The University Housing and Division of Student Affairs have proposed a 4-percent increase to both traditional housing room-and-board rates and family housing rental rates for the 1997-98 school year. The increase would cover rising contractual costs such as food service, utilities and maintenance. However, the University's calculated inflation rate is only 3 percent. Therefore, the proposed increase is 1 percent higher than necessary.
The additional 1-percent increase is included to "meet debt service requirements" for renovation projects at Alice Lloyd and Couzens residence halls. Yet last year's fee increase - which was 1.4 percent above the calculated inflation rate - was supposed to pay for the renovations. Students should not pay twice for the University's failure to stick to a budget. And once the renovations are done and paid for, it's a safe bet that the regents will not recommend similar fee decreases.
Since the 1991-92 school year, room-and-board rates have increased by 20 percent. Whereas in 1991 the cost of a double room was $4,084, next year's increase would place the rate at $5,342. The jump is exorbitant. Students can barely afford the current room-and-board prices. If fee increases continue to exceed the inflation rate, student housing will be priced outside the Ann Arbor housing market. If increased fees force first-year students out of University housing in favor of cheaper, roomier, more convenient, off-campus housing, the University will be denying students a valuable experience. Residence hall living is an opportunity to meet people - a daunting task at a large public university.
Additionally, if the regents approve the 4-percent rate increase, Ann Arbor landlords will have another reason to increase rental rates. Students living off-campus - many of whom left the residence halls in the hope of finding affordable housing - may be strapped with higher costs as well. Realistic options are dwindling. The University must realize the far-reaching implications that increased rates will have for students.
Instead of hiking fees, the regents should find a way to reduce costs. As any student who has lived in University housing can allege, the halls produce an exorbitant amount of waste. Cafeterias dispose of food in astonishing quantities; students rarely turn lights off behind them. If the University can find ways to lower utility and contractual costs, students will not have to shoulder such a heavy financial burden. Only after thorough investigation into such cost-cutting measures can the regents explain increases that exceed inflation.
This week's regents meeting will be the first over which new University President Lee Bollinger will preside. He and new Regents Olivia Maynard (D-Flint) and S. Martin Taylor (D-Grosse Ile), who took their posts last month, must understand the detrimental affect a housing rate increase would have on students. If approved, the residence halls may no longer be an affordable option for University living.