Katelyn Remington, a sophomore art history major, said she sees living on Main Campus as a better alternative to living on South Campus.

Remington doesn’t have a car and wanted more independence rather than being forced to depend on buses. She now lives in Lawrinson hall, after living in Boland Hall during her freshman year.

‘Here, I can be more dependent on myself,’ Remington said. ‘And with the late nights I used to spend at the theater and the late nights I now spend in the studio and library, it seems safer.’

Main Campus appeals to students because of its convenient location near academic buildings, dining halls and Marshall Street. Buildings range in size from the intimate 46-person Walnut Hall to 607-person Day Hall with the new Ernie Davis Hall to be ready for Fall 2009.

Eileen Simmons, director of Housing, Meal Plan and ID Card Services, said that students choose Main for a variety of reasons, including the meal plan requirement and the variety of room types.

Simmons said that some types – 4-person suites, 6-person suites – are only available on Main Campus.

‘I find that typically, the juniors and seniors on North Campus may only be here for one semester,’ she said. ‘They take a single and then go abroad or they graduate.’

Mainly freshmen populate dorms on Main Campus. But through the housing reservation process there are approximately 4,554 spots, including South Campus, available to returning students.

Meal plans are required for students choosing to live in a dorm. Only three halls – Booth, Walnut and Washington Arms – have kitchens. For next year, sophomores are able to purchase the seven meals per week plan through the deluxe plan. Juniors and seniors can choose between those options and having five meals per week.

Jamey Hornung, a freshman entrepreneurship, emerging enterprises and finance major who currently lives in Brewster Hall, said that his closest dining option is one of the negatives about living far from campus.

‘Brockway is overrated,’ he said. ‘The food’s OK, but I’d rather order in a pizza or something.’

Next year, Hornung said he wants to live in Watson Hall and then move off-campus once he has fulfilled the two-year requirement.

Remington said sometimes dorm living offers less freedom than off-campus or South Campus. She must wait for certain times to eat in the dining center and has a resident adviser.

After going abroad to Florence, Italy, next fall, Remington said she still plans to return and live in a dorm at SU.

‘It’s a pretty good deal,’ she said. ‘I don’t have to deal with a landlord, worry about food, or worry about transportation. Being a college student and having one less thing to worry about definitely makes dorm living ideal.’

Kelina Imamura, Staff writer, kmimamur@syr.edu

Available Main Campus housing options:

* Booth Hall* Brewster Hall* Boland Hall* Day Hall* DellPlain Hall* Ernie Davis Hall* Flint Hall* Haven Hall* Kimmel Hall* Lawrinson Hall* Marion Hall* Sadler Hall* Shaw Hall* Walnut Hall* Washington Arms* Watson Hall

Freshmen-only housing:

* Brockway Hall* Butterfield House* (Oren) Lyons Hall

Published on March 18, 2009 at 12:00 pm