<p>I'm a transfer student, and just found out my room assignment a few days ago (Rockingham). I had previously been told that we receive emails regarding housing, and had no idea they show up on the same site we sign the housing contract, so that's why I found out so late. I've heard some terrible things about it in terms of lack of security and location. I was wondering if there was any way I could change my room assignment before the semester began. I emailed residence life, and they pretty much said wait until Sept. to request a room change. Would it make a difference if I, or maybe a parent called and talked to someone? If I can get it changed before the semester started so I don't have to go through the hassle of moving in and out if worst comes to worst, I'd like to. </p>
<p>Does anyone have any suggestions?</p>
<p>Hello. I’m not sure you necessarily found out late. After reading your post, I checked the website you mentioned and my daughter has not received a room assignment - she is an incoming Freshman though.</p>
<p>As far as making an appeal about your room assignment, I honestly don’t know, but as you mentioned in the e-mail you received they probably have a list of requests. So, find out exactly what date and time to make the appeal and who or where it should be made. Try to get on the list first.</p>
<p>As far as Rockingham or the old Howard Johnson’s motel, it is inconvenient – for on-campus housing. I know that it is surrounded by off campus housing. I actually lived behind Rockingham (HoJo’s) my Sophomore year and sometimes walked and sometimes took the bus.</p>
<p>Security - well, Harrisonburg is very safe, even compared to where I live in Northern Virginia. But, I’m a guy and I went to JMU 25 years ago. I never felt unsafe ANYWHERE on-campus or off even at 2-3am. In fact, the opposite was true, I wanted to run from Security as the local cops tried to write drunk in public tickets if you were even having an animated conversation after dark.</p>
<p>Try calling Residence Life or have your parent call. I know there are certain procedures to getting room changes during the summer months and they do not budge from those procedures. Make sure you get on a list for possible room changes and ask them where you stand on the list and the possibility of getting a change. Good luck.</p>
<p>I ended up calling residence life and they basically said the same thing: Wait until the first week of September. She also said that there was no list to put my name on, I just have to come into the office. She said they really didn’t have much space left, which is odd considering weeks ago at orientation they were strongly encouraging transfers to sign on campus housing contracts because they had so much space left. I’d assumed current students already had their housing assignments, as well as freshmen since they were accepted well before transfers. I didn’t realized space filled up that quickly.</p>
<p>I was just trying to make sure they couldn’t change it before I moved in and met my roommate and everything. But I’ll just have to stick it out! I was really just going by rumors and what people who’d previously lived there had told me. But if I end up hating it that much and feel like it’s worth the hassle to change come September, I’ll just have to do it then. Thank you for your replies!</p>