Two South Carolina State University students came by to see me after seeing my byline on the story about housing issues on campus. I wasn't in, so a young lady called me later that day to ask if I could do anything to help them find housing.

It's not unusual for things like that to happen with reporters. Because we write about issues, the public often connects us to the problem and thinks we have answers we just don't have. So, I told her that I certainly had no power over housing at S.C. State and she would have to continue to deal with officials there.

Ironically, another young lady called me earlier that day to tell me of some vacant houses in town that are usually rented to students, just in case someone wanted to look into it as a place to live. I passed the information along.

I remember what a huge deal going to college was for me. I was scared out of my mind at the thought of being dropped off at this strange place without my mamma to look after me. I'm willing to bet that the freshman feeling is universal. There's a butterfly in every stomach, with uncertainty running rampant.

Then there's the whole college level academics anxiety. Wondering if you're good enough, can you make the grade, will you be disciplined enough, did you learn enough in high school. The whole experience is nerve-wrecking.

Now, imagine all of those feelings magnified by not having a place to live. Sure, we've seen and heard parents going off about their child not having housing at S.C. State this year, and as well we should. When something goes wrong in a child's life, it's a parent's nature to protect them.

And the university should be expected to defend itself as well. The equation is simple. Too many students plus too little housing equals chaos. It may not seem like it, but in the end, there will be resolutions. Parents will calm, administrators will find housing. School will go on.

But I can't help but think about what I heard in that student's voice, calling me with hopes that I had some sort of answers for her. This experience has to have made a negative impression on the students involved, and possibly affected how their first year of college will go. Sure, it won't bother some students at all, but it likely will affect someone in some way. It will make some students stronger. But some may decide not to come back at all.

I wouldn't want to start out that way.

While I certainly don't think the university intended for there to be chaos, or to grapple with housing issues again, I hope officials take this year's opening as a hard lesson. It's magnificent to have growing enrollment, increased popularity and be considered a prestigious university, but no matter what the end result is, first impressions last a lifetime.

T&D Special Assignments Writer Charlene Slaughter can be reached by e-mail at cslaughter@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5529. Discuss this and other stories online at TheT&D.com

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