RPM email sparks controversy in Ivory Tower

An email send to students Friday afternoon notifying them that they would be required to pay for destruction done to the building throughout the semester was unauthorized.

In a second email sent late Friday night, senior officials said the first email was not a reflection of the University’s plan to deal with the damages and vandalism in residential halls.

“Specifically,  contrary to what was in the  email, the University does not intend to charge all residents of a particular dorm for damages to common areas,” said the email.

Earlier in the day, students received a message from Residential Property Management said all students would be charged for a percentage of the destruction done to the building during first month of the semester. In early September, the Hatchet reported that an increase of broken ceiling tiles and garbage reportedly littered the floor after one weekend.

Students in the residence hall who received the first email said that while it was unfair to charge students for an act they didn’t commit, this may have been the only choice the University had.

“Charging people is is probably the best solution,” said Veronica Torres, a junior who lives in Ivory. “But they should do something else if they want it to stop.”

RPM did not return numerous requests for comment.