The Pilgrim’s Protest

By Amy Roberts

On Friday, October 19, 2007 an email was sent to residents of the Columbia International University Village presenting the administration’s plan to execute a new housing project that could be implemented within the next year. Some residents of the Village wonder how they will fare financially within the upcoming year and for the duration of their education. The CIU Village is a community of 86 mobile homes located on the eastern side of CIU property and provides housing for the students and employees of the university, divided among renters and owners. The school is planning to build garden style apartments and phase out the trailers.

The email, in part read, “At its recent meeting, the board approved the building of apartments by an outside party. We are still in the planning stage, but we are looking at the possibility of beginning construction of garden-style apartments early next year. The plan as it looks now is to close the Village over the course of the next few years. We desire to make this transition as painless as possible for everyone concerned, but we recognize it may be difficult for some of you.”
Expect to Sell Your Trailers Soon
A meeting held on November 27, 2007, was lead by Keith Marion, Vice President of Operations, Rick Swift, Dean of Students, and Brion Burns, Assistant Dean of Student Life. Keith Marion informed the 50 students in attendance that once a contract is signed, students should expect to sell their trailers and move out after the 14-24 month building process. Mr. Marion stressed the timetable had not yet started and that the committee wanted to students to be notified sooner rather than waiting for all the information to be in. However, students were very concerned as to how they should proceed in the next year. Some students are graduating soon and need to sell their trailers in the near future. They will need to be honest with incoming students as to the uncertainty of the Village future.
The quick transition period has troubled many Village residents. Students have built their budgets around the very affordable housing in the Village; they like the single family home, community based lifestyle the Village affords them. They communicated their desire for the administration to look at the many alternatives to a quick shut down of the Village. Mr. Marion stated that the acquisition of the apartment buildings is contingent upon neither the closing of the Village nor a guaranteed occupancy. Therefore, many students feel that a longer phase out period would be more acceptable.
Most of the mobile homes in question are 25-28 years old, but are in livable, insurable condition for the time being. The administration has found that replacement trailers are very expensive; moreover the City of Columbia has recently passed an ordinance forbidding the placement of new mobile homes within city limits. At some point, whether CIU likes it or not, it will be necessary to move towards a different married housing solution.
A third party non-profit group has come to the attention of CIU. This group would build garden style apartments, lease the land from CIU, and after about a 27 year process, donate the apartments to CIU. This would enable CIU to increase housing without having to raise the 12 to 15 million dollars required. The school anticipates building 150-200 apartments with 4-6 units per building.
Mr. Marion told the students that the school would work with each family on an individual basis and help find an equitable way to help protect their investment. He also asked the married students to trust that the school would take their needs into consideration. He suggested that if there was a discrepancy of $500 dollars between a home’s worth and a buyer’s contract, the school would help offset that cost. Mr. Marion assured students that more financial aid would be available to compensate for the increased cost of living. However, when asked several times, what would happen if a family was not able to sell their home, there was no answer from the committee. While considering the assurances from CIU and awaiting further details, several Village residents are anxious that they will be additionally burdened with the cost of moving their unsold trailer off of CIU property as well as losing the historic resale value of any trailers in the Village.
Potential Pitfalls and Inconveniences of New Housing Plan
There are Village residents who have borrowed money to purchase trailers and/or are planning to use the proceeds from the sale of the trailer for the next steps in their ministries. Some students are concerned about their ability to repay their financial obligations if they are not able to sell their trailers or that they will not be able to afford to continue at school if they must pay rent.
Most Village residents would agree that the Village has been a blessing for their families financially. They are able to live close to campus, and for much less than renting an apartment. One family was able to purchase their trailer in August 2007 for $5500, and pay $125 a month for lot rent. Over four years they expect to have a net housing cost of $8000. If they rented for $500 a month, their cost would be $24,000. Should they decide to continue at the graduate level, they will have spent $14,000 in the village, versus $42,000 to rent an apartment. This family is supporting three full-time freshman college students. The mother may not be able to continue her education if they are forced to leave the Village.
Students strongly asked the school to consider extending the date for vacating the Village so that current students could finish their education, and new students could make informed decisions. Lot rent could be forgiven which would enable students to build their savings account in preparation of beginning ministry. Also, the apartments could be considered condominiums which would provide investments for future students.
Students seemed discouraged and were concerned that the administration had made decisions regarding their housing without consulting them or hearing their suggestions and concerns. The administration assured students that no decision was final and the meeting was an attempt to create dialogue. One student said, “If people knew that the Village would close in five years, they would still buy it because it is still a good deal. So a longer phase out period would help everyone. I feel like we’re not being listened to because we come to the table with good ideas and it feels like we’re being met with no, no, no, no.”
Another student was concerned that apartments would not meet the needs of the school, “I’ve heard from the beginning that this is what’s going on around the country and at other seminaries. But every school is going to be different. Some [people] are going to certain schools to be missionaries, some are going to certain schools to be pastors, Pastors are going to make a salary, and missionaries can’t go into debt as much.”
Administration Asks for Trust
Mr. Marion said, “We don’t do anything to make a profit, we live by faith every month here at CIU. We only do things to serve students. This isn’t about money or generating profits, it’s about the right thing to do as we go forward to serve our students …. We are trusting God that He will enable us to be as equitable as possible with you.”
Brion Burns committed himself to provide as much feedback as possible, as often as possible. He also committed himself to letting the Village know what he knows when he knows it. He assured students that his office is open and will work with individual families to work on their specific situation.
Additional meetings continue to take place in order to find appropriate solutions that move the school forward while protecting the students in the Village.
As the committee and the board of CIU continue to look into ways to provide housing for their students, both Village residents and faculty and staff should be in prayer for God’s will to be done. Decisions have not been finalized as of this writing, and students sincerely hope that they have been heard by the administration. How this develops will be a testimony to current and future students as well as to the many alumni who have been blessed by the Village and their time at CIU.