On Creighton’s Department of Residence Life’s Web site, it still has the following question under the FAQ section page: Is there a shortage of space available on campus?

“No. There is no shortage of space for student use,” Residence Life said.

This question and answer session reflects the underlying, misguided assumptions of students, the administration and Residence Life. All parties assumed, even with increases in admission rates and student interest in on-campus housing, that current housing would continue to suffice and that students, like Plinko chips, would fall into place.

Creighton is riding high on a wave of expansion. The new Harper Center opens this summer, admissions has consistently accepted larger freshmen classes, and the new apartments in Opus Hall and Davis Square have attracted the eyes of juniors and seniors.

Now, in the spring of 2008, Creighton has not expanded quickly enough for us. We need more and more expansion to satisfy our cravings and are now suffering withdrawal. The housing crisis should teach all parties involved significant lessons.

Students should know that Residence Life does not guarantee on-campus housing. While Web sites such as StateUniveristy.com and CollegeBoard.com claim that Creighton guarantees housing for all undergraduate students, Residence Life has no such policy. More importantly, students understand the importance of attending such events as the President’s Fireside Chats and expressing their concerns.

The administration should take away a greater appreciation for the balance between increasing student enrollment and building up new facilities. This tension may be another “What came first” question. However, residential infrastructure must keep pace with student demand, especially if the administration wants to keep emphasizing on-campus housing for juniors and seniors.

Residence Life has the most to learn from this situation.

Last week, The Creightonian reported that Residence Life has planned to survey students that signed up for the apartment E-lottery. In addition, they are returning $75 deposits to students who did not receive housing. There is more work to be done.

First, Residence Life should increase transparency in the housing process. To prevent another panic next year, they should pre-release numbers of students who paid for a lottery pin number, the number of available rooms and the number of students that the available rooms could house.

Second, Residence Life needs to provide juniors and seniors with more off-campus housing information. This year, Resident Life officials had house-renting seminars, but this is not sufficient.

Their Web site only had six off-campus housing contacts. Residence Life should actively pursue quality landlords and help fit students into houses or apartments near Creighton.

Third, Residence Life officials must make it known that they do not guarantee housing for all undergraduates. For some reason, students thought that a room would be waiting for them once they reached their junior and senior year. Residence Life must work to end these rumors, starting with an official statement on its Web site. In addition, Residence Life must make it clear to all new students and potential new students that there may not be housing for them when they become juniors.

The housing shortage must be addressed as a longterm problem with multiple, interwoven solutions. This year’s panic should teach everyone in the Creighton community that accepting 1,000 new students every year can be celebrated only if we have the infrastructure to support them.