Since Shawn Henn came to MSU, he’s bounced between residence halls - but he’s never left campus.
The electrical engineering senior signed up this week to live in Wilson Hall next year. Live On, the sign-up campaign for university housing, began this week and will continue throughout the semester.
Students began signing up Tuesday to continue to live in their current hall.
“The opportunity to meet people is greater than it is off campus,” Henn said. “I am only going to be here for a semester and I don’t want to be stuck with a year long lease.”
“My housing is paid for so I’d be a fool to live off campus.”
About 14,300 students live in MSU’s residence halls this year.
More than 800 students will be given the chance to sign up for the newly renovated Shaw Hall next Wednesday and Thursday.
The hall is closed this year for renovations to its bathrooms, living quarters and electrical and ventilation systems. University Housing officials said they expect about 2,200 students to sign up for the hall this year.
Shaw Hall Manager Carol Noud said the renovations will likely be finished by June 15.
“Because of our location, it has always been a popular hall,” Noud said. “I think it will be popular among upperclassmen.
“A lot of renovations were made that should make the hall more comfortable for students. For everything that students bring, the electrical system will provide more than enough of a power source.”
Noud said there will be an addition of a unisex bathroom on every floor and a new smoke detection and sprinkler system.
Shaw, Mason, Abbot and Hubbard halls are the only residence halls equipped with a sprinkler system in student rooms.
With Shaw Hall’s reopening, the number of single rooms available will rise from about 1,100 to 2,200.
Sign up for single rooms will begin Jan. 29.
But single rooms and double rooms could cost students more this year.
There has been no official discussion about this year’s increase, but Trustee Dee Cook said she expects the board to begin discussion about an increase in housing costs at its April meeting.
Last year, the board approved an increase of room and board fees by 4.6 percent, which put the starting cost for on-campus residence life at $4,679 a year.
“We are very concerned about the budget for next year, as are most universities,” Cook said.
No-preference sophomore Jill Knopic declined the opportunity to reserve her room.
She will live in a house rather than Wilson Hall.
“Parking is a big issue,” Knopic said. “With a house you have a car right outside.”
Knopic and education sophomore Amy Warbington said cafeteria food and the lack of space were just two reasons they are looking elsewhere for housing next year.
Despite the negative aspects of on-campus living, both agreed the residence halls provided a positive social experience.
“You are able to meet more people,” Warbington said. “Just being able to meet random people is cool.”
