Students were outraged this weekend after news of a freshman-only housing policy hit social media.
According to the since-rescinded plan, only South Donahue residents and sorority dorm residents would be immune to the policy.
A petition, Keep Upperclassmen On Campus, gained 689 signatures in two days.
The policy marginalized "upperclassmen of a lower socio-economic status who cannot afford to live in South Donahue," according to the petition.
President Jay Gogue and Vice President of Student Affairs Bobby Woodard addressed the issue at the Black Student Union's General Assembly Address on Monday, Feb. 1, after a concerned student asked about the plan.
Gogue was quick to denounce the policy.
"It was a bad idea," Gogue said. "I don't know why they dreamed it up. You can stay here. Don't worry about a thing."
Woodard said resident assistants received an email detailing the freshmen-only policy from Housing and Residence Life last week. That email was "errant," according to Woodard. He didn't know about it until last weekend.
"They didn't pass it by anybody, to be completely honest," Woodard said.
The University is looking for ways to provide more housing for freshmen, but not at the expense of older students. Upperclassmen are like "parents" to freshmen, Woodard said, and it would be a mistake to prevent them from living on campus.
An updated policy was posted to Housing and Residence Life's website on Feb. 1. Returning residents will be able to live in Aubie Hall in the Village, Harper Hall in the Quad, Hollifield in the Hill and South Donahue, according to the policy.
The website lists important dates for the renewal process.
Students will receive an email on Monday, Feb. 15, at 9 a.m. with a link directing them to the renewal application. The application closes at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
Those students will receive a notification of renewal on Feb. 17. This notification will include a time slot to claim a room or a stand-by notice until the claiming process has been completed.
Students will be able to select their rooms Feb. 18-19.
Housing and Residence Life did not respond to The Plainsman's requests for comment.
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