While still pending approval from the Board of Trustees, preliminary numbers released by the Office of Residence Life and Hospitality Services show increases greater than those of last year for dorm housing and meal plans. Upperclassman dorms can expect an increase of approximately 5.5 percent, and the charge for the RAHPs will increase 3 percent. Meal plan costs for next year will rise approximately 5 percent over last year’s charges.
Residence Life declined to comment on the issue, saying that the numbers have not been finalized by the Board of Trustees yet.
Student opinion on the matter, however, was not very divided.
“I think the cost of living is ridiculous,” said Kevin Ly ’06, a member of the Student Senate. “How is college going to be affordable for anyone?” He continued that while most of his tuition is covered, he takes out loans to pay the over $10,000 for on-campus housing and a meal plan, concluding, “I’m angry.”
“I’m glad I live off campus,” said George Chung ’07. “Why bother paying so much? Just live off campus. You’re going to have to do it eventually when you get a job after you graduate. Might as well prepare yourself now.”
“If you’re going to increase or maintain the cost of living, how about you put some light bulbs in the RAHPs,” joked David James ’06, saying that he has had trouble getting his lights fixed and has several switches that do not turn on lights.
Teresa Burton ’07 felt that, “If they’re going to raise the rates, they have to improve the quality of the dorms, and not just the freshman ones.” She said that while she understands that making a good impression on new students is important and recognizes that freshman are the only ones required to live on campus, the conditions in upperclassman dormitories are “horrendous.” Burton went on to say that the rates that are being charged are “exorbitant.”
Not all students felt that the rate increases were inappropriate. “I don’t know that 5 percent is really that much,” said Steve Everett ’08, citing rising energy costs. “I don’t know that 5 percent is extreme compared to how much their costs are going up. I don’t think it’s really unfair or anything.”
Everett went on to explain that in Montreal, landlords are allowed to raise their rates up to 5 percent each year to cover increased costs due to factors such as inflation. “Five percent is the maximum they should raise it every year,” he concluded. “That seems fair to me.”
Planned meal plan price increases also bothered students.
“The food quality hasn’t been the same. It’s been a steady decline since freshman year” while the price has continued to go up, said Craig Emerson ’07. He is living on campus this year, but said that the overall cost of living on campus has led him to find an apartment off campus, where he expects to halve his living costs.
“It’s too expensive for a meal plan. It’s cheaper to eat out,” pointed out Ming Lee ’08.
“I think it’s too expensive,” Allyce Caines ’08 said. “I pay for my meal plan, but I don’t use it every day,” so she feels the cost is not justified.
