University of Virginia Library

Housing Help

Signs of the University's rapid increases in
enrollment have been apparent in almost
every area from Mr. Graebner's courses to
parking places, but the crunch of numbers is
most disturbing to many students when they
start to search for a place to live. Several years
ago when our population was smaller and the
students tended to come from the same
background, economically and socially,
finding living quarters for a new year did not
involve the fear of not finding anyplace. Of
course, there was haggling over prices, but the
student seemed to be more concerned with
the country lane or view or the availability of
the landlord's tennis court than the thought
of no shelter at all.

The rise of enrollment made the
dormitories which had had great difficulties in
attracting residents, now appear in a different
perspective. The demand for housing outran
the limited supply, as any Economics 1
student can tell you, and pushed rents
skyward well beyond the grasps of the
student who demonstrated a financial need.
Two and a half years ago students and
administrators almost reached an impasse
when measures were passed to coerce students
to live in the dormitories after the first year.
The cheaper dormitory spaces are at present
the wish and need of students with financial
aid.

In this hopefully short interim before the
University begins to build new housing,
imaginative units that will preserve our sense
of community, President Shannon yesterday
approved an emergency measure to financially
aid needy students who are not able to get
on-Grounds housing. Based on research by a
sub-committee of the University Committee
on Scholarships, the proposal would provide
an additional $150 for students who receive
financial aid and live off the Grounds.
Students will only receive this money if they
"have applied for on-Grounds housing in
accordance with University housing policies
and procedures and have been denied on-rounds
housing." The last day to apply for
dormitory space is today.

We commend those who formulated this
estimated $85,000 program and President
Shannon in approving it. Having recognized
the inevitability of rapid growth for the
University, they have not turned their backs
on the needs of students, nor on the ideal that
the University should be a place for students
of all backgrounds and financial positions for
the best learning experience. We hope that the
Administration will continue to respond to
our growing pains with similar rational actions
which ease present pressure without tying the
University to an inflexible course of future
action.