Vandalism at off-campus apartment complexes, most notably The Varsity, has been making the news lately. The vandalism led Barbara Steinke, The Varsity’s property manager, to send an email a few weeks ago to all Varsity residents that began, “Seriously!!??”
Although I certainly don’t condone people defacing property at any complex, I’ve come up with a theory about why some students are really going to town in these new, expensive apartments.
You see, there is a housing stalemate here in College Park. This battle pins the students seeking off-campus housing against the property managers and owners. Both sides are to blame, but I think the problem begins with the absurd rents charged for many apartments in this city.
I should know, as I have lived at three different apartment complexes while at this university. On average, a furnished four-bedroom, two-bath apartment will run you about $900 a month. It’s sad to think a furnished apartment costing roughly $760 a month is considered a “bargain.”
Landlords in College Park can charge whatever they want because they know students have no choice but to pay the price. There aren’t enough rental houses to accommodate all the students who want to live off-campus, so apartment complexes are the only other alternative. Property managers have decided to raise prices for their only clients: students.
The rents are even more absurd when I compared them to what some of my friends at other schools are paying to live in equal, if not nicer, apartments. One friend said at the University of Georgia, a furnished apartment costs between $365 and $375 per month, and students at Salisbury University only pay $675 for brand-new luxury apartments. Even at the University of Central Florida — which, like this university, is right outside a major city — a friend said off-campus apartments tend to average about $650 per month.
I’m all for the profit-seeking business mindset, but at what expense?
Many students are disgusted with rent in College Park because they aren’t too keen on going nearly $25,000 in debt in exchange for two years in a subpar apartment complex. You see, when students have to fork over this much money each month, they feel entitled to do whatever they want, whether those things are right or wrong.
If I may quote the motto at the University View, students want to “live happy” (ironic, because I was far from happy there). For some residents, happiness means disrespecting the property and taking their frustration out on the building’s facilities and furnishings.
While this isn’t a blanket statement for all students living in apartments, it certainly holds true for some. I think it’s likely they feel if they have to pay so much in rent, they’re entitled to have a little bit of fun in the process. If that means knocking down a few signs and punching a few holes in the wall — that’s what they’re going to do. After all, the complex will have plenty of money for repairs.
So you see, there is a battle going on. On one side, you have students, some of whom are lashing out because of the absurd costs of living here — though it’s also partly because they’re immature assholes and like destroying things.
And on the other side, you have the owners and managers of the complexes, who have decided to continue to raise prices.
Both parties are in the wrong. Students shouldn’t vandalize property, and owners shouldn’t take advantage of students who have no choice but to pay.
Neither side hears the other, however, so neither side will change its ways. Here’s to another year of broken glass and punched-out walls.
Josh Birch is a senior communication and history major. He can be reached at birch@umdbk.com.
