The UMD Statesman reports that more than 100 students have been staying at a nearby hotel this semester because of a shortage of on-campus residences. Officials told the paper that the school experienced both an increase in enrollment and fewer housing cancellations than in previous years - leading to the shortage.
So far, 15 of those students have moved out of the hotel, and officials tell the paper that all of them should be able to find on-campus housing by the Spring. Most students in the hotel are in favor of moving. A survey was given to hotel residents earlier this year, asking if they wanted to move. Of the 55 students that responded, only four said they wanted to stay.
The increase in enrollment at the school reflects a trend that extends throughout the state's public colleges, creating cramped housing conditions for many students. More than 200,000 students attended the 32 different schools this fall, a record high for the fifth consecutive year.
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