Behind the Bricks: Who Really Owns Morgan State's Housing — and What That Means for Students

By Peter Ampofo

Morgan State University has been growing rapidly — hitting a record enrollment of over 9,100 students in Fall 2022, its largest ever. But with that growth has come a growing crisis: not enough housing, and big questions about who’s responsible when things go wrong.

Who Owns Morgan’s Dorms?

Morgan’s newest dorm, Thurgood Marshall Hall, opened recently but is already facing issues like ice-cold showers, unrepaired ceiling damage, and general maintenance problems.

“Six weeks after moving in, a little section of the ceiling fell off. We could basically see and hear the students above us.”— Kimora Wong, sophomore

While Thurgood is located on campus, it’s part of a P3 — Public-Private Partnership. Morgan owns the building, but Capstone On-Campus Management, a private company, manages it. Capstone also oversees Legacy Hall and Morgan View.

According to Resident Director Mr. Dendy, about 30% of Morgan’s housing is managed or owned by outside companies, not the university itself.

Who Makes the Decisions?

The university’s leadership — including departments like Student Life and Housing — coordinates housing strategy and oversees partnerships. But once a private company is involved, day-to-day operations like repairs and maintenance fall under their control.

What Happens When Something Goes Wrong?

The line between ownership and responsibility becomes blurry when things break or accidents happen. Wong-Sing and her roommate reported major ceiling damage that was never repaired.

When asked what happens if a student is injured in privately managed housing, Associate Director Mr. Hall explained:

“Students are still provided university resources like counseling, campus police, and emergency food support. Behind the scenes, the university works with the private company to resolve legal and property issues.”

So while students won’t be left unsupported, there’s often a delay in resolution, and the university acts more as a mediator than a direct provider.

The Hotel Era: A Turning Point

The housing crisis hit a tipping point in Fall 2022. Due to the historic enrollment spike, hundreds of students were housed in the Lord Baltimore Hotel, several miles from campus.

“I couldn’t believe we paid full tuition and my daughter ended up in a hotel downtown for the year.”— Harrison Ford, parent

That decision sparked outrage from parents and revealed how underprepared the university was to house its growing student body.

Is This Typical?

Other Maryland schools — Towson, Johns Hopkins, UMBC, and Coppin State — have dealt with minor housing issues, especially during the COVID pandemic. But none have faced ongoing housing crises at the level Morgan has.

At Johns Hopkins, for example, the worst impact was the temporary closure of dorms in early COVID, primarily affecting international students. Housing has since returned to normal.

What’s Being Done?

State Senator Michael Jackson has expressed interest in investigating the dormitory issues, especially when brand-new buildings like Thurgood Marshall Hall are plagued by immediate problems.

Morgan alumni organizations are also beginning to question the management partnerships and are advocating for increased oversight.

Final Thoughts: Who’s Really Responsible?

Public-Private Partnerships are designed to fill funding gaps and expand facilities quickly — but at what cost? At Morgan State, these arrangements have led to confusion over accountability, delays in repair, and rising student frustration.

As enrollment continues to grow, Morgan must find a way to balance expansion with student safety, comfort, and dignity — whether that means building more university-owned housing or tightening the reins on private partnerships.

Students deserve more than just a place to sleep. They deserve housing that’s safe, reliable, and worthy of their investment in education.