The most rewarding part of any college student’s day is a good night’s rest. But three weeks ago, my dorm room’s HVAC unit started to make a blood-curdling shriek on the hour, every hour, every night. Despite submitting multiple FixIts, eight hours of sleep has been a pipe dream for me for a while now. Rather than tending to the issues in older, more run-down dorms like mine, Munson Hall, GW instead focuses on numerous campus renovations and expansion projects right across the street from me.

Every morning I leave for class at 8 a.m. only to encounter GW’s most recent multimillion-dollar purchase staring right back at me. GW announced its $140 million purchase of the Residence, an apartment complex on the Avenue across from my dorm in December 2023. The deal also includes the purchase of space that holds connected retailers like Whole Foods Market.

Although it is unclear what GW intends to do with their newfound properties, it doesn’t fail to make me bitter as I sit in my dorm listening to my HVAC unit scream. It also does not help when all my walks to class include passing the shiny, new campus store. It would be a lot easier to enjoy recent campus improvements if GW would repair basic yet ongoing residence hall issues.

Munson Hall was built in 1937, a whopping 86 years ago. Although the building has undergone a round of renovations since its inception, its age still shows. GW residents, especially those who do not have the privilege of being placed in newer buildings, need the University to focus on ongoing infrastructure issues before pivoting to anything new. 

The severity of repairs in my dorm not only affects my sleep but also add a significant amount of stress as a result. As finals season approaches, this conversation becomes increasingly relevant. The University clearly has millions of dollars to spend, and GW needs to spend them on the basic well-being of students first.

Cecilia Palumbo, a sophomore majoring in political science, is an opinions writer.