Almost everyone at MSU experiences at least one year in the dorms on campus. With six different complexes, MSU offers a wide variety of on-campus living.
Whether a student loves or hates dorm life can depend a lot on the complex in which they live.
Environments differ in dorm complexes
Elementary education sophomore Kate Bode relaxes in the sitting area of her quad room in Mary Mayo Hall on Monday morning. Bode, who previously lived in Emmons Hall, and her roommate chose to live in Mary Mayo Hall because they knew it was being completely remodeled.
East Neighborhood
Location means everything when it comes to dorm living, and the residents of the East Neighborhood tend to have varying opinions of their spot on campus.
Lyman Briggs student Thomas Whitton is more than happy in Holmes Hall.
“I like it because a lot of my classes are right here,” the biochemistry sophomore said.
“It’s a little out of the way for other stuff, but it’s not that bad.”
Others have more disdain for how remote the neighborhood is.
“It takes forever to get anywhere and is not a good place to live in terms of being close to other places,” psychology senior Catalina Natal said.
Brody Complex
Infamous for having a high concentration of freshmen, Brody is full of students who most likely are on their own for the first time — a characteristic most residents preferred.
“It was really nice being around all the other freshmen,” former Brody resident and kinesiology sophomore Austin Stephenson said.
“It was pretty easy to make friends because everyone was sort of in the same boat.”
Although it was good at the time, Stephenson is glad he left Brody this year.
READ MORE
“I wouldn’t want to be there with all the freshmen anymore because I’m all grown up now,” he said.
West Circle Neighborhood
The dorms of West Circle are some of the oldest and most historic buildings at MSU.
Built in 1931, Mayo Hall is the oldest residence hall on campus. This summer, Mayo went through a renovations process.
Psychology sophomore Brandon Yerebeck, a Mayo resident, believes that remodeling the dorm has made it one of the best on campus.
“I definitely like the atmosphere,” Yerebeck said.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
“It gives a friendly relaxed vibe and doesn’t feel dirty compared to other dorms.”
South Neighborhood
Residents in the South Neighborhood refuse to let being in a dorm keep them from having a good time.
“It’s definitely more of a party dorm,” said Stephenson, who now lives in Wonders.
“Some guys even had a Slip ‘n Slide in the study lounge one time.
The constant commotion forces Stephenson to go elsewhere to study, but he doesn’t mind.
“It can be annoying, but it’s also nice to just get out of the rooms,” he said.
River Trail Neighborhood
Newly independent freshmen and raucous dorm mates rarely are a problem in the River Trail Neighborhood.
Owen Graduate Hall and other dorms with more mature residents make for a more peaceful setting.
“It is more quiet and mostly upperclassmen,” prenursing sophomore Jacki Trajkovski said.
“I find it’s geared toward people that are more academically focused.”
Red Cedar Neighborhood
The Red Cedar Neighborhood is known for having studious residents.
It also arguably has the best cafeteria on campus.
“My favorite part about living there is the food,” Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, or RCAH, sophomore and Snyder Hall resident Sarah Kemp said.
“(Snyder-Phillips) has a really good caf, and it’s cool to be able to just walk upstairs and get good food.”
With many other RCAH students living in Snyder, Kemp also likes how she can find people with similar interests.
