2008 Woodie Awards
Students to be charged $250 to stay over Christmas break
Katie Broderick and Ashley L. Hopkins
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: News
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By Katie Broderick
and Ashley L. Hopkins
Managing Editor and Editor-in-Chief
Yesterday morning, north-campus residents found a letter waiting for them informing students that they will have to move out of their dorm rooms during Christmas break if they do not sign up to stay and pay a monetary fee.
Steven Hood, housing director, said that housing officials did not make necessary changes in the housing contract to allow them to be able to charge students extra to stay on campus over the break this year, but are looking into changing the contract for December 2007. However, the letter contradicts that and states that all students planning to stay at UTC for Christmas must pay a $250 fee, or the locks to their rooms will be plugged so they will not be able to get in.
"It is an issue of security, quite frankly," Hood said. He added that the initial plans were to require all students to move out during the holidays, but realized they could not do that after looking at the housing contract. The housing office does plan on requiring this for December 2007.
According to the 2006-2007 housing contract found on the UTC Web site, students' contracts began on Aug. 18 and expire May 2. Rent for each north-campus dorm is specifically listed, and there is no mention of additional fees for staying over Christmas break.
Additionally, the contract states that any amendments to the contract must be in writing and acceptable to both parties.
But the letter informs those that do want to stay and pay the $250 fee that they still have to sign up at the complex office. Hood said this is a security measure to keep track of who's on campus.
Hood said resident directors and some RAs remain on campus until the university closes, and additional security is hired over the break.
An RA on north campus who did not wish to be identified said he was told in an RA meeting a few days ago about this plan. He was told the fee would be $325 and would be charged to anyone who wanted to stay and to those who needed to get back into their rooms to get something out.
and Ashley L. Hopkins
Managing Editor and Editor-in-Chief
Yesterday morning, north-campus residents found a letter waiting for them informing students that they will have to move out of their dorm rooms during Christmas break if they do not sign up to stay and pay a monetary fee.
Steven Hood, housing director, said that housing officials did not make necessary changes in the housing contract to allow them to be able to charge students extra to stay on campus over the break this year, but are looking into changing the contract for December 2007. However, the letter contradicts that and states that all students planning to stay at UTC for Christmas must pay a $250 fee, or the locks to their rooms will be plugged so they will not be able to get in.
"It is an issue of security, quite frankly," Hood said. He added that the initial plans were to require all students to move out during the holidays, but realized they could not do that after looking at the housing contract. The housing office does plan on requiring this for December 2007.
According to the 2006-2007 housing contract found on the UTC Web site, students' contracts began on Aug. 18 and expire May 2. Rent for each north-campus dorm is specifically listed, and there is no mention of additional fees for staying over Christmas break.
Additionally, the contract states that any amendments to the contract must be in writing and acceptable to both parties.
But the letter informs those that do want to stay and pay the $250 fee that they still have to sign up at the complex office. Hood said this is a security measure to keep track of who's on campus.
Hood said resident directors and some RAs remain on campus until the university closes, and additional security is hired over the break.
An RA on north campus who did not wish to be identified said he was told in an RA meeting a few days ago about this plan. He was told the fee would be $325 and would be charged to anyone who wanted to stay and to those who needed to get back into their rooms to get something out.
