(The Beacon)
By Will Lyons, Staff Commentary -- lyons14@up.edu
Residence Life's use of Facebook to advertise how to squat in your room lets loose a truth about the organization's wish for the student body. The way I see it, these advertisement are just another way the University is trying to play the role of overprotective parent.
Residence Life wants to keep students on campus for as long as possible for obvious reasons: increase academic performance, cut down on underage drinking, create community, etc. However, keeping students on campus also stops them from gaining valuable life experiences. Staying on campus causes relinquish the chance to rent an apartment or a house, which could give students the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of renting: how to deal with landlords, pay utilities and cook for themselves, among other things.
I wouldn't be bothered by the concept of staying on campus past freshman year if there weren't so many rules that make it difficult to feel at home in a hall. How homey can a place feel if you have to show identification whenever you come "home" or when friends must sign themselves over in order to see you? Is this college or an old folks' home?
And then of course there are intervisitation rules to consider. I keep trying to think of reasons for the existence of intervis, but can't think of any other than to attempt to enforce a bedtime. Does UP really expect the vast majority of students to go home and be good just because 2:01 has rolled around? If no one abides by intervis and we're all just sneaking around after 2 with friends in our halls anyway, why does intervis even exist?
Fortunately, in many halls intervis isn't enforced to the letter of the law. But still, the fact that these rules are on the books and some students do get "caught" and possibly fined for something so stupid as chillin' in a friend's room until 2:30 is a collegiate tragedy.
One of the major upsides of living on campus is close proximity to university activities facilitating contribution and participation in the general atmosphere of campus life. As such, Residence Life probably feels the need to keep a certain amount of non-freshmen on campus to encourage cross-class collaboration. In this sense I don't think Residence Life gives us enough credit. Moving off campus doesn't mean students won't participate in activities. We're at college for the purpose of making good use of the resources afforded us. I'd walk back to campus for a speaker at night if I lived off campus. Furthermore, students who live off campus still go to class as often as students who live on campus and are therefore inextricably linked to the university.
Maybe squatting in your room is the best option for housing next year. Living on campus definitely has a character all its own. I have enjoyed my first year living on campus, but moving off campus presents an array of new experiences from which to learn and grow. Getting to know a close group of people in a house and overcoming the hazards of renting could be to be quite the adventure — and by adventure I mean party.
Will Lyons is a freshman English major. He can be contacted at lyons14@up.edu.
(The Beacon)
