Although living on-campus is convenient and provides security and several resources, some students feel it hinders their ability to grow as individuals and achieve a certain level of independence.
With Cal Poly’s new housing plan in the works, freshmen and sophomores could both be mandated to live on campus, Vice President for Student Affairs Keith Humphrey told Mustang News last week. The construction project, which hopes to accommodate all freshmen and sophomores in new residence halls and by opening up more space in Poly Canyon Village (PCV), is slated to be finished in 2018.
Some students, such as child development freshman Madeline Johnson, note the positive implications of the project and its proposed policy.
“I personally think that it might be a good idea to have freshmen and sophomores live on campus,” she said. “Just because right now everyone’s running trying to figure out whom they’re going to live with, and find a place to live while making sure it’s within their budget.”
Although living on campus is convenient and provides security and several resources, some students feel it hinders their ability to grow as individuals and achieve a certain level of independence.
Graphic communication freshman Katie Kouvelas said the tentative housing policy is “ridiculous,” as well as a constraint on students’ independence.
“I think you go to college to be on your own,” Kouvelas said. “You really look forward to branching out sophomore year with getting to live off campus and getting your first apartment. I think that it’s pretty silly of the school to think that this is something students would want to do.”
Some students understand the necessity for freshmen to live on campus, but think that sophomores should be treated differently.
Sarah Gamblin, a theater freshman, noted that living on campus is beneficial for freshmen, but does not see the same need for sophomores.
“I don’t think that student housing should be required for sophomores, because by the time you’re done living in the dorms, you just want your own space — which isn’t necessarily on campus,” she said. “It’s a different feeling. You still feel like school is watching you all the time.”
Forestry and natural resources freshman Vanessa Shevlin agreed. She shared her excitement to live off campus next year — specifically pertaining to being able to have her food and decorations.
“I feel like a big part of being a second year is learning how to live independently without a (resident adviser), even just with paying rent and utilities,” child development junior Emily Aguilar said. “It was a responsibility that was good to learn.”
With the University of California and California State University systems becoming increasingly overcrowded, some universities are unable to accommodate students with on-campus housing — even for freshmen. University of California, San Diego, for example, posted a notice on its website saying that there was a “very long” waiting list for on-campus living this school year. The notice encouraged students to look for off-campus housing.
Other schools, however, have experienced the opposite problem. The George Washington University recently mandated all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors to live on campus, beginning in 2018. Some students were unhappy with this policy because of the hefty financial burden of on-campus fees.
According to earth science freshman Marcus Milazzo, however, being required to live on-campus freshman year has a lot of downsides — in particular, the distractions caused by living in such close quarters.
“Not everyone wants the social experience, and it is hard to focus when you’re surrounded by so many people,” Milazzo said. “Even if you can get away to the library or something, you’re tempted to talk to people all the time, and that might not be for everyone.”