Each August, it’s ‘dorm sweet dorm’ for many U students.
Rebecca Lewis, a freshman in biomedical engineering, said she enjoys living in the residence halls.
“I love having a community up here on campus,” Lewis said.
The residence halls at the U are situated on the upper east side of campus with names such as Shoreline Ridge, Chapel Glen, Sage Point and Donna Garff Marriott Honors Residential Scholars Community.
Some say the biggest adjustment in dorm life comes for freshman students moving away from home for the first time. Resident Advisors, who monitor the residence halls, try to foster a sense of community for these students by hosting events and leaving their doors open.
Cassidy Klein, a sophomore in exercise and sports science, lived on campus last year. While she didn’t choose to live there again this year, she said she continues to be friends with those she met in Chapel Glen, even living with one of her dorm neighbors in a house this year.
“Having everyone so close by was the greatest perk of living in the dorms,” Klein said.
Jessica Switzer, an undeclared freshman, said the biggest difference between life at home and living in the residence halls is living in close proximity to people she doesn’t know.
“I’m from Salt Lake City, but I didn’t know my roommates,” she said. “It’s been great though. They’re all really nice and I like it. It’s not bad at all.”
For Isabella Kearns, a freshman in pre-nursing, the biggest challenge to living on campus is travel.
“I hate walking everywhere, especially uphill after classes,” she said. “I miss my car.”
The U has a bus system to transport students from the Peterson Heritage Center to lower campus, which fills up quickly every morning. If students opt out of taking the bus, it’s about a 20-minute walk to most classes.
Kearns has two roommates this year, a fellow swim team member and a foreign exchange student from Australia.
“It’s the best of both worlds,” she said. “I have a teammate, and I can learn all about a different area.”
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