Saint Mary ’ s decides to integrate residences

The decision is final: Saint Mary’s w ill have class integrated housing next year. According to the D irector o f Residence Life and Housing at Saint Mary’s, Patricia Rissmeyer, “ The decision was made last year by an ad hoc com m ittee that was representa­ tive o f the Saint Mary’s com m unity. "The changes are not drastic by any measures.” The changes call for housing underclassmen in all dorms except Augusta. Out o f 1 1 I students randomly chosen to discuss the changes w ith the housing commission, on ly 17 showed up. “ Ninety percent o f the ones who were there were in sup­ port o f the changes once we ex­ plained the reasons," Rissmeyer said. She outlined three main points as causes for the changes. “ First, there is a degree o f un­ happiness and lim iting w ith the c u r­ rent housing situation. One th ird o f the freshmen don’t live in Regina," Rissmeyer said, "When they find out that they won’t be in Regina they complain. The lim iting occurs when people are compelled to move from year to year.” The second reason for the change, according to Rissmeyer, is to build a larger com m unity. “ Currently Saint Mary's is class segregated. I ’m not against class activities but the present situation burdens R.A.s,” she said. “ It is impossible for freshmen to get advice. The school is freshmen and everybody else. This doesn't build a com m unity o f people.” Rissmeyer noted that each class experiences different things and class integration would mean less pressure and more support. Finally she said, "Singles aren’t good for freshmen. They are isolated w ithout the support they need.’ “ The changes w ill not affect the senior class," Rissmeyer said. Seventy o f this year's freshmen w ill have to live in Regina again, al­ though no compensation is planned to offset the higher charge for living in a single. “ The overall goal is to improve housing," she said, “ Ideally, people w ill choose people over the old wood in the o lde r dorms."