Ball State University - Orient Yearbook (Muncie, IN)

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Architecture student Jim Jelliffe, senior from In- dianapolis, doesn’t have to share a bathroom with other floor residents because of his town-living lifestyle. Seniors frequently moved off to be around other older students. Sy A nie

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LIVING ‘OFF’: Hassled independence What was it that compelled students to move off campus? True, sometimes dorm food lacked variety and study time was interrupted, but at least students didn't have to wrestle with landlord restrictions, dripping faucets, or end-of- the month bills. Surely town-dwellers could live without the frustration of hitching rides to classes or the headache of finding parking spaces. Freedom and independence were in- triguing forces which drew students off campus. In a homey atmosphere, these students had a free hand at cooking and decorating, lax visiting hours, and a place to call ‘their own.’ But with every new freedom there was an added responsibility: utilities, damage deposit, renter’s insurance, lease transportation, and groceries. Just how did students living off cam- A; | TE Rooms that were often furniture-bare could be filled up with hanging greenery. Rusty Cline, senior from Indianapolis, is one of many student ‘’plant fanatics’ who made his off-campus apartment look a little more like home. pus cope with this? What were their living conditions like? What were the ad- vantages and disadvantages? Greg Goff and his three roommates had an unique experience this fall when their lease expired and an oral contract was broken; they were without a place to sleep or eat for two weeks. The students were in the preliminary stage of moving, themselves, when the new residents park- ed their moving van in the drive. Greg said his landlady was sympathetic during the situation, encouraging them to find a place to stay—‘‘If it isn’t too much of an inconvenience, would you please leave?’’ Legally, their stay was over. All their belongings were stashed in boxes or crates and moved out in one afternoon. “We stayed with friends, slept in garages and vans, and ate at cheap junk- food joints, ” Greg commented. ‘‘We know what it feels like to go without ¥ a - Deborah Chambers finds that she cannot just ‘run off’ after dinner like her friends in the residence halls. Students moving off campus often failed to consider the newly-added responsibilities of their lifestyle—laundry, washing, and cooking. showers for three days.’’ He added that it was virtually impossible to study because he couldn't remember which box his books were in. Aside from all the discomfort and in- convenience, it was an experience that Greg and his friends will never forget nor one they wish to repeat. Micky Cunn- ingham, who was also involved in the shuttle said, ‘‘We’re awfully lucky in hav- ing so many good friends who were will- ing to put us up!” Town living was not always flavored with such excitement. Jan Snyder, 18, lived with her 65-year-old aunt. Her living conditions were rent-free provided she helped with meals, dishes, cleaning, and ironing. “| have my privacy,’’ Jan said, but add- ed that her aunt tried to restrict her. ‘‘She disapproves of my religion...and Sunday football.” If Jan watched the game, her aunt simply snapped off the television. “She doesn’t like football. It’s her house and television so really what could | say?’’ explained Jan. Landlords were often ‘'verbally blasted’’ by students and vice versa. Mary Jo Mauger felt her landlord was ‘‘ripping them off.’’ He neglected to fix the kitchen window which was without a pane all winter, the bathroom sink that was falling off the wall, and a leaky faucet. “He brainwashed us with deception and flowery words,’’ Mary Jo said. ‘‘We were so stupid when we signed the lease!’” Some points in Mary Jo’s written contract included: No more than one guest per resi- dent allowed in the house at one time. No honking horns Or ‘‘verromming”’ cars after 11 p.m. No hilarious par- ties. These stipulations seemed lenient when compared to demands by other landlords. Some imposed an 11 p.m. curfew, and insisted that tenants in- troduce all guests before entering the house. Not all landlords were so restrictive and many felt they had a good relationship with the students. The students respected the landlord’s property; he respected their freedom. These students felt that developing an understanding more.. 27 Off-campus ¥

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LIVING “OFF csninu: with their landlord and outlining respon- sibilities in a written agreement eliminated many legal hassels and personal conflicts. “Getting along with the neighbors” was another adjustment for students moving into the community. Ken Cooper felt that it should apply in reverse. He complained that the three children across from his apartment were ‘‘terrible nuisances’ knocking on his door punctually when they got home from school and then ru n- ning away before he had a chance to answer. Ken confessed that the three had been “verbally threatened but, as of yet, not physically assaulted.”’ Neignbors and landlords played an ac- tive part in town living, but the individual Even with added facilities bills, laundry bills, shop- Ping sprees, and a lack of furniture, off-campus residents felt that “living off’’ had many more ad- vantages than disadvantages. Bare and gloomy at the start of the year, apartments often changed to a homier atmosphere as crates, plants, and rummage- sale furniture were gathered. was credited with making off-campus liv- ing either dull or interesting. And where but in the kitchen was there a better place to judge creativity and compatibility? Mike Gilpin said there were no personal conflicts among he and his three room- mates except when dish duty or food were mentioned. “We buy our food separately but there are no qualms in ‘borrowing’ from each other,”” Mike laughed. “If Dan’s not there, Joe and | vote to take his food.”’ Mike said he liked cooking and the main reason he moved out of the residence hall was because he hated sack lunches. With his busy schedule and gymnastic prac- tices, Mike complained he always missed Settled in a cozy apartment, Mark Miller, junior from Goshen, has become extremely (and comfortably) adjusted to off-campus living. Advantages of privacy, space allotment, freedom in giving parties, and added independence attracted many hall residents to move off. dinner—peanut butter and jelly sand- wiches just did not suffice. The best part of the apartment according to Mike was the dishwasher, ‘Every apartment should have one!”’ More essential than a dishwasher though, was a car. Most off-campus students agreed that transportation without one was definitely a hassle. ‘| wasted a lot of time waiting around for a ride because no one’s schedule at the apartment was the same,”’ Mike said. “Now we've arranged them so everyone has classes in the same time block.”’ Mick Croy also complained, ‘The cost of driving back and forth when com- muting is unreal! Besides that, | had to schedule my classes around the weather and road conditions. In the winter | try to take classes in the afternoon when the roads are passable.”’ Parking was also a disadvantage for town dwellers. Even with the new parking structure behind the Student Center, the strict campus parking hours posed re- sounding problems—there were never any available parking spaces! Social interactions and study habits often changed as students left the residence halls. Many students who mov- ed off campus found their grades improv- ing and social contacts declining. “When | was living in the dorm, | almost flunked out,’’ commented Mary Jo Mauger. ‘When | moved off campus my grades immediately improved.” Mike Gilpin, who lived in a fraternity house agreed. ‘’My grades suffered the quarter | lived in the house; there were a lot of people stopping in all the time and | just got caught up with it.”’ Mike felt that it was a good experience to live with his brothers; ‘it was a medium of unity,’” but he also thought the fraterni- ty expected more of the people living in the house. ‘‘We were almost required to get along with everyone,” he said. Nant Chowdhurt, 23, Pakistan, com- pared living off campus to life in the residence hall. ‘‘Meeting people is a big disadvantage when living off campus; | feel | keep myself kind of aloof.’’ He said that hall housing and dining arrangements offered more of an opportunity to meet people and mix with friends. Jeff Younce, a native of Muncie, decid- ed to commute because of the financial savings. ‘‘The guys | hang around with are mostly friends from high school. Hot, homecooked meals were an incentive to commute too!”’ Whether students commuted or fended for themselves in apartments and houses, most agreed that town living had distinct advantages and disadvantages. But above all, it was a lifestyle in which responsibility, independence, and freedom flourished. Off-campus 29