Students unhappy with new housing rules

By Andrew Affleck

University of Hawai`i at Manoa students have expressed concerns over the increased security regulations and rule changes introduced to dorms and apartments.

These new laws have prompted a number of UHM dorm residents to move off campus.

One of these irate students, 21 year-old Kyla Lozis, spent three years living in Gateway House and then in Hale Noelani. But a number of incidents involving campus security and resident advisors led her off campus to a Waikiki apartment.

“I had a great time living on campus,” Lozis said. “We used to have parties and ‘family events’ all the time.”

Lozis said there a number of reasons why she chose to leave. For one, Lozis said conditions on campus are gradually getting worse as each year passes.

UHM housing "doesn't provide anything for the students,” Lozis said. “And each year you are forced to pay more and more.”

Another student, 23 year-old South African Robbie Duncan, also moved off campus last spring semester, but he decided to move back to Hale Wainani this semester.
    
“I wanted to come back to campus to live with my friends and be closer to my girlfriend,” Duncan said. “But I’m wondering if it is worth it.”
    
Duncan received 20 hours of community service last year for an incident he said did not involve him. He also received 30 hours of community service and a $100 fine earlier this semester for opening a fire exit.

“You could go out that (fire exit) door all last year. It was out of habit that I opened it,” Duncan said. “It was before school even started, and I had just got off the plane from South Africa, a 30 hour flight, so looking at signs on doors that I had previously used was not high on my list of priorities.
    
Duncan said he would have rather been kicked off campus than being made to do the community service.
    
“It has been hard because I can’t do anything academically until my hours are done,” he said. “I want to drop a class but I can’t because there is a hold on my record. I would rather leave campus again than have this hanging over my head.”
    
Lozis stated that during her freshman year, her dorm room was searched illegally by UH Housing staff and some of her personal belongings were confiscated. However, her belongings were later returned with the conclusion of the school year.
    
“Criminals aren’t treated this harsh,” Duncan noted, referring to the 50 hours of community service he now must perform before the end of this semester.
    
“I came back to campus because I didn’t like my living arrangements last semester in my Waikiki apartment,” he said. “One of my roommates used, and eventually stole, a number of my clothes and belongings.”
    
Lozis said last year all of her CDs were stolen out of her living room in Noelani. On another occasion, a campus security officer grabbed one of her friends after the officer asked them to present identification.

Lozis also claimed that there in not enough parking for students, especially upper-classmen.
    
“I was a junior last year and they didn’t give me any parking on campus,” she said. “I had to park on Dole Street. I’m a female who worked at Magoo’s until two in the morning, and I had to walk home by myself because I couldn’t park near my room.”

Lozis also noted that in previous years, she has asked UH Housing for her roommates’ phone numbers before she got back to Hawai‘i so she could talk to them about the upcoming school year, but she was denied their information.
    
“I really miss the memories of living on campus, but I wouldn’t recommend it now for a transfer student because of the stricter rules,” Lozis said.
    
Duncan said he would probably stay on campus for the rest of the academic year, but said he would seriously consider finding alternative accommodation next year, or return to South Africa.
    
Senior staff members in the Hale Wainani office are yet to reply to interview requests.