Recently the UTM Office of Housing announced the monthly rent cost for the apartment-style residence halls still under construction. The rent, which includes water, electricity, high speed Internet, cable television and telephone, is set at $395 per month.

A deposit of $150 is also required.

The verdict is still out on whether or not this is a bargain. Nearly $400 every month for one room will put a strain on any budget.

Certainly the lottery scholarship students will be able to live in luxury in these units, complete with landscaped yards and all the amenities a college student could use.

It will be interesting to watch how local apartment complexes and renters adjust their prices to remain competitive with the new housing.

Rumblings have already surfaced that the rent at Martin Place is set to increase in the near future. Simple economics say that others will follow suit.

UTM and the Martin community are slowly adjusting to the prospect of students having more cash on hand.

We believe it is important for the city and university to take notice of this phenomenon. It is also important to remember those of us who aren’t so lucky.