Brown is known for lots of great things: the Open Curriculum, diverse student body, impactful research and innovative programs like the Program in Liberal Medical Education and the Brown-RISD Dual Degree. However, one aspect of our University is not only poorly rated, but carries an unjustly bad reputation: on-campus housing.
Though the majority of undergraduate students will live on campus for six semesters, in my experience, there is a widespread perception that the housing facilities at Brown are lackluster. This was apparent to me before I even got to College Hill: Various articles about Brown’s housing circulated among the incoming first-year students, preparing us for the less-than-ideal conditions we’d be met with at move-in. Incoming students were warned of mold, stench, bugs and malfunctioning laundry and bathroom appliances. After all, the University only provides a few newly renovated housing options for its students.
Even though Brown dorms are not state-of-the-art, we should embrace our dorm culture. At nearly all of my college tours, student housing was a main line of questioning from concerned students and parents. While they were usually answered tactfully by peppy tour guides, only one university allowed us to go inside a dorm — Washington University in St. Louis. Known for its amazing dorm facilities, WashU dorms have long ranked among the best in the country, which explains why the admissions office is happy to put them on display. Brown doesn’t need extravagant facilities to demonstrate that same kind of pride. Our historic buildings offer equally unique, pride-inspiring allure: an opportunity for character development and real-world preparation.
As a first-year living in Keeney Quadrangle, I have not found nearly as many reasons to complain as Brown’s dorm reputation had me thinking I would. My double room is a fairly big 15-by-15-foot square, with two sunny, fourth-floor windows, closets with plenty of space and accompanying dorm furniture. While my relatives were not particularly impressed during Family Weekend, especially given the annual price of on-campus housing, I’ve liked my dorm experience so far. Some might complain about a lack of air conditioning, but cooler Providence weather comes as early as October, relieving this overdone gripe by the end of the first month of the semester.
Even the “least desirable” dorms are not as bad as they are made out to be. Few people enter the springtime housing lottery with hopes of ending up in Perkins Hall. However, those who bear the unfortunate fate seem to disagree with this grim view of their housing, according to recent activity on Sidechat. A few anonymous users claiming they lived in Perkins commented that the situation is not that bad and that rooms are relatively spacious — a stark contrast from the disaster they were preparing for. Although Perkins is one of Brown’s furthest on-campus residence halls, some of these Sidechat users commented that they have learned to leverage the additional walking time to listen to audiobooks or other enjoyable media.
Brown housing is also not defined by its weakest links. Students can apply for accommodations or specialty housing, gaining access to temperature-controlled, modern residential options like the Wellness Residential Experience at Sternlicht Commons or program houses. The competitiveness of securing a spot in one of these coveted dorms indicates that Brunonians clearly know that Brown housing is a spectrum and is not limited to damp, old dorms.
People are entitled to their opinions on Brown housing, even if they are unjustly negative. In fact, we should use this inaccurate perception to motivate us to spend our time elsewhere. While spending time in your room is necessary and certainly part of the college experience, so too are all the activities that can be done outside of it. A beautiful, modern room can encourage students to hibernate — and sometimes rot — inside its walls, while a room with a few more rough edges can inspire you to take a step outside, and experience all of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that college can offer. Especially at Brown, a school driven by individual exploration, everyone should be discovering new places to spend time, whether around College Hill, Providence or elsewhere.
Consider studying in one of Brown’s amazing libraries — or outdoors, if the weather permits — compared to at a desk in your room. Think about eating at the dining hall at a table surrounded by your friends, or dare I say, cheering at a sporting event. Think about spending time on the Main Green or in the campus center. While some students will always find cause to complain, as a community, we ought to embrace all parts of our school, even the less world-renowned ones.
Clay Edelson ’29 can be reached at clayton_edelson@brown.edu. Please send responses to this column to letters@browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
