University Housing added a three bed option to its largest residential learning communities in yakʔitʸutʸu for the 2019-20 academic year.
Last year there were only double and quad occupancy, however there are now 170 rooms with three beds, according to University Housing Marketing Coordinator Julia Bluff.
Most of these triples were added in the residential buildings’ L-shaped rooms, which are larger than standard double rooms, according to Bluff.
“We always design our spaces to be flexible. yakʔitʸutʸu rooms were built to be fairly spacious, and can accommodate triple rooms,” Bluff wrote in an email to Mustang News.
Freshmen asked for a less expensive housing option than standard double dorms, Bluff wrote. University Housing “had more demand for lower cost rooms than [it] could accommodate,” last year according to Bluff.
This year, both three and four bed rooms in yakʔitʸutʸu cost $8,283 for the year compared to $9,591 for a double.
| Residence Hall Double | Residence Hall Triple | yakʔitʸutʸu Double | yakʔitʸutʸu Triple or Quad | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Annual Cost | $8,718 | $8,283 | $9,591 | $8,283 |
“Now that yakʔitʸutʸu has both triples and quad rooms, our residents have more options to choose a room that works best for them,” Bluff wrote.
To accommodate the growing requests, University Housing switched 14 double rooms in tšɨłkukunɨtš to triples; 45 double rooms in tsɨtkawayu; 45 double rooms in tiłhini; and 66 double rooms in tsɨtpxatu.
Bluff wrote double rooms are always a popular request among incoming freshmen, but the new dorms were exceptionally sought-after this year.
With the addition of 170 beds, University Housing reports 80 vacant spaces across their first-year communities, with additional vacant spaces in the on-campus apartments.
Architecture freshman Annabelle Dovinh is on the second floor of tsɨtpxatu, the Substance-Free residence hall.
While she said some people tend to have negative reactions when they find out she is living with two roommates, Dovinh said she actually prefers it to a double.
“Instead of being close to one person, you’re close to two people, and it’s more fun that way,” Dovinh said.
Mathematics freshman Bryan Liu lives on the fourth floor of tsɨtkawayu, which houses students within the College of Science and Math.
Liu said the triple dorms in his building are spacious, despite some people saying they are “too small.”
He also said he has a positive relationship with his roommates.
“Having a triple is the best because you can make two new friends instead of one,” Liu said.