Lost in the Haze of Higher Education: One Student's Struggle

Raymond Hubscher, a biomedical engineering student at the University of British Columbia, was all set to return to campus for his fourth year. However, his plans were derailed when he couldn't secure on-campus housing through the random selection process used for mature returning students. As a BC resident, Hubscher depends on student residence to make ends meet, and the high demand and limited supply of housing have left him feeling frustrated and stuck. Despite being on the waitlist, Hubscher was told that there was a year-round housing option available, but it wasn't feasible for him due to affordability concerns. He also explored off-campus housing, but it was out of his price range. With his summer earnings and student loans barely covering his expenses, Hubscher felt like he was being forced to put his education on hold. Hubscher's situation is not unique. Many universities, including UBC, use a random selection process to award on-campus housing contracts, leaving returning students like Hubscher at the mercy of chance. This has led to a backlog of students waiting for housing, with some even resorting to sharing rooms or living off-campus due to the limited supply. The issue is not limited to UBC, but is a common problem faced by many universities. Hubscher believes that the solution lies in prioritizing domestic students, who are already facing challenges in completing their degrees due to the lack of affordable housing options.