Parents say: stay on campus

Many students look at living off campus as one of the perks of college life. But for some, attempts at moving off campus are thwarted by seemingly relentless parental pressure. Whether they refuse to let go or simply are concerned for their children's well-being, parents have their own opinions about where students should live. College freshman Rachel Greenman said her overprotective parents would not even consider allowing her to live off campus. Their philosophy is that she should take advantage of the housing the University provides. Parents also express concerns that students themselves are familiar with, including safety, cost, accessibility to campus, isolation and responsibility. Some parents argue along more pragmatic lines. College freshman Geeta Shah's parents have focused on the benefits of having Residential Living take care of all housing details. Since each student living on campus pays his or her rent individually through the Student Financial Services office, roommates do not have to depend on one another, Shah's parents assert. But not all students and parents disagree with one another about housing decisions. For those whose parents exacerbate an already difficult situation, though, conflicts sometimes occur. When College freshman Julie Buxbaum's friends opted for a five-bedroom apartment in Hamilton Court, her toughest task was not choosing an apartment but convincing her father to let her take it. "He just did not like the idea," she said. "He had questions about the safety, since it is at least two blocks away from the center of campus and does not have around-the-clock security like the high rises." Buxbaum said attempts to appease her father with thoughts of saving money failed, since his main concern was her safety. But eventually, Buxbaum was able to convince her father that living off campus was right for her. Nursing freshman Erin Meyer had a similar problem with her father, who was "very concerned about fires and money." When she showed her father that the house she is planning to live in actually costs less than the cheapest on-campus option, her father conceded. Other parents, such as College senior Juliet Hansel's, had an easier time accepting her decision to move off campus. "They were able to deal with the transition from dorm to sorority house to off campus better than if I had moved directly from the dormitories to an off-campus house," Hansel said. Although her parents are satisfied with the situation, they still feel concern when they come to visit her "because West Philadelphia is very different from Connecticut." For those who are fighting a losing battle for off-campus living, there are many on-campus options that they can explore. The high rises are a popular option since they contain University-owned apartments and living clusters. Many students live in Superblock as a transition between dorm life and off-campus living. Other options include fraternity and sorority houses, living/learning programs and the college house system. This year, there are also three residential pilot programs in which students can choose to live. All on-campus residences provide utilities, gas, water and waste disposal services, as well as 24-hour security. Off-campus living, on the other hand, does not come with these conveniences. But Wharton and Engineering freshman Joe Boswell cited freedom as the biggest asset to living off campus. "My parents understand that I want to live my own life, and I can't always do that in a dorm," Boswell said. "College is all about growing up, and my parents understand that."

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