To serve the housing needs of our students

[ditoman]

240. The following appeared in a memo written by a dean at Buckingham College.

"To serve the housing needs of our students, Buckingham College should build a new dormitory. Buckingham's enrollment is growing and, based on current trends, should double over the next fifty years, thus making existing dormitories inadequate. Moreover, the average rent for an apartment in our town has increased in recent years. Consequently, students will find it increasingly difficult to afford off-campus housing. Finally, an attractive new dormitory would make prospective students more likely to enroll at Buckingham."

The author asserts that Buckingham College should construct a dormitory to attract prospective students to enroll at Buckingham. To support the assertion, the author points out on the ground of current trends that Buckingham's enrollment is growing, and will double over the next fifty years. The author also cites that the average rent for an apartment in town has increased in recent years. However, this assertion relies on several dubious assumptions.

First, the author assumes that current trends are correct. However, the author shows no clear evidence to support the assumption. It is entirely possible that the subjects of trends are freshmen. Or it is also possible that a few of students are chosen. In either cases, the assumption that the survey of current trends is credible is unreliable to me.

Second, the author relies on the poor assumption that current trends continue. Even if the trends are continuous phenomenon on the past years, there is no evidence that the trends will continue. Moreover, It is entirely possible that current trends are aberrant. If so, the assertion that Buckingham College should build a new dormitory is unpersuasive to me.

Third, the author unfairly assumes that the increasing average rent for an apartment in their town causes students to find it difficult to afford off-campus housing. Perhaps the average rent for an apartment is growing higher, it is entirely possible that a studio becomes cheaper. Without considering this possibility, the assumption lends little credibility to me.

Finally, it is unfair to assume that the only attractive new dormitory makes prospective students more likely to enroll at Buckingham. It is entirely possible that students consider first the level of faculties. Without considerations of other factors, the author cann't convince me that the assertion is convincing.

In conclusion, the assertion that Buckingham College should build a new dormitory to attract prospective students is currently unacceptable to me as it stands. To better uphold, the author should present the evidence showing the reliability of growing enrollment trends, the continuity of trends, other factors influencing on finding off-campus housing, and students' enrollments.

[ditoman]

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I post mistakenly 2 times the same topic.

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