It’s not exactly a secret that Northeastern has an overcrowding problem. Marino Recreation Center has a reputation for being packed every day of the week. Finding an empty seat in Snell Library, especially during finals season, can be an impossible task. The dining halls on campus are no better either — lines for The Eatery at Stetson East, Social House at Stetson West and United Table at International Village can be out the door.

But it didn’t feel like it was as bad last semester, right? So what has changed?

For starters, N.U.in students are back from their semester abroad, and the sudden increase of students makes campus more overwhelming. There are new transfer students and spring semester admits. The influx of students has made already-limited available space even more valuable.

Housing overcrowding has already been an issue for years as Northeastern gains popularity with high school students, resulting in an increase in applicants. The university’s test-optional application and lack of supplemental essays make the school more appealing for many.

With the recent demolition of White Hall, available housing has only gotten more sparse. For all students who want to live on campus, it is frustrating, but for first-years and second-years who are required to live on campus, it can be borderline infuriating. A large part of the first-year experience revolves around interacting with people in your residence halls, so living in properties far from campus and friends, like 60 Belvidere St., the former Sheraton hotel, can greatly take away from students’ social experience.

Aside from housing, students face a lot of uncertainty surrounding the housing lottery and class registration due to the sheer number of students. We should all at least get into the required classes for our majors, but many students cannot do that because Northeastern isn’t offering enough sections.

Academic advisers are often stretched thin and unable to give proper attention to each student. Students may even face advisor turnovers. Hiring more advisors doesn’t seem like a bad idea, especially with the nearly $90,000 a year tuition.

Unfortunately, it is impossible for residence halls, libraries and classrooms to magically appear. However, Northeastern could very well make the spaces they already have more accessible.

Snell is the only place open 24/7. Sure, students could study in their rooms, but if you have a roommate, it is not always possible to stay focused. Moreover, not all residence halls have a basement or lounge area suitable for studying. The Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex, or ISEC, and EXP, some of the largest buildings on campus, are only available on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., on Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and are closed on Sundays. Curry Student Center closes at 11 p.m. on weeknights, and at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. 

While these might seem like extreme hours of the night, students still deserve a place to relax and focus for their studies. While it may not yet be a feasible full-time solution, it would serve Northeastern students well to be allowed 24/7 access to study-friendly buildings — including ISEC, EXP and Curry — during finals week.

Seeing crowds of new faces on campus, though they offer many opportunities for positive social interaction, feels incredibly overwhelming. I find myself dreading trips to the dining hall, knowing it will likely be overcrowded and loud. I avoid studying in Snell altogether, feeling uncertain about finding a seat.

If Northeastern plans to keep admitting this volume of students, especially to the Boston campus, there need to be changes. We need more residence halls, study spaces and even hang out spots to enhance students’ college experience. The students deserve to not feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the crowds.

Instead of expanding around the globe, I think it is time to give Boston more than it has been getting.

Antaine Anhalt is a first-year communication studies major. He can be reached at [email protected].