Dear Editor:
As I walk past the TSC I cannot help but notice the construction of the new student housing project. With a price tag of $40 million, the center will have the ability to house 575 students. Driving along 600 E I already see “For Rent” signs on a majority of the houses and apartments. The economic impact of the new dorms will be felt most readily by the private rental sector just below campus. Especially, by those who rent to single students. The university claims only twenty additional beds will be added. However, the units offsetting the new dorms are part of the mobil home park on 1200 E. 177 families will be displaced, the majority of them likely moving to Aggie Village. This means nearly 600 single student beds will be added. This will severely distress the already struggling rental businesses. As if the impact on the community were not bad enough, I find it interesting to notice over the last four years the number of students attending USU’s main campus has decreased by nearly 1,500 students. This is due to cutting all associate programs in conjunction with recent hikes in both in and out of state tuition. In short a state university, which already has enough housing to meet demands, should not be competing with private businesses.
Andrew Cardon