Desmond hall shares one more story from behind closed doors

Aubrey Henry

Editor’s note: This is the final episode in the dorm diaries series. We thank those who participated in the interviews and kept up on our weekly journey through the life in the Sacramento State dorms. Stay tuned next week for the unveiling of our new weekly series. You will definitely want to keep up with this column ?” it’s all about sex.

The Desmond Hall dormitory complex’s green and crème color scheme and flat, blocky set-up give it a somewhat institutional look. Within the bunker-like structure the walls are painted in the same unmistakably odd scheme, further lending itself to the Lego block appearance of the building.

Residents of the hall were far from eager to go on the record about living there. At least seven students refused to comment on life in the dormitory. Some students simply ignored requests for comment. Some lengthened their gait as if to get as far away from a potential interview as quickly as possible.

Eventually two student-residents gave their respective views on life at Desmond and both ushered similar sentiment. There’ll be no love lost when they got out of it. In addition, neither would provide their real names for the Hornet.

“John,” a 19-year-old undeclared freshman compared living in the dormitory to a penitentiary facility when asked how it compared to other campus dorms he’d visited.

“When I went down to L.A. it was a little nicer,” “John” said. “They have elevators and stuff and it’s not straight brick like this, so it’s not like a prison.”

Over the past weekend “John” fled the “depressing” Desmond Hall facility to visit friends in Chico. It’s something that he says he does “almost every weekend” to get away from a living situation that offers little in the way of scenery and even less activity-wise. A lack of things to do for dorm residents is something that “John” says makes living in the dorm a less than desirable experience for many residents.

“We have the recreation room, the TV and sometimes and they’ll serve root beer floats and put up signs saying free beer,” “Chris” said while laughing. “Other than that, you’re pretty much on your own.”

“Chris,” a 19-year-old freshman nursing major laughs while calling the dorms “horrible looking.” He also cries foul while discussing the entertainment or lack thereof in the dorms.

“You pretty much have to meet people with a car,” “Chris” said while puffing of a cigarette in front of the building. “A lot of people end up joining fraternities or sororities so they can get out and do stuff.”

“Chris” plans to move out of the dorms and into an apartment before the next semester. He attests that the majority of his fellow dorm dwellers feel the same.

“I’ve heard of one person that’s lived in the dorms from more than one term,” “Chris” said while grinning. “Next year, I won’t be living in the dorms for sure.”

The past several weeks have show us that dorm life has its ups and downs. Each story is as individual as the person sharing it. While the dorms may not be a palace, they are a step towards independence and a necessity for many.

Most people’s first experience moving out on their own is not all front porch, white picket fence fairy tales. And the dorms at Sacramento State seem to be no different.

Aubrey Henry can be reached at [email protected].