Aquinas College is experiencing its own kind of housing crunch. Despite the construction of a $3.25 million apartment complex, record-breaking enrollment and another large freshmen class anticipated this fall is forcing students to go to extremes to secure on-campus housing for next year. Facing the shortage, several Aquinas students camped out in lower Regina Hall overnight in order to (hopefully) guarantee a spot in line for room sign-up.

Junior Laura Steinbacher was one of those who waited.

“When I got there,” she said, “already they had a list set up.” Steinbacher described an anxious but generally good-natured atmosphere.

“People were frustrated but they were willing to help others,” she said.

Steinbacher said that when someone needed to leave for something, people would save their place. Eventually, Residence Life began passing out tickets that would guarantee one’s place in line.

Some, however, thought that gesture came too late.

On Tuesday, ResLife issued a set of rules designed to ensure the safety and comfort of the “campers,” as well as to follow residential guidelines. Among the rules posted on The Moose were: “No air mattresses;” “No cords stretching across the hall;” and, most controversially, “No sleeping.”

The rule on sleep was designed with the College’s co-educational policy in mind.

“It would have violated co-ed hours,” said Steinbacher. “I think they tried to handle the situation as best as they could,” she said, “but a lot of people were frustrated.

Randy MacGeorge, director of Residence Life, was complimentary of the student campers, and signaled a desire to reform the process for next year.

“We’re already exploring two different options to avoid the camp-out problem next year,” said MacGeorge, who is encouraging anyone with any suggestions or ideas to come forward.

“Although some students admitted they enjoyed the overnight camp-out with friends, it’s definitely not a healthy idea for a night before classes at this point in the term,” he said. “We are asking students for any other ideas we haven’t considered yet before we make a final decision on how the process will change.”

Steinbacher has a suggestion.

“I think they [Aquinas] should not allow so many freshmen in when there’s already so many students in need of housing on campus,” she said.

Steinbacher did get a room this year, although it wasn’t her first choice.

“I was extremely frustrated by the fact that they’re giving almost all the rooms to freshmen,” she said. “A lot of people were frustrated.”

MacGeorge agrees the housing sign-up process needs to be addressed, but was pleased with how students handled themselves throughout the campout.

“Although we want to do everything we can to avoid this in the future,” he said, “I was impressed by the courtesy and camaraderie displayed by AQ students at all times.”