A few years ago, I was in my senior year and staying in the dorms of Linden Hall. This was before it was torn down and rebuilt. I had noticed an opportunity buying closeout and discounted products and reselling them online. Starting off with a couple of small items, it had slowly grown to the point that my dorm room was filled with boxes of stock. It was an exciting time, since I've always been trying my hand at various small businesses and this had become successful enough that it was providing the pocket money I needed. The only glimpse of my selling was when the UPS guy came at 3 p.m. everyday to pick [up] the packages from my room. I never bothered anyone.
One day, I was told that the Hall Director wanted to have a word with me. To my surprise, I was told I had to end my selling or move out immediately. This was in early winter and it was no time to be moving. I was told that running a "business" was not allowed from the dorms. Thus, I was issued an ultimatum. Quit selling or move out. Being the middle of the semester, there were no rooms available for rent off-campus on short notice.
I managed to find generous friends who offered to let me live in their living room for a couple of months untill the semester ended. It wasn't easy, but I decided to move out instead of giving up what I had built.
Moving was humiliating. Here I was, pushing the cart with all my belongings and inventory in the middle of the semester. There was a light hail falling and we were wet and cold. Since I only owned a very old coupe, it took me many trips back and forth to finally get all my stuff moved. I owe my girlfriend a great deal of gratitude for helping me move with a smile and her support on that cold winter day.
Going back a few months, I used to live on the 4th floor of Oak Hall, the notoriously rowdy floor. I'm not sure if it's changed, but it would be an interesting place to visit if you haven't been there. The walls shook with pounding music at all hours of the day. The toilets were filled with a dark yellow liquid, a confluence of being used for many days without being flushed. Dark puddles lay under the urinals. There would be guys in front of the bathroom doors telling you to come back later because their girlfriends were using the bathroom (it was an all guys floor). I had my camera stolen from my room and the RA was apologetic but he said there was nothing he could do. I don't blame him. We had cops come when a couple was caught smoking pot. My point in all this is that no one had to move out from Oak Hall.
Why was I kicked out? Was it because selling anything from your dorm room is strictly prohibited? I believe that my RA had it out for me and wanted me to leave his floor. It was an insular floor, where you either joined the whole floor in playing computer games, or you were not part of the group.
Fast forward a few years, while the recession has taken it's toll on sales, [my] business is better than when it first started. I do it as a full-time job and have an assistant to help with the work. I can only imagine how different my life would be if I hadn't left; maybe for the better, but probably for the worse.
Letter #3
Published: Friday, November 13, 2009
Updated: Friday, November 13, 2009 10:11
Be the first to comment on this article!