2008 Woodie Awards
Off campus housing provides alternatives for upperclassmen
Angela Defini
Issue date: 10/7/04 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 1
Freshmen have it easy -Champagnat, Leo, or Sheahan. Sophomores have it a little tougher - Midrise, Gartland, Marian, Benoit or Gregory. By the time junior year rolls around, many Marist students can feasibly consider off-campus housing as a realistic option. But where does a 20-something college student start house hunting in Po-town?
Junior Phil Deyman, former resident of both Sheahan and Gartland, now resides on Delano Street, located near Main Street in Poughkeepsie. Main Street offers convenient places to eat, and Deyman notices a revitalization project that seems to be under way.
A mere five-minute drive from campus, Deyman says his neighbors are mostly college students and that there is a sorority house on his block as well. "The area is great," Deyman said. "I wouldn't go wandering around in the middle of the night, but it's a lot safer than they make it out to be."
One drawback to Delano Street is that the fire department is right down the road on North Clover, and the trucks come blaring down the street at all hours of the night. Parking can also be a minor problem, but Deyman says it is generally OK as long as people don't take up more than one parking spot.
Junior Sean Grinnell lives on North Clover Street, and claims he loves this street because of the firehouse.
"There is very little loitering outside of our place that is common on surrounding streets," Grinnell said.
Being only five minutes from campus makes this resident's commute a breeze as well.
Seniors John Nucci and Alex Hasapis live five minutes south of campus on Livingston Street, directly across from Vassar Hospital. The neighborhood is not as heavily populated with college students, and both Nucci and Hasapis like the convenience of a nearby hospital in case of any emergency.
"In case I hack off a finger while cooking I have somewhere nearby to go to," Hasapis joked.
Nucci recommends looking into houses in the area such as this one because it can be about two to three thousand dollars cheaper a year than living on campus, depending on how many people you live with.
All four of these off-campus residents agree that living off campus teaches them much more independence and responsibility than living on campus.
"I think it's a good experience," Deyman said. "I cook everything myself, I had to furnish my own house, and I have to deal with the bills. It gives me a really good idea of what to look for when I move on after college."
Nucci also recommends to look into off campus housing if your priority points are not as high as they might need to be to get the most desirable on-campus housing.
Grinnell reminds of a few drawbacks to living off campus. "You tend to forget about a lot of events on campus, and you also can forget about the reality of paying water, electric and internet bills," he said. "And a lack of an extension number on campus makes people not want to call you for group work or club events."
Junior Phil Deyman, former resident of both Sheahan and Gartland, now resides on Delano Street, located near Main Street in Poughkeepsie. Main Street offers convenient places to eat, and Deyman notices a revitalization project that seems to be under way.
A mere five-minute drive from campus, Deyman says his neighbors are mostly college students and that there is a sorority house on his block as well. "The area is great," Deyman said. "I wouldn't go wandering around in the middle of the night, but it's a lot safer than they make it out to be."
One drawback to Delano Street is that the fire department is right down the road on North Clover, and the trucks come blaring down the street at all hours of the night. Parking can also be a minor problem, but Deyman says it is generally OK as long as people don't take up more than one parking spot.
Junior Sean Grinnell lives on North Clover Street, and claims he loves this street because of the firehouse.
"There is very little loitering outside of our place that is common on surrounding streets," Grinnell said.
Being only five minutes from campus makes this resident's commute a breeze as well.
Seniors John Nucci and Alex Hasapis live five minutes south of campus on Livingston Street, directly across from Vassar Hospital. The neighborhood is not as heavily populated with college students, and both Nucci and Hasapis like the convenience of a nearby hospital in case of any emergency.
"In case I hack off a finger while cooking I have somewhere nearby to go to," Hasapis joked.
Nucci recommends looking into houses in the area such as this one because it can be about two to three thousand dollars cheaper a year than living on campus, depending on how many people you live with.
All four of these off-campus residents agree that living off campus teaches them much more independence and responsibility than living on campus.
"I think it's a good experience," Deyman said. "I cook everything myself, I had to furnish my own house, and I have to deal with the bills. It gives me a really good idea of what to look for when I move on after college."
Nucci also recommends to look into off campus housing if your priority points are not as high as they might need to be to get the most desirable on-campus housing.
Grinnell reminds of a few drawbacks to living off campus. "You tend to forget about a lot of events on campus, and you also can forget about the reality of paying water, electric and internet bills," he said. "And a lack of an extension number on campus makes people not want to call you for group work or club events."