Despite this effort, these changes can't hide a very serious fact: These two residences are, in terms of upkeep and quality, USC's worst. An organizational switch-around is hardly a solution to aging facilities.

But Housing's heart is in the right place. Grouping students together — freshmen for South Tower, transfers at the Roost — gives them an opportunity to share with each other the common struggles and successes they will all experience as newcomers to Carolina.

This integration obviously betters the collegiate experience, but the initiative gives transfers the short end of the deal. Freshmen may be closer to campus with their move to South Tower, but transfers have been all but exiled by being pushed to the Roost. The best thing Housing can say it did in this situation is put these transfer students together to build a community — by complaining about Housing.

All considered — even our reservations — we can support this move by Housing. Integration of freshmen into coed housing and more of a campus presence strengthens the link between a residence and its campus.

However, moving around students cannot blind us to the realities of housing, be they building upkeep or distance from campus. We should demand much more from Housing as the semester and years continue, and not be swayed by small improvements.