Students share what it’s like to live alone

For some students, the single life is the best life—at least when it comes to residence hall living.

Audra Lutz ’21, who lives in a single room in Moore Hall this year, said living alone appeals to her desire for independence.

“You don’t have to worry about being quiet when you’re waking up early or going to bed late,” Lutz said. “Also, you don’t need to worry about disturbing someone when you have friends over.”

The demand for single housing varies from year to year, according to Residence Life Director of Housing & Operations Kelly Bersett.

Without administrative placement or a documented need for a single room, getting a single room happens on a first-come first-served basis or through a waitlist process, Bersett said.

There are a total of 49 single rooms on campus, with the most being in Moore Hall, and the rest spread across the campus houses, Ashwood Apartments and Merion Gardens.

Without documentation of a disability, students living in a single room are charged an additional fee of $500 per semester.

Bersett said about half of the students who opt for single rooms purposefully choose to be in a single. The other half make the request after, for example, having  a falling out with a roommate. In that case, one or both students will request a room change or to be put in a single.

“You kind of learn as you go and see what works best for you,” Bersett said. “Singles are great for some people and not great for other people, and it’s just kind of a personal style if that’s going to work or not.”

On the flip side, some students who initially choose single rooms end up feeling isolated. These students are then put on a waitlist to be placed into a room with other people.

Louis Serlenga ’21 lives in a single apartment in Ashwood Apartments this year, and so far, prefers having his own room.

“I like to have my own space,” Serlenga said. “It’s something that is very important to me. It’s a good way for me not to be bothering anyone and developing a better schedule.”

Like Lutz, Serlenga also values the independence that comes from living alone.

“I basically just have full agency over what I do and when I do it,” Serlenga said.

All of that is enough to override the one con Serlenga said he finds in living alone.

“It’s lonely,” Serlenga said. “If you’re having a bad day or whatever and you need somebody to talk to, you must call somebody. You don’t have a roommate to talk to.”

Anthony Minunni ’20 lived in a single room in Moore Hall last year. He said, overall, he enjoyed the experience.

“It was just freedom and complete privacy all year round,” Minunni said.

This year, though, he has a roommate, and he is enjoying that, too.

“If you have the chance to see what it’s like to be on your own, I’d say go for it,” Minunni said.