THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY: OCTOBER 22, 2005
HOMECOMING SECTION
7C
FRESHMAN CLASS
Class of 2012 exceeds past enrollment
BY BARBARA PLATTS bplatts@kansan.com
The masses of students that circulate through campus each day is roughly enough people to inhabit a small country. There are all kinds of students, each with varying credit hours and different goals for the future. Graduate students are working to attain their masters, seniors are dreading the end of their college experience, and others, have just entered the university in the large freshman class. The overwhelming number of freshman roam the campus each day, leaving the dorms in the morning, going to class in the afternoon, and stuffing the dining halls to full capacity at mealtimes.
This year's incoming class has grown significantly since last year's class. The Office of the University Registrar's 20-day count reads that the incoming freshman class currently has 5,999 students. This is a 9.9 percent increase from last year's freshman class count. With such a growth in population, an upsurge in students can be been seen anywhere and everywhere on campus
"I have never seen campus this busy," Nate Salazar, a junior from Santa Fe, N.M., said of the fluctuation of students around campus. "It's as congested as the last cold I had."
The residential halls have experienced a fluctuation from this large class, as well. Jennifer Wamelink, associate director of Residence Life said that the increase was certainly noticeable. "As of the 20-day numbers, the resident halls on campus are at 98 percent capacity." Wamelink said. "Last year at this time the dorms were only 88 percent full."
With practically full resident and scholarship halls, it was challenging to accommodate everyone who requested to live on campus. "There was a waitlist in June and July for the residence halls," Wamelink said. "But there were cancellations, so late applications were able to be accepted."
Students will often hold a spot in a residential hall until they make up their mind of where they want to live. When many students cancelled their housing applications, the rooms were filled according to the waiting list.
With the full and cozy atmosphere in the dorms this year, certain measures had to be taken to make sure students were accommodated properly. Resident staff was put through certain training before the school year started. The training was to help to deal with any conflicts that may arise between roommates. RA's have been informed to work with the students on their floor to try and keep roommates happy because there is not as much space available to switch rooms.
Although there was much more work going on this summer at the Department of Housing to accommodate so many freshmen. Wamelink said that it is worth the extra effort.
"We like being full. It makes the environment more homey and it makes it more comfortable for the students," Wamelink said.
This large class size is noticeable in other areas, as well. Students in all grades have begun to see the effects when it comes to getting a meal. Around noon for lunch and 5.p.m. for dinner, the dining halls and many food outlets on campus are packed to the limit with lines brimming out the side doors.
Sheryl Kidwell, assistant director for KU Dining Services, said she agrees with the effects the large freshman class has on the dining halls. "We have seen a significant increase in the number of customers in our dining centers. We are up to about 375 students on meal plans from last year." Kidwell said.
With more hungry students on meal plans, dining halls often have a line and a crowded seating area.
"Our dining rooms are, at times, filled to capacity during peak service hours," Kidwell said. "We are more than able to accommodate their needs."
Photo illustrations by Barbara Platts