Off Campus Housing Policies

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Kui Jai (aka Jacky) is a guest writer for Writing on the Mall.  He is involved with the Media Writing Two class at Marietta College, which has been submitting articles to us.  His article is the first of many that you will see hit the site.  If you would like to see more like this, just let us know at patrick_h at writingonthemall dot net.

If you have an option, will you choose to live on campus or not? Apparently, it is a tough question that many students do not know how to answer. Today, let’s focus on different people on campus, and let’s hear the different voices from them.

In Marietta College, all of the undergraduate students are required to live on campus. The requirement of applying for living off campus is extremely strict. “In Marietta College, our students were not allowed to live off campus until living in residence hall for eight semesters or four years,” said Bruce Peterson, the Director of Residence Life in Marietta College. “Other requirement also includes the age limits 23. Basically, the only way that we allow them to live off campus is getting married or having some personal medical problem.”

As we know, these years more and more students would like to live off campus because of the cheaper cost and a relatively free space. Chao Gao is an International student in Marietta College, and he is living off campus recently. He said, “Well, if I will have that option, I have to say I will definitely choose living off campus. Because living in a residence hall, there have lots of limitations and policies that we have to follow up. But if I live off campus, I have my own space, and there are no limitations at all. The most important part is that saved me lots of money!”

For those international students, living off campus is a good way to save their money. In contrast, some of American students disagree with Chao Gao’s opinion. “I have to say I love Parsons, because it gives me a chance to hang out with my friends. I am also a football player, and I have to get up early to get training every morning,” said Joe Williams, a junior student in Marietta College. “Living on campus gives me plenty time to focus on my studies and college activities.”

We have to say it is a tough question to answer. For some people, living on campus may be an idealized way for their college life. It brings more convenient to their life and provides more chances and opportunities to them to communicate with each other. For some people, living off campus is the best style for them. “In my opinion, it depends on different personal habits and the financial situation of their families,” said Wade Christofferson, the residence assistance in Glendale Hall. “I think most of them would probably choose living on campus, because the college life is a very important part of their life, and they should learn how to communicate with each other during that time.”

In conclusion, the voices differ from person to person because of the different background of students and different expectation of the resident conditions.