Dorms revise break policy

Residential Programs and Services has revised its policy on residence halls closings for Thanksgiving break, after a meeting with concerned students Monday.\nStudent groups and international students were set to stage a protest today at the RPS administration building, 801 N. Jordan Ave.\nNow, the gathering will inform concerned students of the changes.\nLast winter, RPS decided to close residence halls during University vacation periods, mainly for safety issues. Few students stayed in residence halls, and the buildings were vulnerable, said Patrick Connor, executive director of RPS.\nBut RPS failed to adequately inform students of the changes, Connor said. Many students -- including senior Dietrich Willke, president of Eigenmann Residents Association -- had no idea the halls would close.\nWith the original policy, a limited number of spaces would have been available on campus during Thanksgiving break, for a $60 charge and reservations by Nov. 1.\nUnder the agreement reached Monday, students registering by Nov. 13 will be housed on campus for the break at no charge. Students who reserve housing and don't stay will be charged a $25 fee. Housing locations will be determined by the number of students interested in staying over the break.\n"Now whoever wants to stay, there's going to be room for them," Willke said.\nThe issue affects all students living in halls, but especially international students, of which Eigenmann alone has more than 200, Willke said.\n"(Closing the dorms) is a slap in the face of international students," he said. "'By the way, we're going to close, you have to find a place to stay.'"\nBut the closing of residence halls is not just an international issue, said Lillian Casillas, programming assistant of La Casa.\n"(Students) are extremely relieved because, at least now, they'll have a place to stay for the week," she said. "A lot of students didn't realize the centers were closing ... they had nowhere to go."\nWillke blamed RPS for a lack of input on the part of students and a lack of communication about the closures. \n"A change as big as this should've been warned way in advance for students to make plans," he said. Willke said he found out about the closings two weeks ago and not from the RPS.\nHe organized the protest through e-mail and coordination with student groups. The International Friendship Association, Student Coalition, Asian Student Union and the Women's Student Association were prepared to join the protest.\n"The University needs to know they made a mistake, and you cannot hide a mistake," Willke said. "When something like this happens, there needs to be a large amount of student input."\nConnor agreed there was a lack of communication. When he learned of the planned protest, he offered to meet with the students.\n"I asked them if we can meet to talk about this -- before or after the protest," Connor said.\nWillke said the planned protest would have been respectful, merely a gathering to show the number of students the issue affects.\n"Because of the large amount of pressure from all the students and organizations," Willke said, "it made them see it is not a small problem."\nToday, students who arrive to protest will have the opportunity to register for break housing and speak to RPS representatives. \nConnor said most students he has talked to agree with the need to close residence halls over break periods -- but that the communication must be clearer.\nAfter Monday's meeting, Willke and the student groups he organized are looking to the future.\n"There will be a steering committee for other break periods," he said. "So students can know ahead of time and be part of the decision-making process"