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November 16, 2004
Students opt for fixed-rate, free-play laundry
The students have spoken and the Office of Residential Life has listened: The fixed-rate/free-play laundry option in the dorms has overwhelming campus support.
Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life Patti Klein said that due to survey results and the recommendation of the Hamline Inter-Residence Council (HIRC), the university will sign a 10-year contract with Mac-Gray for a fixed-rate laundry system.
The contract will take effect on Nov. 15, and preparation in the dorms for the new machines will begin shortly after, with all new machines in place by early February. A fee of $30 will be added to the account of every student living on campus for the spring semester. This fee will cover the cost of laundry service, water, electric, and other associated costs.
On Oct. 20, HIRC sent out a survey asking students to rate the two options.
The other option considered was “pay-as-you-go,” where students would spend $2 per load per use.
Nearly 40 percent of on-campus students completed the survey. Out of the 343 responses, over twice as many students were found to favor the fixed-rate option.
“I’m really glad most students on campus support the fixed rate,” said senior Ted Gehring. “I used to go to the U of M, where we didn’t have to worry about quarters. It was really nice.”
One piece of potentially controversial information discovered from the survey results was that almost 60 percent of students living on campus only do laundry once every two weeks or less.
These numbers suggest that the majority of students living on campus will pay more per use to do their laundry when the fixed-rate option is implemented.
However, the survey also proved that if free-play laundry were put in place, there would be a 56 percent increase of students doing laundry on campus.
“It would be beneficial for everyonečloads would be smaller and take less time, and there would be less crowding,” Klein said.
Additionally, Guyer said, the fixed-rate option will encourage more students to stay on campus, which could create a stronger feeling of community.
While many students would agree that paying a fixed rate is easier, not everyone agreed that the option is fair.
“I prefer to pay as you go,” said resident assistant Abdirahman Abdi. “Many students live very close to campus and do their laundry at home, and it’s not fair to them to pay for something that they don’t use. I’m disappointed in the decision.”
Guyer admitted HIRC’s recommendation won’t satisfy everyone’s needs, and junior Rebekah Orensten agreed.
“In either situation, someone is going to be unhappy, but it is important to consider what the majority of students have expressed,” Orensten said.
Posted by msveum at November 16, 2004 10:52 AM
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