As the 2018 fall semester begins, some Clark Atlanta University (CAU) students say they have no place to live. The students and their parents claim they have paid all of the semester's fees in full but have yet to receive any dorm assignments.
According to WSB-TV, about 150 students waited outside the HBCU's student center with looming questions surrounding their housing status on Tuesday, August 14. Classes begin on August 15.
About 150 students are waiting for answers about their housing at Clark Atlanta University. Many of them told us they had already paid in full and were supposed to be in a dorm tonight. What the university told @rikkiklausWSB, on the Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 11. pic.twitter.com/zYnKNecpyy
— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) August 14, 2018
A @CAU sophomore I spoke with earlier, who said she’s financially-enrolled, who said she’s been coming to Clark Atlanta since June to iron out paperwork problems to no avail, told me at 10:06 that she was still on campus waiting for answers from school officials on housing. pic.twitter.com/6BU0vvQwO8
— Rikki Klaus (@RikkiKlausWSB) August 14, 2018
These are the kind of notes we’re getting from people frustrated with the situation at @CAU. Some have been waiting since 5 a.m. to move into dorms at Clark Atlanta but say they’ve had trouble getting answers about why that’s not happening. Many parents at the school. pic.twitter.com/i5GRQsXzmI
— Rikki Klaus (@RikkiKlausWSB) August 14, 2018
“I’m very upset. This is ridiculous," said Ericka Eddins, whose daughter was among the students yet to be assigned a dorm. Eddins said her daughter had proof her housing fees were paid. “I dropped her off at 7:00 this morning at the school to take care of this.”
CAU Enrollment Services released an official statement regarding the matter on Monday:
Breaking: We just received this statement from @CAU Enrollment Services. Here it is in full. pic.twitter.com/zJg9zXpdl3
— Rikki Klaus (@RikkiKlausWSB) August 14, 2018
First-year students and sophomores are required to live on campus; upperclassmen may choose to live off campus. According to the school's statement, upperclassmen were required to reserve their housing with a deposit and complete the financial enrollment process by August 1, 2018.
“Those who have not completed the financial enrollment process are being offered temporary housing while they complete the process,” read the statement.
WSB spoke to some underclassmen who told the station that while the statement suggests only upperclassmen currently lack housing, they have paid and are also still in need of a dorm room.
A @CAU sophomore I spoke with earlier, who said she’s financially-enrolled, who said she’s been coming to Clark Atlanta since June to iron out paperwork problems to no avail, told me at 10:06 that she was still on campus waiting for answers from school officials on housing. pic.twitter.com/6BU0vvQwO8
— Rikki Klaus (@RikkiKlausWSB) August 14, 2018
A @CAU statement says students were told in May about housing process, timelines. It implies some didn’t follow the rules. It says “We have housing for all freshmen and sophomores who are financially enrolled.” But 3 people told us that’s not what they were told today. Story-11p pic.twitter.com/3jQsTnLoA2
— Rikki Klaus (@RikkiKlausWSB) August 14, 2018
A woman who says she is a sophomore at the school took to Twitter to say she has yet to receive a room:
Not even true because sophomores that paid in full were kicked out, like me. This is some bullshit, and they wonder why the retention rate is so low.
— °•Jasmine Ashley•° (@jas_ash99) August 14, 2018
Some in-state students are staying with their parents while things are resolved. Unfortunately, out-of-state students don't have this privilege.
Talked on phone with parent inside Clark Atlanta University student center, who said 100-150 people continue to wait for answers on housing issues. We’re told many have already paid, were supposed to be in dorms tonight. We’re told some are from out-of-state, have nowhere to go. pic.twitter.com/zggkVDWIsu
— Rikki Klaus (@RikkiKlausWSB) August 13, 2018
Here’s the ones that’s still here others left because they need to find a place to lay their head for the night pic.twitter.com/l8QL1tzo3N
— ZIYADA ????❤️ (@ZIYSOSAUCY) August 13, 2018
“No resolution. Nobody’s telling us anything. I don’t know what to do,” Eddins said.
We have reached out to Clark Atlanta University for comment who has yet to respond.
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