A week before students return to classrooms for the fall semester, approximately 300 Auburn University freshmen have to find a new place to live after the university told them Cambridge Hall would no longer be available on Tuesday.
Cambridge Hall is a co-ed student dorm next to the Hotel at Auburn University and down the street from Samford Hall and the Ralph Brown Daughon Library. It was exclusively available to first-year students.
According to the university's official statement, university personnel discovered "water intrusion issues" due to "severe rainstorms" in the dorm in recent weeks. University personnel then found further "moisture concerns," which were "exacerbated by significant rainfall and severe heat and humidity throughout July and early August."
"As a precaution, the university decided to delay move-in to Cambridge Hall and secured temporary hotel accommodations for all affected residents until repairs could be completed," the statement explained. "However, remediation efforts dictated a timeline that does not allow us the ability to guarantee that students will be able to move into Cambridge without additional disruptions. The health, well-being, and personal and academic success of Auburn students remain a top university priority, and this decision was made with abundant caution following careful considerations with multiple campus units and external experts."
Auburn intends to keep Cambridge closed for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Currently, Auburn classes will begin on August 16.
The statement said Auburn decided with the best interest of the students in mind.
Auburn is providing the students with rooms at the University Hotel until August 30 and issuing them "a student transition emergency allowance" of $5,000 and an upgraded meal plan.
It is also working with off-campus housing facilities to find available living spaces.
According to the Cambridge Hall update page, which keeps students and parents updated about the ongoing situation, the following off-campus housing complexes have vacancies:
Creekside, 334.321.2356
Beacon, 334.248.9644
Midtown, 334.332.5888
Collective, 334.888.8461
Liberty Properties, 334.821.1600
Summer Brooke, 334.821.5880
Summer Wind, 334.821.4650
Haley Management, 334.319-4724
According to the letter sent to students who had already agreed to live in Cambridge, the university is processing refunds for rental payments already delivered.
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