A representative of Park Point apartments announced this week it would introduce a “glamping” package for students camping out to reserve a spot in their facilities.

“Glamping,” or glamorous camping, combines the great outdoors with the luxuries and modern comforts of being inside. This past week, students could be found “roughing it” outside the popular student housing complex, known for its all-inclusive amenities and hefty price tag, with lines of tents and sleeping bags stretching down the block in the week leading up to leasing day.

“Park Point is Syracuse’s most exclusive student housing community and our tenants are accustomed to a level of comfort that can’t be provided by traditional camping,” said John McMahon, Park Point’s comfort liaison. “Just because the students camping out for spots aren’t tenants yet doesn’t mean they shouldn’t experience the Park Point brand of living.”

Unfortunately for the budget-conscious, those looking to forego “Kum Ba Yahs” and marshmallows will have to do so at a cost. Next year’s “glamping” packages will be offered in tiered bundles that range from “Public School” to “Rose Gold.” Among the offerings are a Tempur-Pedic mattress, a line of hand-made candles, a bottle of white wine autographed by Beyoncé and a small white dog in a large purse.

“Glamping” signups for next year will be available next week, with some students already committing to camping out for a “glamping” spot. When questioned about the logic of camping out for the privilege of camping out more comfortably, junior David Phillips responded, “What?”

With conflicting reports that competing campus leasing companies may also introduce a “glamping” option in the coming years, it seems this strange new phenomenon may soon be a Syracuse staple.

Evan Hohenwarter is a senior advertising major who is almost as modest as he is handsome. He can be reached at emhohenw@syr.edu or on Twitter at @evanhohmbre.

Published on September 22, 2015 at 9:34 pm