Students like Chris Burt, an ASU East resident and computer science sophomore, questioned why the areas around the Administration and Center buildings are surrounded by so much green grass while the housing areas have had brown or dead grass because of drought conditions.
In contrast to the desert landscaping being created around most of the ASU east campus, grass recently has been planted to decorate the area around the Administration and Center buildings.
"I don't think it's fair; it's a contradiction," said Burt, who also said he wouldn't mind paying a little extra to have a lawn around his home in the North Village area.
"If there's no grass, there is more dust in the air, and it blows around and causes respiratory problems," he said.
However, there are students who prefer the xeriscape look that ASU East is implementing.
"They should stick to desert landscaping. I'd rather see the rocks and desert," exercise and wellness junior Joshua Bredimus said. Bredimus lives in Talon.
"I'd want rocks around my house," he said. "I don't know if it's just that time of year, but it's all brown around my house except for a couple of trees."
Director of facilities management Doug Sanford was unavailable for comment on the details of the new lawn.
Williams Campus housing facilities coordinator Max Short said that even though Arizona is experiencing drought conditions, "We are all trying to make [East campus] look good ... this makes it marketable as well.
"The housing office has a contract with a private enterprise that has control of the budget and its operations," Short said. "ASU does not give the housing department any money. And even though the University owns the property that the homes are on, it is under a land lease."
Monies used for the lush lawn around the administration and classroom buildings did not take away from the budget for landscape in the housing area, Short said.
"We have seeded the three playgrounds at the South Village and also the perimeter of the residence halls," Short said in regards to giving the east campus housing areas a greener look. "This is the first time it has been done; if it works, then that's wonderful."
The North Desert Village does not have a permanent sprinkler set installed, so no winter grass has been seeded. Short said the village is waiting to approve the sprinkler cost.
Reach the reporter at erika.camardella@asu.edu.