As a University of Wisconsin-Madison student who resided at Ogg Hall during its farewell year, I think the construction of a $28 million state-of-the-art residence seems unjustified in a time when the university struggles to fund desperately needed diversity initiatives (“Raucous UW dorm goes upscale,” Nov. 12).
The intimate rooms and dated decor of “Odd Ogg” would have been small inconveniences to endure for attending a university that achieves a diverse student body by allocating ample financial aid to under-represented groups. At the present tuition rate, the $28 million spent on Ogg could have provided complete four-year scholarships to about 1,000 students who might otherwise be financially unable to attend UW-Madison.