Hi all,

There's a new development that I was informed about that I feel everyone should be aware of.

Situation: Instead of accomodating ONE student per room in the dorm, there will now be TWO students per room. However, I've visited the dorms and, trust me, those rooms are intended for only ONE person to live in.

AIM's justification for this: This is what Dr. ******** told me in a couple of emails.

There are 3 dorm facilities available this year. Two of them involve shared rooms with semi-private baths. The other one involves a non-shared single room, with a large bath/shower/toilet area shared by 10 students. Students are chosen for these rooms based on a LOTTERY system, which is considered the most fair and equitable system, and also the system of choice at US and Canadian Universities. During Orientation, you will have the opportunity to ask questions regarding the dorm facilities.

Due to the large number of incoming students, in both the 4 & 6-year programs, MUL has been working on additional dorm space this summer, which will be located in different buildings. They could not show you the other dorm buildings, because the space was in the process of renovation at that time. When I had spoken with you earlier in the year, there was only one dorm building. The situation has evolved quite rapidly over the summer. However, what we do know is that the Lottery system will be utilized for all incoming students. I hope this information answers your questions.

Regards,
Dr. M
__________________________________________________ _________
I just want to comment on the last sentence of the first paragraph: By the time orientation begins, we'll have all been moved into the residence and unpacked. I don't know about you, but that's not exactly an optimal time during which we're privy to the various dorm facilties. We should be given such information before we get there.

Why this new situation in Unfair: The following is what I wrote to Dr. M.

Hello Dr. ********,

I'm very disappointed to have discovered a new development which I stumbled upon while talking to one of the current MUL students regarding the accommodations at MUL. Furthermore, I was not informed about this through AIM until I asked you to verify my information that I got from a source outside of AIM. Here are my reasons for my disappointment.

1. The information on your website is misleading as it states that one room will accommodate only one student. I was not even remotely aware about the possibility of having to share a room with a student and was informed on numerous occasions that the setup in the dorms would be as described on your website ( http://www.umed.lodz.pl/edi/?d=doc&f=edi_info#accomod).
2. I have already paid my fees for the Fall 2007 semester in full, based on the dorm fees applicable to a single room. I do not think that it is fair that I would be potentially sharing a room with another student, especially after having paid the fees for a single room. If such a situation arises, I would like AIM/MUL to guarantee a full refund of my dorm fees if AIM cannot guarantee a single room as previously promised.
3. Furthermore, the accommodation style advertised on your website was one of the main reasons that I chose to attend MUL. Since I've received such late intimation about such an important issue, there is hardly any time left to make alternative accommodation arrangements. I spent the past five months sorting out all important issues regarding my move to Lodz. I even visited Poland in July at my expense, to verify the facilities that AIM promises and MUL provides at Lodz.
4. I have been in touch with AIM throughout this summer on a regular basis and was not even hinted about this major change.
5. When I first began my correspondence with AIM I was extremely impressed with the promptness of responses via email and telephone. However, this unfavorable development at the eleventh hour has dampened my confidence in AIM.
6. The lottery system that is used in US and Canadian universities is based on an accommodation form filled out by every student where they indicate their preferences and choose the type of rooms that they would like to live in (ie: single or double rooms). Based on that information, the lottery system allots students a room that is of their preference as indicated on the forms. It is only the location of the room that cannot be guaranteed under the lottery system used in North American universities. AIM/MUL does not have such a form to be filled out to select an option of single or double room. I know this because I've asked this specifically on a couple of different occasions and was informed that there is no such form to be filled out.
7. I feel that it is AIM's responsibility to fulfill the promises that they made, at least for those students who insist on a single room.

Best Regards.
__________________________________________________ ____________

Clarifications: Just to clarify any misunderstandings - I'm not being picky about this whole accomodation situation. I just feel that going into a program like Medicine, which is so intense and demanding, we need to be accommodated in a place that was not only promised to us by MUL, but also for the sake of our well-being.

Please post your thoughts on this issue and contact your respective agents or MUL regarding this matter.

this is ridiculous....how do they expect us still focus on our work when we're all cramped up and uncomfortable....we're also paying a lot of money for these accomodations and on the flip-side its all turning out to be the opposite....i guess we'll just have to see what happens when we get there.

Hi Crazyred,

I glad that you find this ridiculous. I don't think that we should wait until we get there. There'll be no time to sort this out and it'll be even more inconvenient if you're assigned to a room and want to switch after that.

Email AIM or even MUL until you get an answer. If there is enough 'protest' and if enough people bombard AIM with phone calls and emails maybe they'll do something about it.

Be persistent! They're charging us enough money for us to bug the hell out of them and get exactly what we want.

Inform anyone else that you know who is heading to MUL!

GO EMAIL THEM NOW!

hey..im a student there. u guys should get this resolved right away. if your parents/guardians are coming with u, make sure to tell them to make alot of noise too. there is no way 2 people can fit in the old dorms. and the community bathroom dorm, i heard really bad stories. thats no way to live. if any are lookin for private housing, PM me and i can get in touch with some landlords. i hope all gets resolved!! good luck!

Hey Joyofindia,

I'm glad you agree with me. My parents are coming with me and they are definitely not going to be quite about this! In fact, I plan on bugging the hell out of AIM until I get at least a straight answer. However, I'm leaving this Friday for Lodz, so there's hardly any time left. But I want to make AIM really sick of receiving my emails and phone calls.

Anyways, please keep in touch!

PS:I sent you a PM!

this is rediculous. i just emailed Dr. M with my concers. we are not undergrads anymore, we should not have to deal with living in converted singles!!!

Hi Nania!

Good that you emailed. I should warn you though, Dr. M did not reply to my massive email until I emailed her again, asking whether she read it.

Ask to speak with the financial aid advisor too.

Also, if possible, call the English Division faculty at MUL directly (the # is on their website). I plan on doing so tomorrow.

In fact, we shouldn't have to share rooms...PERIOD!

Keep posting replies y'all.....it'll be great if we can get AIM to seriously address and rectify this issue!

Hi all,

I see that a lot of people have viewed this thread and I'm just wondering how many have contacted AIM or MUL regarding this issue? Just post smthg really quick..maybe even just a sentence....

Thanks!

I've contacted them quite a few times, but everytime I get the same response. They are adamant that the lottery system will work to everyone's advantage. They also promise to refund room and board costs if a student decides to find their own apartment. What I am worried about is, whether one can find an apartment in such a short period of time before classes begin. This situation is really frustrating and I am calling AIM as I write this message.

I've been contacting them as well, but I'm getting the same response each time. Its really alarming....I'm very much worried as well!