Exchange students search for housing
Commentary
Hayley Martin
Issue date: 9/17/09 Section: Editorial
UTC has a housing problem.
Presently, there are still students living in hotels off-campus. That is ridiculous but understandable. The housing department crossed a line, however, when they decided to house foreign exchange students in this overflow housing. That is unacceptable.
These students have spent thousands of dollars to travel to the United States to experience life at an American university and, instead, are being relegated to off-campus hotels.
It seems as if the university is saying, "We are glad you are here, but not glad enough to make sure you have a stable environment, one that is supportive of college life and enables a true American college experience."
While, yes, it is nice for upperclassmen to get housing priority, I think freshmen and international exchange students should get available housing first.
Sophomores and upperclassmen have had the traditional on-campus lifestyle, walking to class, eating at the UC or Crossroads whenever they got hungry, and being harrasssed to attend R.A. events.
However, with the increasing number of freshmen classes, this would still present the need for overflow housing in hotels. Upperclassmen would still need a place to live.
To solve this problem, I propose that UTC give freshmen the option to live off campus if they want. Middle Tennessee State University allows all students to live off campus.
On-campus housing should be provided for those who need it or want it. But if housing became an option, the university would lose the guaranteed minimum $550 each freshman would spend on the required meal plan.
While UTC's budget may be hurting and losing that money would be a problem, its alumni are still giving to their alma mater.
Brenda Lawson donated the money to build the Student Success Center for athletes. Renée Haugerud donated more than a million dollars toward a new Global Finance Center.
While it is great that UTC alum are giving back, the university should try to communicate to its donors what needs to be built.
Money needs to come from somewhere for a new housing complex.
What good are the new amenities UTC has to offer if students are not on campus to enjoy them?
Presently, there are still students living in hotels off-campus. That is ridiculous but understandable. The housing department crossed a line, however, when they decided to house foreign exchange students in this overflow housing. That is unacceptable.
These students have spent thousands of dollars to travel to the United States to experience life at an American university and, instead, are being relegated to off-campus hotels.
It seems as if the university is saying, "We are glad you are here, but not glad enough to make sure you have a stable environment, one that is supportive of college life and enables a true American college experience."
While, yes, it is nice for upperclassmen to get housing priority, I think freshmen and international exchange students should get available housing first.
Sophomores and upperclassmen have had the traditional on-campus lifestyle, walking to class, eating at the UC or Crossroads whenever they got hungry, and being harrasssed to attend R.A. events.
However, with the increasing number of freshmen classes, this would still present the need for overflow housing in hotels. Upperclassmen would still need a place to live.
To solve this problem, I propose that UTC give freshmen the option to live off campus if they want. Middle Tennessee State University allows all students to live off campus.
On-campus housing should be provided for those who need it or want it. But if housing became an option, the university would lose the guaranteed minimum $550 each freshman would spend on the required meal plan.
While UTC's budget may be hurting and losing that money would be a problem, its alumni are still giving to their alma mater.
Brenda Lawson donated the money to build the Student Success Center for athletes. Renée Haugerud donated more than a million dollars toward a new Global Finance Center.
While it is great that UTC alum are giving back, the university should try to communicate to its donors what needs to be built.
Money needs to come from somewhere for a new housing complex.
What good are the new amenities UTC has to offer if students are not on campus to enjoy them?
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