Currently I am a lucky housing resident not just because I have a house in the Ghetto and haven?t gotten shot at (which is increasingly rare) but because I still have a basement. In fact I?ve had a basement for two years now.

I?ve seen basements used as bars, breweries, workout rooms, couch lounges, karaoke stages and storage. Personally my basement served as a workout room, box storage, a beer pong table and most importantly the home of the circuit breaker.

In my College Park residence, whenever the microwave and the coffee maker were running at the same time, BAM, there goes the power. Last year when that happened I was able to simply turn around, walk downstairs to the basement and flip some switches. Most days I was able to start the day with a hot cup of coffee and a lava spewing Hot Pocket.

This year residents in my old house do not have that luxury. The basement is now locked. What is their solution for a blown fuse? Freak out and call the police to come unlock the basement and restore power? No need for the police and maintenance to worry about bigger problems, I need my basement unlocked so I can cook my Hot Pocket now!

You could also carry your microwave into another room and search for that elusive three pronged outlet. Typical mornings will now look like power off in the kitchen, microwave in the living room, coffee maker in the bathroom and your Tangent in the bedroom. Girls, don?t even think about blow drying your hair.

I?ve heard stories ranging from gas leaks, to blown circuits, to water heaters leaking all that needed to be discovered and fixed in the basement. Can we be responsible tenants without access to these things? Shouldn?t the University be educating the whole person including life skills?

Residents signed a contract before these basements were locked and now the housing unit has changed so that students come home surprised to find their basements locked. According to Ohio Landlord Tenant Law 5321.05 it?s the obligation of a tenant to ?Use and operate all electrical and plumbing fixtures properly.? How can we do this without access to circuit breakers and water heaters?

The University will not fix these problems until you fight for your right to have a basement. Demand a meeting with housing, demand a meeting with Sister Schmeling, demand a meeting with Dr. Dan! Google Ohio Landlord and Tenant Law! Figure out your price per square footage and demand a refund of what you lost! Know your rights!