Column: A “fresh” look: Coyote vs. North Complex

In February, incoming students filled out the annual housing application and were faced with numerous boxes to check, and spaces to fill.

Among the questions were: Who do you want to live with? Do you like to study in your room? Will you be having guests over?

For first-year students, the living choices are minimal compared to the upperclassmen.

But they are faced with one major ultimatum: North Complex or Coyote Village?

Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Staying in North Complex is the typical first-year scenario with a shared bedroom, study space and living area all in one. There is a custodian to clean the floor’s shared bathroom, kitchen and laundry room.

The floor family atmosphere is apparent in North Complex, and people are able to pop in and out of dorm rooms whenever the resident wishes.

While almost everyone is in the same first-year boat in North Complex, Coyote Village has its range of students, upperclassmen and otherwise.

The number of people sharing a kitchen and living area reduces from about 80 to two to four. However, residents are responsible for maintaining a well kept home that can consist of scrubbing toilets and vacuuming the carpet for the next eight long months.

Being the ignorant first-year, I decided to check the box marked Coyote Village as my number one choice – one week after it became available to new students.

Of course, I did not get to live in the grand estate. But is it as grand as they claim?

Although Coyote allows for maximum privacy, the opportunities to befriend people are limited with the restriction on doors propped open to the hallway.

I trust any student can formulate their own opinion on which advantages outweigh the disadvantages of each living hall.

Let it be known, I am content with my housing assignment. If I were not living in North Complex, I would not have been lined up according to hall on move-in day to walk over to the DakotaDome for convocation and would never have met my new best friends.

Wherever you were placed, my hope is that you feel the same.

If you got a little queasy at the thought of having to slip on shoes every time you had to use the restroom or the fact you had to share your personal space with a complete stranger, you were not alone.

Like many things, dorm life is what you make of it. Embrace the “fresh” start, go ahead and live the stereotypical life of a dorm resident the two years you are allowed.