Issue date: 9/25/09 Section: The Verge

There comes a time in every college student's life when he must make a decision that could make or break his college experience-to stay or not to stay on campus.

Alright, so it may not really be the "be-all and end-all" decision, but it is a choice that nearly all students face at some point during their time in college.

When my senior year rolled around I had to decide whether to move myself to a housing option off campus or remain on campus, living the dorm life. After weighing all my options, I decided to go with the latter.

The main factor concerned the issue of food. I can't contain my love for food. I knew if I were to move off campus like many of my friends, I would not purchase a meal plan. Sure, I love to cook, but I didn't realistically see myself wanting to do that day-in and day-out.

Although the dining hall food may not be the "cream of the crop" in terms of fine cuisine, it is still reliable. It is always prepared and ready for you when you wouldn't otherwise have time to make yourself a quick meal. There are countless times when I find myself with only 10 minutes between classes, and with the help of the dining halls, I am able to fit in a quick lunch that would otherwise be impossible.

I also took into account that I would feel much more disconnected from campus activities if I decided to live off campus. Even though many off campus students still remain a very active part of the college community, I felt as though I would have far less motivation.

I also feared that by living off campus I would find myself less informed about on campus activities. By living on campus I tend to explore the campus a lot more, but by living off-campus I felt I would only find myself on campus while traveling to and from class.

I also took my laziness into account when making my decision. I can't help it. I am lazy. I'm not proud of it, but that fact came into play when I was making my decision. That extra little bit of distance I would have to walk to campus each day weighed on my decision.

Every time I thought about Charleston's frequent ice storms, snow, and flooding problems, I decided I would prefer to walk as little as possible. Living on campus would allow me to cut off some of the time I would need to put aside for walking to and from class.

I also realized I wouldn't mind putting off cleaning my own bathroom for another year. If anything, this fact alone makes living on campus totally worth it.

In general, living on campus is not a bad situation. I will have plenty of time to worry about bills, landlords, and grocery shopping once I graduate. I'd like to milk on-campus living for all its worth for as long as I can.

Kristin Menas can be reached at 581-7942 or kmmenas@eiu.edu.

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