University Halls Favoured By Most

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30886, 20 October 1965, Page 22

University Halls Favoured By Most

University-owned flats and university-owned halls of residence have considerable appeal for students of the University of Canterbury, according to a recent survey made by the university sociology department. Given a choice of two, a large proportion favoured university halls to church halls of residence.

Opinions were taken from a random sample of 337 full-time single students, classified by sex, years at the university, and the type of housing now occupied. These represented about one in five of this group. All but five of the sample were interviewed in person. Research methods students of stage II sociology carried out the survey under the direction of Dr. Charles Gray.

Dr. Gray said yesterday that this was a progress report. The survey was begun in May before the present church halls of residence appeal was launched because of widespread interest in New Zealand and overseas on the preferences of students. ‘There have been so few hard facts in these talks that we decided to use recognised research methods,” he said. The preliminary results were exceedingly interesting and more would be available when

additional information was collated and analysed. Provided with a descriptive paragraph on six types of housing and probable costs, students were asked which they would prefer if all were available. Students without parents or relatives in Christchurch were asked to exclude these choices as unrealistic. Friends Or Flats

This inquiry gave the following results:— Living with parents, relatives, or family friends, 23.5 per cent; university flats, 22.1; hall of residence, 18.8; private flats, 17.5: private board, 11.3; university hostel, 5.6: no preference, 1.2. To estimate the most active demand, students living at home were excluded and the 263 remaining gave these results: —

University flats, 27 per cent: hall of- residence, 26.6; private flats, 19.8; private board, 17.5; university hostel, 3.4; parents, relatives, friends, 3.4; no preference, 2.3. Men annd women appeared to have similar preferences, though women more often favoured flats while more men favoured halls or private board.

Years at the university had

a greater influence than sex on returns. Twenty-nine per cent of students favoured halls for their first year but less than half had this preference for succeeding years. Flats were more popular as students advanced through the university, the private flat demand risiing while university flats tended to lose favour. The 91 students who chose halls of residence were asked to choose between university halls and those run by a religious organisation. In this 64.4 per cent voted for the university halls, and 26.1 per cent for church halls, the remainder giving no preference or no response.

On type of halls, 61.5 per cent preferred a single-sex hall, 25.3 a mixed-sex hall, and 13.2 had no preference. More than 76 per cent of the entire sample wanted a single study-bedroom or study and bedroom.

“It is frequently asserted that students living in halls are more active in student affairs,” says Dr. Gray’s reoort. The number of organisations belonged to and the hours spent in these activities were surveyed with no significant difference between those living in halls and elsewhere.

In the definitions of types lof housing these general points were made: hall of residence, single or double bed- ! room-studies fully furnished with 100 to 200 students in residence, general communal facilities. £5 10s to £6 10s a week: private board, single or double room share facilities with family at £3 10s to £5 a week: private flats, usually shared by three to five students. at an individual cost of 30s to £3: parents and relatives. varying arrangements, university flats, in two to four storeys, shared by four to six. no meals provided, but kitchen available, possibly no common room, power metered, rental about £3 a week: hostel’s, single or double bed-room-studies. no meals, though probably near students’ cafeteria, at £2 10s to £3 a week.