Recently my resident advisor called a meeting on our floor to let us know of some important decisions administrators were making. During this meeting she informed us that only freshmen will be able to live in the resident halls next year.

As many others did, I reacted the only way I knew how, with confusion. Among the questions that erupted from this bout of news, one stood out: Where would we go? Their answer was Mustang Village — aka “The Grove” — a group of apartments located about a mile from campus. I lived there last semester after the on-campus residence halls filled up. When Christmas came around, I had to leave because rooms came open in the on-campus residence halls.

I welcomed the move. I wanted to live on campus in the first place. I instantly welcomed the smaller room, because there was a lot less to keep clean between school and work. I didn’t even mind having to share a bathroom with three other people.

I, as well as many others attending the meeting from my floor, found the news unsettling. While living on campus I have been able to experience more than I did when I didn’t live here. News doesn’t travel well to the Village, even if it isn’t that far. The buses that run to and from campus don’t run at all times, so things like going to the library late at night to study, or studying late with friends becomes more of a challenge.

As an incentive to keep students on campus, administrators have offered a meal plan for five meals a week for those students. Students here rely on having a full meal plan, because they don’t work, and will not be able to afford buying their own groceries, much less eating out.

It’s clear that the need for more housing is high. Living on campus is much easier. Being so close to the library, the student center, and other necessities gives students a more comforting experience, especially since we pay to have those amenities. I am not looking forward to having to leave the safe confines of the school grounds, and moving back to the Village, where I was not more than three months ago.

It shouldn’t be so much of a struggle to know where to live.

Administrators need to put on-campus housing at the top of the priority list. And for those students moving off campus, administrators need to stress safety and convenience.