Student demand outstrips capacity of UO dorms
EUGENE, Ore. - Often small and noisy, living in dorms is a rite of passage for college students.
"I loved living in the dorms," said Jena Langham, a University of Oregon student. "We all lived in a really close community. Most of my friends, I actually met them all in the dorms."
Residence halls at the University of Oregon house about 3,300. That won't be enough for the incoming class: 500 students are on a waiting list for dorms.
What happened?
"We made offers to the usual number of students," said Paul Shang, UO assistant vice president and dean of students, "but found they weren't declining at the rate they usually do in the past."
More students than usual accepted the offer to enroll at the UO - and chose to live in the dorms.
The university is working to find other housing options and have posted information on a Facebook group called "UO apartment/roommate connection" where students can find a list of apartments in Eugene.
The university has also partnered with the Courtside Apartments being built here in the east campus area.
Some students told KVAL News new students will miss out on a big part of the freshman experience.
"You know it's a lot harder to meet people in classrooms than to meet people in dormitories," said Anthony Broom. "I mean it's definitely a different experience but you can always go to the dorms."
Shang said students can still eat at the dorms, join academic groups there and will have access to all the same university resources.
"It's not going to be like the dorm experience but it will be something that we're trying to make similar," he said.
The UO also broke ground recently on a new dorm.
