If you’re a freshman at Marist, chances are you probably have never even heard of LWC, let alone know where it is. I know I didn’t. I actually had never ventured over to Lower West until I signed up to live there for my Sophomore year. Although I blindly chose LWC as my 2016 housing, I couldn’t be happier with my decision. Here are five reasons why this small community of townhouses through the underpass and over the bridge should be your number one pick for housing:
1. Location, location, location!
Sure, Lower West may not be as close to the main campus as Champ or Marian, but, as a sophomore, I actually enjoy the quick ten-minute walk to the Library or Dining Hall. LWC has a nice balance between feeling like you’re living off campus, and yet not being too far away either. Although farther from main campus than the freshman dorms, one of the best pluses about living in Lower West is that it’s conveniently located right across the street from all the necessities, such as: Rite Aid, Campus Deli, Yeung Ho II Chinese, and Fifth Ave Nail Spa. What more could a girl ask for?
2. It’s not a dorm.
Believe me, I’m glad I had the opportunity to experience dorm life for a year, but I think I speak for many fellow sophomores and upperclassmen when I say: so over it. LWC are townhouses, which are completely different from the dorms. Inside your typical Lower West home, you’ll find a kitchen (equipped with two fully sized refrigerators, stove, and oven), living room, two bathrooms, and four bedrooms (two girls per room). Living in LWC has a much homier feel than those long, depressing dorm hallways. And plus, who doesn’t love decorating a house with your friends?
3. Different Dining Plan Options
Since all the houses in Lower West have kitchens, Marist doesn’t require you to purchase that super pricey carte blanche meal plan. Instead, you have the option of choosing a certain amount of Dining Hall swipes for the semester, which also come with Thrifty Cash. My favorite is the 130 meal plan (average of eight Dining Hall meals per week) which supplies you with $500 in Thrifty. Thrifty Cash comes in handy because many convenient places on campus, such as the Cabaret, Marketplace, and Dyson Café accept it. Being able to have more options other than the Dining Hall (sorry not sorry, Sodexo) is a huge benefit to living in LWC.
4. The ability to cook.
Although you’ll have more places to dine at while living in Lower West, sometimes a girl just wants to stay in and cook a nice meal for her and her friends. Take the $1 shuttle bus to Stop N Shop on the weekend, or order from Marist’s new Farm 2 Table delivery service to have fresh groceries delivered right to you! There’s no better way to bond with your housemates than preparing and eating a home cooked meal, in your own home!
5. The lawn.
No matter where you live, you’ll make some amazing friends. But there’s just something about living in LWC that makes me feel so comfortable and at home. Maybe it’s the community lawn, where you’ll frequently see students doing homework, tossing around a football, or just laying out on the grass enjoying the sunshine. I love the sense of community I feel when I walk outside and see my fellow students hanging out and getting to know each other.
Although Lower West Cedar isn’t the only place for sophomores to live on campus, it certainly is the best. I know the semester has only just begun, but if you’re a freshman, definitely check out Lower West and see it for yourself — I guarantee you’ll fall in love!
Images courtesy of Julia Halsey.