By Lucie Burns | October 14, 2024
Dutch Commons
Photo Credit: Lucie Burns / The ASP
When people visit the University at Albany, they gaze up at the towering pillars of greatness: Stuyvesant, Mohawk, Easton, and Livingston. But little do they know that right under those towers lie the hidden gems that are the low rise dorms– the best and most underrated spots to live on campus, especially the ones on Dutch Quad.
As a transfer student, I had heard glorious things about Dutch Quad and that it was “the one” to go for when applying. I applied to live in Stuyvesant Tower, but luckily I was saved from that overrated option and was placed into a low rise instead. If you are looking for information on dorms, I will tell you why the low rises are truly the most underrated places you can live on campus that are worth your money.
Amenities
One of the things my dorm came built in with was the asbestos in the ceiling. How do I know it’s asbestos? I know this because my room also happened to come with signs telling me NOT to touch the ceilings with asbestos. How informative! Debris from the ceiling might still fall on your head though. Living here may take a few years off your life, but that is a later problem, one that far succeeds the greatest year of your existence living in the low rises!
The room also came with abstract artwork drawn into the ceilings from previous students, who apparently weren’t afraid to touch them. It’s really quite fun because the artwork is up to your interpretation. I see a nose, claw marks, even a game of tic tac toe, perhaps! Carefully placed right above my roommate's bed lies a beautiful sun: an inspirational reminder that every day the sun rises and you can awake to a fresh start. It really adds comfort and takes your room decor to the next level.
Residents
Sometimes the lowrises on Dutch have to be used as overflow housing if the other dorms run out of room, or if they haven’t already banished the unexpecting students down the road to Alumni Quad. Luckily, as a transfer student who is a junior and just had my school declare bankruptcy, I get to live in overflow housing with all freshmen. Not to worry though, it just gives me the opportunity to spend more time getting fresh air when the fire alarm is set off twice in one night.
Spaciousness
UAlbany really teaches you a lot of life skills, whether you expected it or not! You really learn how to be a minimalist when you can’t have a desk fit in your room. Also your microfridge will not fit either. Or your TV. Or anything else you bring. When other colleges offer “suites” you really assume that means they come with, like, a couch or something as well. You are wrong though, because all the common room in the suits can fit is the desks that didn’t fit in your room. When you go on a tour the showroom you see is much bigger and nicer. Don’t get your hopes up.
An abundance of stairs
There are only three floors, so there are no elevators in the lowrise building. Not only that, there is more than one staircase up to the third floor, so you can pick which staircase you’d like to venture up! This is especially fun when you’re carrying 2 grocery bags and a case of water. Or when you have to move all of your things in and the cart doesn't fit up the stairs so you have to carry everything! Not only does this save you from the struggle of waiting for an elevator, it also makes you realize that you need to get more exercise because you’re winded by the second floor.
In Conclusion
Every day I walk by that mysterious purple tarp covering one of the low rises and wonder what they are hiding underneath there. An entire building has been undergoing construction for months but at the same time, I am not sure. I’ve never actually seen a construction worker there. I’m not sure why my building wasn’t at the top of the renovation list, but it just teaches me that I'm spoiled and need to be grateful for what I am paying thousands of dollars for (probably lung cancer).
As you can see, the positives really outweigh the negatives. Forget the glimmering lights of the towers and the Empire apartments with everything you could possibly need– why risk it when you can live in a low rise, and be content for life?
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