Jill's Journal: In my life now, dorm life isn’t for this gal

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to take in a few days of the near week-long International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors conference, which was held in Brookings on the campus of South Dakota State University.

The conference afforded me the opportunity to “go back to college” and experience “dorm life.”

I’m here to tell you, that while it was an experience I highly looked forward to 40-some years ago, my one-night stay has me so thankful for the two-bedroom townhome where I now live.

Now don’t get me wrong. This particular dorm – Caldwell Hall – has many “bells and whistles” to be excited about. It had numerous gathering spaces for the tenants, clean rooms that are air conditioned, even an elevator to help make move-in and move-out days a whole lot easier. 

The room I was assigned to was designed to accommodate two students. It featured two single bunk beds, two dressers and two desks and chairs. The mattress was for the most part comfortable, but as for the pillow, well, that had a bit to be desired. Upon our arrival, bedding, which included pillows, were provided for us. Imagine my surprise when the pillow issued to me – and all the others – was no bigger than an airplane pillow and it was flat as a pancake.

One of my colleagues, who rolled in the night before from West River shared with me that he had stuffed the issued bath towels inside the pillowcase. I took his advice, but truth be told, the flat as a pancake pillow was now flat with a somewhat uncomfortable hump in the middle.

Many of the other weekly newspaper editors attending the conference came from various corners of the world, including Nepal and Wales, and across the nation. They arrived earlier in the week and like me, were issued a similar flat as a pancake pillow. With several days of dorm life ahead of them, several made a quick trip to Walmart to purchase what I would call “a real pillow.”

One conference-goer who had to exit early even left their pillow behind for the taking. Unfortunately, I was about a minute too late to claim it. I did snag it for some afternoon comfort after my room adjoining colleague left following Saturday morning’s sessions. Then, I passed it on to the guy who suggested I stuff my bath towels into the pillow case. Like a kid wishing for a new bike at Christmas, he was elated with the blue and white-striped pillow that I handed off to him.

I was thankful my dorm stay was just a single night. Unlike the thousands of kids who will be taking up residency at SDSU and college campuses all across the nation next month, I didn’t have all of the luxuries that they will pack up and bring to college to make their rooms as comfy as possible.

For starters, there was not a lamp next to the bed. Heck, there wasn’t even a bed table or a night light. I made due with one of the desk chairs, but once you turned out the light, it was dark as a cloydy, late October night.

With each room sporting its own vanity, the shared bathroom (toilet and shower) were easily accessible, but required a light tap on the door to assure there was a vacancy. 

Of course, I had no TV, radio, microwave, refrigerator or any of those other must-have luxuries, but I did have my laptop and Wifi, which “entertained” me until my eyelids grew weary.

I was excited to come away from the conference with some new helpful tips in weekly newspaper production and new friends in the industry, who just happen to share the same passion – and problems – as this weekly newspaper editor.

One important lesson I did learn though, is the “cute” pair of sandals I chose to wear, surely weren’t cut out for the thousands of steps I took around campus. Tennis shoes, I learned, are essential item when you’re going to college.