After the university-required year of living in a dormitory, moving off campus represents independence for students.
But many sign on to a host of new duties.
New housing brings responsibilities
Interdisciplinary studies in social science and human resources and society senior Brett Miller takes cookies out of the oven as political science senior Chris Harder, back right, looks on and construction management senior Kory Zesch, keeps an eye on food being grilled. The three students live with four others in their house on Ann Street.
For human biology junior David Oberlin, the new freedoms outweighed the added responsibilities of living in a house.
“I absolutely love the freedoms that come with it, but there definitely are some negatives,” he said.
Oberlin, who lives on Gunson Street, said one challenge of off-campus living is dividing the monthly bills, such as heating and cable, among four housemates.
He also said he feels somewhat disconnected from campus.
“It’s not as structured as living in the dorms, where there’s a lot of resources around you for help,” he said.
This disconnection is what Erin Carter, community liaison between MSU and the city of East Lansing, tries to prevent.
“My job is really to be the connection between MSU and the city of East Lansing as it relates to the things that impact students,” she said.
According to the Department of Residence Life Web site, 16,457 MSU students lived in residence halls and university apartments in 2009, while 31,816 students were registered with off-campus addresses, including houses and apartments.
Carter works with various student-related organizations to ease the transition by providing information on all aspects of housing, she said.
One of the main points she stresses to students is understanding their role in the community.
“You have to be aware and learn what the community standards are,” she said.
“There are policies and procedures you need to know about how the off-campus community works.”
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Carter said these changes affect nearly every aspect of the students’ life, such as tenant rights, paying for utilities and maintaining the property, which are things students don’t always research before they move.
“They know that they want more space and freedom, but I don’t think they’ve necessarily thought through what all the responsibilities will be,” Carter said.
One major difference is having more than one roommate, said human resources senior Brett Miller. He has eight roommates in an Ann Street house.
“It can be pretty loud and noisy sometimes,” he said.
“You’re not just living with one other person.”
Another motivating factor for Oberlin, who used to live in Wonders Hall, was the distance to his classes.
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He now is closer to most of his classes.
“Overall it’s positive,” Oberlin said.
“But it’s a lot more responsibility.”
