Howard Students Seek Independence Off-Campus Despite Risk

Some of the best moments of a Bison's first years at Howard are experienced in residence halls. However, after a year or two, most have become acclimated with the excitement of campus, and having grown tired of the many rules, restrictions, and shortcomings of dormitories, they desire further independence, and decide to seek space off-campus.

For some, it isn't so black and white. With an influx of new students coming in and the availability of campus housing stagnated, relocating to a space beyond Bison territory is the only option. Whatever the case, there is much scrutiny when deciding to relocate outside of Howard's campus.

"The first precaution that students should take is to tour the surrounding communities at different times of the day to see what type of neighborhoods there are and to see how safe it is in order to get an idea of the climate and the culture of the area," said Marc D. Lee, Dean of Residence Life at Howard.

Considering those things that are out of one's control—like burglaries for instance—is extremely essential. This acclaimed institution is situated in the heart of one of Washington, D.C.'s most historic areas, and also one of its most dangerous. When upperclassmen students decide to make the jump from dorm life to living on their own, most move into homes in the vicinity, and that fact is oftentimes forgotten.

According to statistics provided by Onboard Informatics in the Washington Post's Real Estate section, the LeDroit Park neighborhood has a burglary risk of 64 percent compared to the national average. The collective burglary risk in D.C. is 138 percent. Though the District's overall crime rate has seen a considerable decrease in recent years, those numbers are still very alarming, and many students have fallen victim to their homes being unjustly invaded. Of those students is Ta'Darrell Randolph, a senior Television Production major, who left town on vacation only to return and find his home ransacked and valuable items missing.

"Living off-campus is the best feeling in the world, for the most part," said Randolph. "It puts responsibility on you. One of the cons is dealing with burglaries; I've personally had some things stolen from my house. Be sure to get renter's insurance in case of fires, burglaries, and water damage and be sure to look at the right areas."

According to the Metropolitan Police Department's Burglary Prevention page, "strong locks—and good neighbors who look out for one another—can be effective deterrents to burglars." Thus, forming bonds with the people in one's community is essential.

With liberty, comes accountability. When students leave the comfort of university housing, they are responsible for their own livelihoods. One must be prepared for all that comes with living in the "real world." However, there are systems out there to aid in the transition.

"Students should contact the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) to help them with managing living off campus and with landlord and tenants rights," said Dean Lee. "We have been meeting with various Advisory Neighborhood Commission chairs and homeowner associations in the surrounding areas to discuss better ways to acclimate Howard students into living in the community and being liable adults."

Renting a home or an apartment during your last few years as an undergraduate student can be an exciting experience and a landmark on the way to adulthood. Being prepared and considering all of the pros and cons is essential. For those students still craving the safety net that ResLife provides--get those RSVP points up and start saving for that $200 housing deposit, NOW.