[media-credit name=’BRYAN FAUST/Herald Photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]With housing, books, food and a social life to take care of, the financial burden of college is all too strenuous for some students.

However, University of Wisconsin student Sahar Safavi got a lucky break her freshman year when she won the University House Towers' State Street Giveaway, which granted one student free housing for an academic year.

Safavi said she was shopping with her sister on State Street this summer when someone working for University House asked if she wanted to enter a contest for free housing.

Since she did not have university housing arrangements at the time — she was planning on commuting to UW from her home in Oregon, Wis. — she was naturally attracted by the opportunity.

"In order to be part of campus, you need to be submerged into campus life" Safavi said, adding that, even though she was randomly selected, she is very appreciative.

According to University Partners company spokesperson Kim Hardcastle, University Partners is new to the Madison area, and this is the first contest of its kind at UW.

Hardcastle added University Partners usually runs promotions in the weeks leading up to the school year.

Safavi said the University Partners representative called while she was in a summer class, so she actually found out she won the drawing in a voicemail message.

Safavi said her first thought was, "Maybe it's not true," because she thought the message was a marketing gimmick of sorts.

Lucky for Safavi, though, she called back and found out she won free housing at the University House Towers along with a free meal plan.