Image via Erinn Gardner

By: Erinn Gardner, Staff Writer 

Once again, the quantity of housing applications at Spelman College exceeded the number of beds that they have available for the 2024-2025 academic school year. To voice their demands, students organized a protest today at 12 p.m. outside the residence life office in Johnnetta Betsch Cole Living-Learning Center II. With approximately 45 students in attendance, Vice President of Student Affairs Darryl Holloman answered questions and listened to the grievances of frustrated students. 

Every student who applied for housing between Jan. 12 and Feb. 15 was informed of their status as of last Friday. Roughly 500 students were told that they would not be able to live on campus in the upcoming academic year.

Students were guaranteed housing for their freshman and sophomore years upon their arrival at Spelman. Thus, a slew of underclassmen are particularly unhappy and unsure about their future living situation. 

“I’m worried for other students who aren’t from here and don’t know anybody from Atlanta. I am fortunate to have a sister here who has a house, but not everyone is in the same situation. I feel disregarded because we were supposed to be on campus freshman and sophomore year, but now they’re just kicking us to the curb,” freshman Health Science major Kyndall Coker said. 

Students are questioning where all of their tuition money is being allotted.

“Since you’ve been here, we’ve gotten these off-campus sites. Since you’ve been here, we have residence halls set about to be air-conditioned. It’s just that these new demands are going to take time. When I got here, none of this was even on the radar. I do believe that the college has been very sensitive toward trying to be proactive,” Holloman said. 

 A common demand was that Spelman should cover off-campus housing, along with providing transportation to and from campus. The institution essentially just assumed that every student can afford an apartment and that everyone is in possession of a driver’s license, which is not the case.

“I know it’s not possible for all of us to get housing because we have limited space, but I think people with financial need should get priority for housing. Because what if you can’t afford an Atlanta apartment? What if you don’t have a car? Some people don’t even have licenses because they grew up in big cities like New York. They didn’t think this through at all,” Coker said.  

Part of the shortage arises from Spelman’s obligation to secure housing for incoming freshmen. Not only are more high school graduates increasingly deciding to enroll in Spelman due to affirmative action, but two residence halls (Morehouse-James Hall and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Hall) will be unavailable for renovations. This leaves 200 fewer beds available for on-campus housing. 

“Even though I received housing, it’s not a good feeling to hear that my friends and other Spelmanites did not. I believe the best way to get your point across is a protest, and I hope that admin will see that people are trying to communicate that this is not fair to those who were initially promised housing for two years,” freshman English major Courtney Lipscomb said. 

Spelman can accommodate 1,401 beds in total for Spelman-sponsored housing, which includes both on- and off-campus choices. This covers housing guaranteed for resident assistants, specific scholars and incoming first-year students. However,  they received 1,236 applications for the 890 remaining beds. 

A small amount of upperclassmen received housing, leaving more underclassmen to live in off-campus apartments by themselves. While the housing office must consider students with scholarships guaranteeing housing for four years, parents are concerned for their daughters’ safety nonetheless.

“I did receive housing, but it is unfortunate that some people did not, and they have to figure it out on their own. It definitely adds an extra layer of stress, but I do understand Spelman has limited funding, and two dorms are being put under construction,” sophomore Political Science major Gabi Harris said. 

Spelman’s housing office declined to speak with the Maroon Tiger on the matter. They have assured Spelmanites that they will guide them in figuring out these next steps. 

Copy Edited by: Auzzy Byrdsell, Editor-in-Chief