After OU announced both Traditions Square apartment complexes would be open to first-year students in the 2026-27 academic year, with Traditions East wholly dedicated to first-year housing, questions about OU’s priorities and concerns regarding dining, parking and safety have emerged.
Emilee Fisher, a microbiology junior, has lived at Traditions West for two years. After living at Cross Village her freshman year, Fisher said she continued living on campus because her scholarships helped cover the cost of her apartment.
Fisher said she would have some concerns had she lived at Traditions West as a freshman. Apart from occasional pool parties, she said she has not been offered the same community events living at Traditions West that she experienced living at Cross.
“There was always events going on in either the courtyard or in the theater at Cross A and they were in that park nearby,” Fisher said. “So it was really easy to just walk downstairs and have events going on, which was really good, because as a freshman, I was still trying to learn how to make friends.”
Safety
In an email to OU Daily Feb. 26, Leah McKee, marketing and communications coordinator for OU housing, wrote first-year students at Traditions Square will have access to the full range of campus safety and well-being resources as other dorms.
“Residence Life staff will be assigned to Traditions Square, and students living there will receive the same programming, community standards, and support structure as students in other first-year housing areas,” McKee wrote.
McKee wrote Housing and Residence Life will replicate the same staffing model and expectations in the apartments as they do in the residence halls.
“From thoughtfully designed living spaces to engaging community programs, from academic support resources to opportunities for meaningful connections, we strive to create an environment where you can thrive intellectually, socially, and personally,” McKee wrote.
McKee wrote that there will be designated resident advisor apartments in each building at Traditions Square.
The Daily asked McKee whether there was a plan for Traditions Square to implement scanners present in other first-year housing, which prompt students to present their OU ID to enter certain areas.
At all other on-campus residential buildings, students are required to scan their OU ID to enter residential spaces, but Traditions Square does not have the same security checkpoints. When asked if there was a plan to implement scanners at Traditions Square, McKee wrote residents do not currently use scanners.
“Students living in Traditions Square currently do not have to use their OU IDs to enter into residential spaces,” McKee wrote.
The Daily reached back out to McKee to confirm whether the university would add scanners. McKee responded with the same phrase.
“You would think the apartments that have the more dangerous stuff that they're exposed to, there would be more regulations like scanning in and out,” Fisher said.
Sydney Wiechmann, a psychology sophomore, said she lived in Walker Center last year and currently lives at Traditions West. Wiechmann said she has enjoyed not having to let friends in at scanner-locked doors like at Walker.
“That's been really nice, just having to walk up to your front door and open it, instead of having to go all the way down and let people in,” Wiechmann said.
In an email to the Daily, Baylor Savage, chair of the Undergraduate Student Congress Campus Outreach Safety and Concerns Committee, wrote the committee had not seen safety concerns about first-year housing at Traditions Square, but it would look into the issue.
“COSCO is working on a very high-level project to identify issues with current housing limitations and alternatives for those who will lose housing options next year,” Savage wrote.
According to Savage, COSCO is also looking to expand its light walks, where the committee checks for light maintenance and identifies lighting needs, to Traditions Square and other areas on the south side of campus.
“The position of COSCO will always be to help those around campus in any way we can, so we are happy to address concerns as they come,” Savage wrote.
In an email to the Daily Tuesday, OU Marketing and Communications wrote it is considering possible security options as it prepares for housing changes.
"The safety of our residential community is a top priority. We are evaluating security enhancements and transportation trends to ensure our services effectively support student needs," OU Marketing and Communications wrote.
Parking, transportation
Fisher said she usually takes the bus from her apartment to campus. The Campus Area Rapid Transit, or CART, apartment loop runs on a 30-minute rotation between both Traditions squares and the Campus Depot bus stop across from the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial stadium.
Fisher said because first-year students participate in so many on-campus events, busing to and from the apartments would discourage students from attending.
“The bus would have been really frustrating trying to do Traditions (my freshman year), just because there's so many on-campus events,” Fisher said. “I haven't been able to participate as much at campus events because I've had to take the bus.”
Because buses only run until 9:15 p.m., Fisher has to drive when she works at Cross Village from 8 to 10 p.m. She said she would feel uncomfortable walking back to her apartment in the dark. Fisher shared that she’s concerned about international students who live at Traditions Square because many don't have cars.
Fisher said when living at Cross Village, walking to campus was still achievable. At Traditions West, she said walking is less approachable and driving means dealing “with the nightmare that is campus parking.” Fisher has a parking pass, but she said she only uses it in the evenings.
Wiechmann said she also has a commuter pass, but she mostly takes buses. She said not having to worry about parking and relying on the CART system has been a benefit of living at Traditions West. If she goes to campus after bus hours, she said she'll have a friend drive her or she’ll park in a spot near campus.
Parking permits will be required for students living in OU Housing apartments beginning fall 2026, according to McKee.
“Parking is not included in the housing rate and will be a separate cost,” McKee wrote. “OU Parking Services will share specific details about permit types, rates, and timing closer to implementation.”
Kris Glenn, director of OU Parking Services, wrote in an email to the Daily March 30 that the department has not yet determined whether parking permits for first-years living at OU apartments will also allow them to park on campus.
“I still don’t have a clear answer, as we are still working through the process. In all likelihood the apartment permit would be restricted to the apartment areas only and would be valid on campus only after 4 pm. That is tentative right now and no final decision has been made,” Glenn wrote.
OU Marketing and Communications wrote upperclassmen students will still have parking costs, but will not be required to have a meal plan like first-year students.
"Regarding student requirements, upperclassmen will continue to be responsible for parking costs but are not required to have a meal plan, with specific details provided alongside housing offers," OU Marketing and Communications wrote.
