4 UCSC Over-Crowding Realities

Overcrowding is a real issue that impacts every aspect of student life. To some degree, almost every UCSC student has been impacted by the growing student body.

Due to the large incoming freshman class this year, many continuing students were initially wait-listed for housing. By the time many were offered a space on campus, they had either established off-campus housing or decided to commute. It’s extremely debilitating for college students to be waiting for housing that may or may not come. The fact that many students do not have a choice on staying on-campus is also worrisome. Now, there are empty rooms on campus being unused that could have been prioritized to students that desired to live on campus initially. Empty rooms on a overcrowded campus (and city) is not only wasteful, it’s inefficient.

Many student lounges and study areas were also converted into bedroom areas. Many doubles were converted to triples while some apartments have been made into dorms. The dynamic experience of living on campus has changed dramatically. Less areas to decompress and finding a place to merely socialize with other students has been compensated to make up for more bedroom areas. Either more areas need to established within or around dorms for students to socialize or more housing options need to be created.

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Many students who commute or live off-campus have complained about the over-crowded libraries, myself included. Off-campus students who live with multiple roommates rely on the library and other study areas to do work, to study, to read, and more. Because of the condensed environment within on-campus dorms, the library has become an overcrowded space even outside regular finals time. For some, the electronic access to computers or scanners, pivotal to student success, has been made more difficult to access.

3. Transportation & The Environment

Much of the student body at UCSC rely on public bus routes from the city but the prolonged wait for a bus to get home and then finding that it’s at full capacity is an everyday issue. Not to mention the overcrowded parking lots, the increase in permit fees, and the limited ability for students to cancel parking permits. Housing and Transportation are both very linked issues and finding a solution that will answer to both is pivotal in going forward.

In response to these issues, some have suggested to expand campus into the West side, in ways that cut into the Porter Meadows and other forested areas. Others want to do restorative projects in which some buildings get re-furnished to allow more housing. However, this second option would need temporary housing while the building would be reconstructed.

Finding a way to fix the housing crisis while still remaining true to our environmental values is difficult. Students need to be made weary by the fact that our beautiful campus will not get prioritized when it comes to fixing the student housing crisis.

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4. Student Organizations

For anyone’s college experience to be enriching, student life needs to be diverse and engaging. The change in class times and the overcrowding of public spaces has made it more difficult to carry on student organizations. Finding a time and place for students to meet is more complicated now and the role of student organizations on a growing campus body is now more important than ever. A bigger campus demands more students to be involved. What is being done to support student spaces? How do student organizations remain relevant on a growing campus? These are large questions every organization now faces to some extent or another.

What Can We Do?

Talk to your community’s city council and to the UCSC administration. Being aware of the decisions being made around you, about your campus experience is vital. Only innovative solutions that keep in line with the values of the UCSC community is in the best interests for current undergraduates. Whether you’re a senior or a new freshman at UCSC, over-crowding can not be the next normal for student life.