By: Jack McAnspie Staff Writer
Students at St. Michael’s are encouraged to live on campus, and the majority of them do, but each year there is a small group of students that live off cam- pus. This year, between 100-150 students are living off campus.
The Student Code of Conduct states that all full- time undergraduate and ALD students (most of whom who are from other countries) are required to live on campus, but there are also exceptions to this rule listed in the handbook. For example, if a student is married or has a family, or has specific medical needs.
Dawn Ellinwood, vice president of student affairs, said that the number of students that live off campus stays relatively consistent each year.
According to Ellinwood, the administration prefers for students to live on campus because they believe that it provides the best possible environment for most students to thrive. Students already have so much to deal with in terms of balancing responsibilities, so living off campus could add unnecessary stress. “[College] could be the first time many of the students here are taking control of their schedules, as well as what they eat and when they eat,” Ellinwood said. “Doing all this while trying to balance your school work, hobbies and friends could take away from the overall St. Michael’s College experience.”
Ellinwood also explained that the administration understands that living on campus is not the best environment for everyone, hence why they are open to making exceptions.
Current off campus resident and senior, Alex Sprague, is extremely happy with his living situation. “After living on campus for 3 years I decided I was ready for a change. Sometimes I felt that campus was a bubble that insulates you from Burlington and the other great things this area has to offer,” said Sprague.
Living off campus can be less expensive to pay average rent in the area compared to the school’s price of room and board. Ellinwood questions whether or not this is true in all cases, considering that off campus students have other budget concerns such as buying their own meals and transportation costs.
Harry Southworth ’19 is living off campus for the first time is also content with his current situation. “I’ve really enjoyed being able to make my own food and not have to worry about whether or not I am going to like Alliot (St. Michael’s dining hall) on a given day,” Southworth said.
Southworth also believes that he is benefitting from his living experience with the added responsibility of getting to and from campus, “it’s been like the next step in maturing.”