The student body expressed its opposition to the possible freshman residency requirement in last Wednesday’s Student Government election. More than 60 percent voted against the referendum on the requirement. The Student Senate voted 33-9 against it in September.
This is a wake up call for the University.
The requirement, if passed, projects the University will house 80 percent of the incoming freshmen. It would require all freshmen under the age of 21 who do not live with their parents to live on campus, with exceptions for those with medical and financial problems.
The University should not impose the requirement because it is a state institution-a public body-that should not tell students where and how to live.
The University claims the requirement will help students create more relationships with other students. Studies cited by Residential Life claim it will help students achieve higher success in school compared to off-campus students because they will be able to concentrate more in a campus environment. But many students chose not to live on campus their freshman year and have remained off campus since, earning well above a 3.0 GPA and managing to maintain a social life as well.
We can no longer use the excuse that the residential halls are not up-to-date because the University is giving them a much needed makeover. But if the cost of living in them was not so high, the University would not have to force freshmen to live there.
Paul Ivey, University College Center For Freshman Year associate dean, told The Daily Reveille in September that there was no reason for students to oppose the proposed requirement.
“The folks who have investigated the issue reported that it would be good for the University, and I trust that they are right,” Ivey said.
What about the 61.5 percent of students who voted in the SG election? Thank you students for voicing your opinion.
University administrators – listen to the students.
They are speaking to you.
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