Housing at BYU circa 1970

[DefenseLawyer]

I could only shake my head reading about Ann Romney's tale of struggle and hardship in college (it got so bad that they had to sell stock!) and their little, basement apartment that was mocked by her rich parents when they came to visit. Now they both came from money so it made me wonder about the apartment. Anyone know what the housing situation was at BYU back then? (doubtful, I know, but someone might know) My guess is that they lived in a crappy apartment because that's all there was, not because of their lack of means.

[CreekDog]

1. probably at Wymount Terrace

if it was on campus.

BYU apartments were okay. There were only two bad things about the basement apartments that I remember:

1) our neighbors hated cleaning so they decided to mop the floors by dumping a bucket of soapy water on them and playing hockey. but it leaked into the apartment downstairs.

2) i don't mean to suggest anything, but the stairs leading down to the basement apartments can be filled with snow, if necessary (given the correct tools).

[DefenseLawyer]

2. But was there an alternative?

If some rich kid wanted to live in a penthouse suite and go to BYU was there one to rent?

[CreekDog]

3. Penthouse suite in Provo, in 1970?

nice, big fancy houses, sure. but fancy apartments? doubtful.

[DefenseLawyer]

4. That's what I would assume

When Mrs. Romney harkens back to their "little basement apartment" and implies that it was all they could afford, the reality is it had nothing to do with their financial situation and everything to do with the housing situation.