There’s no doubt that Creighton is a rising star in the Midwest. Not only are we one of the top schools academically, but our athletic department is also something to brag about. Every student is proud to go here, and each one of them is talented and valued.
However with the amount of care that Creighton advertises, doubt sinks in when taking a look at the standard of living in the freshmen residence halls.
While it is unacceptable to expect Creighton to completely refurbish and renovate Kiewit and Gallagher, the standard of living is pretty low. Take note of the recent flooding incidents that occurred both this year and last. While the 2014 Kiewit flood occurred only on the second level, the Gallagher flood overtook the entire residence hall. These events, in addition to the age of the residence halls, put Creighton’s spending funds under the microscope.
Most students attending last year remember the arduous construction of Harper, Brandeis and the Championship Center. It seems like there is never a year where Creighton isn’t building or renovating. So why are Kiewit and Gallagher still in the condition they are in?
Both buildings are about 50 years old. I can’t imagine what they looked like in the ‘60s. When I lived in Gallagher, the walls were peeling, and the Environmental Services staff had to come into our rooms to rub off the mold growing on our ceilings. I wince and gag on behalf of the them, for the bathrooms were constantly dirty. The lights are dim, making the residence halls seem cave-like. It was a harrowing experience.
Yet all of that can be forgiven.
Because Creighton is a small school, it can be assumed that the University cannot maintain large, fancy residence halls — especially because freshmen are notoriously rowdy and hundreds of them come and go each year. The cost for keeping a residence hall as nice as some other buildings on campus is expensive and hard work.
Aside from student tuition, as a private school Creighton receives a good portion of its funding from alumni and other contributors. The alumni most likely want their funds to go into athletics rather than residence halls.
However, considering the issues the residence halls have been having in recent years, perhaps Creighton should reconsider its spending.
The state of the residence halls is troublesome, and not just for present students but for future students as well. The state clearly cannot be maintained, as seen by the flooding in Gallagher and Kiewit in the same year. The stakes are even higher considering these are freshmen residences. If freshmen are led to believe that Creighton is not offering hospitable living situations, why would they assume that any other building or program would offer better?
Creighton is not a terrible school. Creighton offers the best education and community that the Midwest could ask for. But we must keep good standing if that is to be true, and we could start in our residence halls. If we can spend money to renovate the aesthetics of Brandeis and Harper, then we can definitely put more funding towards the upkeep of our living quarters.