dylan miller , a senior at juniata college , studying english and philosophy , decided for his senior project that he would live in a hut deep in the woods about a half-hour 's walk from campus to learn about living with only the necessities .
with no plumbing or electricity , miller has spent the last eight months studying by lantern and chasing away the occasional bear as his fellow students live comfortably in huntingdon , pennsylvania , since september .
miller built the hut out of fallen trees , leaves , rope and a tarp .
` a lot of people associate giving up things with less happiness .