Two weeks ago, University President Lawrence Biondi. S.J., announced via e-mail that Saint Louis University had signed an agreement to purchase Grand Forest Apartments.

The announcement has produced strong reactions, both positive and negative, from many students.

Junior physical therapy student Justin Basi made plans early in the semester to move into Grand Forest. He has already signed a letter of intent to sign a contract with the original management. He said that SLU will be honoring that contract, and that he and his roommate will split a rent of $565 per month until their contract is up, next May.

After that, if he wishes to stay, he will have to pay a semester housing fee to the university that works out to about $418 per month, per person. This is a raise of about $135 per month for both him and his roommate.

“I’m just really disappointed,” Basi said. “My roommate and I were hoping to stay at Grand Forest through the end of our PT program, but we’re just not going to pay SLU’s prices.”

Rubaba Mojid, who is a current resident of the complex, is also disappointed that SLU will be taking over the property.

Mojid’s lease is up in June, and she will not stay in the complex under SLU’s management.

“My roommate and I just didn’t want to deal with SLU’s high prices and have to pay for parking,” she said. “I know lots of people who were interested in moving in here, and it doesn’t look like they’re going to be able to because they did not apply for housing through the university.”

Junior Laura O’Donnell is one of those students. “I was looking at moving into Grand Forest before SLU announced that they were going to buy it. I am not even considering it anymore because I didn’t apply for housing and I just don’t want to be in the clutches of Residence Life anymore,” she said.

According to the Department of Residence Life, only students who already have a housing assignment with the University will be eligible to move into Grand Forest.

Mojid also said she thinks it is unfair of SLU to take over the property because of the number of people who live in Grand Forest who aren’t affiliated with the University.

“Most of my neighbors have to move out now, and they’re all pretty angry,” Mojid said.

Junior Annie Philipps will be living in Marchetti Towers next year but sees the purchase of Grand Forest as a good move for the University.

“I would consider living [in Grand Forest], but I am happy with Marchetti, and I wouldn’t want to have to find furniture for next year,” Philipps said.

“I think that buying the complex is a good effort to find housing for SLU students, something that people have been asking about for a long time,” he said.

Junior Eric Gehringer agreed with Philipps. While he has decided to stick with his original plan of moving to the Village apartments next year, he said he seriously considered moving to Grand Forest.

“I think the purchase was a great idea. The more [SLU] buys, the nicer campus gets. The more [SLU] buys, the safer campus feels,” Gehringer said.

“Grand Forest closes the gap between the tennis courts and Marchetti, and the university definitely needs the housing,” Gehringer continued.