The Minnesota Daily editorial board has witnessed numerous changes to the University of Minnesota housing market. Yet, one thing that fails to come into the discussion is the University itself. Among a dynamic housing market, one would think a main player would be the University’s Housing and Residential Life department. Yet, the University seems to remain hands-off and reserved on the hot-button issue of housing.

The issue arises amid a huge demand for University housing. The University expects to see an overflow of on-campus housing each year. In fact, 300 to 400 students are placed in converted housing, such as lounges or over-capacity rooms, each year. Among Big Ten schools, there is a clear shortage of on-campus housing at the University.

This follows recent power plays for land in the University community, but it should also be signal to University Housing and Residential Life that there is a need for more on-campus housing. The University stands to make money, while also keeping its obligation to house freshmen, if it expands its role in the housing market.

The University is currently in the process of building a new residence hall, the yet-to-be-named 17th Avenue hall, in a prime Dinkytown location. This is one good decision to help secure the University’s future in the housing market, but more residential choices are necessary to compete with developers eyeing to break ground.

There are students willing to pay for on-campus housing, and the University would be well-advised to both take advantage of demand and to provide its students appropriately priced residential options near campus.