Reaching upperclassman status at UB means more than just getting first crack at registering for classes. Surviving the early years means students finally get the chance to trade their dorm rooms for something a little more luxurious.
???Newcomers aren't given a wealth of opportunities when choosing a place to live, and a growing number of students are starting to shy away from the older dorm halls.
???"I've visited friends that dorm and it's not very fun," said Kaitlyn Taylor, a freshman management major. "It's so small and my bedroom at home is bigger than their double."
???Taylor chooses to commute to UB, like many other freshmen, because the dorms don't offer her an appealing experience.
???"I don't like that you have to share a bedroom and can't just go back and be by yourself," said Laura Cipriani, a freshman exercise science major.
???According to Cipriani, living at home forever is not an option, but the price and lack of privacy of the dorms means she is in no rush to look for new housing.
???"When I move out, I want to be independent and the dorms just don't compare to the apartments," Cipriani said.
???For those new to the college lifestyle, the Ellicott complex will more than likely be home for at least a year, and while some students show discontent for housing options, others aren't fazed by the dorms.
???Some are satisfied with the convenient dining, fitness centers and multiple study lounges that are common attributes of most college dorm halls.
???"It's not that bad," said Matthew Crawford, a freshman mechanical engineering major and Wilkeson resident. "I figure it's just like every other dorm at any other college."
???According to Phil Rooss, a senior environmental studies major, many students dorm because they want to meet new people.
???"I lived in Amherst and felt I didn't need to live in the dorms," Rooss said. "I moved directly into the Heights, but sometimes I wish I would have dormed first."
???A commitment to living in either the on-campus or off-campus apartments in Amherst includes an increase in costs for students. However, these rates are based upon annual leases as opposed to the dorm hall academic year obligations.
???According to the University Residence Halls and Apartments Web site, living in dorm halls can cost upwards of $6,000 per academic year for each student based on double occupancy. Quads and triples offer lower rates, but sacrifice space and privacy.
???"I think the price is about average," Crawford said. "It's going to be expensive wherever you go and compared to some schools it's probably cheap."
???When it comes to amenities, however, the apartments are the cream of the crop. UB has five on-campus apartment complexes that include Flickinger Court, Flint, Hadley, Creekside and South Lake villages.
???If students don't have a problem buying and cooking their own food, then they can enjoy game rooms, air conditioning and on-site laundry.
???According to sisters Adriana and Elizabeth Perez, senior media study majors, there is no contest between the dorms and apartments.
???"We lived in Schoellkopf on South Campus and it was horrible," Adriana said. "Our bedroom was right near the staircase and so it was constantly noisy."
???Elizabeth said that there was nothing very positive about living in the dorms, so it was an easy decision to move into an apartment.
???"We knew some friends in Hadley and knew what it looked like," Adriana said. "The sense of community is really nice and it was also cheaper than the other apartments."
???Amherst off-campus apartments, such as University Village at Sweethome and the Villas at Chestnut Ridge, go above and beyond luxury with private bathrooms, full kitchens, tanning beds and a swimming pool.
???At the same time, students can choose to live off-campus near Main Street in the University Heights area for a slight decrease in price and extravagance.
???"I lived in Michael Hall and it was in pretty rough shape, but Red Jacket wasn't too bad," said Glenn Coir, a senior environmental studies major. "I chose the Heights because I still like South Campus and it's less expensive."
???The consensus is in and it would appear as though the aging dorm halls are building a bad reputation while students are enjoying the pleasures of apartment living.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
