It is time for Eastern students to start seriously considering whether or not they want to live in the residence halls or sign leases to live in apartments or houses.

Steve Davis, Eastern’s Attorney at Law, sees a lot of students in legal trouble.

Davis said students need to be aware that most leases are written to favor the landlord, and in order to proper protect themselves they need to read the lease thoroughly.

“I’d rather that the student really get into it so they know what I am saying when I tell them things,” Davis said.

Mark Hudson, the director of University Housing and Dining Services, said he understands Eastern students wanting to leave the residence halls, but does not think students should enter into a legally binding agreement with landlords.

“I still think that, developmentally, people need to think seriously what is in their ultimate best interest to graduate on time,” Hudson said.

Students jump into leases too early and do not consider the future ramifications, Hudson said.

Conrad Widdersheim, a senior biology major, transferred to Eastern from a community college and currently lives off campus.

“I think it would have been a good experience to live on campus, but every upperclassman needs to experience off-campus living as well,” Widdersheim said.

Hudson said students need to make sure they are aware of the type of people they can or cannot live with.

“A lot of students get pied-piper’d off campus too early by older students that just need roommates,” Hudson said. “People need to make good decisions.”

Widdersheim said other students should realize the duties required to live on their own.

“(It’s) a lot more responsibility-you have to fend for yourself in terms of food and things like that,” Widdersheim said.

Hudson said the housing and dining services take student feedback and comments seriously, and have issued a benchmark survey to 1,400 on-campus students where students discuss life on campus.

“That helps us put together information about how we can better serve them,” Hudson said.

The data complied from the responses are then ranked against different universities in the spring semester, Hudson said.

“Usually we run about 45 percent,” Hudson said. “Our results in the past have shown us very favorably evaluated against our peer institutions.”

The benchmark survey is given to students every other fall semester, Hudson said.

Ronisha Frazier, a sophomore family and consumer sciences major, said she expects to have signed her lease for the 2012 Fall semester when she comes back from winter break.

Frazier currently lives in Andrews Hall.

“I think it’s just time for a change and it’s cheaper than living on campus,” Frazier said.

Frazier plans on living with only one other person and said she is conscientious of the responsibility that comes with living independently.

“I know I am going to have to get up early for classes,” Frazier said.

Nike Ogunbodede can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].