Letter to the Editor: Inaccuracy costs student housing

Hello, My name is Michael Bovin. I am technically a 1st-semester student but this is my second semester at UConn. I was originally accepted to the Air Force Academy, however, I quit during basic training in June for personal reasons. My parents didn't allow me to take a semester off as I had planned, so I became a part-time student last semester and obviously was unable to live on campus. Luckily, my sister had an apartment at Woodhaven so I moved in with her.

When I applied to become a full time student for this current semester, my parents said I needed to stay in the apartment, so I did not request housing. My living situation is pretty horrible, so I applied for housing for fall 2009.

Here's where your inaccuracy comes into play. On Feb. 4 you printed an article ("ResLife eliminates housing lottery") that said that "By doubling the occupancy of certain rooms in Hilltop and Charter Oak apartments, ResLife guaranteed on-campus housing for anyone who applied this year" and also that "Students who live off campus will be allowed to move back on campus if they re-applied in January."

I was relived when I read this and started making plans for living on campus next semester. Too bad this story was dead wrong.

Over spring break I recived an email saying I was placed on the waiting list for housing. When I called ResLife to see why I received this email, they stated that only those living on campus this semester were guaranteed housing next semester.

Now, to make a long story short, I'm basically stuck off campus against my will. I am trying to petition for housing through the Center for students with Disabilities, since my living off-campus has lead to anxiety and panic attacks, but it does not seem as though they are going to grant me housing.

If I had know about the TRUE housing situation earlier, I could have started this process earlier and maybe have explored more ways for getting on campus, but now I am stuck racing to meet ResLife deadlines in my hopes to have a more fulfilling college experience. Next time, get your story straight.

-Michael Bovin, 1st-semester student

Eds. Note: The Daily Campus ran a clarification of the issue Feb. 5, the day after the story ran. When originally interviewed for the story, ResLife had said that off-campus students could receive housing next year, but forgot to add that they would be put on a waiting list.