A group of students from the University of North Georgia’s Dahlonega campus plan to protest the school’s housing lottery. Some of these students claim they are about to face homelessness because of this housing delegation.
UNG introduced the lottery system for housing in November. The lottery launched on Jan. 20 and closed Jan. 31. In an email to students regarding the shift to the new system, the Residence Life department wrote that the process was designed to be completely impartial. “Each student will receive a unique lottery number, assigned by our system,” said the department, “ensuring no personal aspects of a student’s profile are considered, so fairness is maintained for everyone involved.”
The protest group, whose organizers wish to remain anonymous, claimed that 534 students were suddenly waitlisted as a result of this new system. Among those waitlisted were upperclassmen who had lived on campus for years. Those who were waitlisted had paid the $150 required for the housing application fee, causing UNG to profit around $80,000. Students who successfully acquired accommodations are reportedly sharing suites with 5 other students in suites designated for 4.
Before the lottery, a credit hour system was used to govern housing. In order to be eligible for on-campus housing, students were required to be enrolled in 12 credit hours or more.
An organizer designated as “M. T.,” who created a petition to reinstate the former system, said that the credit hour system “honored the service and commitment students had given to UNG.” The petitioner claimed that the new system is causing uncertainty among the student body.
“Off-campus housing is not only more expensive, but it also increases our carbon-footprint due to commuting. Gas costs being another burden, a concern especially potent given the ongoing climate crisis, hints at [the] irrationality of this lottery system.” – M. T., UNG Housing Protest organizer
The comments under the petition were in agreement. Signer Abbigayle Baxley said she had no home to go back to in the event she lost the opportunity to get a dorm room.
“Our university needs to prioritize what students need if we are already paying enough as is,” Baxley commented. “We are paying for education and a place to live. Our reputation will be shot down if it continues to do these horrible systems.”
Another signer, Grayson Newnan, felt that university funds should be used to fix problems voiced by students, such as building new housing and parking to expand for an increasing student population. He disagreed with the recent renovations to the drill field and the new Dahlonega campus entrance.
“I think it’s time for the university to take a step back and really focus on the students instead of the […] campus that is already beautiful […],” Newnan wrote. “I really want to be proud of my soon to be alma mater, but if we continue to not put students’ needs first, I don’t know if I will be able to say that I am.”
The housing protest is set for March 20 on the Promenade from 12 – 2 p.m. Check out the protest group’s Instagram page and their petition to reinstate the credit hour housing system.
Joseph I. Dashiell • Mar 7, 2025 at 2:26 am
Current Housing Situation: How unfair is the so called fair lottery system? Of the 2,781 beds available, 1,881 (or 68%) automatically go to special privileged groups that do not have to participate in the lottery. Furthermore, the minuscule 900 beds that are left to lottery allows networks of friends to be exclusively selected as roommates consequently adding another special privilege group that is able to circumvent the lottery. That leaves an estimated 400 beds (14% or less) for the lone non-special privileged student that represents 37% (1,034 lottery applicants) of the on campus housing demand. If the intent is to be fair, then “all” 2,781 beds should be subject to the lottery purely on an individual basis regardless of group affiliations or friend networks. Otherwise, the current system is grossly unfair. 37% of the housing demand is stuck with the odds of having to sacrifice on campus housing all because the allowed enrollment far exceeds the housing inventory. Hearsay is that off campus housing is nearly a monopoly resulting in high rates, low quality and unsafe limited off campus options. The Dahlonega campus needs to reduce the acceptance rate of non-commuting students and build more housing (field expedient modular units if necessary). It is better to have excess beds available per term than not enough, otherwise, it may start to appear to be about greed.
Chaz Mullis • Mar 7, 2025 at 10:53 am
Author of the story here. How did you get those bed distribution stats?