Students will have to pay an extra $186 per semester for housing next year, an increase of 4.75 percent, according to the new budget proposed by the Office of Housing and Residential Education.

According to Jim Kramka, Senior Director of Housing Facilities Operation and Management, this increase in housing costs, if approved by the Board of Trust, will cover the increase in costs of utilities and plant operations, as well as student financial aid, building replacement reserves and debt service.

OHARE is funded solely by income generated by housing fees and does not receive any subsidies from the university.

"Vanderbilt doesn't do that because doing so would sap money from the academic enterprise," Kramka said. "Housing is expected to pay its own way. We do that by charging students what it costs us to provide their housing."

According to Kramka, student housing fees allocate 38 percent for utilities and physical plant, 6 percent for facilities repair and maintenance, 1 percent for insurance, 1 percent for equipment, 5 percent for provision for replacement (money set aside for maintenance and repairs), 6 percent for student financial aid and support (resident advisors, head residents, program coordinators and graduate assistants), 15 percent for debt service (paying principle and interest on money borrowed for construction and major repairs and renovations), 17 percent for other university support (paid to other university departments for services like human resources, accounting and Information Technology Services), 8 percent for salaries and benefits, 2 percent for office and administration, and 1 percent for programming.

Vanderbilt Student Government has been consulting with OHARE to assure that students are being considered while important decisions regarding housing are being made.

"VSG plans to continue being diligent on projects to improve housing, and we are also working to make the projects more transparent," said VSG President junior Wyatt Smith.

"We are working to spend money on our end to make facilities more energy efficient by using dim lighting and low flow valves," Smith said. "VSG is also hoping that people will help spread the message to their friends about the importance of energy conservation on campus."