SU’s Three Year Housing Requirement

photo courtesy of syracuse.edu

Early in the Fall 2019 semester, Syracuse University sent out a housing survey to students asking for their opinions on how to improve or change student housing. In the survey, the University threw out the idea of a three year housing requirement and ever since then, people have had some ~opinions~ about the hypothetical development at SU. Essentially, this new policy would require all students to live on campus for three years in order to be fully matriculated, and SU would have to build additional dorms, possibly on Ostrom Avenue. Since there’s not even enough student housing for freshman and sophomores, the student body is a little concerned about these possible new requirements, and left wondering how the University will decide to move forward.

The pros and cons of this new rule vary a lot and are all individually important things for SU to consider when discussing housing requirements. From SU’s perspective, when a student lives on campus, they are more likely to succeed in classes because of the close proximity to campus buildings, and more likely to utilize campus resources  and participate in campus involvement. The campus housing requirement can also alleviate the stress of trying to find off-campus housing in such a competitive market. For houses and apartments off campus, leases are typically signed as early as September for the following year. These leases typically last for 12 months, which legally obligates students to pay rent for the summer even though most won’t move in until August. In addition, students will have to find a sublet (a very stressful experience) if they choose to go abroad for a semester. Although all students need housing regardless, it’s difficult to find a sublet for just one semester. To avoid a high stress sublet situation, some students even find it easier to live on campus as upperclassmen and enjoy the benefits of a shorter walking time, meal plans, cleaning staff, utilities included, and oftentimes more safety resources.

With all of that being said, there are extreme benefits to life off-campus. First and foremost, living in an off-campus house or apartment allows students to feel more independent as far as cooking, signing a legal document, not having an RA or a sign-in desk, and much more. There is also the opportunity to have a single bedroom within a house or apartment as opposed to the classic open or split double in campus dorms. Although we’re sure you love your roommate and you’re going to be best friends forever and all that jazz, just admit it, sharing a room sucks. However, sharing a house with five of you closest friends sounds like a pretty good deal. 

It’s not a secret that Syracuse University can be insensitive to a student’s particular housing needs. For example, students who identify as nonbinary or transgender have been accommodated incorrectly in the past, and students of color have spoken out about feeling isolated and underrepresented in their dorm spaces. When someone does have a housing issue and needs to be removed from their living situation, more often than not the University has had a severe lack of urgency when it comes to their response. Living off campus can be a more comfortable and safe space for students who feel uncomfortable in SU dorms and apartments. 

Now, let’s talk about cost. SU’s student housing is expensive to say the least. Room and board at SU ranges from $5920 per semester for a one-person suite, to $3375  for an open triple (which, being honest, probably sucks to live in). Single dorms are the most expensive, which is unfortunate for people who need to live alone for personal, medical or mental reasons. South campus is $4855, $5260, and $5660 per semester for three, two, and one-person apartments respectively. While the South campus apartments include utilities, they do not include meal plans, which are an entirely different cost. 

Many houses off campus rent to students for a ballpark price of $500-$900 per month. Paying rent for January-December in a house that costs $650 per month, with an additional cost of around $30 a month for wifi, heat, and other utilities adds up to about $8160 for a year as opposed to $9710 for two semesters to live in a 2 person South campus apartment, or $8866 for two semesters to live in an open double. Considering that many students take out housing loans, living off-campus is arguably a cheaper option especially in terms of interest and paying off student debt. The costs of groceries can also be self regulated as opposed to the set meal plan prices, which are also very expensive for students. 

The three year housing requirement could be extremely detrimental to a student who plan to live off campus for financial reasons. In terms of finance, if SU students can no longer live off campus for two years, the rental market in the city of Syracuse would likely decrease. This would then cause less housing taxes and as a consequence, the city of Syracuse would suffer, while Syracuse University rakes in even more of their students’ money and furthers the divide between the private campus, and the less socioeconomically privileged city.

At the end of the day, each student is different. If a student wants to live on campus all four years they should be able to. There are plenty of students who do because that housing situation best fits their needs. However, if a student wants to live off campus, they should have the freedom to do that without being required to fulfill a seemingly unnecessary requirement.