When it comes to living on campus at UMass Amherst, the term “zoomass” has never been so relevant. From the online war zone of on-campus housing assignments to the distinct small communities that are in each residential area — where you live can really affect your experience at UMass. For example, if you are kind of quiet and like to keep to yourself and don’t love the party lifestyle, maybe JQA in Southwest isn’t the hall for you.
With this being said, it is a constant debate on campus regarding which residential area is the best to live in. Although it is a constant debate between Southwest and O-Hill, it is almost in agreement as to which residential area is the worst to live in, and Sylvan residential takes the cake. With online slander on the various student-run community-based Instagram pages like @UmassAffirmations, @Zoomass, and @ZoomassChicks, it is really no secret that Sylvan residential gets a pretty bad rep… but why?
I mean, the only people I’ve heard say terrible things about it have never lived there… could the Sylvan Slander just be another UMass tradition? One that we all just naturally believe and accept in order to fit in with the collegiate norms? As a former Sylvan resident, I would like to get to the bottom of this conspiracy because I really liked my time in the Sylvan suites.
For starters, you have a suite! A large area for seven to eight roommates, a shared common space, and each suite gets a private bathroom with custodian cleanups daily. Not to mention it is the most affordable living area on campus. It is only a seven-minute walk to get to Worcester Dining and about 11 minutes to get to the library at the center of campus. There are bus routes that drive up the hills for you and drop you conveniently off at the residential halls, I mean I really don’t see the downside.
I can see how the location, the direct opposite side of campus from Southwest, could be an issue. Of course, it is a little less convenient to get down to Southwest to party, but again there are bus routes in the winter that can drop students off at the Fine Arts Center or downtown by The Spoke if you are really craving a night out.
What I am getting at is that I understand Sylvan isn’t the best place to live — but it is definitely not as terrible as many Minutemen on campus make it out to be. And besides, none of the residential areas are going to be the Ritz Carlton. We are in our 20s living like Ninja Turtles, we really are not in any position to slander any of the halls to begin with. That in itself is what makes us who we are, and we are UMass.
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