Despite complaints of broken elevators and flooding, many Penn students who live on campus do not plan to pack their bags anytime soon.
There have been numerous on-campus renovations this past year, with Hamilton College House receiving improvements to both the interior and exterior of the building. Harrison College House is slated for a similar renovation this summer.
Although off-campus living provides more freedom and is typically less expensive, on-campus living has distinct advantages, according to residents.
"It's easier and more convenient, but most importantly, I like being part of the community," College sophomore Meira Levinson said. "I just like the environment."
College freshman Andrew Mener, who hopes to move into a high rise next year, said, "I think the high rise apartments provide an interesting combination of apartment-style living, community living and close proximity to my classes and extracurriculars."
As opposed to the off-campus alternative, upperclassmen who live on campus still have resident advisers and regular floor and house activities. The goal is to create a tightly knit group of people who live in close proximity to each other.
Harry Reisig decided to become a graduate associate and live in Hamilton "to be involved more in student life on campus and use my experience living on and off campus to help students."
In addition to these social reasons, there are also practical reasons why people choose to live on campus.
Nursing senior Esther Polen listed "safety, closeness to campus and the convenience of having Ethernet and maintenance" as her main reasons for living on campus.
Agreeing, College sophomore Atara Schumutter added, "the computer help and free Internet access are very important to me."
For those who do not want the responsibility of paying rent or utilities monthly, on-campus living presents an alternative.
"Basically, I'm just lazy," College senior Jason Auerbach said, explaining why he chose to live on campus all four years.
"Since I'm from Denver, Colo., my parents can't come down to bring furniture or anything and the high rise provides all of it."
College freshman Ilana Lyon is staying on campus next year because "it's not real life. Everything you need is taken care of for you."
For these students, it seems the conveniences in this living arrangement far outweigh the negatives.
College junior Andrea Brem seriously considered living off campus but decided against it "because you're with a limited number of people, you have to take care of your own utilities and it's farther away."
"I like not having to worry about everything having to do with housing," said Wharton senior Isaac Hakimi, "so I can spend time on other more important things."
High rises are not the only place for upperclassmen to live on campus. George Liao spent all four of his undergraduate years in the Quadrangle and is now a GA there.
Liao said, "Living on campus for all four years and now being a GA has given me the opportunity to participate in and help encourage community both within and between classes -- that makes Penn feel more like home and a more friendly place."
