![\"\"](\"http:\/\/sites.jsums.edu\/jsuflash\/files\/2013\/09\/tigerplaza1.jpg\")
<\/a>Mark Braboy<\/strong> In an effort to meet overwhelming demand for on campus housing, Jackson State University leased the Travelodge Inn and Suites to become the new Tiger Plaza dormitory. Located on 400 Greymont Ave. near the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, the former hotel-turned dorm accommodates male students of all classifications with 120 rooms holding two or three students. Dr. Marcus A. Chanay, JSU Vice President for Student Life,\u00a0 said after on-campus residence halls reached full capacity due to enrollment, alternative housing was sought.<\/p>\n \u201cWe wanted to try to provide be best service we can for our students and accommodate their requests for housing,\u201d said Chanay. \u201cWe had a challenge, but we are trying to make sure that students in Tiger Plaza have the same services as other students on the main campus.\u201d<\/p>\n The univeristy will reevaluate the situation after the 9-month lease is up. \u201cIn the meantime, we are in a full-fledged search to obtain or to build additional housing,\u201d said Chanay.<\/p>\n When entering Tiger Plaza, students and guests are greeted with a bright redecorated interior that includes new furniture and equipment. The rooms have been renovated into traditional dormitory fashion with twin beds, wardrobes, desks, and private bathrooms. A computer lab, Wi-Fi and cable are also included along with transportation via JSU shuttle buses and regular meal plans apply.<\/p>\n Security is also heavily enforced on the premises by JSU campus police with the help of the Jackson Police Department. The area also includes multiple cameras set up inside and outside the premises. Nearly $800,000 was invested to make the facility more livable.<\/p>\n The remodeling of the freshman dormitory, F.O. Alexander Hall and the proposed shut down of Stewart Hall, also impacted the demand for on-campus housing.<\/p>\n Tiger Plaza was originally planned to be a co-ed complex, but since its opening, the female students have now been assigned to Stewart Hall, which will be opened for its last year.<\/p>\n Tiger Plaza has been received by the residents with mixed feelings.<\/p>\n Adrian Appleby, a senior criminal justice major from Indianapolis, Ind., said \u201cTiger Plaza is pretty cool. It\u2019s just they have to work on toning down the security in the front because they\u2019re just kind of turning people away. Other than that, they need to get the internet running, get the washing machines running, and besides that everything is okay.\u201d<\/p>\n Rondeshello Dotson, a junior accounting major from Vicksburg, Miss., said \u201cThe living conditions are good. As far as the room, it\u2019s only you and another roommate; then you have a bathroom where you and the other person share it, so you\u2019ll know who\u2019s going in and out the bathroom. And then you get to know who\u2019s using the facility personally. It would have been better if it was closer to the campus itself. The ride is a bit far, but it\u2019s quiet and you don\u2019t have disturbances in the middle of the night. It\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/p>\n Some students have been unsatisfied with living in Tiger Plaza, mainly saying that it is an inconvenience to class schedule as well as some of the utilities not working.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/strong>Alvin Perkins, a senior marketing and finance major from Jackson, Miss., said \u201cBasically living on Tiger Plaza as a senior, I\u2019m a part of a lot of research groups, so not having a car puts me at a hindrance for my matriculation at Jackson State. The shuttle bus stops at 10, but the library closes at 12 and that two hour gap is a major difference between me getting an A and getting a D. Also, we don\u2019t have Wi-Fi yet, so we\u2019re not able to do any work if we did have a computer. The shuttle services don\u2019t always come on time either.\u201d<\/p>\n Demeshun Jackson, a senior physical education major from Memphis, Tenn., said \u201cIt\u2019s hard to get to stuff on campus, waiting on the shuttle bus. That\u2019s a struggle because you\u2019re on someone else\u2019s schedule. Then it\u2019s hot outside and you\u2019re waiting on the shuttle while you could be in your room. Then you have to go from the hotel to the school just to eat and it\u2019s not as convenient as living on campus.\u201d<\/p>\n JSU is not the only Mississippi university\u00a0 facing housing issues. Mississippi Valley State\u00a0\u00a0 reportedly had to move more than 100 upperclassmen to two different hotels in Greenwood, Miss., offering students similar features to those of Tiger Plaza.<\/p>\n
\nStaff Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe facility, which had to undergo an extensive facelift, opened Saturday, August 24th.<\/p>\n