We all know that philanthropic alumni like to attach their names to lasting physical monuments, but in this economy, buildings just aren’t as affordable as they used to be. Luckily, Washington University has a new solution: donate a dorm room.

Move-in day felt a little strange. This was partly because I was disoriented from the 18-hour drive, and partly because my move-in day wasn’t the official move-in day.

Some universities are known for the sweet sound of mockingbirds chirping on any given morning. Others are famous for the loud, bellowing noises of 18th century bells chiming from the top of Gothic towers.

It took Associate Professor of Political Science Andrew Rehfeld some time to convince his entire family to move into a college dorm.

One of the major selling points of Washington University is that almost 80 percent of students live in University-owned housing for all four years.