I attended Arizona State University between the years of 1994 and 1998. I lived in the on campus housing for my Freshman year and half of my Sophomore year. I am writing this review to warn parents about on campus housing and co-ed dorms. I moved in to the Freshman Dorm Palo Verde West in the summer of 1994. I shared a room with a roommate, and a bathroom with the room next door. On the other side of my wall were the rooms of four teenage boys.

I had not lived that close to someone of the opposite sex other than my family, so this was a new experience for me. I soon made friends with the boys next door, and soon enough we all had an open door policy. Big mistake. This just led to problems. I would wake up in the morning and discover that my roommate's boyfriend had "slept over." I would come home and be told that I could not stay in my bed because she had company.

I learned to live with this after awhile, but what occurred after I returned from Christmas break was something I could not live with. One night all of the people of the floor had congregated in one of the rooms next to mine. We were all talking and laughing. It was after 10pm and the night was winding down. I don't know remember how it began, but all of a sudden I was running to my room being chased. I locked the door behind me. After a few minutes, one of the girls from across the hall knocked and wanted to talk to my roommate. I let her in and she led the guy from down the hall into my room. He was the big cowboy type who liked playing with rope. I could not believe what happened next. I was tied up with rope as those on the floor watched and laughed. They dragged me down the hall, and tied me to a sprinkler head. After they had their laughs, they let me go, but the damage was done. My wrists were red, and I was emotionally devastated. I had been attacked.

When I explained what happened to the administration downstairs, they said they would move me the next day. However, nothing would be done to the young man and those that participated in the incident. I called my boyfriend and my parents. The cops were called, and the young man was taken into custody. Nothing came of the charges. The next day I moved onto an all-girl floor into my own room. I would not have a roommate again. The next year I lived in a co-ed environment again, but I kept myself. I did not want a repeat.

This situation was handled very badly by the ASU campus housing. They did nothing to him at all. I would not recommend co-ed housing. It can only lead to problems in the long run. It is fun and part of the college life, but not worth the problems it can cause. The campus housing in general is not all bad at ASU. Each dorm has its own problems. Some dorms are better than others. I lived in several of them in the year and half I lived on campus at ASU. By far my favorite was Cholla Apartments. It is apartment style living instead of a one-room environment.

As with any on campus housing, find the dorm or place that is right for your child. Each dorm is different. On ASU, they offer dorms specifically for Freshman to help them with tutoring and the transition into college life. Their was also dorms on campus for specific colleges and majors. Make the decision that is right for you and your child's piece of mind for the first time away from home.




Recommended: Yes