???South Campus is best known as UB's original campus. It was built on the grounds of an old insane asylum and former maternal hospital. Today, it's home to the School of Architecture, various medical schools and dormitories.
???Whether it's the rich history, unique architecture or the convenient locale that brings students to the numerous dorms sprawled throughout the snowy campus, a large chuck of the student body keeps flocking to South Campus for the living space.
Convenience:
???Right across the street from South Campus is University Plaza where everything a college student needs is available: a supermarket, a dollar store, and plenty of fast food options, not to mention Zetti's pizzeria.
???"A lot of people like it on North Campus better because there are more people, and there is more to do [at school]," said Matt Wendt, a sophomore occupational therapy major. "The number one reason I chose South Campus was to feel like I can come home after being at school. The bus ride to my dorm signifies the end of the day and I can begin to relax."
???An assortment of coffee shops line Main Street, as do local restaurants, bars, the Dipson 3 Movie Theater and the on-campus Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA station)-all of which helps keep students busy on the weeknds.
???If parking is a priority, students should also consider how much easier it is to find parking on the South Campus, easing the rush to class.
???"Parking isn't much of an issue over here," Wendt said. "There seem to always be spots available."
???If the budget is tight and gas money can't be spared, the UB Stampede is free and goes from campus to campus. However, students might get stuck in the cold waiting to board the next available shuttle.
???"The bus rides can be quite inconvenient at times," Wendt said. "You don't really have the option to walk, but if you get there early enough, catching a ride shouldn't be a problem."
Amenities:
???Although the dorm rooms aren't anything out of an IKEA catalogue, they offer everything a student needs.
???"Aesthetically, the rooms are pretty terrible," Wendt said. "The paint is kind of falling off the walls and it's really the most basic room you can get."
???The rooms come equipped with desks, chairs and beds.
???For those who need access to computers and printers, there is the computing center right downstairs in Clement Hall.
???The one dining center on South Campus is located in Goodyear Hall for students.
???"Everything is included with the cost," Wendt said. "We get infinite plumbing, heat, Internet, washing machines, dryers, electric, water and cable included into the bill."
???For students looking to get a work out there are plenty of cardio machines and weights in Goodyear Hall and Clark Hall.
???Clark Hall was the original place for recreational sports on campus. It's complete with dance studios and space for groups of people to exercise. Fields surrounding the facility may be used for archery, field hockey, soccer and lacrosse, according to the UB Admissions Web Site.
Cost
???In the South Campus dorms, returning students can choose to live alone or with up to three roommates. They can also choose between having a room with or without a personal bathroom.
???A single room will run students $6,648 per year, according to the University Residence Halls & Apartments Web site, while a double decreases the price to $5,698 per year.
???Living in a room of four students lowers the price further to $4,890, but the addition of a bathroom will bump the total up to $5,578 per year.
???"I feel like I get a good deal," said Steve Dugan, a sophomore exercise science major. "If the prices are broken down by month and what you get with the package, it's cheaper to live here."
???Among the few luxuries in dorms, bathrooms are quite possibly the most sought after.
???"I think the suites are pretty nice over on South," Dugan said. "It's nice to have our own bathroom, and sharing one bathroom with an entire floor just doesn't work for me."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
