Residence halls see decrease in freshmen

As a result of the recent downturn in the freshmen student population, residence halls will be packed this year -- with empty space and unanswered questions.\nResidential Programs and Services is estimating between 9,350 and 9,400 students in IU's 11 dorms this semester, down from 9,785 last fall, said RPS Planning Director Buck Walters. He said exact figures won't be available until Sept. 10, as no-shows and transfers will need to be taken into account.\nSophomore Justin Smith said he didn't notice the shortage at Wright Wednesday.\n"It seemed crowded today," he said, "but today is moving day."\nTo compensate for lost revenue, RPS has sold double rooms to students who wish to pay extra, an unusual tactic that would have been unheard of in years past.\n"This year, we were able to grant (the wishes of) any returning student wanting a double-single," Walters said.\nSelling more double rooms to single occupants should help quell the loss of money from the occupancy crisis. For an average bill of $6,000 per student, a loss of 400 students would mean a $2.4 million dip in revenue at a time when IU's funding has already been stretched thin by budget cuts.\nThe crunch is partially due to a shortage in first-year students on the Bloomington campus. Officials are expecting a net loss of hundreds of newcomers, who are required, with some exceptions, to stay in University residence halls. \nJunior Steve Wathen said the forced-residence rule may be a turn-off for prospective students, but a necessary one.\n"I think it's good for freshmen to live on campus, but for them, it sucks," he said.\nAside from the restriction, some point the finger at new apartment developments in downtown Bloomington that have driven off-campus housing prices down and developed a buyer's market. But more evidence suggests the problem is simply the falling number of freshmen.\nWhen asked why there was shortage of new blood to fill the rooms, Watkins was uncertain.\n"I don't know," he said. "The economy?"\n-- Contact senior writer Rick Newkirk at renewkir@indiana.edu.