USG tackles building height restrictions

By TRACY WILSON
Collegian Staff Writer

State College Mayor Bill Welch addressed concerns about restrictions on off-campus housing at the Undergraduate Student Government Senate meeting last night.

The State College Borough Council is discussing an ordinance that would limit future building height in the downtown area from seven stories to four stories.

"It's so easy to think that there are only two sides to this," Welch said.

Housing is neither the responsibility of the borough nor the university, he added.

More on-campus housing would lead to more retail facilities on campus, meaning less students would venture downtown to patronize State College merchants, he said.

"It would be nuts for Penn State to build more dorms," Welch said.

USG President Caroline Casagrande expressed concern about Welch's answer.

"What are we, a commuter school? Where are we supposed to live?" she said. "I think the mayor is looking out for the interests in State College as a community, but he is off base saying that no one is responsible for giving students housing.

"If you have to point a finger, it would be at the university, a place that hasn't built a dorm since the '70s even though enrollment has gone up 20 percent in the last five years," she said.

Also unhappy with Welch's response, USG Vice President Brian Olivo said more housing must be available if the university is not going to cap enrollment.

"It is not the borough's responsibility to build housing, but it is their responsibility to allow new construction when students make up over 70 percent of the town's population," he said.

Not all senators shared the sentiments of their president and vice president, but saw the town's point of view as well.

"It's not the town's responsibility to worry about how many students are coming to Penn State. I think the mayor is making the best out of a bad situation," said town Senator Christian Jones.

As State College Borough Council does not yet have a consensus about the proposed limitations, Welch stressed the importance of students attending borough council meetings and registering to vote.

"Look at the regulations as what's the impact on you as a renter, motorist, citizen, and shopper, not just a student," he said. "(The council) has to serve a balance between two competing interests."