Stress and sweat seem to be synonymous for move-in weekend. But when 108 more freshmen than expected enroll at Vanderbilt, administrators like Jim Kramka, at the center of the housing assignment process, face additional heat.

With freshmen anxious to move away from their parents’ home — and rules — they anticipate housing assignments almost as much as their Vanderbilt acceptance letter.

But with nearly 70 percent of freshmen requesting a double room, luck of the draw determined students’ success in the housing assignment process.

“Imagine putting all the applications in a barrel, stirring them thoroughly, and then blindly drawing them out one at a time. Applications in the first priority group are mixed up so as to produce a random assignment order,” said Kramka, senior director of Housing Facilities Operation and Management. “As applications are considered, students are assigned to the room type of their preference until the supply of that type of room is exhausted.

Nearly all students paid their matriculation fee by May 1 this year, Kramka said, ensuring their placement in the first priority group for housing assignments.

Underestimating the size of the freshman class required creative housing ideas; as a result, more than 100 freshmen live in Carmichael Towers East.

“I was a little disappointed because I had the image of moving in and going door to door introducing myself, and I feel it will be a little more difficult to meet new people,” said Aimee Sobhani, assigned to Towers.

However, the housing office worked hard to create clusters of freshmen on Towers floors, Kramka said, hoping to ensure these students are fully integrated into the class.

This change resulted in a housing shift for seniors. All seniors who previously had their off-campus request denied were now approved, Kramka said.

“Because we still needed spaces for first-year students and transfer students, we solicited off-campus applications from all other seniors,” he said.

As soon as the Vanderbilt Web site posted residence information, freshmen on Facebook informed the Class of 2011 to look themselves up on People Finder.

Facebook has allowed freshman halls to virtually unify before the members meet face-to-face. But members do not solely focus on establishing relationships. Rivalries with other halls are equally important.

Charlie Kesslering, assigned to Branscomb, created a Facebook group for Stapleton House. On the group’s homepage he claimed, “Stapleton doesn’t just kick ass. Stapleton kicks it with a steel-toed boot.”

“Branscomb has the reputation for being the most desirable of the first-year residence halls,” Kramka said. “But it is important to distinguish ‘desirable’ from ‘desired.’ The thing that is desired by most people may not be considered desirable by all.”

Boone Williams, one of many freshmen who said he hoped for a double in Branscomb, was assigned a single although he requested Alex Sweet as a roommate.

“With the housing crunch this year, we got singles (not even really near each other) in Vandy/Barnard,” Williams said.

However, some students, like Bentley Coplin, said they preferred a single room.

“I was scared of getting a random roommate and worried since I am a light sleeper and need quiet to study. With a single I can close the door and think when I need to,” Coplin said.