I have worked at Bates West, the Roost and now Bates House. If the new proposed incentive system of providing free housing to second-year RMs would have been in affect when I was a RM at the Roost, I would have been appalled at being a second-year RM receiving free housing at the Roost while other second year RMs were receiving free housing at Honors residence hall, the Quads, Horseshoe or any other residence hall that is actually on campus.
One of the perks of being an RM at the Roost or Bates House is the simple fact that housing is cheaper compared to other residence halls, and providing free housing to all second year RMs would eliminate that benefit.
Instead, housing should focus on increasing the benefits for RMs the longer they stay. Currently, there are only incentives for coming back for a second year.
To solve this problem, housing should be 50 percent off for first-year RMs, 75 percent off for second-year RMs, and free for third-year RMs. This would help entice RMs to stay longer because currently there is a small percentage of RMs that will stay for three years. A similar incentive plan should be used with discounts pertaining to the meal plan and stipend increase.