Loyola administrators from Residential Life to Parking Services anticipated and planned for a bumper crop of new freshman for the fall semester. However, according to the admissions department Web site, the total enrollment for the year is only 5,900, about 300 more than last year. Some 3,800 of those are undergraduates. And despite the relatively small size of Loyola, the student body is made up of students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 48 foreign countries.
Although the official statistics will not be released until early October, the university isn’t expecting any significant change in the demographics. “It appears that there will be no increase and no decrease. We predict a stable enrollment,” said Debbie Stieffel, dean of admissions and enrollment management.
Robert Reed, the director of Residential Life, also noticed no major increases of students in the dormitories.
“The Class of 2007 wasn’t overwhelming this year, because we were better prepared for them,” Reed said. “We hold as much space as we can for incoming freshman, and we try to balance them with the demands of upperclassman.” He said that there are more freshman men living in the residence halls than expected, so some of the upperclassmen in Biever Hall have been moved to New Residence and Cabra Halls.
Despite the increase of men in the residence halls, some students say they have observed little change in the classroom. Last year the number of women on campus was nearly double that of men.
“In class, there are like 20 girls to five guys, but in the social setting it’s not that bad,” said Blair Gimma, communications junior. “It doesn’t bother me though, because Tulane is right next door,” Gimma said.
Despite the shortage of men, students seem to appreciate the small class size. “I love that the student/faculty ratio is 13 to 1,” said Jessica Manzo, music education sophomore. “It benefits both the student and the professor. The student gets individual attention and the professor understands each student as an individual and is better acquainted with the culture they represent.”
Parking is an especially common concern among upperclassmen. Because parking privileges are restricted for freshmen other than commuters, parking for this semester is virtually unchanged.
However, parking services has still planned for an increased enrollment by directing all residents to park in the Freret Street Garage, leaving all commuters to park in the West Road Garage. As far continuing frustrations felt by some commuters, Capt. Roger Pinac, Loyola University Police, said that parking services are positively dealing with the problems at hand.
But he emphasized that “freshman and upperclassman commuters need to understand that parking availability can not be perfect. It is impractical to drive up five minutes before class and expect to find an easy parking space.”
Freshman Kristen McElhaney checks prices on the freezer at the C-Store. (Pamela Howard)
