Student residents living in the converted Super 8 Motel are expressing concerns over its safety and quality of life.
Residents of the motel on Flint Road say intruders, theft, and relegation of students to second-class status has soured the experience of living in the motel, even with the perks living in a motel provides.
"You don't need any ID to get in," said Alex Yurenev, a junior photojournalism major and Super 8 Hall Council senator. "You can walk in and do whatever you want."
Yurenev and several other residents cited multiple incidents of intruders, thefts, and of drug dealers peddling on the residents' floors throughout the first semester.
Chris Fitch, a sophomore linguistics major, said that as isolated as the motel is from the rest of North Campus, it still has problems with uninvited trespassers who make residents uncomfortable.
Fitch and others implied guests on the first floor could be part of the problem.
"The first floor are guests and some social services guests, and we get random people showing up on all the floors," he said, referring to rooms the motel rents for those in need, like the homeless.
According to many residents, on Oct. 18 the problems with the first floor guests hit its peak when one social services resident was chased in the parking lot by police. Yurenev, who had been outside the motel and had a camera, took photos of the incident.
"It was crazy," Yurenev said. "This guy, who was (in) one of the social services rooms downstairs here comes flying in with a bunch of cop cars behind him and the cops were pulling their guns and when he stopped they got him on the ground."
University Residence Halls Director Kevin Ahuna said according to information Amherst Police gave him, the person being arrested was a "non-guest, non-student."
Amherst Police refused to release the police report of the incident. The Super 8 management also declined to comment on any of the issues raised by students.
Fitch, Yurenev, and several other residents also described thefts of clothing, and alluded to a feeling of paranoia with some of the motel staff. Yurenev said he believes at least one staff member with a master key has been freely entering students' rooms without permission.
Other students had complaints about the motel staff members, who are not affiliated with the University Residence Halls.
"They treat us like crap," said Jason Sorkin, a sophomore audiology major. "They kick us out of the lobby if we're studying, and they won't let us use the microwave that is there."
Yurenev also expressed concerns about a new policy that took effect on Nov. 4. Posted in lounges on each floor were flyers stating that student residents will be charged $2 every time they lock themselves out of their rooms and need to be let in by the staff. The flyers do not show whether the policy is that of UB or the motel, but the Super 8 is the only residence hall with a pay-per-lock-out policy.
Assistant Director Ahuna said the University Residence Halls and the management of the Super 8 Motel have a good working relationship and any problems would be worked through.
"Students shouldn't assume that everything over there is an agreement with the university," he said.
In addressing the security issues concerning unimpeded entrances, Ahuna said his office was addressing the situation but students must take some responsibility for their own safety.
"In reality it has the same problems as the normal residence halls with people propping the doors," he said. "I have traveled a lot and I don't know of any motel that forces residents to swipe a card. Students have to remember that this is also a motel."
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
