A modification to the housing lottery proposed last semester which would prevent students from receiving low numbers three years in a row has yet to be adopted by the Office of Residential Life and Learning (ORLL).
Last spring, the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate passed a resolution calling for a new system to "divide classes in thirds and assign low, middle and high [lottery] numbers," according to its co-author and TCU Treasurer Jeff Katzin.
Under the proposed system, students would receive a number in the lowest, middle and highest third of the lottery one time each. "[During] the three years you work with the lottery system, you're guaranteed one of each bracket," Katzin said.
Under the current system, one unlucky student could technically receive the lowest lottery number in his class as a sophomore, junior and senior.
Senator Jose Vazquez, who helped to devise the new system, said, "Another bright spot to this proposal is that students would then be able to make arrangements for off-campus housing, special interest housing or study abroad well before the actual selection."
Rising juniors would especially benefit, since given the limited number of on-campus rooms for them, those who had already received numbers in the top bracket would know to make other housing plans.
According to TCU Associate Treasurer Harish Perkari, ORLL said it supports the proposal but is not poised to act on it.
"They claim it is not a priority considering all the other issues," Perkari said, citing "the planning and construction for Sophia Gordon Hall."
ORLL Director Yolanda King was unavailable for comment at press time.
Katzin said ORLL has already set up the housing lottery to take place this spring, without the proposed modification. "It seems it won't happen again this year, which is really frustrating," Katzin said. "It's on the minds of enough people here."
Student reaction to the proposed change is mixed.
"The lottery system has been in use for many years and is used at several colleges and universities, and there is no need to change it," freshman David Nestor said. "[I] would rather take [my] chances on possibly obtaining multiple good lottery numbers."
But freshman Matt Laermer disagreed, saying "the altered system would reduce complaints made by students about unfairness."
Critics of the new system argue that it will not ameliorate upperclassmen's chances of getting on-campus housing, but will merely warn students they might receive a bad number.
Sophomore Amie Coffey said the proposed system is more unfair than the current one, as certain people receiving a good number sophomore year will be essentially barred from on-campus housing junior year. "This system should not be used until housing is guaranteed for all students," Coffey said.
