There is going to be a lottery at N.C. Central University.

It’s not the type that makes you rich — but the type that could secure you a room on campus for the school year.

The lottery may be a symbol of luck, but many students see it as a curse.

Beginning in the fall, the lottery will be introduced to determine whether or not students will receive a room in the 2006-2007 school year.

“Students and parents complained about the housing process last year,” said Jennifer Wilder, director of residential life. “A student even called the media on us.”

With the new system, housing is guaranteed for most of the student body, but not for juniors and seniors unless they live in Campus Crossing.

Wilder says residential life is providing current juniors and seniors with off-campus housing because juniors and seniors are more mature.

Residential life chose certain dorms for certain classifications based on the population of the student body and on space needed for incoming freshman.

Providing off-campus housing to current juniors and seniors seems logical to residential life personnel.

“Students who live on campus for their first two years do better in college,” said Wilder.

But some juniors and seniors think they should have seniority.

“Current juniors and seniors should decide where they want to live as a reward for how far they have gotten in their college career,” said criminal justice junior Jite Arhajba

There are 1,642 spaces left on campus next year for juniors and seniors.

The 1,642 students whose numbers are drawn will have priority over everyone else. The students whose numbers are not called will be put on a waiting list.

While residential life staff has a lot of faith in the system, students have concerns.

According to mass communication junior Shelby Gilliard, “The process this year was not planned to give students a fair advantage.”

Gilliard said students shouldn’t have to pay a $50 non-refundable deposit for a room that is not guaranteed.

Students must pay a deposit to the bursar’s office by Feb. 28 for their numbers to be entered in the lottery.

“The housing process was a complete disaster last year, and this year doesn’t seem to be providing students with confidence in residential life,” said English junior Ryon Smith. “The new system has not been accurately tested and no one is sure whether or not it will work,” said Smith. Students have a 50 percent chance of their number getting drawn on March 3. Students will be notified via their NCCU e-mail address if their number is drawn. “I hope residential life will come up with a consistent way to assign housing,” said Smith.