Fall 2015 Housing Guide

THE DAILY ILLINI

HOUSING GUIDE

HOUSING GUIDETuesday, October 13, 2015

Apartment searchMoving upConsider what priorities are important to you when beginning your apartment hunt.

After completing your freshman year in the dorms, are you ready to take on the responsibilities of apartment life?

page 5page 6

BY ARIEL ROHCONTRIBUTING WRITER

After freshmen year, stu-dents are allowed to choose their own housing, which can be a diffi cult decision: apart-ment or dorm.

Thinking aheadIt is wise to think in

advance about location of a potential residence, whether it be off campus or on campus.

Alice Fang, junior in LAS, lived in Illini Tower her freshman year, and said the location was very convenient.

“Illini Tower was close to my classes and I felt safe during the evening most of the time around the tower because there were many students walking around,” Fang said.

Another advantage of living on campus can be that students are likely to concentrate more on academics.

For Abby Valek, junior in FAA, living on campus motivates her to complete her projects because the architecture studio is close to her residence.

Valek said the pressure can be intense as deadlines approach but her proximity to the encourages her to complete assignments.

DistractionsDownsides to campus

living can be noise level, high expenses and laziness.

Fang said when she lived at Illini Tower, she tended to procrastinate.

“I had a bad habit of wak-ing up late back then. Now that I live off campus, I wake up earlier than when I used to live in Illini Tower because I need more time to arrive on campus,” she said.

Ying Zhang, junior in LAS, said on-campus residenc-es have a relatively high-er noise level compared to off-campus housing because students are likely to have

parties. Zhang said this made her to want to live off campus.

PricingThe price of housing is

generally higher on-campus compared to housing off-campus.

Lin Lin, a law student, started living at One North, which is located off campus, this semester.

She said the more affordable price of the apartment was the main reason she chose to live there.

“I only pay about half of the rent of on-campus apartments,” she said. “I am also very fond of the facilities that One North

offers, which are swimming pools and one fl oor of the gym.”Commuting

Lin commutes by bus every morning, which takes about 10 minutes.

“It is not too uncomfort-able to commute through bus to campus, although it is annoying to wait for the bus to arrive every day,” she said.

Test the propertyWei Yang, graduate

student in computer science, lived off campus in Savoy for a year.

Yang mainly used the shuttle run by the apartment, which takes 15 minutes to get to campus and stopped at a

few locations.Fang recommended that

students should walk around the residences they are interested in at night and gauge the noise level in that neighborhood.

“The best way is to meet someone who had lived in the apartment that you want to live in because the landlord cannot tell you everything,” she said. “In my case, I did not know that apartments on Green Street were noisy until I had lived there.”

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Housing factors to consider on, off campusSUPPLEMENTS STAFF

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Apartment hunting tips from campus resources

Starting early, using Facebook important for subleasers, subletters BY SAMANTHA SKIPPER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

As next year’s housing search begins, cur-rent apartment tenants should start the hunt for summer subtenants.

Most apartments bind their tenants to year-long leases, making students pay full rent while living at home, studying abroad or beginning an internship off campus.

For the months they are absent, students choose to cut costs by finding a subtenant. For the leaseholder, subleasing offers an opportunity to save money; for the subten-ant, subleasing offers a short-term housing arrangement at a reduced rate.

Fernanda Santos, senior in Business, said the best way to find a subtenant is to take ini-tiative. She found her summer subtenant by posting about her apartment on Craigslist and the University Housing Facebook page for apartments.

Santos said just as students begin looking for a place to lease as early as possible for the school year, they should also get a head start when subleasing their apartments, especially for the summer months.

“If you want to be able to sublease your apartment as close to its rental value, you need to start earlier because the closer you are to summer, the more people are desper-ate and so they’re reducing the prices of their rent, forcing you to also have to reduce your rent,” she said.

The University’s Tenant Union, located on the third floor of the Illini Union, offers free walk-in consultation for finding a subten-ant or an apartment to sublease. They rec-ommend students looking to sublease their

apartments in the summer make the rent price negotiable.

There are some risks involved in sublet-ting an apartment. Usually the current ten-ant and subtenant will sign a written contract to ensure that the subtenant will pay the rent and avoid property damage. However, the original tenant ultimately remains respon-sible for the rent and any damages. There-fore, finding a reliable subtenant should be a top priority.

Santos’ experience was positive and she received her full safety deposit at the end of her lease.

