The older we get, the more these tiny dorm rooms get old. And as juniors and seniors, students have a bigger to move off-campus into their own space. Unlike most other universities and colleges, Le Moyne requires non-local students to live on campus (i.e. dorms, townhouses, The Heights, and The View)  for all four years. Making us doomed to an eternity of minimal closet space,  grimy communal bathrooms, and loud floormates. After living in St Mary’s and now Harrison, I believe I have gained an elaborate grasp on the typical dorm-lifestyle. So, for you older kids considering the option of commuting, here’s a list of pros and cons of staying on campus.

Pro: Living with all your friends. There’s always something to do on campus, someone to talk to, and somebody to listen to all of your problems. Loneliness in your dorm/apartment/townhouse is almost impossible, because you are constantly surrounded by other people.

Con: You can never escape. After two years, I can honestly say that the only alone time I get to myself is in the shower. If I spend some alone time in my room, there is no doubt my roommate or one of my friends will walk in, suddenly spurring an entire conversation and possibly a shopping trip. (Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, but everybody needs some alone time.)

Pro: Food is made for you. It’s nice to have buffet style for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. Students can eat as much as they want without having to cook or wash a single dish. There is always variety and the meals at The Caf are always changing, and if not, The Den always has some great deep-fried food options to give you some change.

Con: That dreaded walk to The Caf. Who has the time to walk all the way to The Caf to get food? If you’ve just woken up late, or are in a rush to get to class, then there’s no way you’re going to have enough time to get to The Caf and eat without rushing, subsequently choking on your food. Typically, students must starve through their lectures to work around the schedule of The Caf. On top of this, the opening hours are restricted to certain times, with The Caf closed between 2:30-4:15pm, to further endorse starvation.

Pro: You have an unlimited supply of clothes to borrow. With so many people living around you, it’s highly unlikely that you will ever run out of clothes to wear. People who come with clothes also come with food. There’s another pro! If you ever run out of Ramen noodles, you can probably just walk across the hall to find some more.

Con: You’ve lost all your clothes. With everybody borrowing everything of yours, you will soon lose track of who-has-what. If you don’t get something back within a week, it’s probably safe to assume it will be lost forever.

Pro: Everything is within walking distance. Who needs a car when you live on campus? Everything you could ever need is within walking distance: class, food, and friends. The only time you’ll ever need a ride is to the grocery store, but then again, anything can be delivered nowadays. Living without a car also helps save the environment from those terrible air pollutants that threaten our environment and personal health.

Con: You will spend half the day in your bed. Everything is close, including your bed. One of the luxuries of on-campus housing are the midday naps that one can take as frequently as possible. Now, I’m not saying that this is a waste of time, but many commuters will not have the chance to nap and may perhaps get more things done in their waking hours.

So, the choice is yours. While on-campus housing may be expensive, it is most definitely a worthy investment. Whether you live at Le Moyne for one year or four years, you will absolutely make lifelong friends along the way.