Facebook ads encourage students to squat
(Bryan Brenize -- The Beacon)
By Philippe Boutros, Staff Writer -- boutros14@up.edu
With applications for housing in the 2011-2012 academic year due next week, the Office of Residence Life has taken out ads on Facebook in hopes of helping students better understand the housing process.
"For the second consecutive year, we took out ads on Facebook, The Beacon and I send out e-mails," Mike Walsh, director of Residence Life, said. "I try not to send out too many of them though. A nice thing about Facebook is that I get visual statistics on how many students are actually reading the ads."
The ads specifically target Facebook users ages 18 to 25 in the University of Portland's Facebook network.
"So far we've paid $155 on the squatter reminder and $108 for the general housing reminder on Facebook," Walsh said.
‘Squatting' means staying in the same dorm room for the next year.
The Office of Residence Life encourages squatting because it adds to dorm ambiance and simplifies the housing selection.
"I decided to squat because I really enjoy the camaraderie of Christie – I've made a lot of great friends," Hunter Lee, a freshman, said. "I'm looking forward to making many more next year."
The online application for squatters is due Feb. 21, and all other housing applications are due Feb. 26.
All students except for incoming freshmen can choose between living on or off campus.
"Squatting is the easiest way to get housing," Walsh said.
The housing process has undergone changes in order to streamline the process.
"The biggest change is that this year (for the upcoming housing selection process) we're splitting into two pieces," Walsh said. "Upperclassmen will choose first, and then everybody else picks, even for junior/senior housing."
Residence Life also has a new online tool enabling students to track available rooms in real time.
Students who want to squat, however, have no need to worry about availability.
"I saw the ads on Facebook – they were pretty helpful," Lee said. "I'm all set now for next year, and I'm excited."
