Some residence hall students have mixed opinions about the undergraduate room and board rate increase and proposed continuous housing option for next year.

The Inter-Residence Hall Association will vote on whether to approve the 5 percent increase and new continuous housing plan at Thursday’s meeting.

“I think it’s a pretty average increase, and with the Master Plan, it’s expected,” said Andrew Brown, IRHA Lower Friley representative and sophomore in computer engineering. “The [students] I’ve talked to so far, they don’t seem to mind; I haven’t heard any major complaints about it yet.”

Some students have said the average 5 percent room and board increase is acceptable, as long as there is evidence that the extra money is being spent effectively.

“It’s OK as long as I see some tangible evidence where the money’s going to — as long as I see some improvement on the residence halls,” said Jason Cowden, sophomore in business and Helser Hall resident.

Amanda Brusse, freshman in public service and administration in agriculture and Willow Hall resident, agrees the increase should be used to better the residence halls.

“I suppose it’s OK if they’re going to use the money to fix things,” she said.

Director of Residence Randy Alexander said at last Thursday’s IRHA meeting that the increase is not as large as last year’s 6.8 percent increase.

However, he said the money is needed for the Master Plan’s renovations and construction of the residence halls.

Dwight Jordison, junior in graphic design and Westgate continuous housing resident, said the increase is understandable if it is needed for renovations.

“If it’s needed then I think it should go through, but if it’s just going to be extraneous money then I don’t think it should be something that we have to have,” he said.

Rachel Sagar, freshman in pre-health profession and Wilson Hall resident, said the students who will pay extra for the Master Plan will not be the ones to enjoy it.

“I could see charging us extra for the Master Plan now, but by the time that happens, I won’t be living in the dorms, but it would be nice for the future Iowa State students,” she said.

Jared Calease, sophomore in mechanical engineering and Friley continuous housing resident, said students should expect to be billed for the workings of the Master Plan through one form or another.

“[The increase] doesn’t bother me because I figure the university will get the money out of me somehow, so it doesn’t matter if it’s through tuition or if it’s through room and board,” he said.

However, Calease said some students may be upset and move off campus, and some residents doubt the necessity of the increase.

“Each year, they tell us our room and board is one of the lowest of the Big 12,” Cowden said. “I don’t think inflation is raising so high that they have to compensate with higher room and board.”

The continuous housing option, a plan that will allow any student to stay in his or her room during Thanksgiving and spring breaks for an extra $15 charged to every resident, has gained some support.

“I think it’s reasonable,” Cowden said. “There is some people whose situation may change, so they won’t be able to go home.”

Jordison agreed that the option would be beneficial to many students.

“There are a number of people that I know that would rather stay here than go home over some breaks,” he said.

However, Calease believes residents would rather have the option to stay and pay the extra money than having to pay the mandatory $15 fee.

“I think students will be upset about [the proposed continuous housing option]; they would rather have the option to not stay rather than get billed for it,” he said.

Brown said the continuous housing option would “probably” be passed by the IRHA Thursday, “unless some new issue is raised.”

“I think most students will get a lot of benefit out of it,” he said.