JASON MEYER STAFF WRITER
Residential Life’s first-year roommate survey has been reworked for incoming Wartburg students in order to get better roommate pairings.
The original survey asked if a student was a smoker and their preferences toward waking up and going to bed. Director of Residential Life Wesley Brooks said that the survey did not specifically address what times are used for early or late.
“We formalized those things in terms of, ‘Do you go to bed prior to 10p.m., do you go to bed after midnight?’” Brooks said.
Brooks said the survey also included if a student is interested in living with a student who had the same academic major as them, and if they are involved in music, theater or are an athlete. The survey also includes a checklist ranking a student’s musical preference as well as a list of hobbies and school activities they are interested in.
The changes were made to the survey after The Centennial Complex hall council had several complaints from students who were not happy with their roommates.
Student Senate Administrative Ombudsperson Nicole Lequia said students complained about how they could be matched with someone based on a few questions.
“We tried to make it a little more detailed without making it too long,” Lequia said. “This new one has more questions about personality and what type of person you would like to live with.”
Lequia said the new survey can help, but it comes down to the matching process in order to get the right student matches. She said there will still be some differences between students, but there will be more of a basis to match them on.
The new surveys have been printed and sent through the mailings that are sent by admissions to incoming freshmen.
Brooks emphasized the new surveys may not improve the housing process, because it is a philosophy on how to place students.
He said there was nothing wrong with the previous survey; however, it did not give enough information to pair students to a room. He hopes that Residential Life will make some good matches and have students who will enjoy their roommate.
“The cards are in circulation, hopefully some of them will come back and we will see what kind of difference it will make,” Brooks said.