Some Luther students struggling to get exemption for off-campus living

Luther grants privileges, such as owning a service pet, to students with certain disabilities.  So class of 2017 student Andrew Loutfi wonders why his medical exemption to live off-campus wasn't initially acknowledged by Luther.

"I used to go to Lake Forest College until they establish a residency requirement," says Loutfi. "My condition is such that I do better in school when living alone and on my own, free from the distractions of dorms. I've got medical documents that say so and my GPA record in college proves this."

When Lake Forest said no to students living off-campus, Loutfi said no to Lake Forest.  He turned his focus to Luther, a school with a good computer science program and a school that, he says, made it seem like senior students could live off campus.

According to Loutfi, what he was told as a transfer student was soon proven to be false as Luther decided to restrict almost all students from living off-campus.

"I thought I was fine with my doctor's note and exemption that I had used at Lake Forest," Loutfi said. "Luther rejected my note, saying I needed another one. It took me a few months to get an appointment and approval and then I couldn't sign a lease without the possibility of ending up stuck, having to pay for both on-campus and off-campus housing."

Loutfi was eventually exempted from the residency restriction at Luther and now will live in off-campus housing next school year, but thinks the new restriction is dangerous for students who, he says, should be learning life skills like managing bills and cooking meals.

"I just couldn't understand why the school would not let me live in the way that, I know, will make me the most successful; both immediately and in the future," Loutfi stated.

Luther's Residence Life Office has maintained that "Luther is residential by design. We believe the best environment for learning is one where students not only study and attend classes on campus, but also live on campus." Details on Luther's full housing policy can be found at www.luther.edu/reslife.