For some, living off campus is cheap. For others, it means freedom. But no matter the motive, off-campus living is about to become a little more difficult.

After next year, Associate Dean of Students Teresa Clounch said the exemption that allows students to live off campus with their parents within a 20-mile radius of Baldwin City will be removed.

Clounch said Baker is a residential campus where students can learn things like conflict management and dealing with a roommate as well as experience being a part of on-campus activities.

“We feel that experience is much richer by you being on campus,” Clounch said.

Clounch said living at home with parents can take away from this experience.

“You really learn how to live with people that you didn’t grow up with,” she said.

Living on campus, students can take problems to a resident assistant or to student development.

Even older students can deal with issues on campus they normally wouldn’t encounter living with parents.

Clounch also wanted to clarify that students can  lose up to 40 percent of their Baker-provided financial aid if they choose to live off campus.

This is decided case by case and only includes scholarships given by Baker.

Sophomore Carly Young is living with her parents this year and next year, but will have to move on campus her senior year, according to the new rule.

She chose to live off campus because it is less expensive.

“People that can live off campus for less money should be able to if they want,” Young said.

Junior Shawna Stokes lived off campus with her parents last year and moved back on campus after the distance from campus was changed from 40 miles to 20 miles.

Stokes said she understands that Baker needs students to live on campus to provide income because it’s such a small university.

She said living in Horn and Markham apartments is similar to being off campus because of the easy-going rules.

“It’s nice not having bills every month to have to deal with,” Stokes said.

She also can understand students wanting to live off campus, though.

She said if students live on campus all four or five years of their college experience, it can be difficult to learn responsibility.

“Twenty-three is pretty old to not have to pay for bills and be on your own,” Stokes said.

Clounch said students still can feel a sense of responsibility even without paying monthly bills.