We Get Letters: Caltech Should Consider Housing

Graduate students get a small stipend for their living expenses.  And dorms on campus are usually reserved for undergraduates.  The graduate students need housing, but it should not be at the expense of residents.

The next time Caltech wants to build a research building, they should instead build graduate housing. With the new research buildings they’ve put up in recent years they should have enough space to conduct work for several years.

They could also borrow a page from the Foreign Exchange Student program.  Let the residents of 400 Mentor Ave. stay.  And those that can and are willing, can host a graduate student in their home.  The renters would be making some money from what the students would be paying for room and board, and the students would have a decent place to live near campus.  Instead of buying buildings and kicking out the tenants, Caltech could make a deal for graduate students to be hosted by the residents.  There might even be Caltech employees who would be willing to host some of the students.  This would enhance Caltech’s already fine reputation.  Sounds like a win-win.

Marie Perez