.
“We know that freshmen do much better when they are part
of the residential halls than when they commute, and our mission
here is to advantage as many freshmen as we can in their adjustment
and transition to UCLA,” said Michael Foraker, director of
UCLA Housing and Hospitality Services.
The new students appear to have adapted quickly to life in the
study lounges.
Books and personal items are sprawled out across tables lining
bunks in the corners of the room.
Not only is Simpson happy to get the extra space while paying
the same amount others are charged for a residential hall double
occupant room, he is pleased that his neighbors have warmly
welcomed him to their floor and made his adjustment enjoyable.
“Within an hour that I was here, I made many friends on
the floor and found everyone to be really friendly,” Simpson
said.
The occupants of the Dykstra fourth-floor study lounge agreed
that their neighbors had been very accepting of them and had no
complaints about their living situation.
“There’s plenty of space in here, and every so often
people come by to visit us and hang out,” said Omar Husain, a
first-year aerospace engineering student occupying the fourth-floor
lounge.
Husain’s roommate, first-year husiness economics student
Chris Naughton, said he realized his room was formerly a place many
used to study and hold group activities, but said residents were
still able to visit the study lounge if they wanted.
“Everyone has their own desk in their room, but if they
want to study here, they are more than welcome,” Naughton
said.
Some students, while not thrilled at giving up their study
lounge, said the change was something they learned to deal
with.
“I just study in my room, and although I don’t see
other residents as much as I used to, I’ve found other places
to meet up and talk with friends,” said Alice Cheung, a
second-year psychology student who lives on the second floor of
Dykstra.
Others on the floor have also found ways to adapt to the study
lounges being occupied, such as changing floor government meetings
to the resident assistant’s room.
Cheung said that while she missed being able to freely use the
study lounge, she enjoys the additional friendships she has
developed.
“They have made the floor a cozier place and (are) a
positive addition to the community,” she said.
Foraker said he expected additional spaces in on-campus housing
to open up by the end of the quarter, but those who currently live
in the lounges say they want to stay as long as possible.
“It’s going to be a sad day when they say,
“˜Sorry, we found a new place for you,'” Simpson
said.
Others said they had spent the previous week moving everything
into place and becoming accustomed to the lounge, and after all the
work, they hoped they wouldn’t have to move a second time and
rearrange all their belongings.
“I’ve just finished getting all my stuff set up, and
having to move again is going to be a hassle,” Naughton
said.
Husain is just enjoying lounging around while it lasts.
“It feels like an airline service that has
overbooked,” he said. “We got a better deal than we
expected.”