Last fall, ResLife announced it would release the lottery numbers in February. The announcement was appreciated by all students, especially rising juniors, who are not guaranteed housing. Just a few days ago, citing inexcusable, though typical "technical difficulties," ResLife abandoned its initial intentions, and announced lottery numbers would be released in March.
ResLife, which fairly said it was understaffed last fall, explained that the computer system that determines class status was incompatible with the system that generates lottery numbers. Class status is crucial so that upperclassmen are given priority numbers. In the department's defense, finding an individual's class status can be difficult, especially for students in five-year programs or with additional credits.
But it should have been a University priority to have the numbers released early. Last semester, Dining Services claimed that computer limitations would prevent them from adding a fifth restaurant to the MOPS program. Now, ResLife is using a similar excuse. How many computer glitches can a high tech University use as justifications for inefficiency?
While both excuses are embarrassing, ResLife's indiscretion is more serious. Rising juniors are not guaranteed housing, which means that without knowledge of their housing number, they must sign a lease off campus or act like a roulette patron praying for lucky numbers. Additionally, people desiring to live with a number of their friends cannot count on the high lottery numbers necessary to secure suites in Latin Way or Hillsides. Instead, against their will, they are forced to venture out into the higher-priced, often distant streets of Medford and Somerville, when they could very well have received a good lottery number.
ResLife must begin a process to ensure that numbers are released much earlier next year. A university that can offer wireless internet and web-email should certainly be able to sort out this snafu. Additionally, ResLife is not sufficiently staffed, and Tufts should ensure its search for a permanent director comes to fruition soon. A university mulling a dormitory should properly staff one of its most important departments. Both are obvious and necessary steps so that Tufts can improve students' experience with its overwhelming and often inefficient bureaucracy.
