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Friday, March 29, 2024
The Observer

SMC students react to results of Opus apartment lottery

While many soon-to-be seniors find themselves weighing the advantages of on-campus versus off-campus housing, those at Saint Mary's were recently given one additional option to consider for next fall.They could apply for an on-campus apartment in Opus Hall, the new residence facility currently under construction and slated for occupation in August.Many students were attracted to this opportunity because it provides them the chance to move out of the dorms, yet still live on-campus. This would alleviate such problems as daily transportation to classes, among other issues that are faced when moving off-campus.All students interested in living in the apartments next year were given the opportunity to fill out an application, and those who turned in applications were then assigned a number. The numbers selected for apartments were randomly chosen in a lottery held earlier this month.The Office of Residential Life received 35 applications for the 12 available two person apartments and 21 applications for the 12, four person apartments. According to office data, all students who were offered apartments accepted them."Before hearing about the opportunity to live in the apartments we were planning to live on campus," said junior Katie Turner who will be living in a quad apartment next year. "And if we hadn't been chosen in the lottery, we would have remained here." Many students who did not secure apartments are now looking for alternative housing options aside from the dorms. Junior Stefanie Simmerman is one such student."I was disappointed in the fact that athletes were not given some type of priority in the lottery because having athletes on campus provides role models for other students," Simmerman said. "Since my fellow golfer Chrissy Dunham and I were unable to get apartments, we are now looking at renting at Castle Point which is still exciting, yet slightly more inconvenient."Despite the frustration of not receiving the new housing, all students were notified of the results with ample time to find other housing arrangements for next fall.For those students that did receive apartments, however, excitement is starting to build at the opportunity to experience living arrangements similar to off-campus life while remaining on-campus."I am really excited and looking forward to it," Turner said. "I think it will be a great experience and nice to have a little more independence."