French House
Will Stovall, a senior at The University of Texas, returned from studying in Mexico determined to go to law school. In service of this goal, he resolved to work harder, which meant he would have little chance to see old friends or to acquire new ones.
"My thinking was that I wouldn't have time to make a social life, so I needed to have people around," said Will. So instead of renting an apartment, he moved into French House, one of 15 cooperative living facilities run by students on the university's campus.
College co-ops began to spring up during the Depression as a means of providing students with low-cost housing. And while today's interest in housing co-ops stems in part from economics, the simple matter of a shared meal is another draw. Many students, particularly those attending large universities like Texas, envision the alternative as a sandwich eaten alone in a sterile apartment.
For Milton Wong, it was the immediate sense of close-knit community that drew him to French House. "There was an ease in the relationships between the members that comes only from sincerity and respect. And I wanted to be part of that."
French House provides low-cost housing to students in an area where rents are sky-high. Milton explains that co-op living also teaches members about the intangibles of life, like budgeting, dealing with people from diverse backgrounds and opinions, and having a sense of responsibility to a large cause. "And there is no finer way to learn about what you find important and what you really believe in than to live with 19 strangers that become your family," he added.
Learn more about French House at www.iccaustin.coop/join/french.shtml.