Creighton University should prioritize a better housing experience for students and focus on improving the buildings they already have.

In light of the new residence hall, Graves Hall, and the ongoing construction of a new sophomore residence hall, this article might seem out of left field.

Millions of dollars are poured into creating living spaces for students, but several facts bothered me when I investigated a per capita spending structure.

Looking at the Jérôme Nadal, SJ, Jesuit Residence reveals some interesting numbers. According to KETV, the Jesuit Residence and the Jesuit Gardens renovation cost approximately $24 million dollars. Creighton reports that this residence has 28 bedrooms.

This means that the university spent approximately $857,000 per Jesuit for this one project.

Graves Hall is a different story. KETV reported that Graves Hall cost $37 million dollars, which is significantly more expensive than the Jesuit residence.

Creighton reports that Graves Hall can hold approximately 400 freshman students. This means that Creighton spent approximately $92,500 per student for this project.

On a per capita basis, Creighton spent over nine times the amount on a Jesuit living space compared to a student living space.

Now, I wouldn’t want to take away this beautiful building from the Jesuits, as they are an important part of the community.

I would never want to deprive Father Sullivan from a comfortable living situation. But this instance does highlight an important detail about proportionate spending.

How should we actually divide spending then? I propose moving away from the suite model and focusing back on providing non-connecting two-person rooms.

However, instead of having 50-year-old buildings, the university should keep residence halls updated and focus on different amenities.

A pool, proper outdoor track and more club funding would be an amazing spending reallocation. Subsidizing student activities and creating new sports programs could attract prospective students and create a more vibrant community on campus.

Another way to equalize spending is to invest in the classrooms. Many of the Jesuits also teach in buildings like Dowling. These older buildings on the west side of campus have yet to get the same attention that the Mike & Josie Harper Center has received.

Renovations and remodeling would provide a more consistent feeling on campus and lessen the divide between the colleges.

It feels like a significant amount of spending is allocated towards projects that students will never get to see, and I can’t help feeling frustrated about it. Hitchcock, Dowling, Rigge, Eppley and many of the other undergraduate buildings feel out of date.

Creighton might not have the ability to reallocate donations easily, but the administration can certainly suggest different projects that donors could sponsor.

Again, the comparison between Jérôme Nadal, SJ, Jesuit Residence and Graves Hall isn’t meant to take anything away from the Jesuits. I use it to better illustrate and support my feelings towards the current spending allocation of Creighton University.

The topic of money will always be a touchy subject, but it’s important to have this conversation considering the price tag on the university.