Spring Break
Contemplating co-ed living
Editorial Board
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: Forum
For many students, reminiscing about experiences in the residence halls can bring back delightful memories of late-night movies, hours of Xbox, skateboarding in the hallway and, of course, food from the dining centers.
Unfortunately, for just as many students, these memories may evoke feelings of frustration with memories of annoying roommates who stayed awake until dawn, of having to do laundry for the first time, of noisy floor-mates and their incessantly ringing alarm clocks heard through the paper-thin walls - and, yes, of course, of the food.
But imagine what your experience would have been like if you had been able to live with a roommate of your choice - even a member of the opposite sex. Would things have been different? Better? Worse?
Next year, Halsell Hall will officially become the first residence hall at OSU to allow co-ed living in the residence halls. But of course, co-ed roommates are optional, and no one will be forced to live with a roommate of a different gender .
Initially this may sound like a fabulous opportunity for young men and women, especially those who prefer the company of the opposite sex.
One Barometer staff member recalls coming to college four years ago when none of her close female friends had entered college yet.
Three of her close male friends were more than willing to live with her, but at the time there was no co-ed on-campus housing at OSU. As a result, she avoided the residence hall experience altogether and opted for Greek Life instead.
One issue that arises in the discussion of co-ed on-campus housing is a problem involving the co-ed housing contract.
For example, imagine what would happen if a pair of high school sweethearts decided to get a suite together in Halsell and then later broke up. Although everyone wants to be a hopeless romantic, let's be realistic: if a couple were to break up, wouldn't they have to break their housing contract too?
Or would they have to tough it out and glare at each other from across the room for the remainder of the school year?
It would seem that a month-to-month or, better yet, week-to-week contract might be most appropriate for cohabiting couples.
Some students may enjoy living with a sibling of another gender - although that could potentially become awkward if the brother or sister decides to bring home a date.
Basically, co-ed housing could really be an exciting way to live, or a very uncomfortable way to live, depending on the residents and the relationship between roommates.
Editorials serve as a means for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale or diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board's majority.
Unfortunately, for just as many students, these memories may evoke feelings of frustration with memories of annoying roommates who stayed awake until dawn, of having to do laundry for the first time, of noisy floor-mates and their incessantly ringing alarm clocks heard through the paper-thin walls - and, yes, of course, of the food.
But imagine what your experience would have been like if you had been able to live with a roommate of your choice - even a member of the opposite sex. Would things have been different? Better? Worse?
Next year, Halsell Hall will officially become the first residence hall at OSU to allow co-ed living in the residence halls. But of course, co-ed roommates are optional, and no one will be forced to live with a roommate of a different gender .
Initially this may sound like a fabulous opportunity for young men and women, especially those who prefer the company of the opposite sex.
One Barometer staff member recalls coming to college four years ago when none of her close female friends had entered college yet.
Three of her close male friends were more than willing to live with her, but at the time there was no co-ed on-campus housing at OSU. As a result, she avoided the residence hall experience altogether and opted for Greek Life instead.
One issue that arises in the discussion of co-ed on-campus housing is a problem involving the co-ed housing contract.
For example, imagine what would happen if a pair of high school sweethearts decided to get a suite together in Halsell and then later broke up. Although everyone wants to be a hopeless romantic, let's be realistic: if a couple were to break up, wouldn't they have to break their housing contract too?
Or would they have to tough it out and glare at each other from across the room for the remainder of the school year?
It would seem that a month-to-month or, better yet, week-to-week contract might be most appropriate for cohabiting couples.
Some students may enjoy living with a sibling of another gender - although that could potentially become awkward if the brother or sister decides to bring home a date.
Basically, co-ed housing could really be an exciting way to live, or a very uncomfortable way to live, depending on the residents and the relationship between roommates.
Editorials serve as a means for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale or diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board's majority.
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