San Jose State dorm construction delay displaces hundreds of students

SAN JOSE (KGO) -- It was freshman frustration in the South Bay. Move-in day was interrupted at San Jose State as construction on a new dorm isn't complete.

Temporary housing is being made available, which is creating plenty of headaches.

Freshman Briana Aquino captured the moment she saw her new dorm room for the first time. The accommodations were not exactly what she hoped for.

RELATED: Opening delayed for state-of-the-art dorm at SJSU

"So upset, but there's nothing I can do," she said.

The dorm room at Ruth Royce Hall is small.

"I have to fit into my room with two other people, I have a lot of stuff," said Aquino.

An estimated 820 San Jose State students thought they had it made, moving into a brand new dorm called Campus Village 2, but construction isn't finished yet. The new students have been moved into temporary housing at the 1960's era dorms nicknamed "the Bricks" with three students per room.

"The rooms are tiny, the bathrooms are not good," said Limamoulaye Thieiw, who is from Senegal. He says he is not impressed.

In fact, some found dirt and trash inside their new digs.

"I went to school in France, dorm rooms are tiny. This is worse than France," said Serigne Ndiaye, Thieiw's uncle.

"We know it's going to be tremendously difficult this weekend, but we are doing everything we can to make it work out," said Pat Lopes Harris, SJSU media relations director.

University officials acknowledge that the situation isn't ideal, but say safety and security is top of mind as they finish the new residence hall.

"Making sure all the plumbing systems work, electrical, that we have cleaned all the rooms and all the common areas, just doing everything we can to get these structures ready for the students and their families," said Harris.

To help offset the inconvenience, San Jose State is offering all students a sweatshirt, a $150 dollar gift card to campus restaurants, free storage and discounted housing while they're in the older dorms and professional movers to help with the move once Campus Village 2 is ready.