Housing at two universities are getting an upgrade with a twist.
Texas A&M University- Kingsville and Florida Institute of Technology will add residence halls geared toward Catholic students on their respective campuses in the Fall.
The Newman Student Housing Fund, which is separate from FIT, is financially supporting the Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Student Residence at the Florida school, according to a press release.
The fund’s goal is to provide housing arrangements that deepen students’ faith on a secular campus, according to its website.
The new FIT residence halls will house 140 students and will eventually be accompanied by a chapel.
Though this concept is not being implemented at UF, Sharon Blansett, assistant to the associate vice president for Student Affairs and UF Housing spokeswoman, wrote in an email that the UF Department of Housing and Residence Education “supports all students in seeking spiritual well-being, health and balance, and supports all religions and faiths.”
Blansett also wrote that UF housing is open to exploring special interests for all students.
“When developing special interest housing for college-age students, it is important to be inclusive rather than exclusive,” she wrote.
Blansett said faith-based housing has the potential to benefit university communities and its students if both support the idea.
Abigail Nabors, a 20-year-old biomedical engineering junior, said public universities should remain secular so there is no conflict with certain students or groups not being acknowledged.
“Finding sufficient on-campus housing is already difficult,” she said.
UF student Marielle Molina said the idea of Catholic residence halls seems unfair to other religions.
The 19-year-old biology sophomore said the idea is strange to her, although she was raised Catholic. Dorms should remain secular, she said.
Molina said some religious students may force their views onto others and may be judgmental toward other religions or lifestyles.
Molina said students would have to question that living situation and whether they would fit into that community.
“Are you Catholic enough to be here?” she said.
