111 Lyon Hall, Barker House 3067 County Road E-17

Ames, IA 50013 (School) Onslow, IA 52321 (HOME)

tornadowarning@yahoo.com

February 14, 2003

Governor Tom Vilsack

The Capitol

Des Moines, IA 50319

Dear Governor Vilsack:

My name is Heather Reid, and I am a sophomore at Iowa State University. Growing up in Iowa, I have an immense appreciation and love for the state, and it is this love that has motivated me to contact you with my concerns for the state’s future.

The statistics don’t lie; there are few college graduates who choose to remain in Iowa to pursue their futures. While I do not deny that the lack of current opportunities for employment and the cost of living are a part of this, I would like to make you aware of another factor that may be affecting this trend.

Currently here at ISU, the Department of Residence is implementing new housing plans for the 2003-2004 school year. In years past, there has been an overall trend of roughly 25% of upperclassmen living in campus housing. The D.O.R. is now trying to manipulate the trend into a policy. Residence halls closest to main campus will be held to the 25% upperclassmen-75% freshmen split with a push towards the super-single and student apartments for the remaining upperclassmen wishing to live on campus. Other than the obvious goal of attempting to keep freshmen students closer to campus and thus hopefully promoting their academics, the D.O.R. is trying to counter the trend of upperclassmen students moving off campus seeking apartment-style living and/or more freedom.

Many students, including myself, are not in favor of the plan. As freshmen, we appreciated the upperclassmen on our dorm floor. They showed us the ropes of college life, from where and when to buy textbooks to how to run the washing machines. Also, many floors, including the one I reside on, are rich with traditions dating back as far as Vietnam. Freshmen have much to lose if this plan is implemented.

I am bothered by the prospect that I may not be able to reside in the building of my choice, the building I have resided in for the past year and a half. Despite the ever-rising cost of tuition, room, and board, I have no will to leave Iowa State or move off of campus. I refuse, however, to spend that money living elsewhere on campus if I am forced to leave my current floor. I put a great deal of thought into the process of selecting a dorm floor when I originally accepted my offer to Iowa State, and do not feel that any other floor or living situation would suit me as well as Barker House has.

Actions have already been taken by students in hopes that the D.O.R. would rethink their actions. However, our voices seem to have fallen upon deaf ears. I invite you to peruse the enclosed attachments at your earliest convenience. Your support could mean not only more students in university-supplied housing and therefore more revenue, but also a more favorable student opinion of the state and consequently a higher graduate retention rate and a brighter future for Iowa.

Thank you for your time.

Respectfully,

Heather L. Reid

Enclosures: 2

cc: U.S. Senator Charles Grassley, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, Governor Tom Vilsack, State Senator Julie Hosch, State Senator Herman Quirmbach, State Representative Gene Manternach, State Representative Jane Griemann, Randy Alexander, Keith Twombley