College students have it tough these days

I went to college back in the Stone Age -- we didn't have cable TV in dormitory rooms at Messiah College, just in the main lounge. So what did my brother-in-law, Santosh, and I do? We ran a cable from our room to the lounge illegally, of course. It was great to watch all those channels in our room, but not so great to be called into the dean's office.

Times sure have changed. Just check out the new luxury rooms at Purdue University, my wife Malathi's alma mater in Indiana.

The $52 million First Street Towers, parts of which will open this fall, includes 365 single-occupant rooms with private bathrooms, flat-screen televisions, wireless Internet, free laundry facilities and cleaning services.

The price starts at $13,800 for the academic year, and all available rooms were filled by Thursday, less than two days after open registration began.

"Our architects designed this so it is a comfortable residence hall," said Tom Paczolt, the hall's general manager. "But they tried so it didn't feel like a residence hall. We wanted to have an apartment feeling." [Link]

An apartment feeling? Are you sure you weren't going for a "penthouse feeling"?  (No, I don't mean the feeling you get when you open the magazine.)

I'm not surprised that, even in this tough economy, there's a huge demand for these SBRs (spoiled brat rooms). I also won't be surprised if some of the new occupants complain about their rooms during orientation:

Dad: "What a nice room, Stewart!"

Stewart: "What the %$@#!"

Dad: "What's wrong, Stewart?"

Stewart: "The TV. It's not high-def! How am I supposed to watch the Colts on a flat-screen?"

Dad: "Why don't you buy yourself a high-def TV? Here, I'll write you a check for $1,000. Will that be enough?"

Stewart: "Can you make it $4,000? I'd like to get a satellite dish and a hot tub, too."

Dad: "Okay, son. Just make sure you study hard this year, all right?"

Comments

[mosilager]

Well you know the best studying is done in a hot tub with some champagne and beer. I tell you, the moment I leave they come up with something like this... not fair.

[amreekandesi]

:)