Mini Golf Course Strips Funding From On Campus Living

While the new 2017-18 academic year begins, Central Connecticut State University students are welcomed with a brand new golf course, but greeted with below standard dorming accommodations.

During the last week of August, CCSU’s President Toro introduced both students and faculty to the newest additions across from James Hall; a mini golf course and new hammock set. In addition to new lawn chairs and landscaping, Central’s newests centerpiece stands proudly between James, Barrows and Beecher residence Halls.

Although some students enjoy the renovations to the old vollyball court that stood previously in it’s place, some students argue against the funding that made the renovations possible.

“Central should be putting its funding towards issues on campus that are affecting students negatively. A mini golf course should come after these problems are fixed. Especially for those living on campus, student accommodations are a priority,” on campus residence Alex Tio, states.

With the 60 plus hours it took to construct the golf course, according to history professor Matthew Warshauer, several students with on campus-living agree that this time could have spent fixing the numerous maintenance issues that were reported across campus during the first week of school.

With Connecticut state universities recently increasing their tuition prices with an additional $500, sophomore Madison O'Neill believes that the money she is paying towards her on campus dorm should be worth it.

“When I arrived to my dorm on move in day, three out of the six drawers to my dresser were broken. I heard that more than 100 students in my residence building had broken or dismembered furniture in their dorm when moving in,” O’Neill states. “I’m paying over $4,000 for this room. I should have accessible furniture when I move onto campus.”

According to the office of Institutional Research and Assessment, CCSU’s census of fall 2016 had just over 2,200 students living in on campus dorms. With a total of nine residence halls scattered across campus, Central students demand that their maintenance issues are being addressed in a timely fashion.

“Last year when I lived in Mid-Campus dorms, I had a maintenance problem that took almost two weeks before it was taken care of.” Sophomore Alexia Rousseau explains. “All I ask is that CCSU takes better care of the maintenance issues students are facing within the walls of their dorms.”

With one of the highest prices of an on-campus dorm just above $4,600 in Mid-Campus residence hall, on campus living is considerably a large investment for students. Considering those who pay for out of state tuition, their price of attending CCSU is double the amount of an in state on-campus resident.

It’s definitely an argument to consider when discussing where the funding towards CCSU should go and how it is distributed. Specifically in regards to the newest mini golf course and hammock additions, it’s quite clear to say that some students feel it was a poor decision on behalf of Central.