by LAUREN BRIGMAN
Intern News Reporter

Students may recall a recent survey conducted by the Housing and Residence Life at Appalachian State University asking our opinion of an increase in housing costs for 2010. 

The survey stated on-campus housing would inevitably increase by $200 to provide funding for the renovation of Coffey Residence Hall. 

Of the increase, $100 would be put toward the cost of living, with the other $100 as means for Coffey’s renovation.

The question posed by the Residence Hall Association asked if students were in favor of paying an additional $70 to include laundry expense, actually saving students money. 

This change would increase the cost of housing by $270 for the 2010-11 school year.

The two proposed fee increases, one for $200 and one for $70, was presented to the Fee committee Nov.12.

Information from this meeting was then be presented to Student Government Tuesday and will be voted on today.

This vote determines what will be sent to the Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock and Board of Trustees for consideration and approval, said Tom Kane, director of Housing and Residence Life. 

Fifty-seven percent of students who answered the survey agreed with this increase to include the laundry fee. 

This is a smart decision because it indeed saves money and eliminates the hassle of gathering quarters or your AppCard to do a load of laundry.

“Every housing system in the country goes up each year,” Kane said. 

Kane said, the three main expenses of housing at Appalachian include annual renovations ($6 million debt), cost of utilities and payment for staff.

The Board of Trustees for Appalachian has asked the university be equipped to house 40 percent of students by 2012 with the current status at 33 percent.

As the cost of living increases, housing costs rise. With students feeling the brunt of the increase, choosing the most economical housing option becomes the top priority.

Last year, rates would have increased by $150; however, phone service in the rooms was eliminated so the cost was increased by $100, $50 placed toward the cost of living.

Cost of living in residence halls includes utilities, electricity, heating and/or air, washer and dryer, and Ethernet or WiFi.
“Two things we sell on campus are safety and convenience,” Kane said.

While the security of campus police, residence assistants and directors, and night stars are main benefits of on-campus housing, is it enough for students to remain living on campus?

With the increase in housing rates for the upcoming year, the question becomes, will this deter students from residing on campus?

“The laundry fee is a benefit of staying on campus because being an out of state student, I don’t have the luxury of going home to do laundry,” freshman electronic media broadcasting major Jamie L. Busby said.

Busby is in favor of the $70 increase and plans to remain on campus for the upcoming year.

Undoubtedly, including the laundry fee in the housing cost saves students money!

If a student does one load of laundry per week at $2.50 for 15 weeks each semester the cost is roughly $75.

 “Housing costs are expensive enough and it’s not too much of a financial increase to live off campus,” freshman exercise science major Brealon P. Ashworth said. 

The inclusion of the laundry fee in the housing cost does not sway Ashworth’s plans to move off campus his sophomore year.

While we have no say in the $200 increase in housing, including the $70 fee for laundry, it would actually benefit students who are housed on campus.

Instead of viewing the increase with a negative connotation, one must realize the benefits that will be obtained after the completion of the renovations and the inclusion of the laundry fee. 

This is a difficult task when we live in a society focused solely on the present circumstances and not the long-term benefits.

The $70 increase is not substantial enough to make living off campus the easiest route. 

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