Picking up The Chronicle yesterday and seeing the article "Only 16 freshman remain unhoused" was disheartening, because that is 16 more than it needs to be. Previous letters and outrage has gone to the Room Pix process and the Residence Life and Housing Services' policies on housing. But we must not forget that the whole snafu originated from a greater source of irresponsibility and lack of maintenance. To me it rings false that buildings being properly maintained on campus would incubate a fungus that could grow to the extent that it would tear down arguably one of the largest housing centers on Duke's campus. This problem has led to increased pressure on RLHS and the Room Pix process particularly to accommodate to this mishap that has affected not only juniors and seniors who wish to live on West but even those who are required to live on West.
What attracted me to Duke was that I saw-a University that saw the advantage of using space to create a community of both perils and joys beyond the classroom. Even more comforting was that I would be guaranteed this privilege, if I chose to, for all my four years. But sadly, Duke has failed to fulfill this promise. Rather, because of irresponsibility on the behalf of maintaining our externally breath-taking housing, even those who are required to live in the Gothic Wonderland cannot.
This article served as another reminder since January that this admissions packet "guarantee" has fallen through (not only for me as a member of a class literally forced off of West, but for a younger class whose future experience on West will be marred by this snafu). I can only help but grieve at what 50 to 75 years of ongoing construction to Central will do to the classes to come (including, hopefully, my children).
Ashley Sarpong
Trinity '10
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