SH initially attracted me because it was the “oldest” housing on campus, part of the original pouring of the concrete, as it were.
What I found there liberated me from a shy (very) sheltered Asian girl from an Evangelical (actually, more rabid) Christian family into a thinking human being able to stand on her own.
I had many friends who had chosen Baker/NH/”the other side” of the campus who later regretted their choices as they didn’t know. However, having settle into their chosen housing, inertia took over.
East side of the campus meant that I could walk back to my “home” and get away from the crushing pressure of the academia. It meant, I could let loose and no one would judge my eclectic taste or “weirdness” (different values). I meant that being free from judgement, I was free to express myself in ways I never thought possible.
This kind of freedom is something that needs to be treasured! Not only did I get a first rate education while living there, the people who chose to live there became my close family with whom I still keep close contact after all these years (well, FB helps a bit with that).
I could never have taken that first hesitating step without the support of the upperclass women who told me, “everyone’s opinion counts here” and she meant it. The fact that I still remember her and her words which had a huge impact on my life should be noted (Thank you, Tamar More!)