'Dork Dorms'

I guess I'm a dork. \nWhen people ask me where I live, I say "Ashton." And the response I get is usually a sympathetic, pity-filled "Aww, that's terrible! I bet it sucks living with all those geeks and weird people."\nUmm ... not really.\nThere seems to be a stereotype associated with each residence hall complex. Ashton Center is a "dorky" dorm for "nerds and loners." And Forest Quad is supposedly "ghetto." Teter and Wright Quads are the standard "fun" dorms. Eigenmann Hall is a "nice place to live"; Willkie Quad is "awesome." (Apparently it's the goal of many to get a room in Willkie once they transcend freshman year.) \nThe Northwest neighborhood ... well I've heard quite a bit of colorful adjectives related to that area. "That's where all the hot people live" seems to be a popular consensus, as well as "filled with frat boys and sorority chicks-in-the-making," "insane party dorms" and "McNutt should be called McSlut."\nYou get the idea.\nI haven't quite figured out how this works, seeing as housing is randomly assigned in accordance with the minor determining factor of requesting a neighborhood.\nIn the words of one wise sophomore, "Dude ... it's like ... destiny."\nQuite frankly, this is total and utter garbage. \nYes, I'll admit there are certain characteristics some dorms have that stand out. Most of the time girls in Ashton don't whore themselves up and stand in a line to be picked like meat in a butcher shop by anonymous frat boys for the purpose of being taken to parties to become intoxicated and get groped. \nAnd I'm pretty sure McNutt is lacking in the studious Korean students who keep their doors closed all day Friday so they can do Monday's reading. \nBut despite these seemingly inherent qualities of the residents of the various IU residence halls, each dorm has its fair share of nerds, sluts, athletes, artists, jerks and nice people. \nTo categorize people by where they live or their choice of weekend activity (or non-activity for that matter) would be to undermine them as a people. \nSo I live in a "dork dorm." I don't mind. I get a nice single room all to myself with an air-conditioning unit (ha! take that, Wright!). \nAnd contrary to what people think, there are more than just dorks in my building. Walking down the hall to the bathroom you'll hear rap music, country music, Korean music or no music at all. \nI've made friends with a homecoming queen, a girl who's lived in London and Canada, an international student from Angola, various Indiana natives and everyone in between.\nThey are all fun, sweet people who make living in Ashton worthwhile. \nSo what if it's called the "dork dorm"? In fact, that might even be a good thing. Here's my theory. Dorks = Smart People = Good Grades = Good Job = $$$.\nOK, just kidding. (Partially.)