As described by UCLA Student Housing Master Plan for 2007-2017, UCLA plans to expand student housing offered on the Hill. This is a misuse of resources and hurts all students who choose to live in Westwood.
Instead of spending money on increasing the number of housing units, UCLA should spend its funds on improving libraries. UCLA is drastically under capacity for late-night study locations as shown by the many students looking for a place to sit in Powell at midnight. Its computer labs are packed and often subject to long waits, with long lines for desktop stations in Powell and competition for laptop checkouts. Libraries need improvements like additional plugs to allow students greater use of laptops and expanded hours to accommodate more students during finals.
Critics may point out that UCLA has many students living in triples. However, this is the result of its decision to increase the number of years of housing guaranteed to students. As a result of UCLA’s decision to enter the market for student housing, it has distorted the market and reduced incentive for others to provide housing for students. The result is fewer apartments being renovated and fewer new buildings. This also ignores potential benefits students receive living on their own in apartments as pointed out by a Daily Bruin editorial (“Living off campus essential to growing up,” Aug. 11, 2008).
UCLA should concentrate on its mission: to educate students, not to house them.
Stephen Tye, Third-year, economics