No-preference sophomores Mukonjay Barkons, left, and Asha Brown, right, look over housing information and compare pricing Wednesday afternoon in the Union during the Fall 2010 Housing Fair. Students at the fair had access to numerous management companies and on-campus living options.
No-preference sophomore Mukonjay Barkons has enough room in her dorm on campus, but she’s looking to find a cheaper place to live next year.
“I live in a single right now so I have my own space, but I think it’s cheaper to live in an apartment with roommates and still have your own space,” Barkons said.
Carrying two bags of apartment and housing flyers from the 2010 Fall Housing Fair, Barkons said she had all the information she needed to make an off-campus living decision. She just needed time to look through it all.
More than 20 off-campus living groups set-up booths at the housing fair, which was held Wednesday at the Union.
The Department of Student Life hosted the event with support from the Community Relations Coalition and The State News.
Olivia Seifert, intern coordinator for the coalition, said the organization aims to develop relationships between students and long-term residents living in East Lansing.
“We help them with the things students should know before they sign a lease and the things they should know once they’re in East Lansing,” Seifert said.
Seifert said the coalition hosts events, such as fall pumpkin carving, in different neighborhoods throughout the city for students and residents to get to know each other.
They also help students navigate their leases regarding duties such as sidewalk shoveling, she said.
“A lot of students don’t know what’s in their lease as far as what they’re responsible for versus what their
landlord’s responsible for,” Seifert said.
Accounting junior Matt Slater was at the fair to promote living on campus at MSU. Slater said living in residence halls is more convenient than off-campus living options because students don’t have to cook, clean or wait longer than a few hours for room maintenance.
Statistics from liveon.msu.edu show students living on campus have a higher GPA and graduate in less time, Slater said.
Proximity to campus also is a big benefit, he added.
“If you live in (Chandler Crossings), it takes a half an hour getting back and forth from campus,” Slater said.
“If you live in (Wonders Hall) and you have classes in Wonders, it takes you 30 seconds to get back and forth from class.”
Communication senior Olivia Lambert was giving out information about The Lodges of East Lansing at the fair,
a new apartment complex opening in 2011. One of the features of the complex is it provides a shuttle for residents to and from campus on the weekdays.
“We’ve been busy today,” Lambert said.
“The previous year we heard 3,000 people walked through here.”
The Journey House, a religious co-op, also had a booth at the fair. The house can lease up to 12 students a year and is faith-based but focuses more on building community relationships, said director Diane McNeil.
“We’re substance free, so you don’t have to worry about someone getting drunk and causing a ruckus,” resident manager Ben Crowley said.
They expected about 20 students to show interest in the house at the fair.
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