Internet cigarettes

The Jefferson Commons apartment complex shuttled new lease owners onto campus in style this week providing stretch limos for the new tenants.

However, these luxurious rides are not satisfying residents who have still not moved into their unfinished apartments.

These unique student apartments were projected to be completed by Aug 21st. However, weather conditions and other delays in construction are leaving students with no permanent place to call home.

Located at 6730 4th Ave., Jefferson Commons is within minutes of Sacramento State. The complex will house 729 residents, the majority of which attend classes at Sac State.

While waiting for their apartments to be finished, students are staying at area hotels, including Marriott, Candlewood and Vagabond.

When asked to comment on how many of these students are currently boarded in hotels, Jefferson Commons' management refused to comment. The exact number of students in hotels is still unclear, but numerous buildings are clearly unfinished.

Some attempts are being made to reimburse those who have been handed broken promises.

Residents who are in hotels are still responsible for paying their regular month's rent but given a weekly check for $140 a week. This money is meant to compensate for the many inconveniences, but some hotel residents do not feel this is fair.

"My mom's front room in Southern California is loaded full of all my stuff. I thought I was going to bring it here but all I could bring is my clothes," Sac State junior Sarah Castagnola said. "They only gave us a few days notice, too. Now my mom has to pay to rent a van, gas, get even more time off work, and pay for storage."

Not only are buildings not finished and residents not moved in, but many of the amenities residents pay for are also still not accessible. Cable TV doesn't work in all rooms, DSL Internet still is down apartment wide, the volleyball court has no sand, tanning beds are missing, and some rooms are missing furniture, including desks.

Tenants were even requested to sign a release of liability for lung cancer because of the dozens of construction workers puffing on their cigarettes.