Letter to the Editor:

Freshman likes Tiger Diggs

By Paul Reeves, freshman

Published Oct. 30, 2009

I was fairly disappointed when I read the editorial you wrote about the housing situation in the Oct. 23 issue of The Maneater.

I am a freshman living in building 8A of the Tiger Diggs community. I am also the president of community government for buildings 8A and 8B, a Tiger Diggs Residence Halls Association representative, Tiger Diggs Executive Board member and RHA National Communications Coordinator-in-Training. As you can see, living at extended campus has not hindered my ability to become an active member of the University of Missouri. I’m also involved in several other programs around campus.

As a freshman living at Diggs, I find your editorial unfair. I would like to know how many of the editorial board has even lived at an extended campus location, much more as a freshman. I will grant you Diggs has its problems such as Internet connectivity and solicitation, but overall living here has been a fantastic experience.

I live with two other freshmen in an apartment for four (our other roommate joined a fraternity) and wouldn’t change it for the world. We have a kitchen, laundry room and living room within our apartment that has been the location of many a fantastic movie/award show party. Also at Diggs, we have a 24-hour fitness and computing centers, ball courts and much more. It’s pretty swank for college life.

Your charge that living at extended campus is detrimental to freshmen is simply untrue. Although it might not provide the same experience an on-campus residence hall provides, we still have a tight-knit community of friends and peers. I often find myself visiting other residents (when I’m not busy with my numerous activities) within my building, hanging out, watching movies, studying, etc. We don’t need cars (several of my freshmen friends have them anyway, and we don’t have to worry about parking) because we have a twice-an-hour campus shuttle that runs until 1:30 a.m.

Living in extended campus also has other benefits. I can spend much less money on food as I have the means to cook for myself. Coin-op laundry is also a non-issue as a washer and dryer is provided in every room.

I came to live at Diggs because of the lack of rooms the editorial discusses. However, I feel it was an intervention of fate that I appreciate very much.

I will admit that on campus residence hall life and extended campus residence hall life are two very different experiences. However, they are both experiences that are worthwhile in a student’s first year, no one less valid than the other.

I would like to thank all the student staff and hall coordinator of Tiger Diggs for this experience of a fantastic residence hall. Perhaps the editorial board should experience something before they judge it.