2008 Woodie Awards
Should Vanderbilt mandate on-campus housing?
Robyn Hyden
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Issues
Although Vanderbilt's decision to deny undergraduates the choice of off-campus housing has annoyed some students, it is a sound decision that will help our university. The construction of new college halls will radically transform residence life, and while it will take time to complete the transformation, the opening of The Commons this year indicates that the university is beginning to move towards a more cohesive community. Requiring on-campus housing is a key step in this transformation.
Students commonly complain that this new dictum restricts personal choice. Certainly, some students are disappointed to realize that their plan to move off-campus senior year might be impossible, and perhaps wish that they had had more warning before committing to live on campus for all four years. They face the same prospect as the class of '11, who had no forewarning about their abysmal housing prospects next year. However, this situation, while unfair to some, is unfortunately inevitable as we move to improve the campus - and the future prospects of our university.
The school's decision to lay out the rules now will prevent confusion in the future. Incoming freshman will no longer labor under the delusion that they will ultimately have a choice about housing. And, be honest, how many of us would have turned down our spot at Vanderbilt if we had known up front that we were required to live on-campus? Most of us signed on knowing that we had to live here for at least three years, and I venture to say that most of us would gladly stay for a fourth regardless of the new mandate.
As for the complaints about monopolies, the high price of residence halls, and poor amenities, well - mandatory housing is something we all agreed to when we enrolled at Vanderbilt. The construction of new dorms will undoubtedly make the amenities much more pleasant. As for students who have trouble paying the higher price of on-campus housing, one can only hope that financial aid can help alleviate the cost.
Students commonly complain that this new dictum restricts personal choice. Certainly, some students are disappointed to realize that their plan to move off-campus senior year might be impossible, and perhaps wish that they had had more warning before committing to live on campus for all four years. They face the same prospect as the class of '11, who had no forewarning about their abysmal housing prospects next year. However, this situation, while unfair to some, is unfortunately inevitable as we move to improve the campus - and the future prospects of our university.
The school's decision to lay out the rules now will prevent confusion in the future. Incoming freshman will no longer labor under the delusion that they will ultimately have a choice about housing. And, be honest, how many of us would have turned down our spot at Vanderbilt if we had known up front that we were required to live on-campus? Most of us signed on knowing that we had to live here for at least three years, and I venture to say that most of us would gladly stay for a fourth regardless of the new mandate.
As for the complaints about monopolies, the high price of residence halls, and poor amenities, well - mandatory housing is something we all agreed to when we enrolled at Vanderbilt. The construction of new dorms will undoubtedly make the amenities much more pleasant. As for students who have trouble paying the higher price of on-campus housing, one can only hope that financial aid can help alleviate the cost.
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