Boston: How Would You Feel If Your Student Housing Was In An Off-Campus Hotel?

It's well-known that our greater city area is packed with universities and the students who are enrolled. Boston.com has reported that Northeaster University will soon be placing student housing in a hotel.

"To accommodate more students and the increased demand for housing, some colleges in Boston have turned to a creative solution in a city that’s facing a housing crisis: hotels," Boston.com said.

This past January Northeastern submitted an application to the Boston Planning and Development Agency to allow the university to reserve the south tower of the Sheraton Hotel in Boston. Upon approval, which was granted by the BPDA, Northeastern will convert this area of the Sheraton to student-housing. Specifically, this "hotel dorm" will be for undergraduate students and can accommodate up to 856 students.

Boston.com also reminded us that this has happened quite a few times over the past five years. In 2020, Suffolk University and Emerson University rented out various hotels around the city. Northeastern is now the latest to do this.

Obviously, a hotel room includes your own bathroom and other amenities like a bigger bed and air conditioning unit. This is considered a suite by college standards and runs a little over $5,600 per semester for Northeastern students. "A standard double bedroom suite elsewhere on campus adds up to $5,125," Boston.com said. In addition, there are plans to make the Sheraton south tower more college student accommodating with items such as laundry rooms and exercise equipment expected to be added soon.

The distance from the Sheraton in Boston to the main campus of Northeastern is roughly 0.7 miles. So, it is walkable. However, sometimes in a city that amount of steps can be perceived as longer than it actually seems on paper.

Every minute in the morning counts for a 19 or 20-year-old who is trying to make it to class on time. In certain years of my college days, I would set my alarm clock to be literally six minutes before my first class started. This gave ample time for teeth brushing, a change of clothes and a sprint up the stairs to make into the classroom before the door closed.

The return trip back to your dorm room at night is equally as important. Especially on party nights. What is the route to get back home safely? Is there a cost? Do the T-trains run at that time?

Lastly, some students may want to consider the distance from a hotel to where many of their friends live. There's a camaraderie to walking down the hall on an average Tuesday night, walking into your friend's room and playing cards, or watching Netflix.

However, if I was a Northeastern student today, I would 100% take the hotel option if it was highly populated by my class. By the time I was a senior, a quieter and larger space to call my own was incredibly valuable. The Sheraton option would be unique, to live in hotel quarters for a few months straight. It's also on the edge of a fun part of the city where Fenway Park, Boylston Street and Newbury Street are a stone's throw away.

So, if I'm a freshman, than no thanks, I'll take the crowded on-campus dorm experience. If I'm an upper classmen, I'm first in line to sign up for the Sheraton.

Boston Calling 2024 is officially underway. The first bands of this three-day festival have taken the stage and there are already lines at the merchandise tents. Here is a look at some of the unique Boston Calling merch items for this year, available at the main purchase stands.

Each year over Memorial Day weekend, Boston Calling rocks the Harvard grounds. Like most festivals, they always design their own merch for the annual occasion. Their bulldog logo stands out. It has become a familiar face synonymous with this event. It’s then placed upon your typical concert merch stand items like hoodies, caps, posters, and t-shirts. However, Boston Calling does a great job of freshening up the bulldog. This has resulted in new popular designs for each year’s festival.

2024 is no exception. Although the standard red, blue, and gold colors have remained, new patterns have now entered the space.

Boston Calling headliners include Ed Sheeran (Friday), Tyler Childers (Saturday), and The Killers (Sunday) to close it out. Leon Bridges, Megan Thee Stallion, Hozier, Renee Rapp, Trey Anastasio, The Revivalists, and Young The Giant are among the other performers not to be missed.

Each of these artists has merch available on the festival grounds. It’s important to note, the headliners' merch is available all weekend. Meaning that, although The Killers are playing Sunday, their shirts can be purchased today (while supplies last).

Are you worried about holding all this new gear for the duration of the day and night? Fear not; lockers are available to rent (while supplies last). There’s an official Boston Calling app and a QR code you can snap to give you a mobile map in the palm of your hand.

Lastly, the festival FAQ states, “Small clutch purses and fanny packs that are 6" x 9" or smaller do not need to be clear, but can have no more than one pocket. All other bags larger than 6" x 9" must be smaller than 12" x 6" x 12" and clear.”

Let’s take a further look at some of the Boston Calling 2024 merch items you may be storing, sporting, or purchasing during the weekend.

Again, these are available all weekend. Each of them seem to promote the given album or tour the artist is on. Hozier and the Killers seem to have the largest variety of items available. Tyler Childers has the best hat collection for sale, from truckers to rope hats.

New this year, there are few options of custom Boston Calling hats. My preference in comfort is the green one that I am also wearing in the image at the top of this article. This year's silkscreen poster contains the names of all the artist. There is one poster for sale. The Harvard basketball jersey is a nice addition to the lineup, sporting the #24. Perhaps its a nod the graduation that occurred here earlier in the week.

The lineup 2024 t-shirt comes in an all black option or tie-dyed. Both are the same with the logo on the front and lineup on the back. There are two water bottles. One is yellow and the other is the signature festival colors of blue and red.

Have there ever been Boston Calling shorts? Well, they have them this year. While they've certain had sweatpants in the past I don't recall the branded short flying out of the brown boxes as quickly as they are this year. Perhaps the beautiful 80-degree day has something to do wit that. As usual, there are also a nice array of custom 2024 festival t-shirts. The bomber jacket is a stylish dark green, and of course the dog head logo is everywhere.