On-campus rent will not increase

Next year's on-campus housing rent prices will continue at their current rate, according to Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone. This decision follows a voiced renewed commitment by the University administration to maintain a reasonable cost of living at Penn, she said last week. "With the convenience and programs we offer [in the residences], including ResNet, this is another good reason to have students live on campus," she said. Last year, the average rate of rent for undergraduate housing did not increase. But this year's decision goes one step further -- all individual rents will be frozen, according to Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta. "Being in the residences is the best thing people can do," he said. "I've been told that off-campus housing is cheaper, and if this is true we have to be competitive. "I think this is consistent with the president and provost's intention to see that Penn offers the finest residences in the country," he added. In the fall of 1995, 4,136 students lived off campus and 5,463 students lived in residences on campus, according to the Office of Off-Campus Living. In addition, 630 students lived in fraternity and sorority houses, which -- while they are considered to be on campus -- are not campus residences. Michaela Farcas, assistant director of the Office of Off-Campus living, said she is not concerned about the impact the rent will have on students' decisions to live off campus. She explained that since the University could never house the entire undergraduate population, students will always need an alternative. Farcas added that competition between on-campus and off-campus housing is "never a bad thing." "If on campus there is more competitive housing?then the landlords will have to be more attractive and keep their market by offering competitive housing and better quality," she said. Farcas also explained that students come to the Office of Off-Campus Living looking for off-campus housing for reasons other than price -- including independence. College sophomore Jodi Gold, who currently lives off campus, said the decision to freeze prices would not entice her to move back to campus. "I like living off campus, "she said, "For the same amount of money I have a large single that I would not have if I lived on campus." But College freshman Lisa Laich was pleased to hear that rents were not being raised for undergraduates. "It makes it a lot easier," she said. "Now [my parents] will allow me to live in the high rises."