Several students studied for their midterms in cardboard box “homes” outside Parks Library Tuesday to protest the Department of Residence’s 75/25 Plan.

“We’re getting kicked out of our homes, so we’re living in boxes,” said Betsy Thompson, Barker House resident. Thompson said she and other protesters set up their living quarters at 8 a.m. and planned on remaining there until 8 p.m.

The original 75/25 Plan required each residence hall floor in the Union Drive Association and Richardson Court Association to consist of 75 percent freshmen and 25 percent upperclassmen. The plan, which will go into effect next fall, has since been revised to allow a sliding scale, allowing up to 50 percent of each house to be non-freshmen.

Another department plan, Fresh Start, provides incoming freshmen with special policies and programs like community service opportunities. This program is also being extended next fall and will include Maple, Eaton, Friley and Helser Halls, and has also been met with student opposition.

Heather Reid, Barker House resident, said her goal was to increase awareness about the 75/25 policy.

“Students need to take a look at the policy and make sure they understand what’s happening to them,” she said.

Reid, sophomore in meteorology, said only five of the 32 letters sent out in protest of the policy were acknowledged. One of those letters came from the Department of Residence, said Randy Alexander, director of residence.

A T-shirt that read, “Randy, don’t start getting fresh with me!” was placed on the front of the protesters’ display as Alexander updated them on the policy.

“I think a lot of students have misinformation or incomplete information on this process,” he said. “We are sensitive and want to be sensitive to the students who live with us [in the residence halls].”

Alexander said there is an increase in the academic performance of students who live in Fresh Start halls. Higher grade point averages and retention to the university are also characteristics of Fresh Start participants, he said.

Alexander said the 25 percent allotted to upperclassmen “would accommodate all students who want to come back, historically.”

“We’re doing everything we can to maximize the number of people that can stay,” he said.

Alexander said next year’s freshman class will be 200 students smaller than originally projected, which will also help leave room for upperclassmen wishing to return to the residence halls.

Alexander said the only building in which students may not be able to return to their same house is in Eaton Hall because the residence department has no historical data on it. Students will definitely be able to return to the building but aren’t guaranteed the same house, he said.

“The bottom line is that we are currently anticipating that every student who wants to return to their house will be able to do so, in every house,” Alexander said.