Living in your college in Durham is better than your grimy house in the Viaduct

Who are the Livers In? People who are willing to sacrifice the freedom of living in your own house, eating when and what you like, and living only with your handpicked crew, for a small, single-bedded room in a glorified boarding house.

Home Sweet Home

In second year, the Viaduct was where we all wanted to be, with its wide streets, cute terraces and perfect balance of distance between town and college. We had a blast, having dinner parties and pretending to be functioning adults, while wearing 116 jumpers at all times, because we couldn’t afford to have the heating on for more than an hour a day.

This year everyone is living above Urban Oven or similar, because as third years, time is so valuable that being able to stumble home from a big night in five minutes flat, to be up the next day for important diss work, is crucial. It doesn’t matter about the city centre noise keeping them awake, because, for people who are mostly living in the Billy B anyway, and when they do venture home, zombified and covered in paper cuts, no amount of local brawling or rah chants can stop the slumber.

Another option is, of course, the infamous Gilesgate, offering a lengthy trek to wherever you want to be. Added to this is the painful realisation that no one will come and visit, based on the abstract notion that it’s a long way away, with no acknowledgement of the fact that it’s still only £4 in a taxi.

Then, like a mirage in the desert of Durham housing, there’s college – it takes me one minute to get from my room to the gym, library or bar. I defy anyone to find me a house in Durham that well located.

Snuggling in a single is possible!

Yes the meal schedule is designed around a toddler’s routine, and yes you will have to rediscover the skill of artfully hiding your naked flesh from over-zealous cleaners on bin day. And, yeah, giving up the possibilities of a double bed, for a sweaty spoon in a single does seem regressive.

Living in is pretty charmed though.

In this, the frozen North, college heating is a blessing. It’s included with your rent, and, bonus you don’t have housemates complaining that you should be paying more for the bills because you’re a cold person and need your room to be at least 23 degrees for you to be capable of leaving bed.

In college there’s always someone milling around to become a partner in any hijinks you might enjoy, even if all your normal crew are busy working. And, if at the end of the night you realise you’ve misplaced your key, the good guy porters, with their master-keys can save you your dignity and the wrath of your cohabitants.

Saving on washing up: pro level

Maybe you don’t love committing daily carbicide, and maybe you sometimes enjoy having vegetables that haven’t been somehow separated from their taste, but it’s undeniable that the perks of college food outweigh the downsides. While livers out are scrapping over who didn’t wash up their quinoa pans, we’re quietly stowing our trays in racks, and scampering gaily off to continue our procrastinatory shenanigans.

Remember first year, when the only noise complaints you got came from Noiseline, and your room magically got hoovered semi-regularly. Having tried adulthood for a year, it’s a delight to know such a luxury once again.