Университет Мичигана включил стирку в плату за проживание для всех студентов

Over the summer, Michigan Housing announced a change that University of Michigan student leaders, Residence Halls Association and Michigan Housing have been advocating for years: prepaid laundry fees in all dormitories. In the past, students paid a total of $2.25 per load for washing and drying, in addition to an average of about $10,000 per year for on-campus room and board fees. While financial aid packages would help cover the cost of students’ room and board, the cost of laundry was paid out of pocket. Now, instead of paying per load, the cost of laundry has been factored into room and board expenses. This year, U-M room and board rates increased by 6%, which matches the previous year’s increase as well. LSA senior Armane Naveed lived in East Quad Residence Hall during her freshman year. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, she said the laundry process at that time was expensive and inconvenient and said she wishes the University made the change sooner. “It was super annoying that we had to pay for (laundry), and I think it’s really unfair that only now the University made it free,” Naveed said. “I wish we had that. I want reimbursements for all of the money that I spent that year.” In an email to The Daily, Rick Gibson, director of Michigan Housing, said the change to include laundry fees to room and board was a direct result of student lobbying and reform attempts. “Beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, laundry services are included in the room rate for all University of Michigan students living in on-campus housing,” Gibson wrote. “The change was made in response to feedback received over multiple years from residents and student leaders. This eliminates the need for residents to pay separately for each load of laundry.” In an interview with The Daily, LSA sophomore Orli Kalman, Central Student Government representative, said CSG is proud of the lobbying efforts made by the University’s student body and the direct impact their initiatives have had. In 2022, CSG passed a resolution advocating for laundry cost transparency. “CSG is proud to support a change that directly benefits students,” Kalman said. “To make laundry free and included makes sure students no longer have to worry about an additional cost for an everyday necessity.” Freshmen across campus are delighted about the new policy. In an interview with The Daily, LSA freshman Javier Thompson said the laundry rooms in the dorms are conveniently located and grateful it is free.  “I think for a college dorm, the laundry situation is pretty good how it is,” Thompson said. “I live in Wolverine Village, and it’s super nice. I honestly fill my hamper every day, so I think I prefer the price being in my dues. I really do laundry every other day, so I am definitely saving a lot of money.”  Daily Staff Reporter Waverly Nanda can be reached at [email protected].