Students at Saint Xavier are displeased with the housing changes being made to university housing.
Recently, the school expressed its intent to discontinue the majority of off-campus housing options available to students for the 2013-2014 school year. By the fall semester of 2014, the entirety of off-campus housing is projected to be eliminated.
Many students are dissatisfied with this decision, including Jordan Morren, junior business management major, who stated that he does not believe that the school has jurisdiction to make such a decision.
“I think it’s unfair for the school to try to restrict students to only living on campus,” expressed Morren.
“A lot of upperclassmen enjoy the privilege of being able to live off campus, and being adults, should be able to choose whether or not they want to live on or off-campus. That shouldn’t be the school’s decision.”
In a letter addressed to current resident students, John Pelrine, Vice President of Student Affairs, stated that the changes being made to university housing were decided upon in response to a consistently decreasing enrollment number.
“It’s not fair for students to have to live in cramped living conditions because the school wants to save money,” Morren said of the university’s decision.
“How are they going to put all of the people who were living in apartments onto campus, and still have room for all of the current freshman?”
Khary Ferguson, sophomore business management major, also expressed concern for decreased space. Ferguson stated that he believes eliminating all off-campus university housing options will create less space in regards to Quall Hall living conditions.
“I don’t think [the changes] provide enough options for the students. It doesn’t allow students enough space,” he commented.
“I think that these decisions will lead students towards moving off-campus or commuting.”
Even Beth Kamp, sophomore nursing major, found herself in agreement, although the new housing changes did not directly apply to her.
“Personally, I planned on living on campus all four years, but for the school to limit options to only on-campus will be a turn-off for some people and shy them away from this school,” commented Kamp.
“I think [the school] should keep some of the apartments so more of the student population will be satisfied.”
Morren also expressed that a solely on-campus residency will only create more on-campus problems.
“If the school does not want to offer off-campus housing, then they need to prepare to deal with all of the problems they have at off-campus housing locations to happen on campus,” he stated.
Nicole Rosales
Senior News Editor