by: Emma Glover
Can’t decide between East Campus or West Campus? Both sides of campus have so much to offer, especially when it comes to residence halls! Keep reading to learn more about what you can look forward to when living on East Campus or West Campus, from a student who has lived on both.
East Campus:
- East Campus is near the Student Recreation Center, Student Health Center, and downtown Carbondale.
- There are 3 residence halls to choose from. These are Mae Smith, Neely, and Schneider. The halls are 17 stories, but I personally like living in the lower levels if there are any rooms available. I lived on the second floor of Neely Hall and it was much easier to move things in and out! Also, you don’t have to wait on an elevator if you are in a rush for class.
- One of my favorite things about living in the towers is the kitchen. Here, you can bake or cook food that you cannot make in your room. I recommend finding out the hours that your kitchen is open and trying a new recipe.
- Trueblood Commons is right next to Neely Hall. One of the things that you will find here is a dining hall. A popular choice at the dining hall is The Grill. The Grill serves Mongolian grill-style food and is open daily, while classes are in session.
West Campus:
- West Campus is also known as Thompson Point. It is located next to Campus Lake and Thompson Woods.
- There are eleven 3-story residence halls to choose from on West Campus. These are Abbott, Bailey, Baldwin, Bowyer, Brown, Felts, Kellogg, Pierce, Smith, Steagall and Warren.
- On West Campus, each room comes with a vanity. I love these as I have plenty of room for all of my hair and makeup essentials! This also comes with three drawers and a cabinet to store anything else that you may need.
- One of my favorite things about Thompson Point is that there are lounges on each floor that cover the entire floor. This is the perfect place to study with no noise and lots of room.
- Like Trueblood on East Campus, Lentz Commons includes a dining hall located between Bailey Hall and Pierce Hall. On warm days, I love sitting outside with my friends as there is outdoor seating.
On either side of Campus, you can choose if you would like to live alone in a single room or live with a roommate in a double. The perks of living alone are that you have your own space and you can leave the lights on or set the temperature at whatever you please! On the other hand, living with a roommate may lead you to finding your new best friend and getting more involved in activities.
For more information, visit housing.siu.edu! No matter the location, living on campus at SIU will always be a great decision.
