By Shauna Mecartea
Daily Bruin Reporter
With the expected influx of 60,000 students over the next 10
years, plans to alleviate campus housing and funding dilemmas will
begin Friday at the first UC Housing Task Force meeting.
The task force is composed of 20 members representing different
campuses, faculty, UC Board of Regents and local communities.
Regent Sue Johnson will co-chair the task force with UC Senior
Vice President Joseph Mullinix.
The task force seeks to find ways to make housing more
affordable and available for undergraduates, graduates, faculty and
staff.
But the energy crisis and the effects of Tidal Wave II have
depleted the state’s budget, and finding money to fund
building will be tough, according to members of the task force.
“My hope is that the task force members will bring new
perspectives and fresh thinking to this longstanding
problem,” Mullinix said in a statement.
The task force will consider the demand for university sponsored
housing and examine the current process for university construction
on- and off-campus. It will also study ways the university can work
with third parties to provide housing and ways to provide financial
assistance to those who purchase homes.
But the main concern of the task force is gaining the funds and
resources during times of shortage.
“To educate all of these students, we need more faculty
and staff,” said Tracy Davis Student Regent-designate, one of
the two students on the task force. “There is not enough
money to go around.”
Because housing is an auxiliary enterprise, the university is
not eligible for state subsidized bonds for it. The UC can only
receive repayable bonds, which create high rent rates for the
students, said Debbie Davis UC Student Association President.
An alternative fund provider would be third parties, which would
lease the land for construction and then revert it back to the
university, she said.
“This would allow for the third party to shoulder part of
the bill,” she continued.
The State Assembly has begun to take action in the matter
concerning housing deficiency and the lack of funds with two
impending bills.
“The assembly is very aware of the problem,” Debbie
Davis said.
AB 1063, a bill introduced by Assemblywoman Dion Aroner,
D-Berkeley, allows for student housing to be funded by the
state.
But opponents of the bill said on-and off-campus housing would
be in competition for funding with academic buildings, according to
the UCSA President.
Assemblyman Fred Keeley, D-Monterey Bay, proposed AB 1611, which
would make students eligible for low-income housing and provide
funds for both on- and off- campus housing.
“If one or both of the bills pass then the task force
could be eligible for state funds,” Debbie said.