New students can choose to live at home this semester instead of living on campus, and they will be paid to do so if their home addresses are within 30 minutes of LSU’s Baton Rouge campus.
We’ve given a few of our nearby students the option to come here for the autumn semester by car. We’ve also offered a $3,000 reward to encourage that. Executive Director of LSU Residential Life Peter Trentacoste stated, “We are doing occupancy management as part of that.”
According to Trentacoste, more students than expected are interested in living on campus this year, as reported by WAFB-TV.
“We kind of looked at cancellations, we realized, ‘Wow they’re not coming in as fast as we’d like. That’s a little bit higher than normal in terms of the interest’,” he stated.
For out-of-state students like Cole Costello from Dallas, who just received his dorm assignment, the incentive is freeing up places.
“When I got the email about there was limited space with dorms, it was kind of that feeling of OK what’s next. So I was thankful that I was able to get a dorm. But I think for a lot of students, it’s a very troubling email,” Costello stated.
John Costello, the father of Costello, expressed his worry that students who choose not to live in a dorm will not be afforded the same opportunities and experiences as those who do.
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“Having the $3,000 option is great, as long as I think there is still that option for kids to feel like they’re still included on campus and don’t miss out on those campus activities. I think that’s critical first year,” John Costello stated.
Whether a student commutes or lives on campus, Trentacoste stated that the institution is fully dedicated to making sure that “you are a tiger and we’re bringing you into the campus and making sure that you feel welcome and this is your home.”
Trentacoste stated that the incentive program offer will end once a predetermined number of applications have been received. He withheld the number’s identity.
