For almost 5,000 students on the University of Arizona campus, residence halls are home.

They are a vital part of our university and community life. Without them, many students would be unable to find housing in the Tucson area that is affordable and close to campus.

With the on-campus rent increases for the 1996-97 school year, Residence Life is looking to the future and trying to prepare for a better community with modernized residence halls and facilities.

The overall increase approved by the Arizona Board of Regents is 6.1 percent. This is broken down to 3.2 percent for inflation, 2.5 percent for a "sinking fund" allocated for building new residence halls, and 0.4 percent for renovations.

It is widely known that new residence halls are needed. At the beginning of the fall semesters, Residence Life sometimes has too many students for the number of beds. Though this does not happen often, if it does, they have to either relocate the students within the halls or move them to other halls.

What about Colonia De La Paz Residence Hall?

Residence Life's newest addition was a move in the right direction, and one in which the students had input. Residence Life makes sure to get residents' viewpoints on new buildings and the increase of rent.

And what about the quality of residence hall living?

Look around at the current residence halls. Last year Manzanita-Mohave looked much like Graham-Greenlee, which has tile floors and cinder block walls. Manzanita-Mohave improved its status through renovations, which is reflected in its rent increase of $46 9. Cinder block walls were covered and repainted, new furniture and carpet added, and restroom facilities refurbished. The hall is much improved, like others have been in recent years, and Residence Life should be commended for the improvements.

That is why this 2.5 percent fee and 0.4 percent fees are not bad ideas.

Students were involved in the decision process and understood the reasoning behind the increases. The fee increases also prepare Residence Life for the future, giving Residence Life a fund it may need. It is like a savings account that you do not touch un til needed. The money collects, hopefully gaining some sort of interest, and when needed, is used.

The fund is preparation for what the university community knows it will need: the improvement and addition of student housing.

As UA President Manuel Pacheco said at last week's Regents meeting, "We need some additional housing, there's no doubt about that."