A Department of Residence official announced Thursday that the proposed freshmen to upperclassmen ratio of students living in the residence halls will be modified to reflect the traditional return of upperclassmen to each house.

The department will implement a sliding scale for the ratio, which was formerly set at 75 percent freshmen to 25 percent upperclassmen.

John Shertzer, residence life coordinator for the residence department, said “the reason the policy is being shifted is because of the percentage of the incoming freshman class [who want to live in the residence halls],” rather than in response to concern of current students over the ratio.

Inter Residence Hall Association President Keith Twombley said he had met with Associate Director of Residence Halls Virginia Arthur, who said the department will change the percentage of upperclassmen living in the residence halls based on a sliding scale.

The sliding scale will allow a minimum of 25 percent and a maximum of 50 percent sophomores and above, per residence hall house, Twombley said.

Originally, the plan called for 75 percent of each house to be reserved for freshmen and the remaining 25 percent to be open for upperclassmen. The policy will impact only Union Drive and Richardson Court Associations.

Kate Bruns, communications specialist for the DOR, said the percentages were approximations based on the number of anticipated incoming freshmen.

Arthur originally said the ratio would probably change to benefit upperclassmen.

The specific sliding scale percentage will be determined separately for each house. It will be calculated based on historical resident return rates, Twombley said.

Shertzer, IRHA adviser, said the DOR does look at student petitions and listens to student voices. However, the change is not being implemented because of the opposition the policy has met, he said.

Shertzer said he wishes he could see more student activism over campus issues such as the 75/25 plan, because it shows student leadership.

Andy Tugan, Linden Hall representative, urged IRHA members and students to become familiar with the DOR’s Master Plan. Students should be informed of the changes the department is planning so they can react in a timely fashion, Tugan said.

Some students in IRHA are trying to make their own changes.

Jennie Erwin, Union Drive Association president, presented a program outlining UDA’s plans to restructure its government. Rather than remaining unified as UDA, each hall would represent itself, because UDA has “very distinct buildings,” she said.

Four plans were offered to UDA senators, Erwin said, and the most popular plan was presented to IRHA. “This is what senators want,” Erwin said. The plan calls for a restructuring of UDA at several levels.

The purpose of the new plan is to allow students to become more involved in student government, she said. Justin Rasmussen, RCA president, said he believes Erwin’s plan will not allow students to become more involved.

Concerns were also voiced by several members about the feasibility of separating hall budgets and the lateness in the academic year of the proposed change.

Dave Breutzmann, Towers Resident Association president, said he was concerned about the new student governments being handed over to “fresh people” without the guidance of graduating members of the current system.