The current housing situation at the University of Rochester is unacceptable. Black mold, rats, and cockroaches run amok in college dorm rooms to the degree at which it is considered a health hazard. Problems reported to facilities often go unfixed for weeks, and when they are responded to, the solution might involve taping up a tarp in the shower, or sealing a hole in the roof with packing tape. 

Meanwhile, the University rakes in dollar after dollar from students in these subpar conditions, amounts along the lines of $6,799 per Jackson Court tower suite and $12,678 per two person Brooks apartment.

Student input regarding land use is notably lacking, as evidenced by the rapid announcement of the two religious centers, founded entirely by donors who graduated years ago, and who cannot possibly be more well versed in the needs of the University's religious populations than these students themselves. As alumni representing just two sectarian interests use their leverage for inequitable construction projects, students of other religions are relegated to adapt their practices to the Interfaith chapel that was not built with them in mind. Unless the development in question is interfaith, assures additional student housing, or otherwise serves the entire student body equally, no land on campus should be developed on in an exclusionary manner.

This housing situation unfolds against a backdrop of the city of Rochester, a poster child for gentrification. The University continues to admit more and more students year after year, proclaiming once and again that "this is the largest class in history" while setting a new target admittance of 1,500 students yearly behind closed doors. Where will these students go? As it stands, they have no choice but to accept subpar overpriced housing on campus, or to seek their basic needs in the surrounding low income community and further contribute to the pricing out of our neighbors.

We believe this is unjust and unfair.

We, as students at the University of Rochester, exercise our right to use our voice, and present to the admin the following demands:

Primarily to invest in a healthier and more just housing situation for students on campus, including an improvement in facilities response time, an improvement in pest control, an investment in summer maintenance, and a re-evaluation or justification of prices; 

To ensure that the quantity of on-campus student housing meets the demand of the incoming and existing student body, and to refrain from expanding the admitted student population until quality and equitable on-campus housing can be ensured for them;

To accept reasonable input from students that goes beyond asking the occasional SA senator or mass survey, to put in place a system adjacent to focus groups that is well publicized and contains a concrete plan to put student feedback into action;

To commit to transparency regarding construction timelines, planned upgrades, class admittance sizes, and the methods through which feedback is solicited from students by admin.