They say we are going to be the largest freshman class yet — that full-grown, mature Tigers can expect more babies to be roaming the quad — more “fresh meat” with which to toy. And while MU certainly lives up to my standards of a dream school, it also lives up to the standards of another 31,745 students.

The school’s record-breaking enrollment during the past 10 years has not only increased the number of baby Tigers by an average of 3 percent annually, but also the need for on-campus housing by a proportional size. 

Though I am sure the Department of Residential Life is “working hard to accommodate the large freshman class,” as stated on its website, the alternatives to living on campus don’t exactly scream “home sweet home.” They list possibilities such as converting study rooms back to residence rooms, placing freshmen temporarily with student staff members and suggesting the “extended campus option,” or in other words, living in an apartment. But no, not with the freedom you might think this option will bring — you would still be required to follow Residential Life guidelines.

Thankfully, I was accepted to MU prior to September 2011, so I had some priority for housing — the honor of racing to beat all my fellow Tigers to the Residential Life website by 2 p.m. on D-Day. I went in without backup, the rest of my roommates having sent in their applications a bit later than mine, and found it nearly impossible to complete my mission, as I have never seen the Internet go so slow. Two hours later, I was able to secure my room. 

And of course, immediately following that uphill battle, I logged onto Facebook to check the school page for some neighbors. Heart racing and fingers cramping, I could not believe the number of students who posted about their distress of not getting their first, second, third or fourth picks. But, as we would all find out the next day, anyone who got on-campus housing at all would be considered lucky.

The need for more on-campus housing was brought to the school’s attention as early as 1997, when the Department of Residential Life surveyed students about their housing preferences, but expansion plans were put on hold due to the “overwhelming cost.” 

Yet as a student, I question why the plans were put on hold for so long. Rooms can cost anywhere from $4,300 to $7,925, depending on the residence hall. If one were to multiply the price for an individual to live on campus by the increasing number of students that hope to live on campus, it is hard to imagine the project would be so detrimental to the housing budget.

Finally, under the 2001 implementation of the Residential Life Master Plan, all residence halls on campus will be renovated — the key words being “on campus.” Though this new plan cannot include off-campus housing, like the apartments many incoming freshmen have no choice but to live in, it will, when completed, increase on-campus housing by approximately 1,000 beds.

I congratulate the UM System Board of Curators for approving the construction of a new 330-bed residence. Nicknamed Virginia Avenue South, the residence hall will open for fall 2015. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the campus just as much as my fellow Tigers, but this hall will benefit and solve the housing problem for that year’s incoming class — not ours.

So what about us? The kids who call themselves “homeless,” who plan on sleeping on those comfy chairs in the Student Center, the ones who have to worry about commuting from their apartments to class every morning? We shouldn’t have to claw at other baby Tigers, jealous they have a bed close to campus. As we all settle in, I can’t help but be happy for future Tigers who will now be able to easily find a place they can call home.