Whether it’s living in a dorm, an apartment or a house, living with other students is part of the majority of housing options on and off campus.
Cooperative housing takes this to the next level. MSU Student Housing Cooperative, or MSU SHC, offers a chance for students to share a living space with up to 28 other people depending on the house.
MSU SHC’s cooperative houses are managed and maintained by their occupants, who also decide how much to collectively pay for rent, as the houses function as a non-profit.
In most houses a system of “credits and fines,” in which rent is discounted or raised based on who is and isn’t doing their assigned chores, makes sure everyone pulls their weight, social relations and policy senior Sydney Burke said.
“I think it’s the best possible way to learn how to be an adult,” Burke said. “Living with so many people is a skill.’’
Burke is the membership officer for Phoenix cooperative house, the largest in MSU SHC with a population of 29.
Burke is in charge of giving tours to new members, recruiting and conflict resolution in the house.
Burke moved to Phoenix during her sophomore year and said she has been in love with it ever since. She hopes to continue living in a cooperative house after college and pursue a career involving fundraising for cooperative housing.
“Getting to live with so many different people from so many different majors and so many different things that they’re focusing on, it’s pretty much second to none. I would do it over and over and over again,” Burke said.
According to MSU SHC’s website, rent clocks in between $300 and a little more than $500, depending on the house and whether or not the room is rented as a single.
“If you’re interested at all in learning what it means to ... live and work in a community, to be surrounded by people you just absolutely adore — it’s something that I would recommend,” Dan Newton, MSU alumnus and president of MSU Student Housing Cooperative, said.
Newton, once a transfer student, initially lived in a room he found on Craigslist before joining Apollo cooperative house, where he now lives.
“You start off living in a house with, in my case, 17 other strangers, but it’s remarkable in that at the end of the first semester even, you’re living in a house with 17 of your best friends,” Newton said.
Newton said most houses are located within a 15-minute walk from campus and students are often willing to share rides.
“It affected my life for the better ... whenever you want a friend to hang out with, there’s always people here,” hospitality business senior Alonso Rubio said.
Rubio transferred to MSU last year and joined Phoenix house after living in an apartment .
“You’re never alone in a co-op, it’s like a family outside of family,” Rubio said.
Despite having its own culture and benefits, cooperative housing might not be for everyone. The co-op houses are not handicap accessible, and Rubio admits that sometimes putting a ton of college students in charge of cleanliness doesn’t end well.
“Sometimes it can be a little dirty, living in a house with a large group of people it’s bound to happen, especially college kids,” Rubio said.
Because of the differences in locations, buildings and number of occupants, Rubio said he suggests finding what one fits before joining.
“Every house is different, depending on a person’s personality, it’s best to get to know the house,” Rubio said. “Tour around the houses and get to know the people, find out which house fits your needs.”
Burke said it’s never too early in your college experience to join.
“I would recommend doing it right off the bat,” Burke said. “There’s a lot of people who, if they only spent a short amount of time in the co-ops ... almost every single time they say they wish they had joined earlier.”
