Upperclassmen live in dorms, too

IU students are required to live in the residence halls for their freshman year, and for many students that is one too many. But for others, it's only the beginning.

For many upperclassmen, such as senior and Residence Halls Association president Jessica Schul, being active on campus is one of the reasons why they choose to live in the residence halls.

Schul came to IU as a transfer student and chose to live in the dorms so that she could get to know the campus better and meet new people.

While living in Eigenmann Hall, Schul said she found her niche in student government and was Eigenmann president for two years.

Although Schul said she got little privacy, she still enjoyed many aspects of communal living.  

One of her best college memories was hosting a movie night for RHA members and people on her floor.

“I’ve had a lot of great memories and experiences that I don’t think I could get while living in an apartment,” Schul said.

However, there are some negative aspects of communal living. All of the upperclassmen interviewed disliked the communal bathrooms.

Many residents also dislike the watchful eyes of the resident assistants and residence halls' rules and regulations, such as no alcohol possession.

“I don’t mind the rules,” junior and Teter Quad resident Maurice Evans said. “I don’t really drink. I’m 22 so I don’t need to do it in my room.”

Evans said all of his RAs have been influential in his success in college.

“All of my RAs have been great and have encouraged me to be active and stay involved,” Evans said.

Because of his positive interactions with his RAs, Evans hopes to be one next year.

Many upperclassmen choose to live in the residence halls so they don’t have to make the schlep to campus.

Junior Michael Coleman, Willkie Quad resident and vice president internal for RHA, said it is more convenient living in the residence halls because you can go to campus events easily and get back to your room if you forget something.

Junior Brittany Mooney, Teter Quad resident, does not have a car on campus and thought off-campus housing would be too much of a hassle.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m missing out on not having an apartment, but I still have time to live in an apartment when I graduate,” Mooney said. “I won’t have the option to live in a dorm my whole life.”

As an upperclassman living in the residence halls, residents must be okay with living with freshmen unless they apply for housing specifically made for upperclassmen.

“It kind of bothers me,” Evans said of living with underclassmen. “You never know who you are going to get on your floor.”

Upperclassmen have the option of living in residence halls that offer apartment-style housing.

“I’m 23,” Schul said. “I’ve outgrown communal living.”

Schul said she likes that there are only floor presidents in Willkie, not RAs.

“Upperclassmen don’t need that extra attention that some freshmen need from their RA,” Schul said.

Junior Julie Otis, Ashton Center student historian and a member of RHA, lived off-campus her first year when she arrived to IU as a transfer student.

“I didn’t meet anyone, and I felt like an outsider to the campus,” Ortis said.

Ortis said that students should decide what they value more: being surrounded by people or having greater freedom.

“Meeting people was more important to me than having more freedom,”
Ortis said.