Recently, my daughter received a notice from the Jensen Group stating that “we hope you are enjoying your stay with us” but “renewing your lease at your current apartment will not be an option.” The reason given was that Iowa State University is planning to lease her apartment building and eight other buildings on the west edge of town for students. I’m starting to understand the process for solving student housing shortages at Iowa State.

First, accept more students than you know you have housing for without doing proper long-term planning.

Second, wait until students complain about being stuck in former community rooms before making plans to build new dorms.

Third, let building owners send out notices when renewing isn’t an option to students just before finals week and before negotiations are finalized.

Fourth, sign an agreement with private apartment building owners to lease to Iowa State for two years.

Fifth, force current ISU students out, but offer them the option to sub-lease to the university at a higher rent after they move out their furniture.

Sixth, pay to furnish the apartments and hire residence assistants to babysit. 

Seventh, don’t worry that you could end up replacing ISU students in nine apartment buildings with a different set of ISU students with no net gain.

And finally, do all of this under the “philosophy” that Iowa State should provide housing to students who want it and with the belief that students do better academically and socially if they live under the watchful eye of the university.

We’re going to end up with 400 ISU students moving out of their apartments for no valid reason and no written policy to back it up. The best strategy would be to let private enterprise do what it does better than government and provide quality housing at the lowest cost.