In addition to a 6 percent housing rate increase and a failed tax increase referendum, the University Apartments Council of Residents have yet to fill all of its 25 spots for next year’s officers.
Only eight positions in the council have been filled, leaving apartment officials scrambling to prepare for next year. Last week, the council elected four executive board members and representatives from University Village and Cherry Lane apartments. Spartan Village Apartments has yet to be represented next year. Thirteen subcommittee positions still are open.
But this isn’t a new problem, council Vice President Gabriella Saldana said. Building the community and bringing residents together also has been a problem, she said.
“This area doesn’t have any person to represent (Spartan Village),” she said. “Our contact will be less. The executive board will try to be in contact with this area, but I think (the council) needs more help from representatives in (Spartan Village).”
She said it is the council’s goal to increase awareness of what the council does for its residents as well as increasing community involvement.
“They never know they have a group that represents the interests of the residents,” she said
Saldana said the council will continue to search for representatives even after the new representatives take office May 1.
With only 13 residents in attendance for Friday’s elections, the council acknowledges there still is a problem with participation. Mathematics graduate student Lidiya Novozhilova said she is aware of what the council does, but has little time to get involved.
“I am so busy with my program, I am grateful to any person or group willing to take care of anything around here,” she said. “Unfortunately, I can not participate.”
The 6 percent increase in rent, approved by the MSU Board of Trustees Friday, and a failed $1.50 tax increase in March puts additional pressure on residents.
“We will continue working and producing activities,” said University Apartments Area Coordinator Eduardo Olivo. “We have the money, resources and the budget for these programs.”
Olivo said he would like to see more people get involved in University Apartments‘ affairs to address community needs.
“We would love to see a community that helps us determine where to go and what to do,” he said. “We’re still not there. Our goal is to set up the foundations for that community.”
