Fixing Research Means Fixing Summer Housing

Talia Cutler ’27

Managing Editor

Summer research is often touted as a highly coveted and competitive experience. The chance to engage in undergraduate research at a relatively low opportunity cost is attractive, especially at a small liberal arts school with fewer resources than larger institutions like Tufts University or Boston University 

Not having to pay for housing is one of the main appeals of the summer research experience at Trinity, a perk that not many other college research programs offer. Other small schools like Vassar and Hamilton do not guarantee summer housing for all research programs, and often charge fees for living on campus. However, as great as the Trinity research experience may look on paper, I believe that we should be transparent about the shortcomings of this program—the most significant being the chasm of wanting left by the housing office. 

This past summer while doing research, I found that my housing situation often detracted from the experience of doing research. As I worked for ten weeks, I dealt with being cut off from hot water, cut off from kitchen access (three times) leaving me unable to cook, a mouse infestation, short notices of relocation and limited communication for when I would receive a permanent housing placement. The list extends perennially. At certain points, I felt as though my paychecks were compensating me for enduring these living conditions rather than doing actual work. 

I am aware that this may not be the experience of the masses, but it is certainly not original. Whether it be STEM work or the Public Humanities Collaborative, low-quality and borderline neglectful housing was a common campfire-esque horror story this summer. Asking other student researchers their qualms with housing was as habitual as asking a new student for their major and hometown — it grew tiring. There was an overwhelming sense of indifference from housing as complaints and work orders went unanswered for days, weeks or altogether. 

This is an issue that extends beyond the summer: while housing offices at most schools face struggles with meeting everyone’s needs (especially students as needy as ours), it often feels as though Trinity students are uniquely left wanting in almost every facet of living. Boardwalk and Park are two former dorms that fell victim to this kind of neglect from facilities and housing in 2019, now sitting abandoned and awaiting demolition or renovation behind Vernon Place. 

Summer research is not an experience I would recommend to out-of-state students, or any students for that matter. By its conclusion, it left me wondering: why is this so difficult? Student workers should not be asked to expect a certain level of negligence in their housing. Like most other areas of campus life, Trinity should maintain high standards, whether the school year is in session or not. 

If free housing is advertised as a perk of staying on campus, the housing should include hot water and a stove. This should not be a radical idea, nor one that is previously unconsidered by the housing office. Summer research should not be put on a pedestal until Trinity is ready to provide decent housing and quality of living for their student researchers. Until then, I would urge those interested in a summer work experience to get a nepo-internship—or perhaps a waitressing job.