USF's $138 million "Village" community opens this week -- the first tastiest part at least -- enticing students to stay on campus, and stay safe, with a 24-hour all-you-can-eat buffet (sushi and a Mongolian grill!), fitness center, resort-style pool, state-of-the-art dorms and more.
The next phase will feature the first-ever on-campus Publix in Florida, offering even fewer reasons to leave campus.
USF junior Sam Hernandez says the Village is a game-changer -- not just for amenities and recruiting but especially for making things even safer: Fewer reasons to leave campus, especially for younger classmen, means safer students not finding trouble.
"USF has better security on campus, so the more people who stay here, the safer it's going to be," says Hernandez.
Ana Hernandez, USF's assistant vice-president of housing & residential education, says safety was the first order of business with the Village, but the benefits are many:
"There are added benefits beyond the safety measure," she says. People who stay on campus "tend to graduate faster. They perform better academically."
