The Etownian >> News
New option on Market?
Thursday May 06 2010
Many juniors are discontent. Throughout Elizabethtown College, it is expected that students will gain housing outside of the typically-considered “underclassmen” dorms. However, as class sizes have increased, juniors find themselves back in dorm housing. Many juniors who expected to get into the apartments, the Quads or Brinser were disappointed and frustrated when they realized that they would have to spend another year in a dorm. This year’s housing selection only seemed to solidify this disappointment for many juniors and seniors as they struggled to find housing other than the traditional dorm. As a result, discussion has taken place both among faculty and students over the last few years regarding the need for additional housing, especially for upperclassmen. To remedy this, the College is currently looking into more housing, possibly located along Market Street. Dean of students Marianne Calenda stated that the College had been in negotiations to turn the former Elizabethtown Hotel and the Beef and Reef Restaurant into upperclassmen or graduate student apartments. The proposed renovation would provide an additional 28 beds. However, Calenda stated that the College has learned that “the proposed rent for the apartments exceeds our students’ ability to pay, which makes the project significantly less attractive.”
Sophomore Betsy Michel agreed that more upperclassman housing is necessary. However, she also agrees with Calenda’s comment regarding a higher rent. “If the rent is higher, I wouldn’t want to live there,” she said. “On or off campus isn’t the concern, but our tuition is high enough that it would be hard to pay any additional rent.”
According to sophomore Stephanie Crawford, “If it’s above the price range of most of the students, I feel like it wouldn’t be a good idea.” “Additional housing would be great, but I know that personally, I couldn’t come up with the money to pay monthly because I don’t have a steady income while I’m at school.”
Junior Leeann Hackett decided to apply for an SDLC this year. “The fact that I didn’t have to pay additional expenses was one of the advantages to moving into my SDLC,” she said. “By the time you get to be an upperclassman, you’re really tired of dorm life — it’s good to have more options.”
The Etownian >> News