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But this time students were not braving the cold for hockey or basketball tickets. Instead, they are waiting outside the main office of Steve Brown Apartments, 120 W. Gorham St, in hopes of getting their top pick of housing next year.
Tuesday afternoon, the students sat on lawn chairs and huddled under blankets in a walkway next to the building. They waited in anticipation of 8 a.m. this morning, when Steve Brown opened its doors to new rental applications.
Steve Brown Apartments has been in business for over two decades. It owns approximately two dozen buildings in the Mansion Hill area west of the state Capitol and additional houses on the west side of campus.
The company's most sought after apartments are on or near Landgon Street, whose six blocks are filled with fraternity and sorority houses. The Maggie Frances building, 613 N. Frances St. is particularly popular, with rent ranging as high as $841 per person for a three-bedroom apartment.
Students who have lived in Steve Brown buildings are already entered in the company's database and have priority over anyone else trying to live in the apartments.
""It's first come, first serve,"" said UW-Madison freshman Sami Housman, who has been waiting outside since Sunday morning.
She said she picked Steve Brown Apartments because they are ""beautiful"" and most of her sorority sisters in Sigma Delta Tau live there.
UW-Madison junior Adrienne Bamberger waited in line for a place in Steve Brown Apartments for two days with her other roommates two years ago.
""If you're not already in the system, you have to be the first in line when they hand out the leases,"" Bamberger said. ""So a lot of people camp out.""
According to both Tuesday's campers and current residents, the apartments are worth the wait.
""He's a credible realtor so you know you're dealing with someone responsible and are in good hands,"" Bamberger said.
The student renewal rates are very high at the apartments, as many residents live in the apartments for their entire college career.
""Once you're in the system you don't have to wait,"" Housman said. ""We're never leaving Steve Brown.""
""Some guy offered me a grand for my spot in line,"" UW-Madison freshman Jessica Oppenheimer joked. ""But it wasn't worth it.""
