Lincoln Tower and Morrill Tower might not be students' first choice to live in. However, through the article “Not Your Parents’ Dorm Room: Changes in Universities’ Residential Housing Privacy Levels and Impacts on Student Success”, I would like to differ on that thought. This article is about the negative impact of the modern trend in university dorms, which is to prioritize personal space. Many modern university dorms are apartment-style dorms. As this isolates students from socializing, this has harmed students' well-being, social life, and academic success. Even though modern dorms negatively impact students, they are highly demanded. Modern dorms limit the opportunity for students to have spontaneous social interaction and networking, vital for a sense of belonging and community. The article found that the increase in architectural compartmentation limits social interaction, leading to feelings of isolation and a negative grade point average. Overall, the article suggests that a balance between private space and social spaces is essential for a successful college life (Kim).
When we look at other dorms, they differ greatly from Lincoln Tower. The South Campuses, Baker Hall, Canfield Hall, and Mack Hall all have double rooms. The only shared areas are the floor lounge and the bathroom area. Also, North Campuses such as The Residence on Tenth or Houston House have doubles or quads with no common areas(https://housing.osu.edu/roomsearch/). On the other hand, at the Twin Towers, you will live with eleven people. With built-in living room areas, there is plenty of space for socialization and social networking. Since each suite or rooms are closely connected to the others, you will find yourself becoming friends with people living next to you as well. Lincoln Tower has many common areas where you could easily bond. The 15th floor is used as a study lounge, floor meet-ups, cooking, and playing pool or ping pong. Additionally, there is a gaming center on the first floor. At this gaming center, you could play PC games, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. By playing your favorite games, you could meet new people who live at Lincoln Tower.
Why socializing is so important and why you want to socialize.
Another study done by the National Library of Medicine states that friendship in universities impacts students' academic performance and grade point average. Socializing and friendships provide emotional support, which reduces stress. This led to improved focus and better concentration on studies. Not only does friendship positively impact grades and mental health, but it also results in collaborative learning and exchanging academic ideas. Hence, students learn through friendship how to work with each other. As they work with one another, it improves comprehension and retention of the course. The systematic review found that peer connections led to collaborative learning and exchanging academic ideas, which improved students' understanding and retention of the course.
Another thing the study found was that friendships influence how students behave academically. It showed the students' study habits and how much time they spend on studying matched their friends. The studies in the review found that when a student with an average GPA makes friends with students with high GPAs, the student's GPA would also rise. Also known as the "academic success contagion" effect, students who were in friend groups with high GPAs would also have high GPAs. Inversely, students who hang out with peers with low GPAs would perform poorly. Ultimately, the study shows how closely related socializing and academic performance are. Thus, being in an environment where you can meet as many people as possible allows you to choose which friends will benefit you or bring you down.