Mizzou to rent out vacant dorm rooms to the public during football weekends

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/878016267612856322

May need some muscle in here

[jbcarol]

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/fond-memories-of-dorm-life-mizzou-to-rent-empty-rooms/article_1f864c60-6fe1-50a6-930b-2f9d92cc1b20.html

COLUMBIA, Mo. • Starting this fall, families and fans can rent rooms in University of Missouri-Columbia residence halls for football games and other campus events.

The initiative is among those introduced Thursday by Mizzou leaders to the Board of Curators...

A website went live Wednesday night that allows people to book a two-room, four-bed suite for $120 per night. There's an added cost for parking. ...high-speed wireless access is included, along with economy bed linens and towels.

Mizzou spokesman said leaders are still discussing whether alcohol will be allowed in the rental rooms.

Three of the seven vacant residence halls have been identified as ones to be used for conference and guest housing, including Center, Excellence and Discovery halls.

Those renting a room will have access, just like anyone who walks onto campus, to buy meals in campus cafeterias.

Earlier this month, University of Missouri system President Mun Choi proposed more strictly enforcing the policy requiring freshmen to live in campus housing. He estimated that could generate $750,000 a year.

[jbcarol]

Dave Matter‏Verified account @Dave_Matter

From @ajost - Sold out: Football fans fill dorms left empty at #Mizzou after enrollment drop

COLUMBIA, Mo. • Die-hard fan Dave Merz sent an email in May to leaders at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

"With enrollment down and the closing of several dorms, could some of the closed dorms be used for housing parents during home football games?" he asked.

A month later, Mizzou announced plans to do just that.

The dorm-turned-hotel planning was likely months into the making by the time Merz sent his email, but the loyal Tigers fan put his money where his mouth is.

With their arms full of bags, Merz and his wife, Holly, checked into Discovery Hall hours before kickoff Saturday — their third game this season where they opted for a dorm room over a hotel to sleep in after a day of tailgating and football.

For a two-room, four-bed and shared-bathroom suite, the cost is $120 per night. It's an extra $30 to park in a parking garage that's a jaunt away, but Mizzou students man golf carts that pick up guests from the garage and take them to the dorms.

When Mizzou administrators announced they would rent out 94 suites per weekend for the football season, the criticism rolled in from people who are still frustrated with the way the school handled protests in 2015. Renting out the dorms is another way of handling the fallout — with almost 2,000 fewer freshmen this fall than there were two years ago, there is no shortage of empty rooms.

It's scrappy, Merz argues. It shows leaders are "thinking outside of the box."

It's not a Band-Aid for the millions of dollars in lost tuition revenue, but Mizzou spokesman Christian Basi said the school pulled in more than $20,000 per game so far on the dorm rental.

And they're booked for the season.

Andrew Sommer, a finance guru for the residential life office, said the waiting list for Homecoming weekend is 150 requests deep. He's getting at least 15 per day.