So, there’s no room for me

I came to Southern on Aug. 21, move-in day for upperclassmen. I’ll never forget that day because it was raining, the streets were flooded and cars were literally stuck because the water was so high. I had to go through hell to make it safely to Grandison Hall, but I made it, thank God.
Upon my arrival, I anticipated I would have a room, but it didn’t go quite like that. I was told, ‘There is no room for you.’ Imagine the look on my face. All I could think of is how in the hell do they have the audacity to tell me there is no room for me when this is my dorm assignment.
Dean Moroni Pointer, director of Grandison Hall, saw the puzzled look on my face so he told me to try back with him later on in the week and maybe, he would have something for me.
Now, I have good friends and that’s something else I thank God for because if I didn’t I would’ve been taking that one hour and thirty-minute trip back to Crowley.
I decided to wait until later in the week because I assumed that they would put out the students who hadn’t paid their fees. I called the residential housing office to see if there was a vacancy, they said ‘no.’ In fact the secretary said there was not one vacancy on campus.
Again, I’m confused.
There’s no room for me. I paid almost $2,000 for a room, dining privileges, cable and Internet access and other miscellaneous that I am not able to use, and they act like this is only a minor problem.
A few weeks ago, Hurricane Katrina came sweeping through New Orleans looking to wreak havoc and that she did. Now Southern is trying to accommodate as many displaced students as they can — which, don’t get me wrong — is a very noble effort, but where are they putting them?
Are they putting them on this same campus, in these same dorms that I was told had no vacancy? Are they putting them in the same room, allowing them to access the same cable and internet and giving them the same meal card to which I am entitled but have yet to receive?
Should they not take care of home first?
Everyone gets in a little over his or her head sometimes, but Southern is in way too deep. Trying to help the displaced students is great, really. But now I’m beginning to feel displaced. Do I need to seek refuge in the Mini-Dome, Seymour Gym, or maybe the Wesley Foundation? Maybe they should put me up in University Place or do I have to be from New Orleans to get that?
Maybe I should just pick some random Red Cross shelter and stay there. Forget that, I’m calling for new leadership in housing because Marilyn Hill has more problems than a little bit and so does her staff.
Let’s be real, housing is a mess, literally. It’s not only her fault because her boss isn’t on his job. If he were, she wouldn’t mess up so much.
I have been fortunate enough to be able to stay with friends but that inconveniences everyone, them and me. Beyond that, I have paid to stay on campus and that’s where I should be.
Southern has placed over 200 displaced students; where, I don’t know, but they’ve done it. There isn’t even any room in the Palisades because SU has been trying to put people there. If it weren’t for God and a few good friends, I would be either in a tent on Scott’s Bluff or back at home.
On the Statute of Liberty, Emma Lazarus wrote “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free. Bring them the tempest tossed to me-”
SU is saying that same thing to New Orleans right now, but for those of us that have been here; for those of us that call this home; for me, they say there’s no room. It’s Sept. 23. More than a month has passed and I still don’t have a room.
But it’s OK now, because next time they see me, I’ll be coming for my MONEY.