Students seek off-campus spots

• 
  

David Beatrice would like to stop eating at SAGA. The sophomore would also like to stop living in the dorms. Beatrice, like 235 other men at Hillsdale College, wants permission to live off campus.
So far, he hasn't heard of any approval from the College.
Victoria Landen would like to cook her renowned Cajun/Thai shrimp platter in the convenience of her own kitchen. Though she has been approved for off-campus living, the junior hasn't nailed down the number of roommates she'll have. Despite the competition for off-campus living, 173 women applied this year, it's no chip on her shoulder.
"I'm just looking for a kitchen, a bedroom and a door that locks," Landen said. "And a place with internet."
She said, however, she doesn't much care. While it would be nice to have a kitchen to herself, she'd also like to no worry about furnishing an apartment.
Dean of Women Diane Phillip said for the past five years more students have been given permission to live off campus. This year, with a 20 percent increase in applicants to Hillsdale College, the administration is taking particular care in arranging student's living quarters.
"The benefits of living off campus can be gained by living in the Suites," Landen said.
Phillip said the off-campus list constantly moves as prospective students decide where to go to college, and if students who've applied for off-campus and received permission change their mind.
But Beatrice said college students shouldn't need permission to live off of College property.
"It doesn't treat us like adults," he said.
But Phillip said the College needs to fill beds so it can make money to operate.
"We have to fill beds to remain fiscally responsible," Phillip said.
This is the first year Hillsdale College has passed the 1,400 student milestone. Though the number of students are increasing, the College has no plans to grow the number of dorms. Phillip said the school plans to keep the student body around the 1,400 mark.
"Resident halls, the cafeteria, everything is pressed hard when you get close to that magic number," Phillip said. "If we have 10 more students coming in and we need some to go off campus we'll call them as late as June. Usually it's not a big problem."
It was a big problem last year when plans to convert Koon Residence into a men's dormitory were dropped to accommodate incoming freshman women. When this happened, Phillip said Dean of Men Aaron Petersen had a group of men on the waiting list, including freshman, who were given off-campus permission.
Phillip said such an issue won't happen this year, as Koon is being converted back into a men's dormitory.
Off-campus permission is determined by year: seniors first, then juniors, followed by any sophomores  or freshman. Phillip said Hillsdale used to give permission based on general credit hours, but after sophomores began to bump juniors from the off-campus list the administration changed the rules to Hillsdale credit hours only.
Beatrice said if he doesn't get off campus, he can live in the Sigma Chi fraternity house or in the dorms, though he'd prefer living downtown by the railroads where he and his brothers would live. Where living is less expensive.