Staying in dormitories longer than they have to may not be high on most students' wish lists, but for those needing to remain at Dartmouth for work or academic reasons, interim housing in dorms provides a free bed.
This could change as the Office of Residential Life considers charging a fee for accommodations between terms.
Interim housing is currently "a service proved free for students," Acting Assistant Director of Undergraduate Housing John Haletsky said. There has been discussion, however, about putting a price on the privilege of staying at Dartmouth over breaks.
The proposed fee would "cover office costs," rather than generate profit, according to Director of Undergraduate Housing Rachael Class-Giguere. The charge could also make it possible for the College to have food services available during the interim.
For some students who plan to take advantage of interim housing, the benefit of having dining services would not outweigh the burden of having to pay for what used to be a free place to stay.
"It would be difficult for me to afford it," Saad Quayyum '05 said. "I would prefer if the housing were free and there was no dining option, although I wouldn't mind a nominal fee."
Quayyum, who is from Bangladesh, noted that a charge for interim housing could be hard on international students who stay at Dartmouth over many breaks, partly due to the financial advantage of staying rather than taking an expensive trip home.
"They stay here because it is inexpensive," international student Zosia Krusberg '04 said. A charge might create a hardship for such students, she said.
If a fee existed, students needing to remain at the College would have little choice but to pay it, Jameson Goodman '05 said.
"If you could go home, you would," Goodman said. "I don't see how anyone would have a choice."
Giguere emphasized that there is no decision yet about the fee, and ORL has not even determined an approximate amount.
"Nothing has been decided," Giguere said. "It has been talked about for years."
The idea, she stressed, is unrelated to present budget concerns.
Putting a cost on rooms at Dartmouth over interim would not enable any student who wants a room to simply pay a fee and stay, according to Giguere. As is presently the case, students would apply for interim housing about a month before the upcoming interim, and would be required to provide an appropriate reason for needing to remain at Dartmouth.
"It needs to be a College-sanctioned activity," Haletsky said. "An issue such as parents going on vacation is not a reason."
Especially between Spring and Summer terms, many students wish to stay on campus to watch friends graduate, he acknowledged, but stressed that to remain at Dartmouth during the interim, a student must be "doing something related to the College, such as working on commencement or reunion."
The College simply does not have enough housing, Haletsky said, to allow people to stay on.
"Just get a job doing something and we are happy to approve your request," he said.
During most interims, students can remain in their present rooms and use their current keys. At the interim between Spring and Summer term, however, students are moved to the River and Choates cluster to make room for alumni and the families of graduating seniors.
