With more than 6,000 new freshmen on campus, many Georgia Southern students say crowded classrooms are forcing them to leave or sit on the floor.

This year’s freshman group is among the largest in school history. While the growth signals a strong interest in the university, it has also pushed campus logistics to the limit.

In one American Government section—a required course for many first-year students—Over 100 people packed into the room, and some still couldn’t find a seat even after arriving early.  The instructor, Professor Maureen Stobb, declined to comment on the situation. 

Trina Smith is the Chief of Staff of the Division of Academic Affairs. “We are working on this but we will not be able to meet your deadline,” said Smith. “We will be in touch soon.”

The George-Anne contacted several other members of administration, and at the time of publication, we were not able to set up an interview. 

Students described how sitting on the floor makes it tougher to focus, take notes, and participate. Several questioned whether classroom space was considered before admitting a freshman class of this size.

The frustration goes beyond class time. Students pointed to overflowing dining halls, tight parking, and campus facilities that feel stretched thin. Some noted the sting of paying thousands in tuition only to stand or sit on the floor during lectures.

Freshman Destiny O’Conner described the conditions bluntly. “It feels disgusting, and I feel dirty,” she said about sitting on the classroom floor. 

 Another student, SyMaria Bevins, recalled hesitating to even walk through the crowded room to search for an open seat.

Freshman Amalia Brenton described issues in her Composition class by saying, “Yes, in my COMP II class, there’s people who don’t have seats and have to leave because there are no seats left.”

Classes across campus are experiencing a shortage of seats, leading many students to resort to sitting on the floor or dropping the class entirely. Most students have exposure to large auditorium-style classrooms; however, overcrowded classrooms can put a strain on resources and potentially diminish academic performance. 

Even with the complaints, many remain hopeful the university will act—by moving courses to bigger rooms or  opening more sections. So far, students say they haven’t seen a detailed plan to ease overcrowding. Until that changes, they worry that packed classrooms and limited seating could undercut their education.