Excitement and concern as the U of U expands on-campus housing

SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah is opening up more on-campus housing.  Today, the school opened the final wing of Kahlert Village, which adds over 400 on-campus beds.

It is trying to double the number of on-campus beds by 2030. But, what do the students think about that?

For the most part, university students said they like the idea of expanding housing as more kids filter in. However several voiced concerns about what 5,000 new beds would mean for the campus.

What do U of U students think of more on-campus housing?

Beau Jackson said he’s mostly on board.

“I think it’s great to have a bigger school here in Salt Lake, it’s already great,” Jackson said.

The only big thing I can think of is how they’re going to fit all those people in the classes, at their events (and) in their parking.”

Echoing the parking concern, Ava Warren said she worried about how this plan could impact an already difficult parking situation.

“It’s definitely a big issue I see like, all the time, people just posting nonstop like, ‘I have a ticket,'” Warren said.

Other students voiced their support, saying some dorm rooms are having to take in an extra person.

Excitement, too, for more students on campus

Despite that and continually growing class sizes, Hannah Carr was just one to say they’re excited to see more kids coming to the U. 

“It’s a great school, so I’m happy that more people would be here,” Carr said.

Student Logan Steffan thinks it’s a good plan not just for incoming students, but for the students who are already on campus.

“It’s not necessarily a bad thing just because you’re going to be getting a lot more money incoming to the university so they can renovate buildings,” Steffan said. “They can fix some of the things that are wrong, like the elevators being broke, like almost every day.”

Samantha Herrera and Devin Oldroyd contributed to this story.

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