Increased enrollment calls for more campus housing May 2, 2008

By Tamika Dillard
VCU Student News Service

RICHMOND, Va. — To accommodate a record enrollment of more than 31, 000 students this year, VCU is working to construct three campus housing projects.

“Five years ago, the university housed 2,400 students on campus, the university now houses 4,700 students,” said Brian Ohlinger, assistant vice president of facilities management.

A dorm capable of housing 408 students will be located on Belvidere Street, south of the new business and engineering buildings, Ohlinger said. Another plan is to demolish Franklin Street Gym and replace it with upscale housing. Construction on a third housing project will take place on Grace Street behind Ramz Hall, located on West Broad Street.

Battle for better benefits May 2, 2008

By Tamika Dillard
Student News Service

RICHMOND, Va. — The fight might be over on the battlefield, but many Virginia Commonwealth University student veterans still are fighting the battle for better benefits.

James Chambliss, student veteran association adviser and veteran affairs coordinator, says one important issue on the association’s agenda is military educational entitlements.
Chambliss says the problem is the student veterans pay for benefits, but the money is counted against them because the government considers the money part of a veteran’s income when applying for financial aid.

As a result student veterans’ federal aid is reduced.

“It is not fair, how can you call it a benefit when the money is coming out of my own pocket,” Chambliss said.