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Earlier this semester, on-campus housing was so overbooked students were placed into refurnished lounges instead of dormitories, or temporary housing in the University Inn and Conference Center on Douglass campus.
And despite being offered the chance to move into on-campus housing, some students don't want to leave.
"It's a bit like living in barracks, but we don't want to leave," said Adam Lowe, a Rutgers College first-year student.
More than 100 students were originally placed in overcrowded housing in the first-year dormitories on College Avenue and Busch campuses as well as Demarest Hall on the College Avenue campus, Nicholas Hall on Cook Campus and University Inn. Now, only 13 students remain living in the lounges of Hardenbergh, Mettler and Tinsley.
Even though housing is trying to move the students out of the lounges as quickly as possible, some students were hesitant to leave their makeshift rooms.
"I didn't hate it," said Rutgers College junior Adam Geib who lived in the Demarest lounge. "I actually preferred it."
Geib said the makeshift room was larger than most other students' on-campus options.
"It was double the size of a regular room, carpeted, so we didn't have to walk on cold tiles like everyone else," Geib said. "And we had brand new furniture."
He has since moved out of the lounge, but has decided to remain in Demarest.
The lounges were converted into living areas the summer before the semester began.
While each of the rooms contained a desk, a bed and a set of drawers - just like regular dormitory rooms - the lounge rooms were able to fit four students each instead of the regular two. Double rooms measure about 16 by 12 feet.
The students living in Mettler are trying to remain in the lounge as long as possible. They have turned the spacious lounge into a place where students frequently visit, hang out, play video games and party.
While students enjoy the novelty of living in the lounges, they did have a few complaints. Bathrooms were often located on different floors, they felt separated from other students, furniture was occasionally crammed into a room and privacy was at a minimum.
Allowing students to occupy the lounges also negatively affects the other students living in the dormitory. Letting students stay in the lounges would take away from the public space the lounge is intended for.
Complaints launched to housing mostly dealt with furniture and students were accommodated immediately.
When students moved into permanent housing, custodians were made available to assist them in the move.
Students living in the lounges were charged half price for housing, while students at University Inn & Conference Center were charged full price.
As for the possibility of overcrowding in the future, Joan Carbone, associate dean for student services, said it is impossible to predict.
Overcrowding may be minimized next year when students are allowed to live on any campus they wish once Rutgers New Brunswick/Piscataway is transformed into Rutgers School of Arts & Sciences.
Carbone also dismissed rumors that Stonier and the River Dorms might close next year.
-Michael Huang
contributed to this article.
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