No room in the inn: Questions arise about housing crisis
The Grand Views staff
Issue date: 1/30/09 Section: Opinion
No matter if you live on campus or off, it's hard to miss that there is a crisis happening at Grand View University. A housing crisis, to be exact.
In an effort to meet the need for living space for incoming freshmen, the Grand View administration is asking some juniors and seniors to relocate to an off-campus location, which will require them to commute to class and live in Ankeny.
On a typical weekday afternoon, it takes 10 minutes to make it all the way to 6703 Southeast Bellagio Dr. in Ankeny where the Value Place-or the Viking Villas-will be located.
You must pass through five stop lights and hop on the interstate to make it there.
But a question arises, can a crisis be good? And if so, can we call Grand View's housing crisis a blessing? Maybe.
Enrollment this year increased by more than 200 students and, while next year may not be as big of a jump, the number of students choosing Grand View is expected to continue increasing.
Many people, especially juniors and seniors who have been attending Grand View since the start of their college career, are upset by the move. They'll be forced to commute, without gas reimbursement on behalf of the school, and won't be able to make it to class as quickly as before.
Deb Barger, vice president for enrollment management, said last fall's rise can be attributed to the addition of both football and wrestling teams, in addition to some other less obvious reasons.
"We've had increased visibility, positive publicity, some that related to the new academic building," she said.
Barger also said more students want the on-campus living experience that comes along with most university educations. But are the students living down the road from Grand View really getting that experience?
For the most part, the juniors and seniors who are considered as on-campus residents, but live off-campus, have been here longer than any of the freshmen and sophomores who are taking their place in the dormitories and the Suites. Don't they deserve some sort of priority because of their elder status and have the first say as to where they live?
In an effort to meet the need for living space for incoming freshmen, the Grand View administration is asking some juniors and seniors to relocate to an off-campus location, which will require them to commute to class and live in Ankeny.
On a typical weekday afternoon, it takes 10 minutes to make it all the way to 6703 Southeast Bellagio Dr. in Ankeny where the Value Place-or the Viking Villas-will be located.
You must pass through five stop lights and hop on the interstate to make it there.
But a question arises, can a crisis be good? And if so, can we call Grand View's housing crisis a blessing? Maybe.
Enrollment this year increased by more than 200 students and, while next year may not be as big of a jump, the number of students choosing Grand View is expected to continue increasing.
Many people, especially juniors and seniors who have been attending Grand View since the start of their college career, are upset by the move. They'll be forced to commute, without gas reimbursement on behalf of the school, and won't be able to make it to class as quickly as before.
Deb Barger, vice president for enrollment management, said last fall's rise can be attributed to the addition of both football and wrestling teams, in addition to some other less obvious reasons.
"We've had increased visibility, positive publicity, some that related to the new academic building," she said.
Barger also said more students want the on-campus living experience that comes along with most university educations. But are the students living down the road from Grand View really getting that experience?
For the most part, the juniors and seniors who are considered as on-campus residents, but live off-campus, have been here longer than any of the freshmen and sophomores who are taking their place in the dormitories and the Suites. Don't they deserve some sort of priority because of their elder status and have the first say as to where they live?
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
DavidW
David Williams
posted 1/30/09 @ 6:15 PM CST
New problem, same as the old problem. When I was at Grand View from 2002 to 2006 I saw the apartments get built, Valborg purchased, and the problem still never went away. (Continued…)
Cindy Matthews
posted 9/27/09 @ 10:40 AM CST
As a parent of a junior student, I was upset to find out she was being "kicked" out of student housing unless she wanted to live in the "Villas". I found the "Villas" to be a very negative housing alternative because if it's location and the mere fact that it was a hotel and not a dorm/suite/apartment. (Continued…)
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