Written by: Shamar Barnett, MTN Reporter
For years, Middle Tennessee State University has had inquiries about their housing situation on campus, with one of the main questions being why are there so many students and not enough dorms to accommodate those students?
Housing on MTSU’s campus is one of the most discussed topics among students and parents. As it is shown, MTSU has an enrollment of almost 27,000 students. However, there are only 3,000 on campus options available for students to reside in. So why are there such few options? Michelle Safewright, director of housing on campus explained exactly why that is.
“We do fill up every year, so that has not been an issue for the past 8 years that we’ve been here. We do get to our capacity, but we don’t go far beyond our capacity, so I’m not sure that the demand is there for new housing.”
Safewright also revealed something about housing that many residents may not know.
“We are an auxiliary of the university so our money doesn’t come from the university, so we have to make our own money in order to build new residence halls.”
Middle Tennessee Students Bethlehem Challa and Mahlet Akilie shared their opinions on why they left or stayed.
Mahlet who is currently living on campus revealed the money is a major factor. “Per semester is like 3,000 to live in an on-campus apartment, so if you don’t have a scholarship there’s no way you could afford to pay each semester 3,000 dollars, so I think it should be less. Even for dorms 2,000 dollars a semester is a lot of money.”
Bethlehem says she left due to the amenities. “I think if it was nicer, yes. They have some dorms that are nice, but I feel like they can better those also.”
Overall Middle Tennessee State is working on improving housing over the next couple of years, but the process is one of great length and filled with trial and error.
Safewright also shared that Womack apartments will be eliminated and replaced by 2022. Developments on this are soon to follow.
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