2008 Woodie Awards
Dorm dwelling: a dare or a drag?
MATTHEW BOYLE
Culture Writer
Issue date: 4/5/07 Section: Culture
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It also can be and usually is considered the first time in many students’ lives to be living on their own, without their parents.
The greater part of college students in most universities across the country live in on-campus housing, particularly dormitories.
Boise State University has an approximate 18,900 students enrolled, which makes it a decent-sized university.
The unusual part about BSU is that an overwhelming estimated 90 percent of its students live off campus, commuting to school by automobile.
The lifestyle of on-campus living can be a mystery to that bulk of the student body that lives off campus.
According to the Boise State University Housing Website, “University housing enriches the learning experience by creating an environment that fosters personal growth, academic success, civility and commitment to citizenship at Boise State University.”
In laymen’s terms, this means that the on-campus experience will make students into better people and also more active in their education.
To an extent, on campus housing may do these things.
On the other hand, many people live in on campus housing to meet new people or to just be closer to the campus.
Kraig Thomason, a 19-year-old sophomore who resides in Chaffee Hall (BSU’s largest residence hall) said the best part of living in the dorms is, “being able to constantly interact with people.”
Thomason said that university housing could improve by “improving the facilities and also being more strict on noise after quiet hours.” Thomason also made a point of the lack of privacy in the dorms.
Tyler Jones, also a 19-year-old sophomore residing in Chaffee Hall, said his favorite part of dorm life is, “nothing – I really hate it. It’s noisy, I have an inability to concentrate.”
Jones also proposed the idea of making the rooms “bigger and nicer.”
Lisa Barrett, a 19-year-old freshmen also residing in Chaffee Hall, said “I like the dorms because I can walk everywhere and because of the meal plan.”
The meal plan comes with dorm living and usually includes meals at the Table Rock Café along with BroncoBucks (prepaid cash on a student’s ID card that can be used virtually anywhere on campus and for ordering delivery from Domino’s Pizza on Broadway Avenue).
Janet Cabrera, 19, also resides in Chaffee Hall and said, “ I find it very convenient that I am on campus and able to just roll out of bed to go to class then head back to the dorms later for a shower.”
Cabrera’s opinion of dorm life has its problems too, though.
“Dorm life is a lot of fun. I have a lot of complaints, but none that I feel could have been prevented,” Cabrera said.
BSU offers better and perhaps more private options for students over the age of 20 or at sophomore status.
Although the vast majority of BSU students live off campus and commute to school, on-campus housing is definitely something to look into although it comes with problems.
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