McKee wrote OU’s SafeRide program will continue to be available and campus operations are in discussion with CART to assess student needs.
Dining
Fisher said she knew how to cook going into her freshman year, but she didn't particularly want to deal with preparing meals while she was already adjusting to college.
“I don't know what they would do with the freshmen living in Traditions (Square),” Fisher said. “Are they going to make them buy a meal plan? If so, that kind of makes the kitchen pointless.”
OU requires all incoming first-year students to have a meal plan that they select on their housing contract. Upperclassmen are not required to have a meal plan.
Fisher said even from Traditions West, walking to campus for meals would be a trek.
“The closest would be the Cross dining halls and then having them either find a bus or walk in the more remote part of campus, where there's not a lot of people, I feel like that would be a safety concern as well,” Fisher said.
McKee wrote OU is considering dining and retail options for the area around Traditions Square, but no decisions have been made yet. According to McKee, first-year students at Traditions Square will be required to purchase a meal plan.
“First-year students will still be required to have a meal plan even if they live at Traditions (Square). Their meal plan will be defaulted to 1,200 meal plan points, but they can change it to a more traditional first-year student meal plan if they wish,” McKee wrote.
OU Housing and Food services currently lists the following room and board rates per semester for the 2026-27 school year at Traditions Square:
• 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom suite with living: $5,500 for room and meal points
• 2 bedroom suite with living: $4,920 for room and meal points
• 4 bedroom suite with living: $4,680 for room and meal points
The meal plan rate per semester for other dorms will be $3,310.
Wiechmann said being required to have a meal plan living at Traditions Square would be upsetting. She said she uses her current meal plan on campus dining sometimes, usually at the Bookmark in Bizzell Memorial Library or at Cross restaurants and food trucks, but that she wouldn’t consider going as far as to the Union restaurants.
“I don't have a full meal plan, but I have the points one, and I still haven't even spent like half of them,” Wiechmann said. “I kind of wish I never did that, because I'm never gonna go to campus to get food, because I do have a kitchen, and it's more out of the way to do that.”
Leasing challenges
According to an OU Housing Information email sent to students Nov. 6, the upperclassmen housing application for Traditions West and Kraettli Apartments opened Nov. 24.
“To support our upperclass students, we've designated Traditions West and Kraettli Apartments as our upperclass housing options,” the email reads. “Please note that a limited number of beds will be available in these communities.”
However, according to McKee, Traditions West will be available to both upperclass and first-year students. McKee wrote there will be Residence Life staff at both Traditions East and West.
Fisher said she attempted to apply to live at Traditions West again for her senior year next year, but was unable to secure a spot.
“We were put on a waitlist and it was insane,” Fisher said. “I signed up about 15 minutes after the link dropped and I was like 390-something in line.”
Fisher said she was able to find alternative housing, but by that point there were only expensive options remaining.
Paige Winfrey, a public relations junior, has lived at Traditions East for two semesters and was also waitlisted for housing next year. She and her roommates were doubtful of claiming a spot due to the high demand and difficulties with the website, but they still paid the $50 application fee in hopes of getting a spot.
“The day of, one of my roommates … couldn’t even get onto the website,” Winfrey said. “I had already submitted (my application), but the waitlist had gone up to the 500s. So it wasn’t something that I was serious about relying on, but I still paid the 50 bucks to submit the application.”
Winfrey feels that the application system was unrealistic and is concerned because scholarships helped fund her housing.
“The battle to get into Traditions West is kind of impossible, so I’ve had to sign a lease somewhere else,” Winfrey said. “As a student who really relies on her scholarships paying for her housing, that’s not great.”
In a Nov. 6 email obtained by the Daily, Housing and Residence Life wrote about its excitement towards the new housing plans and encouraged students to apply for housing early.
“Phase 1 of our Housing Master Plan is almost complete, and we’re now embarking on Phase 2. This milestone represents our commitment to creating exceptional residential experiences that support your success and accommodate our university’s continued growth,” the email reads. “Whether you choose to apply for campus housing or transition to off campus living, we’re here to support you through this process. Thank you for being part of our residential community!”
While the email provided some support options, Winfrey was upset with the email’s optimistic tone and worried that she or her classmates would struggle to find new housing.
“(My) parents were pissed. I was pissed. Pretty much everyone I knew was angry,” Winfrey said. “I was more angry at the email itself, because they’re like, ‘We’re so happy to move forward,’ and everybody over here would be losing housing, especially international students. Most of the international students who don’t have a car, don’t have a way to get to school.”
Wiechmann said she didn’t try to get a spot at Traditions Square for next year for more consistent housing going forward.
“I wanted to have a lease where I don't have to move out or have to fight for my spot every single semester or every year,” Wiechmann said.
Abby Vick, a film and media studies junior, has lived in Traditions West for three semesters and said she was put on the waitlist despite applying as soon as the link was available.
Vick said there has been a significant lack of communication between Traditions West and its residents. She said she tried to contact administration but received no definitive answers.
“We’ve tried to call and ask any questions and especially have gone directly to housing, and they’re still just beating around the bush,” Vick said.
Vick also feels that there is a lack of advocacy for upperclassmen students at OU. Both Vick and Fisher said they’re frustrated with the university’s priorities.
Fisher said there's a disconnect between the university and the student body in the pursuit of “record-breaking freshman classes,” particularly when there aren’t enough parking spots for the students already at OU.
“It seems like they're so focused on getting as many freshmen as possible that they're forgetting about the sophomores and the juniors and the seniors that have already been here and still need support,” Fisher said.
McKee wrote some upperclass students are still on waitlists, meaning applications are eligible to be considered if space becomes available. First-year student room selection begins May 20.
This story was edited by Natalie Armour. Larkin Bock, Chelsea Low and Gretchen Schultz copy edited this story.
