Picture yourself in a tiny room with three other people. The bed frames creak, the walls are thin enough to hear any lustful encounters next door, and all you have is a rug that signals these eight square feet are yours. Hair shavings in the sink and preoccupied toilets are all you'll find in the bathroom on a good day. And if you want to do laundry, devote your day to waiting around just to make sure your clothes aren't tampered with (or stolen).
This is the standard for most students who live the dorm lifestyle. But for people like myself, the story gets worse.
I lived in Wilkeson my freshman year - room 210. After not more than a week in this grungy abode I acquired the flu two weeks in a row before getting Fifth Disease. My usually resilient immune system could not manage the strange viruses floating around my room. It was a great housewarming gift, and starting off college by missing three weeks of school helped me make a great impression on my professors.
The real issues came later with quiet hours, close quarters, forgetting to bring the room key into the shower, and nearly getting a citation for lighting a stick of incense. (Though I did end up with a citation for some innocent reveling later on).
I wanted a home; a place that could sustain me instead of contain me. That's why I moved out as soon as I could and I never regretted it.
We college students love freedom. It's something new to most of us who have spent our lives under mom and dad's roof. So why submit to the overregulated laws of the dorms? Why not cook for yourself instead of getting a meal plan? How does having your own bathroom sound?
Perhaps for some it's frightening to actually be 'on your own,' but just think of the money you can save - especially downtown where rent is usually $300-450 per month. You no longer have to resort to The Elli for your overpriced groceries or pay for damages when some drunken buffoon busts up your floor's lounge.
Granted, I've been blessed with a car, which makes living off-campus much easier, but there are plenty of places right on bus routes. Student apartments like Sweethome and the Villas also have shuttles to campus, so if you're without a car you've still got a ride.
So give yourself the privacy you deserve, and free yourself from Ellicott's 'Legoland.' You won't want to leave your off-campus dwelling. And if you like having company over, you'll never have to worry about pesky RAs ruining a good time. It's the best fit for the college lifestyle.
Email: aad25@buffalo.edu
