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Show Housing crunch worsens for SUU students have received so many calls that I could have easily filled my apartments twice over. Some students are so desperate that they are even leaving me a deposit in By J. ARTHUR FIELDS SENIOR STAFF WRITER case someone can cels." Assistant Vice President of Student Services D. Mark Barton, who works closely with the University Housing Organization, has seen the problem much worse. Is there a student housing shortage? "Right now there does not appear to be a housing problem," Barton said. "At It depends on whom you ask. least not to the extent that we have had in the past." . With the rapid growth in southern Utah within the last few years, areas such as In 1991, the housing predicament St. George and Cedar City have had a was at its worst. Over 200 students hard time keeping up with the influx who were accepted by the in population. Admissions Office had to cancel The Cedar City Chamber of their plans of attending SUU Commerce estimates the community because no acceptable housing was is growing by 1,000 to 1,500 residents available. annually. Within the next few years, "We want our students to have a the growth in the Cedar City area comfortable place to live that meets could make the Living conditions for · their needs." Barton said. "Based on many of the city's nearly 20,000 our projected growth, we work with residents " kind of tight," in the words the community and the local of one city employee. builders to determine what will be T he m ajority of the housing available needed as far as accommodations for for students a few weeks ago was, fo r students each fall." the most part, three bedroom units in This fall, Barton said, 370 spaces college oriented apartment complexes will be available for studen ts at new like College Avenue and Stratford apartment complexes like The Commons. Stadium Way, 1480 W. Center. He These small three bedroom/three said he realizes most new bath units can house as many as six apartments fill up as soon as they occupants. Many students double up in are built. Next year, a like number single occupancy rooms because rates will also be available at newer for a single private bedroom often run developments near the campus. more than $550 a quarter. "In the past," Barton stated, "we Until recently, rent in Cedar City went to the community and told has remained around 20 percent lower them about our dilemma and what than the national average. The increase we needed, and they really came has created some resentment among through for us." students toward local landlords, who Barton also said this is the first subsequently are swamped with callers time since Juniper Hall was built 35 looking for vacancies. Property owners years ago that it is completely full. claim that they are doing all that they The real crisis, said Barton, is family can to find places for students to live, housing. Many SUU students have but stress they still must remain families, and require larger competitive within the market. accommodations than that of single The main proble m, say local realtors, students. The problem with family is there is not enough rental housing in housing was exacerbated last year Cedar City to meet demands. This has when Oak Hall, SUU's only family led some students to go to some housing, was torn down to m ake unusual measures. ::, room for the new library. "Some students pay for their g Many apartment complexes in apartment through the summer so ~ town prefer not to rent to fa milies they'll be sure to have a place in the !il because they can charge the fall," said Louise Labbe, of Anchor ~ students more. Som e charge six Realty. 2 students $370 each a quarter, but "The s ituation is bad for everyone," 51..wllllll•III•• can only charge a family $450 for said Ryan Stevenson, manager of the .., . the same three bedroom apartment. Stratford Commons, 576 W. 1045 N. " I Freshman MelanieVillanueva, from Toronto, moves in to funiper Hall. j Financial aid a growing part of an education By T IFFANY BAGGS JdURNAL STAFF WRITER Some 60 percent of SUU studen ts receive financial aid in the form of Government Grants, Government Loans, Work Study or scholarships. Of all of these, the grant, which doesn't require a pay back, is probably the most common form, according to SUU D irector of Financial Aid Rex Michie. A list of Work Study, on-campus and off-campus jobs was posted outside the Placement and Student Employment Office Friday. Students can start applying for financial aid and scholarsrups as soon as Jan. 1 for the following year. T he with their federal tax forms. If students are receiving a loan, they deadline for the '94-95 year was May 1, 1994. are required to sign a promissory note T o obtain financial aid, students need and attend a m oney management class. the Financial Aid form from the If everything is in order and all the information has been Financial Aid Office. A completed university ... ,!,. processed, students form will also be pick up an needed. .f. Attendance COJnmOD 10rin O . Verification form in Michie said if students have any financial aid. . the Financial Aid problems or questions, Office. Professors the financial aid office must s ign the form to will assist. verify the student went to class. When After four to six weeks, students it's taken to the payroll office, the will be mailed a financia l aid report. student will receive a check. This must be given to the college for This process is also required for processing. About 30 percent of grants. students are required to verify it For a continuing student to receive a G--r-an_._t_s_ar_e_tb_.-e.,.. _m_o_s_t_,...... f I full tuition scholarship, he must have a 3.9 GPA and at least 40 credit hours. A half tuition scholarship requires a 3.7 GPA. Studen ts can also receive departmental scholarships and the requirements are different for each department. To be eligible, a new student must have a 3.6 GPA and an ACT score of 26. Last year 1,305 new and continuing studen ts applied for scholarships and 308 were rewarded. "There's never enough money," Financial Aid Counselor T rudy Smith said. The Financial Aid Office and Scholarship Committee are tryrng to help as many students as possible. |