Appalachian State University is experiencing growing pains.
    If it isn’t already evident by the large amount of construction on campus, the increasing number of students returning to live in residence halls should be a good indication.
    With the number of students in the UNC system expected to exceed 100,000 students over the next decade, housing problems on all system campuses must be addressed.
    The department of Housing and Residence Life has been posed with the problem of increasing student numbers while having no increase in the number of rooms on campus.
    Appalachian is currently housing 4,828 students on campus with 90 overflow students, according to a report by the department of Housing and Residence Life.
    However, the current proposal on the table for next fall will guarantee all freshmen and sophomores a room on campus. That leaves only 700 spots for juniors and seniors currently living in a dorm.
    Though the university has built the Living Learning Center, that will hold over 316 students, the renovating of most dorms on campus will keep numbers even until all renovations are complete.
    The draft proposal by the department of Housing a Residence Life states, “students with the least amount of university experience [freshmen and sophomores] have a greater need for support [residence hall rooms].’
    If no one can reclaim a room next year except for specialized housing such as living in the honor dorm, sorority dorm or Watauga College, why shouldn’t everyone be given a fair shot at housing, especially upperclassmen who have planned on living in the dorm through graduation?
    The next three years should be a slow transition to allow upperclassmen to filter out of the system and set up a more permanent system such as that listed in the proposal.
    Implementing the proposal now, however, poses the problem for current sophomores and juniors.
    Most juniors and seniors live off campus but some still live in the dorms. Will the number of current sophomores wanting campus rooms increase from last year’s requests?
    The current draft proposal leaves 700 spaces open for those upperclassmen who may want to continue their on-campus living next year.
    With the influx of students wanting to live on campus and so few rooms, the local apartment market will be flooded past capacity.
    Talk to the big apartment owners in town and you will discover very few rooms are remaining in town this year. Where will the extra students go?
    Where will you live next year and will you be one of the lucky students who receives a room in the fall?
    Let your SGA senator know your feelings on this proposal. Student input is valuable and needed in this time of growth.