June 25, 2006 – A record number of freshmen have enrolled in Washington University for the fall, causing celebrations in Brookings Hall and headaches on the South 40.

The admissions office expects 1,470 freshmen will arrive on campus for orientation on Aug. 24.

Nannette Tarbouni, the director of undergraduate admissions, says her office was shooting for a class size of 1,350 students when it mailed out acceptance letters last April.

“We had more students accept our offer than we expected,” she said via email. “I think because the admitted students had such great visits during April Welcome and Celebrations Weekend.”

She added, “It’s no secret that our own WU students and their friendly, welcoming nature are the reason that prospective students choose to join us – when so many other factors are equal.”

Even though they haven’t moved in yet, the students of the Class of 2010 are already putting a strain on the University’s housing stock.

Since all first year students are guaranteed housing on campus, the Office of Residential Life (ResLife) has been forced to find a place to live for the upperclassmen that will be displaced by the freshmen.

In response, the University has made arrangements with Front Door St. Louis, a local leasing and property management company, to provide student housing at Front Door’s newest building, the Loop Lofts.

“They were already planning on opening this property and hadn’t filled it when we were faced” with the housing crunch, said Rob Wild, the associate director of ResLife.
Under an agreement the two sides reached, the University will pay Front Door the monthly rent of each apartment filled by a student. The University will then charge students rent through their University account, just as they would for University-owned off campus housing.

To entice upperclassmen to move into the building, which located on 1019 Skinker Ave. just north of the Loop, the University has offered residents free basic cable and high speed internet, a free off-campus meal plan, and a free campus parking permit, among other incentives. Wild said the University is subsidizing the frills and will not pass the additional cost along to students.

So far, Wild said the response was positive. “We have more requests than we have space up there,” he said. The Lofts, which will house 105 upperclassmen, feature modern, fully furnished one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Wild said the room rearranging for upperclassmen has caused a delay in room assignments for freshmen, who will be receiving their assignments at the beginning of August, a month later than usual.

When those assignments are complete, all freshmen will have rooms on the South 40.

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