Upperclassmen say staying in the dorms can be just as cool
By Lucille Rollins
They're the cool kids. They sign leases. They throw parties. They listen to loud music after 10 p.m.
They're upperclassmen who choose to avoid the rules and regulations of the traditional residence halls by moving into an off-campus house.
But are they really any more hip than their on-campus peers? Is it really against the unofficial UP "cool code" to stay in the residence halls as a junior or senior?
The verdict's in: Reasons for leaving campus vary, and most upperclassmen claim motives other than rebellion and suspicious behavior. And those who choose to stay say it's not all studying and ice cream socials. Campus living has its perks, too.
Why they leave
"'Trend' implies that juniors and seniors moving off campus is getting more and more frequent, but it started at least 12 years ago," says Residence Life Director Michael Walsh.
The phenomenon has become a norm. But the students in question leave for reasons other than the "coolness" factor - space, food, and freedom from rigid rules are the most cited.
"I think some people actually want that experience of being independent," said senior C.J. Hainley, a four-year Christie Hall resident, who focuses largely on his studies. "But I think it's cool to be able to go down the hall and see what someone is doing when I need a homework break."
Junior Josh Heath, a first-time off-campus resident, decided to leave Shipstad Hall after two years not because it was the cool thing to do, but because the disadvantages of living on campus were acute.
"I'm not a fan of Commons food, I really enjoy some privacy and I like having a place I can just sit in and relax," he said.
Walsh pointed out that leaving campus life is easier said than done. Choosing to do so is to accept a number of responsibilities - paying bills, buying groceries and cleaning up after yourself.
But some students believe that the freedom of off-campus life outweighs these potential downsides. Walsh acknowledges that many students leave campus in an attempt to avoid UP's alcohol policy, but points out that the consequences for underage drinking can be more severe off campus.
"Instead of an RA knocking on their door, it's a police officer or an angry neighbor," Walsh said.
Senior Rise Kiuchi has lived off campus for two years, leaving as soon as she was ready.
"Living off campus and getting a house was something cool, but it also seemed like the norm," she said, adding, "I felt like the housing process was complicated."
Kiuchi enjoys being able to buy and cook her own food and the fact that she doesn't have to share the bathroom with an entire wing of other students.
"Being able to step in your shower with bare feet is nice," she said.
But her lifestyle changed dramatically once she moved off campus in terms of where she works and spends her time and whom she spends her time with.
"You can be social when you live off campus, but it's also easy to be off in your own little world," she said, admitting that even though she does have friends she can be prone to anti-social antics.
Heath also admits he can be less inclined to mingle, but said he's been more social overall off campus.
"It's a lot easier to connect with people because it's more relaxed and less hectic," he said. Sitting in his friend's Shipstad dorm room playing video games, Heath said he rarely comes to campus.
"I think I visit (Justin) Gomez four hours a week," he said, referring to the Shipstad president on the second floor and joking that Gomez is his only friend on campus.
Why they stay
Of course, not everyone follows the norm.
According to Walsh, juniors and seniors, ostensibly absent in traditional housing (not including the Village), still constitute 20 percent of its population.
"A lot of them are very involved and that's part of why they stay," he said of the juniors and seniors who choose to remain on campus. "Then there's people who just don't want worries, they just want to have the convenience of living on campus."
People on campus find "coolness" in the people they're with and the activities they involve themselves in.
Hainley and junior Don Cole, both active members in their respective dorms, emphasized the importance of having a close-knit community.
"I love Villa - we have a brotherhood here," said Cole, who serves as the hall president. "I chose not to leave because of it." He admits that although the atmosphere can be unproductive for studying, it's possible to just close the door.
"It's a trade off," Hainley said, laughing as a friend proceeded to tackle him on the couch. "The decision comes down to community or space." Hainley managed to find a compromise: He lives in a single.
Even with added space, however, some off-campus students still say quiet time is difficult to find.
"The noise level at my house bothers me more than it did while I was on campus," said senior John Roberts, who lives in a non-University owned house off campus with five other students.
"Think how much you could save if you just lived off the land and ate all the freshmen," he said jokingly.
