Jennifer Thomas
Staff Reporter

At the beginning of this fall semester, there was an unusual problem at NIACC. More students applied for college housing than the available number of rooms.

The problem began last year when there was so much availability that students didn't need to be concerned about living accommodations on campus.

"Students didn't apply to live on campus because they didn't know they needed to," Dr. Karen Pierson, vice president of Student Services, said. "They assumed there would be a place for them."

According to Pierson, another factor was a miscommunication between the old and new football coaches, leading to a plethora of football players seeking housing. This made it difficult to find enough male housing.

Finally, Pierson said that the staff has worked hard to create a "more desirable environment" where more students want to live. The dorms are more attractive, there are stricter rules concerning quiet times and RAs have more authority, according to Pierson.

Pierson said many options were considered on how to fix the housing problem including making single room inhabitants take a roommate.

However, Pierson said that all students living in single rooms signed a contract promising them that room at the beginning of the year.

The only way another person could move in is if the single inhabitant volunteered.

Pierson said that the community helped with the housing situation. "Many students were able to get an apartment in the city and only had to sign a one or sixth month contract," she said.

Some of these students are hoping to be able to move into the dorms come January when there will be vacancies due to students leaving or because of homesickness.

But for now the problem is solved.

Whitney Pierson
Staff Reporter

With new buffet style cafeterias springing up around college campuses across Iowa, as a NIACC student, one might be asking what has been done here at NIACC.

According to Sue Park, administrative assistant to Ken Webber, NIACC Food Service director, and also a supervisor of the dorms, there has been a lot done.

Park, who has worked at NIACC for 17 years, said perhaps one of the most drastic improvements made was the selection of food, as many more options are now available.

As a student, items such as salad bar, pasta, cereal, pizza, hamburgers, french fries and waffles are available every day for lunch and dinner.

In addition, every day the main entree will change for lunch and supper, along with the change of potato.

Some other improvements and changes include: a retiled floor, with food only on the upper deck now, new buffet style settings, where students are allowed to serve themselves and breakfast allowed all day long.

"It all went smoother than expected and everything is going great," Park said.

"The food is a lot better than last year, more choices and variety," Adam Odegaard, a NIACC student, said.

Gabe Simpson, another student at NIACC, said that he also really enjoyed the variety.

Nathan Emerson, another returning student said, "the selection is sure nice."