NSU x ODU logos.
Norfolk State University students are being moved from Wyndham hotel to Old Dominion University apartments, due to an alleged breach of contract.
In early January, students were moved into the ODU apartments after the two universities formed a partnership, though no official announcement was made.
This move is part of Norfolk State’s ongoing efforts to address its housing challenges.
In recent years, Norfolk State has faced housing shortages due to increased enrollment and a lack of dormitories to accommodate the growing student population.
In 2023, 13 News Now reported that approximately 6,000 students were admitted into the university, but there was only enough space on campus to house about 3,000 students.
To meet this demand, the university’s administration decided to house some students off-campus in hotels around the Norfolk area.
The response from students housed in these hotels has been mixed. Some reported unsafe living conditions, including mold and bed bugs, while others preferred the hotel because they had their own individual room.
As students transition from hotels to ODU apartments, their reactions continue to vary as well. Some see the apartments as an improvement. One student, who wished to remain anonymous, shared their experience:
“Personally, my experience from moving from the hotel to ODU has been a very neutral experience. I can’t complain too much about living space since I have a kitchen, my own bedroom, and bathroom. I have the opportunity to have privacy now versus being in the hotel room and living 1 inch away from my roommate. It’s definitely a positive change from the hotel.”
However, other students are frustrated by the constant moves and transportation issues that come with being housed off-campus.
Zené Clayton, a sophomore at Norfolk State, expressed her concerns about the housing shortage and the unreliability of the shuttles which transport students between the apartments and NSU’s campus for classes and activities.
Clayton said, “It’s very difficult having to commute every single day and relying on shuttles that are just unreliable. Honestly, I’m very disappointed because of the amount of money that the school gets and puts into places that most students can’t benefit from. I haven’t even been here a full two years and I’ve already been four different places. I’m just very disappointed.”
Currently, students will continue to be housed in ODU apartments for the remainder of the spring semester, but the details of the joint partnership remain unclear.
Additionally, no long-term plans have been made to address the university’s ongoing housing shortage.
Without a clear solution, many students are left uncertain about how these housing challenges will be resolved in the future.
Spartan Echo 