After a long day of classes, South Campus apartments provide residents with an escape from the chaos of Main Campus. It’s a ‘home away from home’ feeling. Located approximately two miles away from Main Campus, South Campus offers 2-person and 3-person apartments for undergraduate and graduate students.

All apartments include a private bathroom, living room, kitchen and individual rooms. They also come furnished with a couch, coffee table, dining area and beds.

Skytop Apartments occupy the majority of South, located on Chinook Drive, Farm Acre Road, Lambreth Lane, Small Road and Winding Ridge Road. There are hundreds of apartments able to house approximately 1,700 students.

Steve Murdock, a sophomore social work major, said that one disappointment for him was the university’s rule prohibiting pets. He said he feels that it makes the apartments less like a home.

‘I just got a little hamster, and I got written up for it,’ Murdock said.

Another housing option, Slocum Heights apartments on South Campus, is available for undergraduate and graduate students. Each of these 35 buildings includes a common storage area and laundry room. Students can choose between 1-bedroom flats and 2-bedroom flats.

Goldstein Student Center is situated in the middle of South and houses an exercise room, large laundry area, quiet study room and Goldstein Dining Center. Unlike Main Campus dining centers, students can choose from Sbarro’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Jump Asian Express and other fast food. SUpercard or cash are the only acceptable forms of payment accepted.

Murdock said that Goldstein is at an inconvenient location, far from his Skytop apartment.

The bus ride is another deterrent of South Campus living. Unless residents have access to cars, the bus is the only mode of transportation. Freshman newspaper major, Julissa Montalvo, said that the bus is the only reason why she wouldn’t live on South next semester.

‘If you don’t have a car, you’re basically stuck,’ Montalvo said. ‘I personally don’t like getting up in the morning, and living on South, I would have to get up 20 minutes earlier to conform to the bus schedule. Everyone seems to have problems with catching the buses.’

The lowdown on South’s apartments: The apartments themselves are about the same prices as regular dorm rooms, but provide more space. It’s good if you want to get away from Main Campus, but you might have a long wait for the bus to get there. Once on South, Goldstein is fine for a few weeks, but the fast food and unchanging menus spike cravings for a unique meal.

smtracey@syr.edu

Published on March 18, 2009 at 12:00 pm