New Sophomore Success Program at SDSU Creates Difficult Living Situations for Students

San Diego State University implemented the Sophomore Success Program, also known as Sophomore QUEST last year. The university cracked down on the restrictions for the program this fall, making it even more of a strain on students.

This new policy leaves students with unequal housing options and greatly increases the cost of living, even resulting in some applicants being unable to attend the university due to the added cost of living on-campus a second year.

The updated rules of Sophomore QUEST say that students who graduated from high schools outside of the SDSU service area have to live on campus their freshmen and sophomore year. This forces students into yet another year of trying to study with loud music blasting through thin dorm walls and kitchens unsuitable for cooking nutritious meals.

According to SDSU’s housing website, the local service area only includes students who graduated from high schools in San Diego County “south of state route 56 and extending eastward,” this excludes many students who live close enough to commute to school, creating a financial burden for many students and their families.

While the university claims on the SDSU housing website that “Students living on campus for two years are 13.5% more likely to graduate,” it appears the motive is one of financial gain, not student success.

A tiny, double room in Villa Alvarado, an “on-campus” apartment complex that is located far down College Avenue near the freeway, carries a hefty price tag of $1,175 per month according to an SDSU housing rates pamphlet.

SDSU promotes Sophomore QUEST on its housing website by saying that compared to living off-campus, students receive “Live-in faculty and staff to assist with personal needs and host programs and activities.”

These so-called perks of living on campus do not outweigh the cost, and many of these resources are seen as un-useful to students. Thomas Frias, a freshman at SDSU said that “RAs (resident advisors) are just pointless supervision that doesn’t actually help us.”

The university never discusses the unequal facilities students have to choose from during the lottery selection process.

The range of living conditions is very unfair among these options. Some students are placed in M@College, a brand new apartment complex equipped with full kitchens and even a large community hot tub, while others have to live in Cuicacalli, a suite-style freshmen dorm that lacks a full kitchen and doesn’t have equal amenities.

“It took me six months to get out of living on campus a second year,” said SDSU sophomore Krystina Lucacova “I have a brain injury and had to go through the Student Ability Success Center and have my doctor provide proof.”

A petition on petitionsite.com has 2,278 people in support of ending Sophomore Success, and students even protested the program last spring.

Nikki Malich, a freshman at California State University San Marcos, wanted to attend SDSU but had to decline her acceptance due to the new rule.

Sophomore QUEST is SDSU’s way of nickel and diming students for another year. If the policy won’t change, the university needs to make the available living facilities equal and create a better method for students with special circumstances to work with the school and secure a living situation suitable for their needs.