Weighing community and convenience versus freedom and upkeep, students are sharply divided on their preferences for on- or off-campus housing.
Praising his Quadrangle room, Wharton freshman Adam Rothenberg wrote in an e-mail interview, "I have a single and the room is very nice, no complaints there. I know many people don't like the system, [but] most of these people are residents who don't live in the [Quadrangle] and would like to. Friends in the high rises say that they are lonely and feel out of touch."
Nevertheless, there are programs set up in the dormitories to help foster a sense of community. For example, the Freshman Experience floor in Harrison College House helped freshman students living in the apartment-style dormitories to feel less isolated.
"I enjoyed living in the high rise as a freshman," Wharton freshman Vimarth Shukla wrote in an e-mail interview, adding that he favored not having community showers.
However, Shukla and others do feel distanced in terms of socialization. "I like the high rises because they are a lot more peaceful than the [Quadrangle]. However, you don't hear about stuff [like parties] that all the other freshmen usually hear in the Quad," he wrote.
Many students have expressed concern over their room condition.
College sophomore Katherine Keller, who lives in Gregory College House, said that although her dormitory room is small, "there are a lot of housewide events if you are interested, which forms a 'community' atmosphere."
However, "the building is old and in need of renovation and the furniture they give you in the room is practically falling apart. They're very slow to respond to maintenance calls," Keller said.
College senior Alexandra Eichenbaum, who lives off campus, cites an accommodating and caring landlord as one of the benefits of living off campus.
"Penn Facilities suck and our landlord is awesome. We have a private landlord who accommodates us," Eichenbaum said.
Other students share similar sentiments in terms of their preference of living off campus rather than on campus.
"I lived in the high rises sophomore year and they were terrible, so I moved to Hamilton Court, which in retrospect wasn't much better, but [residential adviser]-free and a little bit cheaper," Wharton senior Ryan Johnson said.
Some are wary of living off campus because of the increased distance to get to classes.
"It's a huge trek, especially in the cold, but my room is huge and I probably pay the same amount for it. It's nice in the summer, but in the wintertime when you've got snow on the ground, it's not much fun," College sophomore Julie Blinbaum said.
Other students living off campus said they have adjusted to the increased distance.
"I've made friends with the Penn Shuttle," Eichenbaum said.
Eichenbaum also said that economically, it makes more sense to live off campus. "You get more for your money, you get a much better room and generally you pay less or the same amount."
