Senator lashes out on housing

State Sen. Jim Rosapepe blasted university administrators at a campus meeting yesterday for their inaction to curb the housing shortage, saying the university should act quickly to add thousands rather than just hundreds of beds.

Rosapepe (D-Prince George's and Anne Arundel), who told Residence Halls Association members at one of their meetings last night that he believes the campus is "at least 5,000 beds short," blamed an "internal fight" within the administration as the primary obstacle to more housing. He said, if necessary, he will use legislation to force the university to act.

"It's outrageous," he said. "We have a severe shortage of undergraduate housing."

He will also work with student associations to encourage the construction of more housing, he said. After reading that many sophomores could lose housing next year, Rosapepe said he called RHA President Sumner Handy and discussed working together more closely to alleviate the crisis. Rosapepe said he also plans to work with the Student Government Association and other students.

Rosapepe served on the Board of Regents from 2001-2006, where he said increasing student housing was always a priority.

"I've worked with these people so long, I believe in redemption," Rosapepe said. "But if they don't come up with a plan by the end of the year, we will pursue legislation."

RHA took their own initiatives to examine their response to the housing crisis. The first - passed unanimously - will send the current housing priority system to a standing committee for reexamination. The policy, which awards housing to students based on "commitment groups," was created jointly by RHA and Resident Life in 2000.

RHA Vice President Alex Beuchler, who authored the bill, said the measure is a response to the housing shortage, but cautioned that the measure only allows for a reexamination, and change may not necessarily take place.

The second measure, passed with only one abstention, will establish advocacy for an increase in housing. Handy, who authored the bill, said it will allow for RHA to petition the Board of Regents, administration and state leadership for more housing - and especially to the Board of Regents to reverse its policy of only supporting public-private partnerships.

RHA defines itself as "the only lobbyist for the residential population," causing many students to ask why RHA has not already been lobbying on their behalf in the wake of the housing crunch that began in the spring.

"If they do feel bad for us, they should do more for us," said Yesha Patel, a senior government and politics major.

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