A year after the Department of Residence moved its room selection process from paper and pen into the computer age, residents still have mixed reactions to the system.

Last year, the Department of Residence eliminated in-house preferences and established a computer program using priority access numbers instead.

Using the computer system, potential residents can find all available rooms on campus and check out their dimensions online.

Justin Leonard, sophomore in marketing, said he thought the process made it more simple to know where he was moving.

“I thought it was pretty easy to use,” he said.

Candy Bless, freshman in engineering, said the program is good because it lets students see a layout of each room without physically seeing it. However, Bless has had some problems with the system as well.

Bless’ current roommate is not living in their present room next semester, so she found another student to move in with her.

However, before this woman could select the room, somebody with an earlier preference date took it.

“I would like it if they would let the roommate staying pick the roommate they want right away,” she said.

Bless is not the only resident who has been confused by the computer program.

“Lots of students have come to me with problems,” said Erin Link, former Union Drive Association president.

Link said students whom she had talked to had problems with getting their access numbers and finding open rooms being listed as closed.

Tim Burgess, ISU systems analyst, said one of the main reasons for the change was to allow access numbers, given out much the way registration dates are, to determine which students get the first option on rooms.

But that change is exactly what irritated many students.

“It was mostly irritating,” said Brian Wyckoff, junior in pre-business. “I’m still mad there is no in-house priority.”

Wyckoff initially had problems when his room was listed as closed on the program, although he did not yet have a roommate.

Link said doing away with in-house preferencing worked against the houses’ community atmosphere, an aspect of ISU dorm life that administrators like to advertise.

“With the elimination of in-house preferences, I believe that those traditions and the community of the house are going to be harder to maintain,” she said.

Link said she was also unhappy that the system is still a little rough, a full year after it was introduced.

“There should be no bugs,” she said. “They should have been fixed last year.”

Bill Wychulis, former president of the Towers Resident Association, said he has not heard about many problems from his residents.

“I think it’s done a good job,” he said. “I personally like it.”

Brad Knapp, Larch Hall director, said a lot of training was done with the resident assistants this year to help make the program run more smoothly.

Knapp said he has not heard any complaints, but he said one explanation for missing or incorrect codes might be students’ waiting past set deadlines to turn in their applications for residence.

“Some choose to shop around, looking at apartments,” he said.

If the forms were turned in on time, Knapp said they were returned in plenty of time to preference.