The housing crisis on campus has nothing to do with the economy. This unfortunate housing issue was unintelligently “solved” by stuffing freshmen into apartments that edge the freeway. Their poor solution also caused homelessness for prior residents in order to make way for the incoming freshmen.
Many students are wondering how this happened. Housing has unfortunately been pushed aside as the University focuses on the construction of a new athletic arena and academic center. When hundreds of incoming freshmen received letters this summer informing them they’d been wait-listed, many new students worried about where they would be living. Stadium Park Apartments was announced as the housing fallback plan for more than 400 students at the freshman orientation program this summer.
Having experienced life in the dorms, I feel bad for those freshmen who will never know the joys of being able to go to Common Grounds anytime they want or roll out of bed 10 minutes before class and still make it there with time to spare. What is more puzzling is that the University is developing housing for graduate students while seemingly ignoring the incoming freshmen.
Being a freshman is intimidating enough without having to worry about finding suitable housing. The University should make this its main concern until the problem is solved. The Living Learning Center provided a bit more space, but it is clearly not enough.
Living in the dorms is a singular experience that every freshman should have. Food is minutes away, activities are planned to ease the transition and there are people everywhere willing to help nervous new students. New students should not have to strike out on their own – getting to know one roommate is hard enough, but imagine having to get to know three. Freshmen living in apartments are missing out on yelling down the hall to each other and walking two feet to see your best friend.
The dorms are a place for awkward bonding and late-night food dashes. It’s an experience every freshman should relish and look forward to. Though sharing a shower with 20 girls may not be the most appealing idea, it comes with the territory of making your first friends on campus, the friends that you may some day share an apartment with. Worrying about apartments and living life completely on your own should happen after you’ve adjusted to college life, not while you’re still trying.
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