Written by Vishakha Mathur
Living in dorms freshman year is the best way to meet new people and make friends. Every floor becomes a close-knit community. Freshmen prefer to live on the "Superblock," four dorms in adjacent blocks in East Bank. This is the hub of campus housing activities. Territorial (T-Hall) and Frontier halls are the two freshmen-only dorms, and thus, most popular among newcomers so they can meet with fellow classmates and make good friends. T-Hall is the designated party dorm full of drunk people on the weekends. Bailey Hall is the least preferred hall because it is in St. Paul, which is about a 20-minute Campus Connector ride to get to East Bank. St. Paul is a smaller campus and primarily hosts classes only for College of Design (CDes) and College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Science (CFANS) students. Thus, living in Bailey is inconvenient for most people. Regardless, the dorm itself has a great sense of community and provides great resources. The campus is also beautiful.
Campus housing provides a great living experience without the hassle of maintenance issues, with the amenities offered being substantial. Most basic needs are taken care of, and a student can check out additional materials at the front desk. Halls get cleaned every day, but weekend parties often create a chaotic mess. Work order forms can be filled at the front desk if students are in need of repairs in their rooms. Dorms are relatively close to most classes, and there is always the Campus Connector, which runs frequently. The meal plan is the only downside of living in the dorms. It is expensive and often not worth the money. Living in campus apartments allows students to be a part of campus residential life without the hassle of a meal plan. Here, a student gets to meet people with common interests, make connections, and try living on his or her own, managing time and money.