Machelle Kabir ’26
Staff Writer
As a Scripps student, one of my favorite parts about campus life is the on-campus residence halls. Not only do I get to freely interact with my peers, but I also have easy access to my own space for rest and relaxation based on my needs. In turn, when hearing about the subpar off-campus housing situation, I became concerned that Scripps is rerouting students without their consent to the Claremont Collegiate Apartments (CCA). Scripps prides itself on its on-campus housing and the beauty of its facilities, yet the administration has forced students off our campus, becoming an active obstacle to Scrippsies.
I would like to share some personal struggles with living off-campus in college. First, off-campus housing does not work for students with disabilities. Walking or taking the bus back and forth is unreasonable for a student like me, for example, because of my health issues. Migraines prevent me from moving steadily, so I cannot walk long distances. I acknowledge that Scripps has a private shuttle to take students back and forth. However, when I have a migraine, I need to immediately lie in a dark room to prevent the pain from going any further. Being in a moving motor vehicle would cause me physical pain.
Although professors at Scripps are very accommodating to my medical needs, as a 4.0 GPA student, I do not like missing class. For context, I also plan on taking six classes next year and returning to my job as an on-campus employee. My hours will be long and treacherous, so getting a migraine is inevitable in most situations. If I or other students with health issues lived on campus, we could lie down, take medication, and begin recovering and rehabilitating quickly.
I know firsthand how hurtful off-campus living can be from my experiences at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), which I previously attended. I transferred to Scripps because I knew my surroundings, was comfortable with the environment, and felt fulfilled in the community I widely appreciated.
Living off-campus at UCSB, I experienced significant anxiety about getting to classes on time and returning home at a reasonable hour. I am not alone, as the distinct difference in the happiness of students who live off campus versus those who do not is tremendous. First-year students living on campus have reported higher quality interaction with other students when compared with off-campus students. On-campus housing does not only benefit first-year students, as seniors who live on campus were also found to be more engaged with advisors and faculty members than their off-campus counterparts.
Study after study shows that students connected with their campus have better GPAs. However, pushing GPAs to the side, as grades can often be a social construct, we need to consider happiness. Samura (2016) found “Students who live in residence halls become socially integrated, this also serves as an indicator of student persistence.” If the studies shown are not proof enough, then I am physical proof that off-campus housing is preposterous, especially for students who do not want it.
Being relegated from peers I cherish and want to spend time studying, walking, eating, talking, and building community with means that on-campus housing is best for me. I sometimes like to study with my peers at the library till 11 p.m. or 12 a.m. These study sessions bring me joy and allow me to be productive in my endeavors. Although the private shuttles run until 11 p.m., which is very accommodating, I prefer late study sessions and would feel uncomfortable waiting for the shuttle in the dark. Campus Security does its job well, but it would not be fair to any party involved or other 5C students who need these officers for a better purpose for them to assist students requesting escort services every night Monday through Sunday.
One of the reasons I chose Scripps was the small class size. I always thought that meant Scripps could adequately care for that small group of people. However, that belief will be lost if there are no strides to abolish off-campus housing. The community on campus is a primary factor in why I love Scripps and believe life here could not get any better. If relegated to off-campus housing, I, and other students, would lose the sense of community and excitement in planting our feet on campus every day.
No one deserves to be subjected to housing they were not aware was an option and do not consent to live in. We as students deserve a place where we can facilitate community and social interaction, which is inhibited by forced off-campus housing.
Photo Courtesy of Machelle Kabir ’26
