By Anne Baker

When students make the move from residence halls to off-campus housing, they often picture freedom from Resident Assistants, the chance of having a strange roommate and the Northeastern rulebook. What they do not expect is often what many get: an unwelcome disconnect from university life. Brian Mullen, a sophomore music industry major, moved off-campus in the fall after he did not receive a good lottery housing number, and saw the freedom of living without swiping in or following Northeastern rules as an added benefit, he said. But after more than a semester of living away from campus, Mullen said he sees the disadvantage.

“It’s really easy to stay isolated when you’re off-campus,” he said. “You can just stay in your house and not even hear from Northeastern.”

It is that communication gap between students living in apartments and the university that the new Off-Campus Student Services office intends to close. “The moment any student moves off campus they do start to feel that disconnect,” said Off-Campus Student Services director Gail Olyha. “We wish to stay connected to our students.”

The new office aims to aid students living off campus, which compose roughly half of Northeastern’s undergraduate population. She said they assist with everything from finding apartments to how to help students remain involved and feel a part of the university. Although students have had access to some off-campus services during the years, this is the first office to house them under one roof.

“There have been services provided over the years, but the office as it’s constituted right now is new,” she said.

Olyha’s mission to help students stay involved at campus is one she’s well suited for, said Marines Piney, Student Government Association (SGA) vice president for student affairs.

“Gail has been leading a great campaign to keep students involved,” Piney said. But some students said they have yet to feel the full-effects of the new office, and still feel isolated from the university.

“I basically don’t go to campus unless I’m in classes,” said middler business major Samantha Moll.

Moll said she moved into an off-campus apartment on the other side of the Fenway because living on campus was “too expensive.” She said she feels disconnected especially during co-op because her schedule makes joining clubs difficult. “I’ve been in student groups before,” she said. “But when I’m on co-op, I get back around five or six, so I don’t feel like walking back to campus.”

Piney said students who live off campus and are also on co-op face an extra challenge to stay involved.

“We’re concerned with all students and co-op students who are a part of that.