Housing is always a major concern for University of Denver students. It’s important to have a place to live, especially if a student is from out of state.

Freshmen and sophomores have a two-year on-campus housing requirement unless they live within commuting distance of the university.

Two weeks ago, this year’s freshmen and sophomores registered for their new housing. They were given priority in the new Nelson Hall.

Anyone who is going to be a sophomore or a junior next year, and wants housing in Nelson, entered a housing lottery. They were assigned a lottery number that determined the time of their appointment to choose their rooms. Some students got the rooms they wanted–others did not.

Upperclassmen (juniors and seniors) were allowed to begin registering last Friday. They had fewer dorm choices, but also had the options of living in on or off-campus apartments, or their own houses.

Freshman Katie Eckard is one student who did not get a room in Nelson Hall. Instead of her first choice, she will be living in Towers next year.

She feels that the housing application was too limited for sophomores and juniors. She wishes that living in Johnson-McFarlane was an option for sophomores who are not RAs.

Eckard signed up early for the lottery, but was given a later appointment. She feels that it is unfair to set appointments according to randomly selected numbers.

“A lot of people got the shaft because of this system,” she said. “There just aren’t enough options.”

Maritza Dominguez, a senior this year, feels differently about the housing applications. She feels that they are not unfair, but annoying.

“They’re tedious, and a bit of a pain,” she said, “I understand why they need the process, though.”

Dominguez knows that without a housing process, there would be no organization of rooms. Without organization, nobody would be able to get a room in the building that they want to live in.

Dominguez wanted an apartment for this school year, but didn’t turn in her application on time.

She lives in Towers and will be buying her own house next year, after she graduates. However, she has friends who will be living in apartments next year.

There are many options for students who wish to live on-campus. The available dorms for second-year students are Centennial Towers, Centennial Halls and Nelson.

Dorms for third- and fourth-year students are the Aspen, Hilltop and Skyline apartment buildings as well as Centennial Towers and the top floor of Nelson Hall. Fraternities and sororities are always looking for new members as well.