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UCS committee suggests 'pods' as storage solution

An Undergraduate Council of Students ad hoc committee believes it has a viable solution to bringing back free on-campus summer storage for students. The committee plans to present its proposal for approval to the University within the next two weeks.

The proposal, which has yet to be finalized in writing, calls for a system of portable trailers, or storage pods, to be strategically placed prior to the end of the school year. These locations would include the Main Green, Wriston Quad and Pembroke Campus. Students would leave their belongings in the appropriate pods, which would then be driven to University-owned warehouses approximately 10 minutes from campus, where they would remain untouched for the summer.

If approved by the University, the system would be available beginning this summer, meaning that pods would be scattered around campus later in the spring semester.

David Greene, vice president for campus life and student services, said he encouraged UCS to look into the issue and come up with creative solutions for student storage. Though he has yet to see the official "pods proposal," Greene said he was willing to work with UCS to find a solution.

"I would be very much in favor to find some way to make it easier and less expensive for students to store their belongings over the summer," Greene said. "I understand there were problems before, but I've got to imagine there can be a system better for students, whether it's the pods idea or what else."

Ben Creo '07, head of the four-person UCS committee, said the idea of the pods received a positive response from Richard Bova, Residential Life's director of housing. Bova would most likely be the administrator overseeing the project, according to Creo.

"We don't think this proposal will get rejected," Creo said. "There is enough support from the student body and UCS to get this passed. We think the issue will be clearly articulated to relevant administrators, and we fully expect a stamp of approval and funding."

The goal is to give students a place to store their larger belongings for free over the summer. Last year, the University stopped providing on-campus storage facilities, leaving students with a variety of relatively unattractive alternatives - pay for space through a professional storage company, ship belongings home, store belongings in a friend's house, or throw items away.

With the close of the semester and final exams, the task of finding a place to store refrigerators, televisions and microwaves for the summer becomes an added burden, students said, particularly for those who live far away.

"People who live far (away) or foreign students can't take anything home," said Jacob Wallenberg '05, an international student from Sweden. "We have to put our entire rooms in storage unless we can find a friend's house. Then again, if we don't own a car it gets more complicated. Also, we have to catch flights which have been booked in advance, so it's very tight with finishing up work for classes."

Prior to last year, students' belongings were stored in the basements of dorms, but the growth of mold on and around items could not be controlled. There were also liability issues with regards to theft and students not retrieving and abandoning items.

Creo said his committee's proposal would not encounter similar problems because the pods would be self-contained, unlike the basements where water could leak from floors above. Also, once filled, the pods would be sealed for the entire summer, unlike the basements in Keeney Quad and other dormitories that several people could access during the summer, according to Creo.

Brian Bidadi '06, another member of the committee, said the proposal should be approved because "most students" want to see the University provide some sort of storage space during the summer.

"The reason this is a top priority (for UCS), and we have to make it a top priority, is because administrators have had trouble gauging how much of a priority for students it really is," Bidadi said. "That's because students don't talk about where they are going to store their belongings until the time comes. We need to make it clear to the administration that this is a need that has to be addressed."

Sara Cunningham '07 said she understands the University's apprehension with possibly reinstating on-campus student storage space.

"Actually, it makes a lot of sense from both sides," Cunningham said. "Obviously for the students, but also since the pods would be moved off of campus afterwards, from the University's perspective: one, you provide students with on-campus storage, but two, you also remove some the liability that the University had when items were in the actual buildings the entire summer."

Cunningham said UCS's planned proposal would be a viable solution for students and the University.

"For the benefit of the people who aren't willing to spend much money to get private storage facilities, it would be nice for the University to provide a bit of space," Cunningham said. "But I understand the University's concerns for insurance and security and all. After all, we have so many students here."


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