Barnard first-years, sophomores, and juniors, rejoice! You will no longer have to pay for laundry. Seniors, we’re sorry you won’t benefit. And prospies, take note—Barnard just got a lot better than wherever else you were thinking of going.

Updated 4/30, 11:55 am, with Sinclair’s statement.

During tonight’s SGA meeting, Chief Operating Officer Robert Goldberg announced that the cost of laundry will be included in the cost of tuition starting next semester. Although the 110 residence hall uses another laundry provider, it will also be included. That’s right, Barnard students, you can now wash as many pairs of underwear as you want at no extra charge.

According to SGA Vice President for Communications Kim Samala, Representative for Campus Affairs Chelsea Sinclair was responsible for advocating for the change on behalf of the student body. According to a statement, Sinclair began this project in 2017-18 as a member of the Campus Affairs Committee, drafting multiple proposals to the administration, which included “analyzing the financial side of student laundry payments, helping to negotiate a new laundry vendor, and researching laundry included in tuition on other campuses.” As the Campus Affairs representative this year, she made this initiative one of her top priorities, inspired by feedback from her peers that emphasized “the burden of paying for laundry especially while working to support themselves throughout college” and “negative perceptions of the Barnard-Columbia relationship.” “. I think this a huge step in the right direction towards our College becoming a more thoughtful, equitable, and inclusive place for Barnard students of varying socio-economic identities,” Sinclair wrote.

The full statement follows.

I began this initiative as a member of the Campus Affairs Committee 2017-2018 and drafted multiple proposals to the administration, which included analyzing the financial side of student laundry payments, helping to negotiate a new laundry vendor, and researching laundry included in tuition on other campuses. As the Representative of Campus Affairs 2018-2019 one of my top priorities was to see through this work I began on Committee, and I worked closely with the administration to advocate for and ensure that “free laundry” was feasible. In my first year at Barnard, many of my classmates spoke of the burden of paying for laundry especially while working to support themselves throughout college and others felt it contributed to negative perceptions of the Barnard-Columbia relationship. This feedback from my peers inspired me to pursue this project. In my opinion, the most fruitful aspect of this change is the elimination of an additional out-of-pocket expense for students on financial aid and students of low-income backgrounds. I think this a huge step in the right direction towards our College becoming a more thoughtful, equitable, and inclusive place for Barnard students of varying socio-economic identities.