It’s no secret: we need more beds. With more freshmen attending the university than ever before, the USC housing crisis is becoming an increasingly pressing issue. The dilemma has gotten to the point where even freshmen are scrambling to find adequate housing on campus.
So when a 919-bed housing complex comes rolling in, it’s very difficult to deny the obvious benefits.
More upperclassmen will have the opportunity to engage in on-campus activities and events, as opposed to simply going home and wasting innumerable hours on Netflix.
Underclassmen will also have a better shot at getting the first-year experience they expect.
This new housing, located behind the Carolina Coliseum, is an example of a public-private apartment style that is fast becoming a trend in public universities in cities. It affords students some of the same perks of off-campus living, without the isolation and hassle of transportation from those complexes.
Some upperclassmen don’t always have dependable methods of getting to class, relying on other approaches like carpooling and shuttle services. This new complex could provide an almost literal middle ground between the two options students already have.
There are flaws, however.
Certain perks of off-campus housing will be limited; assigning resident mentors to floors has been seriously considered. Students living in the building will have to follow university rules. For those interested, this means the anti-tobacco policy will extend to its premises.
Additionally, the school refuses to talk about the intricacies of the deal, rendering any real discussion impossible. Financial details haven’t been divulged. We don’t even know which contractors are being considered by the trustees to build the residence.
Parking, as always, remains a concern. The building itself will take up parking spaces that are frequented by commuting students. Despite this, we recognize that sacrifices of this kind are impossible to avoid, but we need to consider our priorities.
In short, the new building might be a very positive development for the student population. Anything to increase the availability of housing is a good step and remains something that we’ve endorsed many times. We just don’t know enough details.