As the university finalizes plans to offer students a free roommate-matching system on Facebook, a business that charges for a similar service has stepped up its advertising to students.
More than 1,400 university students have signed up with RoomSurf, according to an email from company co-founder Justin Gaither, more than 300 of them through the Facebook group “University of Maryland Class of 2016.” However, Residence Hall Association members said they are frustrated the group is targeting students who may not know a similar free service will soon be available to them.
Earlier in the semester, Department of Resident Life Assistant Director Scott Young proposed the department purchase the program RoomSync, a Facebook application used by 21 other universities and colleges enables students to search for compatible roommates online. The department is in the final stages of forming a contract with RoomSync, and officials said they plan to pay about $5,000, plus a yearly fee, to offer university students the service for free.
Unlike the app that will be offered through the university, RoomSurf charges the majority of its customers. The first 30 students from a school join for free, and the remainder are prompted to upgrade according to the company’s website. The site charges students between $4.95 and $9.95.
The RHA Resident Life Advisory Team drafted a resolution that warns students against using the pay service.
“At this point, it is a shady business practice,” advisory team chairman Mike Lichtenberg said.
Although the university also reviewed RoomSurf, officials ultimately decided against procuring the app. Young said he plans to discuss the issue with the Office of Legal Affairs to see whether the university can take any action against the company.
Because Gaither knows the university plans to offer a free service soon, RHA Vice President Sasha Azar said Gaither should stop advertising to incoming students.
“RoomSurf has taken their actions on Facebook way too far, and something must be done,” she said.
Despite losing out on a contract, Gaither said RoomSurf still has the right to reach out to university students on social networking sites.
“We understand [the university] recently started working with a vendor for roommate matching,” he said. “But Maryland students have been finding roommates on Roomsurf for several months now.”
akinnibi@umdbk.com
