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Thursday, July 24, 2025

An open letter to Longwood University

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the Letter to the Editor do not reflect The Rotunda.

Dear Longwood University,

This letter is to address the issues surrounding the campus holding the VP debate. As a current student, I have heard so many complaints and disagreements with the way things are happening, and I wanted to take a moment to address our needs as students of this fine institution.

First, let’s talk about the construction. You have now blocked off half of campus by barricading Brock Commons in front of Hull, Willett, Communication Studies and Theatre Center (CSTAC), and the library. Students who have to run from one end of campus to the other to make it to their next class on time are losing hope entirely.

Over the past few days, I have been late to numerous classes as I sprint from French Hall to CSTAC. You would think this may not be a big deal, but Longwood's campus is known widely as one of the most accessible college campuses. Now, students who are in wheelchairs have to take the huge incline behind the library to get to class instead of just taking the low slope of Brock Commons. Students who have broken legs now have to be even more late to their classes because they have to take an alternate route that is almost always more difficult to climb. How is this fair to any of us? We are paying for our education; being late isn't acceptable, and we are all concerned about it.

Since I brought up money, let’s talk about that issue as well. We are also paying for amenities that we don't even have access to anymore. The Health and Fitness Center was one of a kind. Now, we are next to subway in a small space that is just like a Gold's Gym (no offense, Gold's). We paid tuition with almost a 7 percent increase from last year because of this debate. That may not seem like a lot, but it increases a couple thousand dollars every time you increase a percentage. We also do not have access to the Willett pool. We just had this building renovated during my freshman year. So, why does it need a new face now?

We are also paying for a debate for which we got no warning and absolutely no say in hosting. If you ask the student body how they feel about the debate, you will get an overwhelming amount of negative feedback. Yes, we understand that it's a big event for Longwood and will help us to be a part of history. But you're going overboard. Your students should come first, no matter what. We should have gotten a say as to what our money was going toward, especially since many of the things we thought we were paying for have been taken away.

Finally, let’s talk about the classes. I did not sign up for Longwood because of the classes surround the politics of today. But now, because of my major, I am in every debate centered class that fit into my schedule. This means I am hearing the same thing, in Every. Single. Class. Every. Single. Day. I am paying around $11,000 to take five of the exact same classes. Why?

I came to Longwood to gain the skills I need to become a successful professional in my specific career, not to become a successful politician. So, why do I need to know the importance of arguing in a debate or how to analyze a debate?

So Longwood, next time you want to hold a national debate, please take your students views, needs and opinions into account, or you're going to have even more unhappy, paying college students.

Sincerely,

The concerned and upset students of Longwood University.

Editors' Note: Longwood University experienced a 2.77 percent tuition increase for the 2016-17 school year and the university's website states all funds for the vice presidential debate are coming from reserves, not student tuition.


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