Should you live off campus or on?

by Lisa Ermak

Tyrell Slappey and Steve Pomeroy live on Rachel Smith & Ashley Guardhouse live on

To live on or not to live on. That is the question. For some, as soon as freshman year dwindles down, living off campus and not having to live by dormitory rules starts to look really appealing. Not having to be in a dorm and reside by dorm rules becomes yet another way to express freedom for college students. Yet every year, MSU pushes for more students to live in the dorms by using their recognizable “live on” slogan that can be found on bulletin boards, flyers, posters and even frosted onto cookies in the cafeteria.  
 
There’s no doubt living in the dorms can have its downfalls, but it has its fun times, too; that’s why many students choose to live in the dorms after freshman year. The fun atmosphere and the constant activity make it a good time for some, if not all. Emmons Hall resident director, Ed Tillett, thinks there are a plethora of reasons for why students choose to live on campus, including being friends with people on the floor, not having to cook, being close to class, and partaking in free resident hall activities.

 
Being a college student means that one has to juggle classes, extra curricular activities and sometimes even a job, but even with all that going on, some still want to be involved within their dorm community. And dorm life is a life in its own. One can take part in activities ranging from cram nights, karaoke, movies that are showing in their lounge and even bible studies arranged by the hall governments.  
 
According to Tillett, the proximity to halls and event centers like the Breslin are a big plus as well. “…During basketball season what better place to live then Emmons Hall or Wonders Hall if you have season Izzone tickets. It’s a short walk compared to coming all the way from Gunson or Spartan Street.”  

And since the snowy season seems to drag on forever, living close to class can provide for a lot less agony and in some cases frostbite, too. Tillett agrees, “Take for example Holmes Hall with the Lyman Briggs school. Most classes and labs are right downstairs from where students’ rooms are. It doesn’t get more convenient than that, especially with Michigan winters.”  

In apartments, some people find themselves bored simply because of a lack of activity and it’s not exactly fun to have to worry about rent. “Living off campus is a very real experience having to pay for rent, bills, food costs, dealing with landlords, and not having anyone to help you figure out roommate disputes,” says Tillett. But some find happiness in living off campus, too. “There are some individuals who think it's [living in dorms] something you only do your first year. Then there are some who just want a different experience after a year or two in the residence hall.”

 
Freedom and keeping busy aren’t the only factors to consider when looking at housing options though. Many people find it hard to decide because of the financial aspect involved and the money that either they have to dish out themselves or that their parents have to agree to pay.  

For freshman Annika King, who’s living in Chandler’s Crossing next year, it was an easy decision. “If you look at it they’re [apartments] are a lot cheaper than dorms and it comes with more perks. There’s a gym there; I get tanning and a bus pass and everything included.” 
 
Doing to do what you want, when you want is one of the high points of living in an apartment since there are designated quiet hours and all different types of personalities in a residence hall. When asked about the freedom of living in an apartment, King laughed and said, “Yeah, that’ll be nice too-- we won’t live right next door to the RA.”  

When money gets tight, though, some people find themselves back in the dorms. “[Some] people try to move back on campus junior and senior year when student loan debts start to accumulate because they've been living off, paying rent, and bills,” says Tillett. 
 
Once the energy taxes, meal plan and housing costs are all totaled, living in the dorms is almost exactly the same cost as living off campus for an apartment with a monthly rent of around $400 so it’s all about preference. Whether you like the thrill of community bathrooms or if throwing wild parties without the scare of RAs pounding down your door is your kind of fun, it doesn’t matter. At MSU, you have the choice to live on or to live off after your first year.

---