Tom Bryant, a Syracuse University student who has spent the last week living out of his car, has finally received an apartment.

After a week of waiting, Bryant, a junior political science major, filled out the proper paperwork and officially received a South Campus apartment on Friday at about 10:30 a.m.

Friday night, Bryant finally slept in a real bed.

Bryant’s plan to reside in off-campus housing fell apart when the student he was subletting with decided not to go abroad this fall. Bryant didn’t find this out until he arrived back at SU.

The housing office told him there was no space available, so Bryant stayed in his car. For nearly a week he slept in the cramped vehicle, surrounded by all of his possessions.

After Bryant visited the housing office every day last week, a representative found a permanent place for him.

‘It was a matter of confirming a space,’ said Eileen Simmons, director of Housing, Meal Plans and ID Card Services. ‘He had been in touch with us to let us know he needed housing and his place had fallen through. We’ve been able to work with a number of students who, for one reason or another, needed our services. We’re happy to help them out.’

Bryant said he is thrilled with his new residence.

‘My roommate and I get along, and I like having my own kitchen,’ he said. ‘(My first night) was wonderful, warm, comfortable and quiet.’

The apartment is a welcome change from his car, where he had been harassed late at night by a few drunken students, Bryant said.

‘I nearly got hypothermia,’ he said. ‘It’s always cold when I wake up in my car, but this time, when I got to class my teeth wouldn’t stop chattering. I like it much better here.’

While traveling to his new apartment on the bus, Bryant was recognized by someone reading the Sept. 1 article in The Daily Orange which featured his trouble with finding a place to live on campus.

‘He looked at the picture, then at me, then the picture, then me again,’ Bryant said. ‘He did a triple-take. He came over and asked why I wasn’t more pissed off.’

Published on September 3, 2006 at 12:00 pm