This post was updated Oct. 14 at 8:06 p.m.
Bockman Cheung’s recent piece on UCLA Housing struck a chord with me, genuinely. As Bruins, we’re constantly told that UCLA is a place where opportunity and excellence thrive; yet for too many students, the cost of simply having a roof over our heads has become an obstacle, not an opportunity.
Cheung is right – living on the Hill or in university apartments should not feel like running a financial marathon. When students pay nearly $1,000-$1,200 a month for a shared dorm or apartment, often with broken laundry machines and limited accessibility due to the lack of on-campus space, and outrageous prices, it becomes clear that “affordable housing” is more of a slogan than a reality. Moreover, it’s a big reason why I chose to be a commuter, even though I live two hours away from campus.
What resonated most with me was Cheung’s comparison to the University Cooperative Housing Association. If a nonprofit model can provide meals, renovated facilities and a supportive community at a fraction of the cost, why should that be the exception rather than the standard?
UCLA is a world-class public university; shouldn’t it lead with models that reinvest in students first, rather than revenue? Students deserve to have the thousands of dollars we pour into housing each year translate into dignity, reliability and genuine support.
Housing is more than just where we sleep. It shapes how we study, how we connect and how we thrive. If affordability and equity are truly UCLA values, then it’s time to turn those values into action.
A better housing model isn’t just possible, it’s overdue.
Living up to True Bruin values means more than words – it means building a campus where looking after one another is woven into the very structure of how we live.
Meher Baghoomian is a third-year transfer public health student.
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