The Oaks: juniors and seniors deserve preferred housing

Elon is growing at a rapid speed. Soon students will be drinking mocha lattés out of their Starbucks cups from the new business center, working out on all types of new- fangled machinery and riding in french fry oil-run trams.

They will also be living in the new single-room apartments at the beautiful Oaks, which will take the place of the current Jordan Center.

We believe this preferred housing should be offered to upperclassmen first.

When Danieley Center was built, university officials made sure to leave a section for rising juniors and seniors.

They decided that these upperclassmen should have some kind of preference when it came to living, because they had "more points" and had paid their dues to Elon.

The Oaks will be offered to all students. Mostly sophomores, however, and people who stuck out this last year in Jordan Center, will have first priority when applying.

Although squatting is a usual choice at Elon, we believe that upperclassmen should be offered a spot in the Oaks.

Single rooms are coveted by juniors and seniors; freshman and sophomores still need to pay their dues.

Additionally, bonding through roommates may be necessary for underclassmen.

Freshmen don't usually get to pick their roommates.  Sophomores gain the freedom and excitement of choosing a roommate for the first time.  By the time students are a junior or senior, they may choose to live alone.

The Oaks will be a brand-new spacious apartment style living situation. They will be equipped with a full kitchen to practice cooking when meal plan is no longer available after college. The Oaks are the perfect way for upperclassmen to have more freedom and to practice for maintaining real apartments.

The Oaks should provide this opportunity for upperclassmen at Elon.

Residing at the Oaks should be seen as a reward for responsible campus citizenship.

The juniors and seniors eligible for the Oaks should have high GPA's, be involved in clubs and athletics on-campus and should already be living on-campus.

These students have worked hard for the university and should be offered the best living situation on campus.

With population numbers growing,  Elon is having a hard time coming up with guaranteed places for all freshmen and sophomores.

Last year, many sophomores were sent to the Crest and other apartments and were told they could pay on-campus rates.

This is why opening the Oaks would help guarantee some spaces for these underclassmen.

What about the involved, hardworking, Elon-loving juniors and seniors? They have earned their place on-campus.

They have the highest points. Shouldn't they also have a place in the Oaks?

Many future upperclassmen are asking for a review of the eligibility criteria for the Oaks.

Let's look at GPA, school involvement, leadership and athletics. The current criteria seems heavily slanted toward sophomores for on-campus housing.

That may not be the best for the entire student body at Elon.