"I thought they were only trying it for the 2010-11 school year, like just to see if the process agreed with the residents" said Ruby Amaya, resident of Los Alamitos. "I think alot of people thought it was only a one time thing."
Freshmen are required to live in the dorms unless they are older than 21 or living with their parents in a neighboring area. The exemption policy also allows students in the military, who are married or have children and with disablities to appeal to not live in the dorms. However, if the dorms are just not available to a student due to finances, the housing office does not put that in their exemption criteria.
"I think they should give us money since they want us to live in the dorms," said Shelly Janise. "Its just too expensive and i could have just stayed at CSU San Bernardino."
According to the Department of Housing and Residential life, reaserch shows that students who live in the dorms during their freshman year have an advantage over other students. The advantages include having a greater college experience, building long lasting relationships and greater educational aspiriations. The department of housing says that the policy is for the betterment of the students.
"The dorms were so empty last year, empty rooms, less people." Said Nicole Williams, a second year resident. "but they just wanted to fill up the dorms because they want the revenue, nothing to do with my growth."
Studies also show that students who lived on campus their freshman year have a higher retention and graduation rates than others. This shows requiring freshman to dorm is in the best interest of the student but residents remain skeptical.
-Leslie Campos
