Campus Crest needs to get their stuff together

WHEN SOMETHING SOUNDS too good to be true, it usually is. This could very well be said about The Grove. It would be hard to blame any on-campus decision maker for the problems that came with The Grove's expansion to our campus. With all available information, the decision to bring The Grove to USA seemed like a no-brainer. Several other college campuses around the nation also bought into the hype that was The Grove. Campus Crest had six Grove projects in construction this year, according to Campus Crest's Web site. Prior to this year, there were only four Groves around the nation. This year was also the first year Campus Crest experienced wide-spread difficulties with their housing units. The stories of broken promises, delayed opening and initial unfavorable living conditions were not just being told at The Grove at the University of South Alabama. Similar stories were also being told by students at Abilene, Texas, and Ellensburg, Wash. Delayed move ins and disappointments seemed to be a common theme at several of The Grove housing units built this year. Now, lawsuits can be added to this list. Recently a class action suit was filed against The Grove at USA for misrepresenting the terms of the lease. As it turns out, students living at The Grove do have to follow on-campus rules and regulations. In Abilene, Texas, The Grove was sued for another reason: non-payment to subcontractors. The courts in Abilene have placed a half-a-million-dollar lien against The Grove on behalf of three subcontractors who claim that they never received payment for their services. Additionally, a subcontractor working on The Grove in Mobile has also complained of The Grove failing to pay them for their work. Campus Crest plans to build seven more Groves this coming year. Plus, they will expand their complex on USA's campus. Just hopefully they have their stuff together this time and handle their workload. If not, we are sure to hear about more Grove woes again this time next year.