By Audrey Elwood, Staff Writer

With tuition hikes and more financial demands coming to Xavier, many students are rightfully upset at how our schooling is only getting more expensive. However, there is a sneakier, hidden cost that might not be increasing, but is still costing students thousands: Xavier’s mandatory two-year on-campus housing policy.

The price for the cheapest on-campus housing options is $3,760 per semester, totaling $7,520 per year. Now that is the cheapest housing option, but if you want a single in the Commons, that will cost you $10,510 per year. An off-campus apartment will run you around $600 a month per bedroom, totaling $6000 per school year. 

Additionally, if you are living in Buenger, Kuhlman, Husman or Justice as a sophomore, you are required to get an unlimited dining plan which will amount to an extra $3,150 per semester, totaling $6,300. Cooking your own food could be just as expensive.

As a first-year, it makes sense to live in the heart of campus as it helps with the transition from living with your parents to being independent. You have all your meals provided and it’s a short walk to class. 

Many students who commit later or are from out-of-state would not have enough time to get off-campus housing for their first year. However, sophomores are well accustomed to the area, have time to get housing and  typically have a solid group of selected roommates by the time housing rolls around. 

While it can be expensive to live on-campus, Xavier allots a one time room and board grant to some first-year students. But that goes away sophomore year, increasing the financial burden for sophomores. With most college students’ budgets already highly constrained, and an economy that is hurting many of the working class students of Xavier, limiting sophomore’s housing options detrimentally hurts students. 

This will be a big change for the school Yes, there will be some growing pains. They may have years in which not all the housing is full. Yes, they will need to recalculate the amount of students on campus. Still, many sophomores will choose to live on campus as they are not ready to leave yet. I think the system is rigged against the sophomores, that it is detrimental to them and that  these factors should be taken into account. 

The sophomore housing system is so broken that it is essentially a fight to the death for housing. If you do not win the time slot lottery, you are left out to dry in Kuhlman or Buenger and are required to purchase an expensive meal plan. Alternatively, you might get stuck with an expensive housing arrangement in the Village. There is no regard for affordability or student preference.

 Last year, many sophomores got moved to University Station as the university over-admitted first-years. Sophomores are pulled back and forth with little regard from the administration and the messages they do receive are vague and confusing. This year they plainly stated that there will be no moving to UStation, yet the housing situation remains complicated because of the unknown number of 2024 prospective students. 

Allowing sophomores the ability to move off campus provides them with more flexibility. It also leaves the first-year dorms to the first-years and prevents the humiliation of the sophomores having to live in Husman and Kuhlman.

There is still a high probability for students to pick on-campus housing and a dining plan. It is more convenient, it provides accessibility to classes and is just generally easier for students to do than living off-campus. Some students really value on-campus living, whereas some students would rather save money. Both are valid choices, but students should have the ability to choose what is best. 

There are concerns over a lack of student rental housing around the area. While this might put a slight strain on the current set up of the off-campus housing system, it likely will not be as detrimental as people would think. There is still housing available on the Xavier off-campus living site for 2024-2025. UStation also still has plenty of places for rent. 

Xavier needs to accommodate students’ needs when it comes to finances. Giving sophomores the chance to pick housing options that fit their needs will ensure that every student will be able to stay at Xavier. Xavier needs to put its students first in every sense rather putting the cents lining their pockets first. 

Corrections (from an interview with Lori Lambert, Senior Director for Student Affairs, given after the original publication):

● The housing grant will stay on the student’s award until they no longer have housing charges or move off campus. 

● Rising sophomores who have financial or other reasons as to why they should be released from the second year of their housing agreement are able to apply to do so by submitting a Request for Release form — found on Housing Self-Service. Not everyone is approved, but all requests are considered individually. 

● The most cost-efficient housing option on campus is University Apartments at $3,305 per semester. The apartments include kitchens, so no meal plan is required. 

● The system for selecting rising sophomore selection days/times is fully automated, which is the most fair way to determine the selection order. 

● No sophomores live in Husman Hall.