Approximately 130 students have been placed into temporary housing assignments, including 30 residents living in Lakeside Terrace, according to Director of University Housing Arnie Slaughter.

Lakeside Terrace, the new building the university purchased last school year, is still in the process of being renovated and updated to “make it a true residence hall and a true residential experience,” according to Slaughter. He said these include facility updates and addressing safety concerns, such as the balconies and “giving it a more student-friendly feel.”

Housing usually overbooks, according to Slaughter, in anticipation for students either moving out early or not showing up on move-in day; something he calls the “melt rate.”

Slaughter said these residents who are in this overbooked group include students who didn’t register on time for housing, and have to live on campus due to either living outside of the immediate area or some other extenuating circumstance.

In addition to Lakeside Terrace, these residents are living temporarily with others inside Callahan Hall, resident assistants and peer mentors in Callahan and in the Residential Village.

In years prior, Slaughter said that residents not able to have temporary assignments on campus would have to live in hotels, such as the Comfort Suites in Bellevue and the Country Inn & Suites in Wilder. He called Lakeside Terrace “a blessing” for allowing students the convenience of living nearer to campus and getting them integrated as soon as possible.

Anastasia Bantle, an incoming freshman living temporarily in Lakeside Terrace, said, “It’s really nice that I can stay here,” saying that even though she only lives in Hebron, Ky., it’s much more convenient for her to stay on campus.

Slaughter expects the melt rate to be lower this year.

“We’ve been much more aggressive in terms of contacting students who…did not attend their orientation, or students who have not registered for classes at this point; typically the students who would be a part of that melt rate,” he said.

However, Slaughter did say that the amount of residents living in temporary assignments is around the same as other years.

One thing that Slaughter did say could happen is that, because the melt rate isn’t as high as past years, there may not be as many slots opening up immediately.

“The priority is getting all students out, but the [students living in Lakeside Terrace] is of the utmost priority…. Unfortunately, if we experience a lack of permanent spaces, our students who are in the Callahan [rooms] and the RA roommates, may stay a little bit longer.”

Slaughter is confident that all students will have permanent assignments within the first few weeks of classes.