By Kelly Morgan (Whetstone staff writer)

After losing students between the fall and spring semester, 19 students living in the basements of Williams and Gooding halls have moved.

“There’s more open space and single rooms so we’re moving people together from the basement to house open rooms,” said Michael Monticchio, an RA in Williams.

Kevin Hansbury, director of residence life, said it is Wesley’s policy to consolidate for efficiency, safety and cost savings.

“We consider our garden level extended housing,” Hansbury said. “We use [the rooms in the basement] when we’re above capacity. The [incoming] students who deposit last get that space.”

The rooms will be closer to capacity once the garden level is moved up, he said.

Moving to a floor with many occupants will benefit the students.

“Its not as safe to have a few students on a level,” Hansbury said. “We want to give our students a positive living experience. They wouldn’t have the opportunity to meet and interact with students on an empty ground floor.”

Consolidating students saves money, Hansbury said.

Living in a single room costs more than a double. In Gooding and Williams, it costs $2,375 to live with a roommate. To live in a single-room, it costs $3,350 a semester

“If [a student is] living in a single room, we give them a choice to pay for a single [room] or we consolidate with another student,” Hansbury said. “We never force [the student] to pay the single [housing] amount.”

Students tend to dislike the ground level rooms.

“They don’t have any cell reception,” said sophomore Lamesha Green.

There is also no sunlight.

Money will be saved by this move, Hansbury said. There will be less lighting used and fewer RAs.

“We won’t need those RAs,” he said. “The savings will go back to the students.”