Looking Deeper into the Dorm Sweet Dorm

Many students contemplating whether to live on or off campus creates a nuisance

By Caley Jorgensen

September 14, 2010

            Students attending Bemidji State University have to decide whether they want to live on campus or not. Opinions about living on or off campus range from both extremes and anywhere in between. Whose opinion is most valuable? It can be a dilemma trying to consider everyone’s opinions and comments.

Living close to each other makes it easy for
students to get together. Sophomores Tom
Alexander, Ross Williams, Brandon Buske, and
Corey Black get together to play video games.

Heather Veenhuis, a sophomore living in Tamarack, explained why she returned to living on campus. “I like people and I wanted to meet more,” she said. “I like being able to walk to class in five minutes. If I’m going to walk to my car, might as well walk to class.” Living on campus provides plenty of social opportunities, including the FYRE program that Oak Hall set up for incoming freshman. FYRE, first year residential experience, helps freshman adapt to college life by having new students live together and support each other. Nick Henseler wanted to be a part of this because he knew there would be plenty of people to meet and interact with.

Amenities, such as cable TV, internet access, heat, on-campus security and escort services, are included in the cost of dorm living. The most popular dorm room is a double costing at $2,040 per semester at Bemidji State University. Other options include double as a single, single with or without a bath, or a two person suite costing around $2,480 per semester. With the newest remodeled residential hall, Linden seems to be the more popular option for those who want the advantages of living on campus, but want to feel they’re living off campus.



Sharing a bathroom with the floor is something
students have to get used to while living in the dorms.

           "It may cost more in the short run, but you don’t have to worry about paying for electrical and rent. It’s all included,” said Lindsey Longendyke, a student who lives in a Linden Suite. Longendyke decided to pay the extra cost to get more privacy as if she was living on her own, but still gets the benefits of living on campus. She has her own room and shares a bathroom with two other students, versus an average of 40 students in other residential halls.

           

      No matter how nice the residential halls are, some students, including sophomore Emily Roberts, were sure they wanted to live off campus. The sophomore explained, “Being on campus and being close to everything is convenient. However, living off campus was more for me.” One year on campus was plenty for Christine Bauer, another student attending BSU. “I like the freedom of it and how I’m not treated like I’m at summer camp with the RAs always on your back.”

            When looking for local apartments and houses for rent, financial issues, proximity, and availability need to be considered by these bold students. Unlike the dorms, monthly payments need to be paid and on time. A residential assistant of Oak Hall, Nick Ross, explained how it’s no longer one lump payment per semester, but students have to worry about monthly rent payments. However, there are a lot of options off-campus that, overall, are cheaper.

Sophomores, Kelsey Brandt and Rachelle Cameron, realized it was a better option financially. Brandt lives in a three-bedroom apartment with three other girls about two miles off campus and pays $225 a month. Cameron lives in a house next to campus that costs $1100 a month plus $80 to include cable and internet. Since three other students are also contributing to rent, they each pay around $300 a month.

            Students are spending time weighing options and doing more research. Still, a student is not defined by whether they live on campus or not. Randall Ludeman, BSU’s Associate Director of Residential Life, “There are many reasons students may choose to move off campus,” he said. “Interestingly, we have a number of students each year that move off campus only to return to the residence halls at some future point.”