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by Rebekah Farquhar

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Students Chafe At On-Campus Housing Rule

Twenty-eight out of 50 Multnomah students polled believe that students under age 21 should be allowed to live off-campus.

Sixty-nine percent of those under age 21 agreed that Multnomah Bible College should permit students to live off-campus compared with 38 percent of those over 21 who agreed. Upperclassmen and lowerclassmen were evenly split on the issue.

The most common reason students cited to support younger students living off-campus was that students over 18 are legal adults and should be allowed to make their own decisions.

Forty-three percent of the majority added that MBC should require all students to live on-campus for at least one year. "We need to experience on-campus [life] and a Christian atmosphere. It is spiritually beneficial and unique," Grant Conley, 22, a junior, said.

Eighteen of the 50 students polled said community was the most important aspect of on-campus life.

Twenty-eight percent of those polled said that students should be required to live on-campus until age 21. This minority also cited community as the main reason the college should continue its on-campus requirement. J.T. Bennett, 19, a freshman, said, "The point of Multnomah is to change us. The community of strong Christians helps us grow in our faith."

Jordan Lutz, 21, a junior, said, "If students were off-campus, some would have too much freedom and detach themselves from the community."

Several students suggested that the college use a standard other than age for on-campus requirements. "Maybe by the time they are juniors they should be allowed to live off-campus," Rebecca Robinson, 20, a junior, said. "Some students enter [college] early and will never be old enough. Twenty-one is too old."

Eight of the 50 polled were undecided. Christine McCray, 20, a freshman, said, "This is my first year on campus. I love living on campus, but I can see how it could get old after a few years if you don't have freedom to get off-campus."

According to Kelly Fried, the director of student services, MBC originally based the on-campus age requirement on the assumed age of freshmen who had just graduated from high school.

He said, "It has been common practice to allow seniors to request exemption and allow them to live off-campus, regardless of their age."

Mr. Fried mentioned that the college's philosophy of community life enables the faculty, staff and resident assistants to establish relationships and disciple students. This could not be accomplished if Multnomah were a commuter school.

The poll was conducted in person around the Joseph C. Aldrich Student Center and dorms from Oct. 26 to Oct. 30.

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