The Student Council discussed concerns around the University's recent on-Grounds housing policy change and Friday’s field storm following the football game during Tuesday’s general body meeting. Student Council also received an update that the Cavalier Career Closet received a donation of business attire from a local church and that November Airbus tickets — a low-cost shuttle service to Dulles and Richmond airports — are live.
The University recently amended the on-Grounds housing policy to remove upperclassmen priority during the housing application process, effective for the 2026-27 housing application. In past years, upperclassmen have been given the option to renew their lease for the following academic year if they want to remain in their same on-Grounds accommodation, but now, rising second-year students have priority to select on-Grounds housing before upperclassmen. This policy change comes as a result of the University’s 2030 plan, which includes a goal to house all second-year students on-Grounds.
Second-year Architecture Representative Phelippe Hempel expressed great concern over this change, as it is also impacting residential colleges. There are three residential colleges at the University and they are living-learning communities that students of any year can apply to live in.
“[HRL is] trying to apply the [housing change] to the residential colleges, which is very problematic,” Hempel said. “The whole point of a residential college is that if you're in a community, you're guaranteed to stay in that community, and you engage with people across all years.”
Hempel additionally noted that he wished HRL had been more transparent that students would not be guaranteed a bed to remain in their residential college for the following year. He said he has been in contact with University administrators this past week to express the views of current upperclassmen who will be displaced from current housing arrangements for the 2026-27 academic year.
Student Council additionally discussed concern over the field storm that took place at Friday’s football game, following Virginia’s win against Florida State. Seconds after the game-winning interception was complete at Friday’s football game, approximately 50,000 Virginia fans stormed the field, crushing both each other and players still on the field. Student Council representatives discussed the repercussions relating to injuries and transportation during Tuesday’s meeting, and most representatives also expressed contentment and excitement regarding the celebration.
First-year College Representative Aliha Buriro said though she found the field rush fun, she was concerned with the lack of University options to transport students back to their dorms following the game. She said University Transit Service buses were being used as shuttles to bring fans to the game parking lot, rather than running the typical student bus route, and that Ubers cost upwards of $40 at that time due to high demand.
“I had multiple friends who were injured, and it was incredibly difficult,” Buriro said. “It made their injuries worse going back to their dorms.”
Third-year College Representative Ian Travis responded that, through meetings he has had with University Transportation Services, he knows that UTS buses are required to be fan shuttles following games. He said this is because fans pay for far-away parking, and therefore must have a way to be transported to the field.
Travis said there is likely not a way to address this issue due to the lack of additional buses and bus drivers that could transport students rather than fans, but that the concern could be raised at a meeting with UTS.
Student Council representatives also heard two updates from Micah Andrews, chief of Support and Access Services and third-year College student. Andrews’ first update was that the CCC recently received a large donation from Scott Shop of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Greenwood, Va., which is a free shop run by the congregation that collects donated clothing to give out to the community. The CCC launched Aug. 26 and is a closet that runs out of the Student Council office in Newcomb Hall to provide University students with business attire at no cost.
“[Emmanuel Episcopal Church was] so helpful. It was so lovely,” Andrews said. “They gave [us] a tour of their property, and their shop is really doing a lot of good in the Crozet area.”
Andrews said Emmanuel Episcopal is additionally a part of the Crozet Interfaith Community and has a weekly newsletter that is sent out to nearby congregations. She said that clothing drives for the CCC will hopefully be advertised in that newsletter and that she plans to keep the connection with Emmanuel Episcopal for any future donations.
Finally, Andrews said Airbus tickets are live for the University Thanksgiving recess in November. Airbus is a Student Council SAS service that provides low-cost bus tickets to shuttle students between the University and Richmond and Dulles airports around University breaks. Airbus dates and times for November can be found here, and the link to purchase tickets here. Buses depart for Richmond and Dulles Airports Saturday, although classes officially run through the following Tuesday, and return the next Sunday.
Student Council will reconvene Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. for a regularly scheduled general body meeting.
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