Operation BRONCO petition sparks conversation about new housing plans
posted by Bria Battle | March 25, 2019 | In NewsStarting this year, Fayetteville State University will be working to present students another housing plan that allows them to stay on campus during winter break. This came after a student started a petition to change the mandatory procedure requiring everyone to vacate the premises during the break.
Senior Serena Mosby drafted the petition, Operation BRONCO, in the beginning of December to support students without living arrangements for the school’s winter break after she dealt with a lack of housing options needed to maintain her job in Fayetteville.
Operation BRONCO, which stands for Being Removed Over Nonsensical Collegiate Orders, surfaced quickly once Mosby reached out to seek student opinions on the university’s procedure. She soon found out that other students needed housing during the break due to keeping jobs or homelessness. The petition reached over 700 signatures in just one week.
Mosby’s petition caught the attention of the mayor, who was on a visit to her social work class. During their class period, she was asked to present it to Mayor Colvin.
“It was good to know a person that could make something happen,” Mosby stated.
Mayor Colvin shared how his daughter attended Howard University and that the students are allowed to stay in their residence halls during winter breaks. At that point, Mosby began to research other schools and their residential winter break policy.
Later that week, the Student Government Association called an emergency senate meeting inviting Mosby and Interim Director of Residence Life, Adrina Russell. Russell commended Mosby on her petition but explained that there are several layers to the process of students being able to live on campus during the break.
As of now, residential students are on a nine-month housing contract, which only permits them access to on-campus housing while the academic terns are in session. Russell suggested that drafting a proposal for the university to adopt either a ten-month or twelve-month housing plan is possible and can present students with an option to live on campus during the break. She believes that this conversation about the petition was a way to get the ball rolling.
Durning the break, Mosby lived nearby with a coworker, but realized that not everyone will have that option. “I am hoping that they find someone they can stay with,” she shared.
Since the proposal of Operation BRONCO, the petition has been accepted and awaits the announcement of the committee that will be selected by the Student Government Association.
For students who may be homeless or are in need of a place to live, the Department of Residence Life provides a list of local short-term housing options on their website www.uncfsu.edu/life-fsu/housing-and-residence-life.
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