Previously, on SGA: Residential Life presents senior-only housing to senators
Byline: Maya ShahMansoorian
CLIMATE CHECK
Inclusion and Belonging Chair Ayesha Farrukh discussed takeaways from a roundtable meeting SGA hosted with student organization leaders on Feb. 23. The meeting’s purpose was to identify areas where SGA could improve its effectiveness, and many new organizations, Farrukh said, have found it hard to request SGA funding due to information asymmetries. She said there have also been complaints about the Student Engagement and Development (SED) office not tracking financials effectively. Junior Vice President Madelyn Stovall said there is a lack of distinction between what SGA funds versus what SED does. She suggested hosting an info session at the beginning of each semester for new student organizations to learn how to connect with SGA and access templates for funding requests.
STAFF CHAT WITH RESIDENTIAL LIFE
Rachel Boaz Toppel, director of Residential Life (ResLife), and Demetrius Johnson, assistant director of ResLife, presented their 2026-2027 “Room Reservation Overview.” ResLife is ensuring that housing information is easily available to students by updating the housing tab on Trinity’s website and hosting room reservation workshops, mixers and RA-hosted hall meetings, according to Toppel.
ResLife created more living options for rising seniors, such as single-bedroom upper-division dorms available in Murchison and Calvert, Toppel said. This should benefit juniors and take some of the pressure off City Vista apartments. Rising seniors will have the opportunity to select housing before spring break, and when this selection period concludes, ResLife will have a better understanding of availability for juniors.
Junior Senator Darcie Gulick asked whether rising seniors could submit a housing application but back out of the process if they found alternative housing. Seniors can complete the entire housing process and have until May 1 to cancel their room assignment without consequence, Toppel said.
Junior Senator River Rocha asked if seniors living in single-bedroom upper-division dorms will be required to purchase a meal plan. Toppel said there will be flexibility for these students, but suggested they get the Tiger 100 meal plan.
Junior Senator Maya Tsai asked for clarification on the Murchison kitchen project. Toppel said the kitchen will be similar to the shared one between North and South Halls, with two cooktop areas and a community gathering space.
Senator Gulick said that she and many others had trouble receiving timely notifications from ResLife about summer or winter housing. She said she did not get confirmation that she could live on campus over winter break until the last day of finals, and asked whether ResLife planned to speed up this process.
Toppel said that all requests are considered on a case-by-case basis, but that they are actively trying to reduce the number of students on campus during breaks. The campus is completely closed during winter and summer breaks, and housing should be reserved for students in need, Toppel said. Toppel also said that ResLife is constrained by many factors.
