Campus Housing now more popular

In regards to concerns for student’s safety, which Fredericksen said is parent’s biggest qualm about moving their student onto campus, in 2011 nine burglaries, three robberies, and one forcible sex offense were reported from on-campus residential housing, according to UNO’s Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report found on UNO’s website. The report compares these numbers to the 127 alcohol related incidents and 95 drug related crimes that occurred within the residence halls during the same year.

With only 2,100 students living at the residence halls out of the nearly 15,000 students enrolled at UNO, only about 14 percent of the student population lives in the dormitories despite on-campus housing’s recent uptick in popularity within the last decade.

“Living with my parents always was just the cheapest and most convenient choice for me,” junior Gabi Jelinek said. Jelinek lived with her parents during her first two years at UNO and now lives in an apartment with two friends. “I’ve considered living on campus before, but then I got too old. UNO’s housing seemed great when I was a freshman, but it begins to lose its allure.”

Jelinek said other reasons she thought UNO housing never attracted her was its high price for monthly rent, fear of living with roommates she wouldn’t get along with and the fact that most UNO students live elsewhere.

Despite the 75 empty beds, and a recent increase in student interest in living in the dorms,  over 80 percent of students live elsewhere, hinting that UNO remains a commuter campus overall.

Beyond plans to build new dorms within the near future, UNO housing has tried to combat the campus’ reputation as a commuter university by partnering with the university’s recruitment office. From being included in marketing that attracts students to UNO to hosting several open housing days to let incoming students tour the residential facilities, UNO’s housing hopes informing students about the dorms early on and letting them interact within the suites will recruit them both to UNO and to living on campus VanderHelm said.

“I personally encourage students to come live on campus because only here is everything at a student’s fingertips,” VanderHelm said. “Our residents can take better advantage of university resources, they have a special housing staff just for them and they have access to activities and prizes that are exclusive to those living on campus.”

After living at Maverick Village for over a year and a half, Kildow finally put the finishing touch on her room to make it home. Hanging a framed photo of herself and her three roommates on a late November morning, Kildow stepped back to admire the picture of them arm in arm during a summer day. Sighing with a smile on her face, Kildow said “finally all moved-in.”

“I really had no clue that living in the dorms would equate to me meeting my new best friends,” Kildow said. “Honestly, it’s one of the best choices I’ve ever made.”