Yale Daily News

I'm not quite sure where you got your numbers, but I live in one of those many Howe street apartments, and my 1-br rent is $950/month...

Juniors and seniors still living on campus eating cafeteria food and being taken care of by the University are immature losers that should grow up. Living off campus is one step closer to the real world, when one pays bills, cooks food, is exposed to diverse people of different ages and races and must find a social network outside of the university. Of course, Yale has an interest in keeping students on campus. Yale makes a profit on giving them room and board and the student gets more attached to the University. The student, however, loses out in the end.

Did you not read the article? Many students living off campus are wealthy. They are not living closer to the real world because their parents are helping them out still.

I'm glad that you enjoy living off-campus, Sam. But to characterize peers who make a different choice as "immature losers" is just plain nuts. Lots of juniors and seniors--who are plenty grown-up--know that they have the rest of their lives to live off-campus. And as for paying bills, are you telling me that because you're living off-campus, you're paying your rent yourself? Or are you simply conveying your parents' support to a landlord? Look, there are lots of ways to do Yale. Living off campus as a junior and/or senior is certainly one of them--and a valid choice for some. But to claim moral superiority for doing so is, frankly, childish.

What "social network" do you take part in off-campus, Sam? Paying for drinks doesn't make you significantly more grown up than the rest of us; it just means you have way more disposable income.

Given the abysmal state of any off-campus housing that doesn't cost well in excess of Yale room and board, I think it's pretty reasonable to stay on-campus if you can live with the people you want. Of course, if your desired roommates live in different colleges or have differently-shaped genitalia; if price is no object; or if you live in Morse or Stiles, then Yale housing may suck enough for you to look elsewhere. But the more-mature-than-thou attitude is hilariously childish.

This is a stunning piece of reporting.

Claire Gordon should be desperately proud of herself for unearthing such a groundbreaking issue.

As someone who has lived off campus and tried to keep up my involvement in my (wonderful) residential college, I can say that there are certainly benefits to either experience that go beyond cost issues. There is something extremely refreshing to not being in a residential college, although it's hard to put my finger on it exactly.

As much as off-campus students might be missing out on certain aspects of Yale life, we must be honest and admit that within every residential college, there is a hardcore group that lives and breathes their college and has little to no "Yale life" beyond it. Are they going to be ready for the real world? Of course. That's not the point. But are they necessarily taking advantage of all that Yale has to offer? I don't think so.

A large portion that I feel was left out of this article was the disparity between living conditions of the residential colleges. A HUGE reason why I moved off campus was because I was living in Morse. I honestly do not know how Yale thinks it is fair to put students in Morse and Stiles and charge them the same amount on room and board. It's a joke when compared to the amenities other colleges have. The printer in the library never even works half the time. Not to mention the horrid aesthetics, and terrible lighting and ventilation in the rooms. I moved out because I was tired of paying Yale to live in what felt like an upscale prison.

#5, the social network includes a mature set of friends that prefer not to socialize in an institutional dorm room setting. If you find good roommates, living off campus can actually be less expensive.

Transfering is an option, is it not?

I never realized that paying bills, interacting with people of various ages and social backgrounds and cooking my own food can only be done outside university walls.

Not to mention all the maturing I'm missing out on from engaging in said significant activities!

Sam, yes, they ARE all immature losers...or...

1) don't want to live without the amenities that yale provides since they have the rest of their lives to fend off addicts yelling for Frank and skip class to wait for a plumber

2) study abroad for a semester

3) realize that it will end up being more expensive

4) enjoy living with their friends who want to remain on campus for their own reasons

5) don't fantasize about "roughing it" for the sole purpose of reminiscing about their shitty college apartment and joking about the bug problem.

6) for whatever reason, don't spend their time dreaming of potential dinner parties with fondue and stove-top ravioli.

7) recognize that many people who move off campus often do so as a social statement, in an attempt to seem more grown up (that would be you, Sam). you don't have to be a hipster to be mature, kids.

Dear Sam,

I came to Yale to get an academic education. I don't see how taking advantage of the measures Yale puts in place so that I can make the most of my studies is immature.

Learning how to live on your own, pay the bills, cook for yourself and be otherwise responsible is important, but not the point of college. I'd rather make sure I learn as much as I can about my major, so I can be prepared for my career, than get all excited about playing grown-up with a bunch of my friends.

Hey Claire I found your article trying to see if somebody at the YDN had ever in the history of Yale told me how much I should expect to spend on food in a month. I didn't really find out, but...I read the article anyway and I enjoyed it very much--maybe EVEN more than I have enjoyed reading the various merits and demerits of "Sam's" two cents that he felt were necessary at dropping in on your well-researched article.