Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-09-16
Mary|andU. Gets
Flood Of Calls
In Housiing Crisis
Byrd Criticizes Parents
For Complaints Made
To Newspapers


Tempers were on edge at the
University of Maryland today as
officials were flooded with inquiries
about a critical coed housing
shortage anticipated for the open
ing Of the fall term Monday.
Parents of entering students
have kept university switchboards
busy since DR.. H. c. Byrd, univer-
Sity president, disclosed the short
age of girls dormitory space in a
statement Saturday. He said there
were about 1000 applicants for
dormitory rooms and only 625 beds
were available.
DR.. Byrd said today I'VE are
doing the best we cam"
Obviously exasperated, the uni
versity president criticized par
ents who call newspapers to
complain and think that's going
to get their daughter a room"
THAT doesn't help anything, /"
he added.
Doesn't Know About Town.
DR.. Byrd said he had no idea
how many rooms might be avail
able for girl students in the town
|of College Park.
The trouble with many of those
off campus rooms" he said, sis
that they are not up to the stan
dard parents expect"
DR.. Byrd pointed out that the
university does not permit stu
dents within close committing dis
lance of the school to live in DOR
|mitories. He said. however, there
have been some exceptions to this
rule in special cases.
Meanwhile, university officials
continued to seek the answer to
another riddle that has prevented
construction of new dormitories.
On the one hand, they have
authorization from the Maryland
General Assembly to issue revenue
bonds for dormitory construction
On the other, they have a ruling
OF the State Attorney General that
only fees accruing from the IA
cility constructed with these
bonds could be used to repay the
loan.
Would Bring Exhorbitant Fees.
1--WE would have to charge ex-
orbitant fees under those condi-
lions in order to amortize the
bonds DR.. Byrd said yesterday
In 1851, the State Legislature
passed a bill giving the university
board of regents greater home
rule. Included was a provision fol-
floating revenue bonds to con-
struct needed facilities. This in
tcluded dormitories and classroom
buildings.
The bill was vetoed by Gov
McKeldin, but a new measure wa.
introduced this year. It was passed
and vetoed, but the veto was over.
ridden by the Assembly.
DR.. Byrd explained that the uni.
versity officials had hoped to be
able to float bonds to build needed
facilities. But Attorney Genera
Hall Hammond ruled that, under
Maryland's Constitution, the bond.
would have to be repaid only from
the fees collected for use of facili.
ties constructed with the bone
funds.
Tells of Original Plan.
DR.. Byrd said it was originally
planned to use fees from othel
dormitories already in use to hell
amortize the bonds.
He said the Board of Regent:
has been studying the possibility
of asking the General Assembly
to issue bonds for the necessary
construction funds. These woule
be revenue bonds and so coule
be amortized by any fees col.
lected at the university, he ex.
planned. DR.. Byrd said this pos.
sibility is still under consideration
Meanwhile, a spokesman fol
Gov. McKeldin said no definite ar.
rangement has been made for thu
Governor to confer with the Boare
of Regents concerning the housing
problem. He said Gov McKeldir
will be out of town until late
Saturday.
DR.. Byrd announced yesterday
that Gov. McKeldin indicated 9
willingness to accept the invitation
Of the Board of Regents to discus:
the problem with him.
The spokesman said a meeting
may be arranged next week, buI
it would be a matter for the Boarc
Of Regents to decide.
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