JOSH FIELDS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Geosciences freshman Anthony Russell, 21, enjoys a beer after class in Babcock Inn Residence Hall. Although alcohol is allowed for dorm residents of legal age, there are restrictions on its storage and use.

Twenty-one-year-olds living in the residence halls may have an advantage in age over their hallmates, but the elder coeds say life in campus residence halls is not much more beneficial for them.

Jim Van Arsdel, director of Residence Life and university housing, said the set alcohol policy for 21-year-old residence hall residents is very stringent.

The rule states that those over 21 years of age may only shelve and consume alcoholic beverages in the privacy of their own room, Van Arsdel said.

Van Arsdel emphasized the legal-aged student can only consume the beverage in his or her room, without his or her underage roommate in the room, and not in his or her hallway, common area or outside area of the residence hall.

"We allow that student of age to consume alcohol in designated areas so that those in charge can limit the transfer of alcohol to those who are under 21," Van Arsdel said.

Yet Anthony Russell, a 21-year-old living in Babcock Inn Residence Hall, 1717 E. Speedway Blvd., said he was written up for having empty bottles of beer lying around his room even though he did not drink the beer with his underage suitemate.

Russell, a geosciences freshman, said he was never told he could not store empty bottles in the room.

"It pissed me off that I got written up for something as petty as that," Russell said. "I got fucked over."

However, Residence Life's policy states empty containers cannot be sitting around and must be disposed of once they are used, Van Arsdel said.

Van Arsdel said that only around 3 percent of all students living in residence halls are over 21, many of whom are resident assistants, making a 21-year-old in the halls a rare occurrence.

"These students are still expected to follow the rules set out by their RA, even if they're older than (the RA)," Van Arsdel said.

Russell said students under 21 in Babcock treat him the same as everyone else and do not take advantage of his age anymore, which Russell credits to Babcock's more apartment-style living setup, situated just north of campus.

"It's not as trendy as the other dorms," he said.

Russell said he enjoys the on-campus living experience because of the convenience factor, but he said he probably will not return to the hall next year unless he decides to become a resident assistant.

Jennifer Cook, a 21-year-old living in Babcock, said that although it is legal for her to drink in the hall, she does not exercise the option too much because of the rule stating she would have to drink in her room by herself.

"I think this activity would lead to alcoholism, sitting in your room by yourself," joked Cook, a pre-health education sophomore.

Cook said she was treated the same until students found out she was 21, and then she was occasionally asked to buy alcohol for them.

However, Cook said she was not going to try and risk getting in trouble with the RA living right next door to her.

Cook said it is uncomfortable being 21 in the hall when everyone else is 18 because it is hard to meet people her age, putting her at a disadvantage by being forced to make older friends in classes and the local nightlife scene.

Cook said she has lived in a residence hall before so she does not get frustrated with noisy neighbors or intolerable roommates.

"It's weird being surrounded by freshmen," Cook said. "I have to accommodate my lifestyle to an 18-year-old."

Cook also said that Babcock is more ideal for older students because it is apartment style with more freedom, enabling students to explore more outside of campus and to try to make friends.