The
SpringHillian March 5, 2015
Volume 100 Issue 4
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Track & Field Shapes Up for an Exciting Season
Badgers are ready to take on the competition this season. See the full story from Sports Editor, Bradon Krus, on page 10. Photo by: Phillip Travis
Residence Life Proposes Change to Housing System for 2015 By: Elizabeth Briggs Staff-Writer Spring Hill College’s lottery system could change before housing selection begins for the 2015-2016 academic year. The Residence Life Advisory Council (RLAC) began discussing the possibility of a new lottery system in November and has been met with opposition by the Student Government Association (SGA). The current lottery system is based on a student’s time at Spring Hill. Under this system, students are prioritized based on the date they were admitted. RLAC is proposing a new system because of a failure to account for transfer students. According to the Office of Residence Life, there were 168 transfer students, about 11 percent of the student body, in the Fall 2014 semester. Mark Mullen, a member of RLAC, stressed the importance of having a standardized housing system that is
fair for all students. He stated, “Under the current system, the transfers are very negatively impacted. So, unless we treat them on a case-bycase basis, they will never have the standing of someone who has been at the college for four years.” Based on research of other universities’ housing lotteries, RLAC created three new options, in addition to the current system: • Priority based academic achievement: a calculation would combine total credit hours earned and cumulative GPA to assign priority within class levels. • Priority based on academic progress: total credit hours earned would assign priority within class levels. • Priority based on academic standing: priority would be based exclusively on academic standing, then randomized within each grade level. • Priority based on time at SHC: the current system.
On Tuesday, Feb. 24, RLAC hosted an open forum to discuss these proposed systems and the possibility of emailing a survey to the student body. This survey would be sent to see what system students prefer. According to SGA President Ricardo Pita, SGA opposed the idea of a new lottery system, and the necessity of a survey, on the grounds that “random is fairest, with a stipulation made for transfer and re-admit students.” Furthermore, he said, “The current system is not perfect; we understand there are changes that need to be made.” In addressing the disadvantage transfer students face in the current system, Pita stated, “At no point has RLAC discussed changes to the current system for just these students.” Pita sees no need to rush the survey. As a result of last Tuesday’s forum, an SGA senator-led committee is looking into the presentation of the survey and its overall necessity. Mullen reiterated that RLAC aims
to give the student body a chance to voice their housing preferences by completing the survey. He stated, “The hope of the RLAC is to survey the student body about possible housing options. As the Student Government Association has opposed this measure, I would encourage students who feel strongly about the housing selection process to email both their class senators and the Office of Residence Life.” On a related note, Adam Bernot, Director of Residence Life, shared that SHC is working hard to makeLangan Hall available by next semester. Bernot stated, “We expect to make an official announcement prior to housing selection in April, regarding whether Langan Hall will be ready for students to move in for Fall Semester 2015.” Housing applications will be due in early April, regardless of which lottery system is selected. The lottery process will follow later that month.