“Living on campus as a graduate or adult student at California Lutheran University means immersing yourself in an intellectual community committed to the pursuit of academic excellence,” according to CLU’s website.

But, I think it’s more than that. Living on campus is part of the whole “college experience.” A dorm is where students create precious memories that will accompany them for the rest of their lives. Students cram together in study rooms, hangout in the lounges and bond while baking in the kitchens.

This experience has been different for some of the transfer students this semester. The university had a small, but significant change in the amount of students attending this year.

The Residence Life office placed about 25 students into apartments outside of the school. Christine Paul, the associate director of student life, believes that these students will be living comfortably.

“The apartments are very nice. They are fully furnished with linens, TVs, couches, dishes, etc. The apartments are like an extended stay hotel where everything is included. They all have cable and Wi-Fi, as well,” said Paul. “Each apartment has two people per room and they all have two full bathrooms and a kitchen. Some even have laundry in the apartment.”

The apartments are somewhat luxurious compared to the dorms here at CLU, according to Paul’s information.

Sophomore CLU Peer Adviser, Nisha Kondrat, said that the apartments are located 10 minutes away and that CLU is paying about $200 a day to provide rooms for the students. According to Kondrat, CLU has an ongoing partnership with the apartment complex.

While several students may feel it is unfair that these transfers receive better accommodations, I believe that it would be worse to deny the students access to a room on campus.

“I think CLU is doing the best that they can. I mean it’s not like they’re not going to offer them housing when they need it,” said Kondrat.

“At first I wasn’t too thrilled that I was going to live off-campus, but now I don’t really have a problem with it. I kind of like being in this off-campus apartment,” said junior transfer Jeffrey Marinovich, a student living in these apartments.
Marinovich said there is a disadvantage to living off campus.

“We don’t have the luxury of being able to walk to class,” said Marinovich.

Kondrat said that CLU’s goal is to have off-campus students living on campus by the end of the month. It is just a matter of when a room will open up.

The amount of residents at the university is increasing and if continued, expansion needs to occur.

Janella Caravetta
Staff Writer
Published Sept. 18, 2013