For the past three years, an upward trend has become apparent on Washburn’s campus: the number of students choosing to live on campus. This year, the Living Learning Center, Kuehne, West, and the Washburn Village are at full capacity.

“We have 646 residents throughout campus this semester,” said Kate McCown, assistant director of Residential Living. “This is up from 617 residents last year.”

With on-campus residency on the rise, both staff and students agree that this brings other benefits.

“We are obviously excited to have so many students here,” said McCown. “We can hopefully have them involved with more student organizations because they are living right here on campus.”

Edwin Madrigal, a sophomore and former resident of the LLC, said that he has noticed there are more people living on campus, and agrees that this is only a good thing for Washburn.

“This means more revenue and more students getting the full experience,” said Madrigal. “Hopefully this will mean more involvement and higher attendance at events.”

The only disadvantage that returning students and those who have moved off campus have complained about, over and over again, is the lack of parking.

“I’m pretty sure there are enough parking spots campus wide; there are just a lot of people who don’t want to walk very far to get to class,” said Misty Campbell, sophomore. “Therefore, the only places they’re looking for spots, are already taken.”

The rise in on-campus residency is not based solely on the incoming freshmen this year. Many students, such as Campbell, chose to stay on campus after their first year at Washburn. As well, many students who chose to spend their first year at home have decided to try venturing out on their own.

Blake Shinn, a sophomore who grew up in the Topeka area, and whose family currently resides here, chose to spend his first year of college at home. This year, he moved into the Washburn Village.

“Moving on campus was an easy choice for me this year,” said Shinn. “Living on campus gives you the chance to have some personal room to not be distracted, which you can’t always get living at home.”

The social aspects weighed in on Shinn’s decision as well.

“I think living on campus allows you to get closer to your friends because you can relate to them more because you’re in the same situations. You can walk to class together, and you have close-knit study groups,” said Shinn.

Jacob Stuckey, a sophomore who lived in the LLC last year and now lives in the Washburn Village said that convenience was key in his choice of where to live.

“I decided to live on campus again because I didn’t want to be tied into a year-long lease on an apartment.,” said Stuckey. “Also, I decided on the Village because that meant that I would not have to get up as early for classes as I would if I were living away from campus.”