LINDSAY BOERMA
Staff Writer
For many, the off-campus commute is one to be dreaded — battling the traffic and watching dollars disappear at the gas pump. Pepperdine appeals to many, though, so those living off-campus choose to fight the barriers to get here.
Even with Pepperdine’s housing costs averaging between $3,655 to $5,265 per semester depending on location and size, many agree that Malibu living just is not in the cards for them.
Students such as sophomore Ryan Albanese, who lives through Malibu Canyon in the Malibu Canyon Apartments, move off-campus not to escape the high prices, but to taste the freedom it allows.
“I would say the best benefit of living off-campus is that I have more space to myself,” he said. “It’s relatively the same price as living in the on-campus housing, so money isn’t a key factor for me.”
Cost of living off-campus does affect certain students, though.
Christianne Lauria, a junior at Pepperdine, lives in the Malibu Canyon Village. While she lives merely a quarter of a mile from Pepperdine, she also commutes to her CheerForce Allstar cheerleading practices, which are held about and hour and a half away in Simi Valley.
“Living off-campus is definitely costing me more than if I had chosen to live on-campus this year,” Lauria claimed. “However, there are lots of benefits to living off-campus — the food, for sure. I like to cook, so making my own food was a primary factor in my decision. Another thing is that I feel like students who live on-campus are restricted by the rules.”
Junior Scott Varner, who currently lives on campus, said he believes there are benefits to both living off and on campus, as on-campus dorms are close to classes and friends.
“I live in the on-campus apartments right now, but my goal is to next year live near but off-campus,” Varner said. “I don’t think one is necessarily more expensive than the other. It depends on a lot of things, like whether or not you split the cost with other people, what kind of place it is, and regarding gas prices, how far away it is.”
And, others live off-campus simply because it has been a place they have called home for so long.
Jim Gash, associate dean for student life and an associate professor of law, lives 15 miles away in the Calabasas area.
“I was living off-campus when Pepperdine hired me, so it was mainly a decision to stay where we were,” Gash said. “Actually, it would be cheaper to live on-campus, and we intend to when our youngest is in college. She’s six.”
Gash said that the commute for the time being does not bother him, though.
“The only conflict is when Malibu Canyon is closed or there has been an accident and traffic is slow, otherwise it’s no problem,” he said. “It’s actually nice to have that downtime and the drive itself is beautiful.”
Regardless of whether it is cheaper, easier or more beneficial to live off-campus in later years, one belief is unanimous: the requirement for freshmen to live on-campus is definitely a good one.
“I think it’s a very good rule,” Lauria said. “The glamour of living off-campus is too much for freshmen, and it would really take away from Pepperdine’s reputation as being very family-oriented and producing leaders within those families.”
Freshman Kirsten Real from Arcadia lives close enough to be able to visit home once a week, yet truly appreciates Pepperdine’s policy on freshmen having to live on-campus.
“It forces you to socialize and make friends, which is part of the college experience that no one should miss out on,” Real said.
While nearly everyone agrees that the requirement for freshmen to live on campus is a beneficial policy, many students still decide to move off-campus later in their college careers.
Whether it be for monetary reasons, a desire for freedom or a personal decision of some other sort, it remains clear that when students do get accustomed to college life, the independence of off-campus living looks desirable.
All students have to make the decision on their own, though.
“I would say that each student has his or her own needs and desires regarding where they live in relation to campus,” Gash said. “Neither is a right or wrong decision, and I feel that’s true for both students and faculty.”
09-14-2006
