Temple University - Templar Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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at Tempi HiTji r Though Temple plans to add more on-campus housing, there are currently many options for the majority of students that live off-campus. Kardon-Atlantic, University Village and Oxford Village are among the most popular. Photographed by Aashita Batra. 022 Student Life

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Did you know that up to 21 u of all Temple students commute to class daily? While this daily traveling | ritual may seem like a hassle, there are actually many benefits. The city of Philadelphia, and its suburbs, offers students endless possibilities and reasons for commuting to | campus. Since college is expensive, it should come as no surprise that one of the main reasons students chose to commute is to save money. On-campus housing can cost over $4,000 a semester, while boarding fees can be over $ 1,500 a semester. For these reasons, many students opt to live at home to save some extra cash. While this is one option, others may select to live in the city, but away from Temple’s campus. Some students choose to live in South Philly, Center City, Old City, Fish Town and Northern Liberties, to name a few. The reasons for living at a distance from school are as diverse as the neighborhoods in which students choose to live. Some like the social or employment options that are more prominent in these regions, while others like the unique culture of these neighborhoods. While there are numerous reasons to commute, they all have one thing in common: travel. SEPTA, Philly's public transportation system, plays a large role in commuting. Many students who reside in the city but away from campus use the subway to get to class. Temple offers a University Pass to students, which is a transit card that allows them unlimited rides on both the Broad and Market Street subway lines, at a 10% discount to all students. This pass also applies to all trolleys, buses and regional rail trains, which make traveling to all parts of the city, and even the surrounding suburbs, possible for students at a low cost. SEPTA provides schedules and maps for all its users on its website, making it convenient for students to plan their trip. Another option for commuting students living in the city is biking, which was recently proven to be the quickest way to get around in the city. Biking eliminates the need to wait for a train or bus, and also minimizes the time spent in traffic. Not to mention, it’s free! Tom Golanoski, a senior commuter, chose to live at home to save money on rent. Every day, Tom commutes to Temple’s main campus via the regional rail from Abington. Tom says he usually spends his time on the train reading and actually credits his commuting experience as being a positive influence on his punctuality. Tom explains that, I live my life by a train schedule, but it has made me more on time with everything.” Tom’s experience shows that while some may see commuting as a bother, it certainly comes with a number of benefits. - Laura Johnston Student Life 021

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Freshmen Juston Dougherty, computer science major, and Caitlin Pontoski, undecided liberal arts major, spend time doing homework in one of the many study lounges in White Hall. Few moments can compare to the moment your freshman self places a key into the doorknob...and slowly turns. Hidden behind the wooden door, your home for the next nine months awaits you. You realize that your life has changed, and that you are now a college student living in a residence hall. The bed, desk, closets, and bathroom all receive your personal touch, and your experience with residence life begins. Residence halls Johnson Hardwick, White Hall, 1940, Peabody, 1300, Temple Towers, The Edge and Elmira Jeffries become new homes for those beginning their college experiences. Your Resident Assistant, or RA, lives alongside you and other students. They are trained and willingto help duringthe transition period and throughout the coming semesters. Opportunities for social and cultural growth are everywhere. Icebreakers, floor meetings and organized trip days are posted on the walls. You are adjusting to your new environment. Fast forward a couple years and you are touring apartments off campus or in the city. Most Temple students are only guaranteed housing up to their sophomore year, so now livingoff campus begins. Everyone is ready to sign the lease, buy furniture and begin their newest adventure with friends made along the way. The location around Temple University may be different, but parts of the resident life experience remain the same throughout the college years. New friends are made, challenges arise, bills are paid and independence is tested. At the end of undergraduate life, memories of class, projects and long nights studying surely linger and have helped you grow. But, it is the time that you have spent living on your own that has helped shaped you into the person you are today. - Samantha Anderson I Student Life 023