Re: Temple Housing

Autumn Raniere
Film and Media Arts
araniere@temple.edu
215.473-1175

Temple is just amazing. Last summer I was notified at the beginning of August that I
would not have housing for the Fall 2002 semester, and I live about 60 miles away,
know nobody at Temple and didn’t know a thing about Philadelphia apartments and
public transportation. My family felt the only choice I had was to commute. Until the
end of September, I drove from Bethlehem to Lansdale, then took a train to campus.
It took between 90 and 120 minutes each way. It was an absolute nightmare. I
stumbled into the housing office in tears and begged for somewhere to live. It was
dumb luck that they had an opening in Presidential Apartments and I moved in at the
beginning of October.
My family has plenty of financial problems, so we were waiting for a loan to come
through to cover the rest of my spring tuition. Meanwhile, a week before the housing
deposit was due, I got a hold on my financial account. My loan finally came, but not in
time to participate in the housing lottery (or get any decent classes).
I have a feeling my story is common to many Temple students. Temple has
superb academic programs, but when it comes to bureaucratic red tape, this school is
terrible. I can only pray for another housing miracle as I solemnly drive from
Bethlehem each and every day. Thank you, Temple, for over-enrolling year after
year after year.