For some, Quad a multi-year home

Inevitably, when meeting someone new or catching up with a friend, the question of where I live comes up. Whenever I answer, I’m usually met with a confused stare or a blankly sympathetic look, followed by, “Wait… really?”

Yes, I’m a sophomore who lives in the Quad.

And on behalf of all other upperclassmen in the Quad, let me just say most of us are normal, sociable Penn kids. We’re just like you. We just happen to have incredibly bad luck with housing.

Somehow, the most desirable residence for a freshman becomes this dreaded, shameful place for a sophomore to live. Last year, I lived in Fisher-Hassenfeld College House, and initially applied for — but didn’t receive — Community Living in the high rises. I then got rejected from the high rises once again when my roommate and I applied for a double. We applied once more for the waitlist and listed almost every College House available as our choices. Finally, about a week after spring break, we learned that we had been placed in Ware College House. After the stress and frustration of the past few months, I was happy that I at least had some place to live. But I had no idea what living in the Quad again would be like.

Let me demystify the experience for those who can’t imagine it. Yes, we still get locked out if we forget our PennCards and Quad keys. Yes, we have RAs and GAs and gross communal bathrooms. And we live with mostly freshmen. But on the plus side, I get free laundry and package services, and my walk to class in Williams Hall is five minutes tops. And come Spring Fling, the tables will suddenly turn and my room will be the place to be.

College sophomore Shannon Macika found herself in a similar situation when she was denied housing and finally placed in Riepe College House for a second year in a row. “There are the drawbacks of not having a private bathroom or kitchen, but I was able to get my own single in a small suite that has two singles and a common room,” she said. “I also thought it would be weird being one of the only upperclassmen on a freshmen hall, but … I actually know more people on my hall than last year and go to a lot of our floor programming.”

Whenever I bring friends into the Quad, they look around nostalgically and say how much they miss it. In terms of the best views on campus, you can’t really beat the Quad’s majestic arches and rooftops. So this year, I’m taking advantage of the cookie study breaks, McClelland brunches and prime Fling location. Who knows? Maybe next year when I’m living off campus, I’ll even miss it too.

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