In 1948, as a student at Morehouse College, Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote an article in the student newspaper, “Maroon Tiger” providing his views on the importance of education, being two-fold, “… the one is utility and the other is culture. Education must enable a man to become more efficient, to achieve with increasing facility the legitimate goals of his life.”
As then, over 75 years ago, we often see higher education as purely transactional. A way to get ahead. We cite statistics about job readiness, higher earning potential and a pathway to better jobs. Dr. King acknowledges the importance of “becoming more efficient” but reminds us that our learning also holds with it a capacity to understand more deeply. And that this understanding is important for a man to truly achieve the “legitimate goals of his life.”
Dr. King describes how education provides us with a platform to assess the information that we receive and allow us to use critical thinking and formulate our own views of society independent of what is fed to us.
“Education must also train one for quick, resolute and effective thinking,” states The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University. “To think incisively and to think for one’s self is very difficult. We are prone to let our mental life become invaded by legions of half truths, prejudices, and propaganda. At this point, I often wonder whether or not education is fulfilling its purpose. A great majority of the so-called educated people do not think logically and scientifically. Even the press, the classroom, the platform, and the pulpit in many instances do not give us objective and unbiased truths. To save man from the morass of propaganda, in my opinion, is one of the chief aims of education. Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction.”
Over 75 years later, his thoughts are not only relevant, but prescient, we could easily add AI agents to the list of sources that do not give us “objective and unbiased truths.” Remembering Dr. King and his impact reminds us to “sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal and the facts from the fiction” to ensure that we are achieving our legitimate goals as individuals and collectively as a society.
A Growing Crisis
The rise in housing costs has created significant challenges for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, who often find themselves unable to afford the very living arrangements that enable their educational journey. Students may receive sufficient financial aid for tuition and books, but this support can fail to cover housing costs, leaving them in a state of housing insecurity or worse, homelessness.
Many universities are located in vibrant, in-demand areas where housing is a premium commodity. Communities surrounding universities are often attractive to residents and businesses, driving up the cost of housing, which adds more pressure on students seeking affordable places to live. Increasingly this housing crunch is felt by university staff as well, as continued faculty hiring, increased staffing demands of the institution and growing medical systems put further strain on housing supply. This rising demand combined with the limited affordable options exacerbates the problem.
The Impact of NIMBYism
Despite universities’ contributions to their local economies, their attempts to build affordable student housing or expand housing capacity can face resistance. Local communities, driven by “Not In My Back Yard” (NIMBY) sentiments, frequently oppose university-led projects, fearing changes to neighborhood character, congestion, or increased demand for local resources. Unfortunately, this resistance prevents universities from taking the necessary steps to alleviate housing insecurity among students.
The Human Toll of Housing Insecurity
For students, the stakes of this housing crisis are high. Housing insecurity disrupts their ability to focus on academic responsibilities and increases the risk of mental health challenges. When students have to worry about where they will sleep, their mental well-being and academic success suffer, perpetuating a vicious cycle that undercuts the very promise of higher education as a path to social mobility. Without stable housing, students struggle to keep up with coursework, leading to a higher risk of dropout—directly contradicting the goal of universities to promote economic advancement.
Moreover, students facing homelessness often feel isolated and alienated from their communities. As they struggle to find stable housing, they may not endear themselves to local residents, which deepens the divide between universities and surrounding communities, further feeding NIMBY opposition.
Solutions: Housing Support as a Necessity
To truly serve a diverse student body and maintain their commitment to socioeconomic diversity, universities must extend support beyond financial aid for tuition. They need to expand affordable housing options and work actively with local communities to create sustainable housing solutions. As Higher Ed Dive reported, “The University of Virginia, for instance, has dedicated two underutilized plots of land its foundation owns to affordable housing, leasing the land to developers to build housing units.” Similar investments should be made to alleviate housing insecurity.
Institutions can also explore partnerships with local governments and organizations to provide housing assistance, following models of community engagement that have worked in other areas of student support. For instance, by offering scholarships that specifically cover living expenses or working with nearby landlords to secure affordable rentals, universities can reduce the risk of students dropping out due to financial stress.
A Call for Systems Thinking
As universities seek to serve more students from underrepresented socioeconomic groups, addressing housing insecurity is paramount. Active outreach and recruitment are only half of the equation; thinking holistically and supporting these students through their entire college experience—ensuring they have stable housing, mental health support, and access to essential services—completes the mission of economic mobility.
By taking steps to tackle housing insecurity, universities can fulfill their mission to educate and advance our populace, while promoting economic mobility and fostering stronger, more supportive relationships with the communities that surround them. The future success of higher education depends on these efforts.