Camper Poses New U Housing Problem

None of the students who will enter the University this week has a more unusual housing problem than David Hoover, a freshman from Taylorville, 111. He has a meal job lined up for the f all term at the U-M 's West Quadrangle, but no room reserved in U-M or private housing. He intends to camp, all winter, within bicycle riding distance of Central Campus, where he will attend the School of Natural Kesources. To Mm, bicycle commuting distance m e a n s "about five miles from the campus, but no more than eight miles." Hoover will be 18 Oct. 1, and appears able and equipped to carry out his plan. He expects to carry a week's supply of water at a time to his campsite, and has scheduled his classes mostly for afternoons so he can study on campus mornings. In a letter this summer to Mrs. Norma F. Kraker, director of the U-M's Off Campus IHousing Bureau, Hoover wrote: "Since last September I have Ibeen sleeping out almost every Inight ... I find more security lin the woods than in an apartIment ... I enjoy really living Iwith the weather . . . Cold Iweather is invigorating. "I want a place located if Ipossible away from buildings land roads and well-hidden in a targe section of woods. I prefer la cleared, low, swampy woods labundant in wildlife." To Mrs. Kraker, that sound - ed like the U-M's Saginaw est on W. Liberty Rd. That idea was vetoed by the School of Natural Resources, which manages the forest as a laboratory, tolerating day-time visits by hikers and bird-watchers but definitely no camping. On his first night here, Hoover camped in the city's Bird Hills Park, formerly the Graves Estáte. On learning of that adventure, Park Supt. George R. Owers said, "I admire his fortitude." He also said firmly his department cannot allow any precedents to be set for camping in city parks. At last report, Hoover had checked out a small number of wooded areas offered by ers. In the process, he 1 strated more detailed knowledge I of Washtenaw County geographyl than many long-time residentsl can claim. But he found no po- tential campsites within bicyclel riding distance that are farl enough from major roads to al-I low Hoover and the owners tol dismiss qualms of vandalism by unwanted visitors. His immediate prospect is for daüy moves from one campsite to another unless an owner oll suitable property makes an of-1 fer at Mrs. Kraker's office (764-i 7400) or through The News. If a site mutually suitable to Hoo- ver and the owner is found, itsl location will not be published.J