Review

by Stephen Harris

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Students Want Dorms
Open for Breaks

Rachél Martindale, a senior from Ohio, spent Thanksgiving with editor Allison Brandow's family in Oregon City --Allison Brandow, photo

Thirty-seven out of 63 MBC students who live in the dormitories think students should be able to stay in residence during the three primary semester breaks.

Students answered the question, "Do you think Multnomah undergraduates should be able to stay in the dormitories during spring break, mid-semester break and Thanksgiving break?"

Twenty men and 17 women were in favor of continued residence during all three breaks.

Senior Zach Melear said, "We at Multnomah build community, but we kick people out of the dorms, and there's no real reason why. It's not a good way to build community."

A common reason cited by those in favor of continued residence during all three breaks was the impracticality of traveling long distances to go home for short periods of time.

Sophomore Jeremy Hunt, 24, said, "I want to stay in the dorms because I've got no place to go -- I'm from Texas, and I can't travel for a two-day, mid-semester break."

Many students also noted the expense involved with traveling home. Sophomore Kyle Tyson said it would be outrageous to ask students who live far away to go home because that would cost them too much.

Some students said they felt they were imposing on others by asking to stay with them; however, even among students who do not feel this way, finding a place to stay could be difficult.

Sophomore Beatrice Ng said, "If they don't know anyone, there's really no place they can go. The only way they can find a place to stay is if they make friends within the first few weeks."

The cost of attending Multnomah is such that undergraduates deserve the opportunity to remain in the dormitories, some students said.

Some students said they have endured difficult living arrangements during breaks while others told of horror stories about students living under bridges. Jennica Hummel, junior, said, "People live in their cars, and it's not fun."

Those who did not want continued residence during any of the breaks said maintaining the school's facilities and staffing during the breaks would increase tuition costs and be unpleasant for those forced to stay and work.

Kyle Kimble, a freshman, said: "We have people complaining now, but you're going to have other people complaining when they have to work in the kitchen over the break. It forces you to have an adventure."

Rachél Martindale, a senior who opposed continued residence during any of the breaks, said that if only a few people stayed on campus, remaining students might feel isolated.

The number of men who did not want continued residence during any of the breaks was more than double that of women: 11 to five.

Some of those who opposed continued dormitory residence during all three breaks said Multnomah should provide alternate housing.

Twelve students -- 10 men and two women -- said Multnomah should allow undergraduates to continue dormitory residence during only one or two of the breaks.

Of this group, all said undergraduates should be able to stay in the dormitories during mid-semester break. Combined with those who favored continued dormitory residence during all three of the breaks, the total in favor of continued residence during mid-semester break was 47 -- about 75 percent of the students polled.

Of the 63 surveyed students, 33 were men and 30 were women. The poll was conducted on Oct. 27-28 in the Joseph C. Aldrich student center.

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