As an alumnus, I was thrilled to recently discover the online version of the Temple News, but was immediately appalled at the lead story of the university’s decision to restrict on-campus housing to freshmen and sophomores.
Having worked in the area of student affairs for almost two decades, including several initially as a Residence Life staff member, I thought there was no way that such a decision could possibly be made at my alma mater.
The Temple housing webpage speaks of living on campus as a means of ‘enhancing your time as a student’. The site goes on to say that ‘research has shown that students who live in residence halls tend to achieve higher grades, feel more involved with their institution and are generally more satisfied with their campus experience’. Forgive me then, but how do you justify the rationale to exclude upperclassmen from that very experience…
I became an RA in Peabody Hall in my senior year. That experience and others as a four year on-campus resident helped me choose my career path in university administration. I guess if I were living on campus today, I wouldn’t have even had that opportunity.
It is my hope that university officials will take another look at this particular decision before alienating so many current and in my estimation potential future students.
Mitch Fahrer
Class of ’76
Major: Sociology
fahrside@yahoo.com
336-303-3226
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