Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 30, 2001)
Housing struggles to compete ■ University Housing faces the challenge of creating accommodations that will make students feel at home By Hank Hager Oregon Daily Emerald The University’s residence halls were the third-worst in the nation in 1998, according to a 1998 report by the scholarly journal Princeton Review. Though the University no longer holds this dubious distinction, many on campus feel the need for an additional residence hall is nec essary to keep University Housing a viable option for students. “It’s clear to me we need to build a new residence hall,” said Michael Eyster, director of University Hous ing, adding it would have to be cen trally located on campus. According to a report by Ander son Strickler, LCC, a consultant group hired by the University to as sess the future of campus housing, to remain competitive the Univer sity must build another residence hall or improve the existing ones. Doing so would maintain the “resi dential” status of the University by putting an emphasis on a strong campus community for students. The University has begun con struction of two new buildings slat ed to house graduate and law stu dents between Moss and Villard Streets east of the Bean Complex. The report also found that no res idence-hall at the University'is less than 30 years old. The University Inn, built 34 years ago, is the newest while the oldest, Carson Hall, had its 52nd birthday last year. Eyster defined a residential cam pus as characterized by vitality and vibrancy as well as a sense of com munity. He said it is not based sim ply on the percentage of the student body living on campus. Anne Leavitt, associate vice pres ident of Student Affairs, agreed with Eyster and said a new facility or the renovation of an existing hall is something that has to be done to keep the University from becoming a “commuter campus.” The report named freshmen as the primary beneficiaries of a resi dential campus because of the proximity to academic facilities, such as the Knight Library. According to the report, “having a residential component lends a certain ‘aura’ and makes the cam pus more appealing.” The report also suggested on-campus students become more involved with cam pus activities and are more apt to use the University’s academic re sources. Currently, ,3,125 beds are avail able in campus residence halls — enough to house approximately 20 percent of enrolled students. The average room has a gross area per bed of 247 square feet, which is al most 100 square feet less than the average for newly built residence halls at other schools. Because of this, Eyster said the possibility of students leaving for more spacious living arrangements is real. “Current residence hall rooms don’t offer the kind of space stu dents need,” Eyster said. He said the residence halls are still in good shape, but were built for students of a different era. Other universities have begun to invest more in their student hous ing. In a letter to Dan Williams, vice president for administration, Eyster wrote that Oregon State University has begun to pay more attention to the interaction between its faculty and students who reside in hous ing. This, he wrote, has brought OSU praise in its attempt to bring more students to its residence halls. Leavitt also said University resi dence halls are not competitive with other schools. She said residence halls are the first step to creating and maintain ing a residential campus. After 5 p.m., she said, the campus becomes very different. Students and facul ty leave, creating a void of activity at night on campus. “We need to have a really com pelling campus at night,” she said. She said creating a campus where students feel at home and want to go to relax and enjoy their leisure time is important in having a residential campus. Leavitt said directors from the Student Recreation Center, the EMU, and University Housing have discussed ways to involve students, in programs on campus. Dennis Munroe, director of Phys ical Activity and Recreation Ser vices, said the proximity of the Rec Center to the residence halls can be a determining factor for students who choose to live in housing on campus. “We stand prepared to try to en hance the residential experience to a desirable level,” he said. But funding has created a situa tion where the University may not be able to afford to add or renovate a residence hall. “We can’t fix them without some dedicated funding,” Leavitt said. In the 1998-99 fiscal year, Uni versity Housing received $20,962,992 in funds. During the same period, $20,502,989 was spent in operating expenses. This left a surplus of $460,003. An addi tional $604,890 was added to hous ing reserves, putting $1.8 million total in reserve. According to the housing assessment, this represents 1 percent of the replacement cost of the entire housing system. “I think Student Affairs has a job to do,” Leavitt said. j SJ-ST 55«»” 686-1166 ►Delivery charges may apply ►Not valid with any other offers ►PLEASE mention the student special when ordering going overseas? catch the Oregon daily emerald 011 the world wide web: www.dailyemerald.com Foot long Sub Expires 5/13/01 SUBSHOP 1225 ALDER 345-2434 Not valid with any other discounts or coupons. MON-FRI 10AM-10PM • SAT 11AM-9PM • SUN “37 years of Quality Service* Mercedes • BMW • Volkswagen • Audi German Auto Service 342-2912 • 2025 Franklin Blvd. Eugene, Oregon, 97402 TUESDAY IS BREAK DAY Great deals.. .great fun.. .every Tuesday in May TUESDAY MAY 1ST Buy one hour of Pool and get the second hour FREE. TUESDAY MAY BTH Duck Day Wear your favorite Duck apparel and shoot pool forl/2 price. TUESDAY HAY15TH Mad Hatter Wear a crazy hat and shoot pool forl/2 price. TUESDAY HAY 22ND Buy one hour of Pool and get the second hour FREE. TUESDAY HAY 29TH Hawaiian Day Wear Hawaiian apparel and and shoot pool forl/2 price.
