Need for CSUN Housing Questioned

Being a 1973 graduate of CSUN, I read with interest Sam Enriquez’s article, “Dormitory Debts Soar to $2.8 Million.”

If what Enriquez writes is true--that “dormitories are operating at about 85% occupancy” . . . “another 900 or so new bed spaces in dormitories near completion” at a “cost between $30 and $35 million,” “the San Fernando Valley is awash with available apartments,” and to top things off, “school officials are considering cutting as many as 600 fall classes because of statewide budget shortages”--then who is running this show?

Anyone?

Maybe it was “poor record-keeping that allowed hundreds of students to live rent-free in university housing.” So what’s their excuse for spending $30 million to $35 million when there seems to be no need for new housing in the first place?

One thing seems certain: The way to rectify ill-planned spending is to spend more. As Enriquez states: “The housing office plans to attract more residents by expanding dormitory programs, such as tutoring, and increasing the number of social activities.”

Now, that’s using the ol’ noggin.

PAULA T. DERSOM

Bell Canyon