Daily Camera guest opinion: Guest Meha Khanna: An opportunity for housing
Sep. 23—By Meha Khanna
Boulder, Colo. is a beautiful place to live with a vibrant and growing community due to the continued expansion of University of Colorado Boulder.
In order for this city to have a diverse population with students and staff from different economic, racial and ethnic backgrounds, we must expand housing to make living in Boulder accessible for more than just the richest in America.
Being the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for CU's Student Government, it is my job to fight for equity for our students and make sure that CU is pushing for a diverse student body and working in accordance with anti-racism. Housing prices in Boulder have skyrocketed and we must be doing everything we can to make sure that future generations at CU Boulder can actually afford to live here and have access to our beautiful campus and city. Thankfully, we have a solution to this growing problem.
Because of the extreme need Boulder has to expand housing, I fully support the annexation of CU Boulder South in conjunction with the Executive Branch because of the positive effects an expansion of housing would have on incoming and future BIPOC students, faculty, and staff at CU Boulder. Since the start of the pandemic, rents in Boulder have risen dramatically, and the CU community, especially those from low-income backgrounds, are greatly affected by rising prices. CU cannot attract a diverse set of faculty, staff or a student body without more housing options that can help people live affordably and closer to campus. Supporting equity and addressing systemic racism in the community means supporting attainable housing for all students, faculty and staff of the university who help make the Boulder community so vibrant.
As we know, BIPOC people have a smaller accumulation of wealth in America due to historic and current day systemic barriers. Due to these huge racially based barriers, CU Boulder currently has a relatively small population of BIPOC students and can definitely do a better job at making sure that students from all backgrounds can access our school through affordable housing. Anti-racism work begins with creating equity and access within the community itself so that we can attract a more diverse set of students. Since CU Boulder claims to support anti-racism based projects and aims to increase diversity on campus, housing options need to be more affordable which can happen through the expansion of CU South.
Speaking from personal experience, due to the soaring housing prices in Boulder, I have had to sacrifice my own comfort and wellbeing at my own home in order to live within Boulder at a slightly more affordable rate and have access to the CU campus. I have lived through Boulder summers without AC, stayed in squished, closet sized rooms, and still paid upwards of $1,000 a month. Although I am thankful for my privilege and ability to still live in Boulder, many people would be unable to afford the rent that I pay per month, especially other BIPOC students due to the racial wealth gap in America.
My sister, who graduated in 2016 from this same university, did not struggle to the same degree that I have with housing since prices have skyrocketed since then. Only five years ago, Boulder was a cheaper place to live. I cannot imagine how expensive housing princes in Boulder will be five years from today if action is not taken. At this rate, diversity in Boulder will continue to fall as housing prices continue to rise, and people like me could never afford to live here again. We must support the expansion of CU South to ensure that Boulder's housing prices don't continue to increase and to confirm a rise in diversity rates. Having a diverse presence at CU Boulder is extremely important and creates a more valuable learning environment for all students.
Overall, pushing for affordable housing through the annexation of CU Boulder South is a huge way we can guarantee a growth in diversity at CU Boulder and create a more equitable housing system. Please support this project that has been built through the consideration of BIPOC students and staff in order to make CU Boulder a more diverse, inclusive, and vibrant community.
Meha Khanna is Director for Diversity & Inclusion in CU Student Government.
