Little Space. Curfews. Community Bathrooms.
What do these things have in common? These are all some problems that force dormitory-living students into off-campus living arrangements.
Many college students attend school, intending to live on campus.
“Living on campus is all a part of being a college student; it’s a memory that I wouldn’t change,” Tavarus Sherrod, 22, a social work student from Tampa said.
At FAMU, students have a variety of dormitory housing options to choose from. Females can select from female resident halls or apartments, such as Truth, Wheatley, McGuinn, Diamond and Cropper.
While the males have a limited housing options and can select from male resident halls or apartments, such as Gibbs, Sampson and Young. The co-ed residence hall is another option, known as Paddyfoote, Units A through D.
Palmetto North, Palmetto South and Phase III are University apartments on campus that are available.
Then there is a last resort; living off campus. Many students find themselves moving off campus after their freshmen year.
There are advantages and disadvantages in both types of living arrangements. Many students move off campus to develop a sense of responsibility.
“I wanted to be on my own and have a bigger kitchen,” said Carmencita Green, a 19-year-old junior accounting student from Detroit, Mich., who lived in Paddyfote during her freshmen year.
Green who now lives in an off-campus two-bedroom townhouse, and said she finds commuting back and forth difficult.
Green is heavily involved in campus activities, such as the Michigan Club, National Association of Accounting, International Association of Business Communicators, SGA and the Junior Class cabinet.
Green said she had no dislikes of her on-campus experience because everyone got along like one big family. Green said she believed it was time to give another female the opportunity to share in her experience.
On the other hand, another FAMU student believes that living on campus is essential to getting to know the school and community better.
Cheryl Milton, 22, a junior math student believes that she was forced to move off campus.
Milton enjoyed “being in the know” about activities and meeting new people. She said transportation and utility bills were the least of her worries at that time.
Milton would have continued to live on campus, if given that option, but she didn’t want to be placed in the “projects”. Living off campus has created transportation problems for Milton, but she takes the bus.
“I get rained on sometimes,” Milton said, “but I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
She believes it’s more expensive to live in a one-bedroom off campus then on campus.
“Because I live off-campus, I am more cautious about who I tell where I live,” Milton said.
FAMU students find apartments and private homes to rent anywhere. Local Tallahassee managements have said that the more students are rejected or choose to move off-campus; the more their business flourishes.
Jonathan Brown, 19, is a sophomore business administration student from Atlanta, Ga., who lives off campus in a town home, also.
Brown lived in Gibbs, his freshmen year, but he later realized that he had to get out.
Although, Brown is currently a joint lease with one roommate and has to pay rent and utilities; he said wouldn’t change his living experience.
“I had a real bad on-campus experience, with the toilet overflowing in Gibbs and nasty bathrooms, Brown said.
Brown doesn’t think he saves money living off campus, but he also believes that he didn’t receive what he paid for while living on campus.
Contact Jequisha Williams at famuannews@hotmail.com