A new direction for student housing
Issue date: 2/21/07 Section: Editorial
With the newest renovations to Stratton and Wren Halls coming to campus next fall, the housing landscape on the Hill is sure to be vastly different next year. As many welcome the proposed changes, we cannot help but hope they are only the beginning to a revised and revived strategy towards Tufts housing.
In that spirit, we suggest some guidelines and aspirations for the future of student housing. We believe that having as many students live on campus as possible will promote a thriving and sustainable atmosphere, maximizing the ability of all Tufts students to receive an education outside the classroom to complement the education received within it.
The most essential need for on-campus housing is the need for The Office of Residential Life and Learning (ORLL) to develop a long-term, public plan that outlines objectives for housing. One of the greatest deficiencies of the current housing atmosphere is the lack of an all-encompassing plan for housing's future on and off campus. By developing a plan that aspires to return as many as possible to campus dwellings, ORLL can nurture a "campus feel" that will focus students, foster on-campus events and create a university that lives around the clock.
Next, housing should be upgraded, as is feasible, to keep pace with other universities. Students likely spend more time in their residences than any other single place over the course of their college careers. Keeping up-to-date amenities not only respects students' needs but also creates a more rewarding college experience. Students certainly consider housing when selecting their university. It would be a shame if Tufts were to lose quality students to other universities because of deficiencies in on-campus housing. With a serious and thorough focus on upgraded housing, Tufts can stand apart from its peer institutions and draw students who might lean towards another university. Fortunately, the improvements to Wren and Stratton Halls are good first steps toward this goal.
In that spirit, we suggest some guidelines and aspirations for the future of student housing. We believe that having as many students live on campus as possible will promote a thriving and sustainable atmosphere, maximizing the ability of all Tufts students to receive an education outside the classroom to complement the education received within it.
The most essential need for on-campus housing is the need for The Office of Residential Life and Learning (ORLL) to develop a long-term, public plan that outlines objectives for housing. One of the greatest deficiencies of the current housing atmosphere is the lack of an all-encompassing plan for housing's future on and off campus. By developing a plan that aspires to return as many as possible to campus dwellings, ORLL can nurture a "campus feel" that will focus students, foster on-campus events and create a university that lives around the clock.
Next, housing should be upgraded, as is feasible, to keep pace with other universities. Students likely spend more time in their residences than any other single place over the course of their college careers. Keeping up-to-date amenities not only respects students' needs but also creates a more rewarding college experience. Students certainly consider housing when selecting their university. It would be a shame if Tufts were to lose quality students to other universities because of deficiencies in on-campus housing. With a serious and thorough focus on upgraded housing, Tufts can stand apart from its peer institutions and draw students who might lean towards another university. Fortunately, the improvements to Wren and Stratton Halls are good first steps toward this goal.
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