Graduate students who lost a housing option with the upcoming conversion of the Abbottsford Apartments into an undergraduate residence hall are not satisfied with the university's offer to help them find new housing.

The Office of Residence Life announced in December that on-campus housing for graduate students at the Abbottsford Apartments would be phased out over the next two years to create more undergraduate housing.

Jim McMahon, dean of Residence Life, said Marquette has been working closely with a large number of private landlords to assist graduate students in finding off-campus housing.

"Residence Life will facilitate relations with students and landlords," McMahon said. "We are eager in helping Abbottsford residents finding new apartments."

McMahon said an e-mail survey would be sent to graduate students within the next seven to 10 days. Survey questions will address where students live now, what factors are involved when they decide to rent somewhere and what possible future graduate student housing should be like.

One off-campus apartment building graduate students may be able to move into is the Sovereign Apartments, 1810 W. Wisconsin Ave.

However, Marquette does not plan on leasing or buying the Sovereign, McMahon said.

Some Abbottsford residents said they were not happy with the decision to make Abbottsford an undergraduate residence hall.

"It's frustrating to be in an apartment and find out that I have to move," said Matthew Holemon, a second-year law student. "I don't have a car, which makes things more difficult."

However, Holemon said he understands that Abbottsford's central location makes it a prime spot for undergraduate housing.

Holemon said he has heard complaints from other residents about the housing situation.

Jennifer Allen, a second-year law student, said there is a lack of consideration toward graduate students.

"Between the fact there was no prior notice and that we were told during finals is a total lack of consideration," she said.

Allen said other Abbottsford residents are concerned about an increase in noise at other apartments and said the Abbottsford's convenient location is not the building's only benefit.

"The perk about living at Abbottsford is that the bills are lower, I feel safer and its full of the same type of people who are dealing with a rigorous academic schedule," Allen said.

Allen said she feels Marquette is ahead of other universities in the fact that the school offers graduate student housing, but said she would feel better if Marquette actually owned the different offerings ORL is suggesting for new graduate student housing.

"Moving out of the Abbottsford means that we'll have to pay a lot more expenses, when some students don't have that much money to begin with," Allen said.

Kelly Ramirez, the on-site manager at Sovereign Apartments, said rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $575 per month, which includes heat, gas and electricity. The Sovereign also has on-site management and laundry facilities.

Rent for a one-bedroom apartment at Abbottsford is $495 per month and includes heat and gas.

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Jan. 25 2005.