I'm writing in response to Wednesday's article on the raising of rent in the university apartments. I'll start off by saying that I used to be a resident of South Lake Village, but I have chosen to move off campus because I was unsatisfied with the living conditions. I sympathize with the residents' complaints of poor construction and poor service; however, I feel that the University Residence Hall Association is justified in raising the monthly rent for the apartments. My reasoning behind this is the increasing energy rates and lack of energy conservation being demonstrated by residents. I also feel that some students, after vacating their apartments at the end of their leases or agreements, leave the apartments in deplorable conditions.
Energy rates are increasing for everyone. Utility costs alone could account for the majority of the increase in rent. As I found out the hard way when I moved off campus, college students typically use an extraordinarily large amount of electricity, often without realizing it. For example, I live in a small studio apartment, only 180 square feet; considerably smaller than even the living room of a South Lake quad. Over the months of November and December (which I spent most of at my parents') I accrued an electric bill of approximately $200. I have electric heat, which I set between 65-68 degrees when I'm there and 55 degrees when I'm not. This does not even take into consideration January's bill, considering the sub-zero temperatures we have had. If I wasn't on a balanced payment plan, I could never afford it.
The university apartments are heated and cooled by natural gas. While it is more economical than electric, it is still expensive and gas rates have been rising. Utility usage increases when apartment residents set their thermostat at 72 degrees in the winter and 68 degrees in the summer. With as cold as it has been, and the heat set that high, the furnace will run continually, causing the utility bill to keep rising.
Residents in the university apartments are also extremely dependent on electricity. In the average quad there are four of everything: four computers running 24/7, four televisions continuously on, and four bedrooms full of lights that are left on. If each roommate cooks for him or herself, that is four people heating the stove or oven, four separate times. The impact this has on the utility bill is significant. This doesn't even take into consideration all of the computer accessories, stereos and videogame equipment that exist in nearly every apartment. What about the holiday lights, black lights and other decorative lighting that students use to enhance their environment? It all uses electricity and the costs add up quickly.
There are many conveniences to living in the university apartments, conveniences I willingly gave up for a better living situation. Being on campus and having utilities included in rent are two obvious benefits. As long as the use of utilities increases, so will the rent. That is a cost that needs to be considered when choosing to live in the on campus apartments.
Utilities aside, the previous residents who occupied my South Lake Village apartment truly trashed the place. There is no reason that a 2- to 3-year-old apartment should have to have the carpeting and furniture replaced. If the residents don't take care of their apartments, then rent will increase.
One solution to the problem could be requiring students to pay their own utilities. Of course, this would negate one of the convenience factors for which many choose to live on campus. But it would also show the residents in writing what, exactly, their utility costs are. Rent would be lower, but utility costs per individual would be surprisingly high. If the university did decide to take a similar route, it would certainly put the university apartments in competition with off-campus housing options.
I think that the university apartments are expensive, noisy, poorly constructed, and unsafe. That is why I chose to move off campus, where I have more options and I am much happier. Now that I know just how expensive it is to heat and light my apartment, I've learned how to conserve electricity better. Maybe the residents in the university apartments should do the same to ensure that rent doesn't increase again next year.
