Crisis Averted: The Rise in Challenges for On-Campus Housing

The Changing Demographics of Students

During the postwar era, the demographics of students changed, affecting housing availability. In 1939, about 38.5% of students at the University of Minnesota were from outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.¹ However, by 1942, roughly 42.5% of students were not from the metro area or commuting; therefore, more students required housing near or on-campus.² By 1945, due to the G.I. Bill providing financing for veterans to attend college, the student population increased twofold, with many new students being single men.³ Finally, with increases in transportation, there was also a significant increase in the number of international students.

The Postwar Era of the University

The Postwar Housing Crisis

The Beginning of the Housing Shortage

In 1945, the University began to feel the critical housing shortage emerge. In December of 1945, the University asked the state legislature to conduct a special session to request funding for the construction of new dormitories.⁴ Meanwhile, the state government supplied trailers to the University to provide students temporary housing.⁵ In reports from University officials Williamson, Willey, and Middlebrook, concerns were also raised about finding adequate housing for married students, a demographic that was growing through the increase in veterans.⁶

The Impact on Students

This shortage in available space created many challenges for students. In the fall of 1946, University housing had a shortage of an estimated 1,985 students.⁷ Students who applied for housing found many added barriers. For example, in order to be considered for housing, students had to face one-on-one interviews with the Student Housing Bureau. The Student Housing Bureau also gave special consideration to international students.⁸ These barriers made it more difficult, especially for Minnesota residents, to secure housing.

The Solution: More Dormitories

To solve the housing crisis, the state government allocated millions of dollars to the University to construct new residence halls. As a result, the University created numerous dormitories and housing structures in the three decades following World War II:

• Centennial Hall (1951)
• Bailey Hall (1958)
• Commonwealth Terrace Cooperative (1958): married students/students with families.⁹
• Territorial Hall (1958)
• Frontier Hall (1959)
• Middlebrook Hall (1969)
• Como Student Community Cooperative (1975): married students/students with families.⁹

By December of 1958, about 50% of students at the University of Minnesota were living in a housing establishment that was either owned or supervised by the University. Of those establishments, residence halls were able to accommodate 9.82% of the student population.¹⁰

The Creation of Superblock

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the University of Minnesota began a massive construction project near Centennial, Frontier, Pioneer, and Territorial Halls to remove the streets between these buildings and create a "superblock" of pedestrian walkways and recreation spaces. This project was created to add to the residential life of students in these residence halls.¹¹

Residential Life in the Postwar Era

Student Publications

In this era, students also lived differently. This era saw more student-made publications that provided residents with information about what was happening around each of the halls. For example, in many editions of the “Comstock Co-ed” from the 1940s, the editor included a gossip column called “Dorm Dirt,” which would hold messages ranging from birthday congratulations to “what girl took her sinkmate’s call the other night?”¹²

Coeducation

During the ‘60s and ‘70s, the residence halls also became coeducational. At Bailey Hall, for instance, the administration had to put up dress codes and curfew hours, specifically for women. If one were a woman under 21, for example, they had to be back in the residence hall before midnight on weekdays and 2:00 am on weekends.¹³

Leisure

Although there were restrictions on the freedoms in these co-ed dorms, residents in all dormitories had numerous leisure activities. All of the dorms had information desks, where sports equipment and other games could be rented.¹⁴ Additionally, the women of Comstock and Sanford would schedule tea parties and host games of Bridge. The halls also planned different formal events, such as The Crystal Ball and Winter Formals at Comstock.¹⁵