“You might want to make sure you meet them (your subtenant) a few times before you agree to sublease because, like I said, you are liable for any destruction of prop-erty and you want to get that safety deposit back,” she said.

The Tenant Union also recommends con-ducting a joint inspection of the apartment on the first day of the sublease, which it will notarize for free.

Students planning to stay on campus over the summer who live in dorms or other hous-ing that ends in May should consider sub-leasing an apartment. Only select University dorms, such as Daniel Hall, offer summer housing, and from an economical standpoint, it may make more sense to sublease instead.

“I think subleasing from someone is cheap-er than staying in dorms. And (in a dorm) you don’t have your own kitchen,” said Anne Hou, sophomore in ACES.

Hou subleased an apartment in Green Street Towers this past summer. To find her apartment, Hou went on the Facebook group,

which lists prices, amenities and pictures.“I also posted what I was looking for in

the group so that they could message me,” she said.

Subtenants should consider the same ame-nities that they would for longer-term apart-ment leasing, such as personal bathrooms and in-unit washers and dryers. Finding tem-porary roommates with similar values is also important.

“I would recommend finding a roommate you know beforehand instead of just going random,” Hou said.

Subtenants are bound to the terms of the original lease, so before signing a written agreement, the Tenant Union advises they read a copy of it and check for any additional end-of-the-lease charges they may be held to. They may ask for a copy of the account so that no owed rent or charges from the previ-ous tenant fall on them.

Prospective subtenants have more time to make a decision, as rent prices tend to lower closer to the summer.

“You don’t have to make a decision right away because there are so many options,” Hou said. “Go look until you find one that you want, or until you find a cheaper option.”

There are alternatives to subleasing. Some apartments may accept a six-month lease, and others, such as University Housing apartments (not residence halls), may let a tenant out of the lease early.

Some apartment realties such as West Quad Apartments relet apartments instead of subleasing them. In this process, the new tenant signs a copy of the original lease and agrees fully to the terms, and pays his or her

own security deposit.Anissa Vasquez, West Quad Apartments

leasing agent and junior in Media, explained the process.

“Whenever you want out of your contract, you just say, ‘I’m reletting and someone is taking over my lease.’ It doesn’t even have to be six months, it could be you want to live there for three months and someone wants to live there for the remaining months,” she said.

Because of its flexibility, the reletting pro-cess works well with students who want to change roommates, leave, live somewhere just for the summer or study abroad for a semester, because in the reletting process, as Vasquez explained, “(the tenant) is not tied to their lease at all.”

Similar to subleasing, there are fees asso-ciated with reletting. However, the old ten-ant is not responsible for damages caused by the next tenant.

Vasquez advises anyone looking to sub-lease or relet their apartment to post on “your personal Facebook page, post all over the Facebook groups — there’s about five or six groups about housing or roommates — (and) try to find exchange students, because its a big market. Just blow it up.”

Having leased an apartment for two years now, Vasquez said she’s followed those strat-egies and gotten a lot of responses.

The subleasing and reletting process-es, along with a few other options, provide students with various opportunities to find short-term housing.

[email protected]

BY AMINAH KOSHULSTAFF WRITER

Apartment hunting season has begun. Stu-dents hasten to sign leases and confirm their housing situation for the upcoming year. Undoubtedly, the apartments with the best location and most competitive prices will be the first to go.

Josh Johnson, housing counselor at the Ten-ant Union, advises students who intend to sign a three or four bedroom lease to start looking as early as October. It is possible to find apart-ments later in the year, he said, but they may not be ideal in terms of location or price range.

Because the issue of who to room with may crop up, the Tenant Union offers Speed Friending workshops that help students find suitable roommates.

Michael Jay, director of public relations at Campus Property Management apartments, recommended that students sign joint tenan-cies with people they already know to avoid conflicts in the future.

While apartment hunting, it is advisable to

make note of the noise level and cleanliness of various units. Also review the city code inspections and bear in mind certain rules pertaining to the pet policy or the number of visitors allowed in different apartment buildings.

“Bring another person with you to get a second opinion,” Johnson said.

The Tenant Union assists prospective ten-ants before they sign a lease and can even review it to point out hidden fees or anything that could potentially lead to conflicts.

The Student Legal Service office, on the oth-er hand, becomes involved in student affairs after they have signed the lease.

This point in the semester is an extremely busy time for the Student Legal Service office. They are dealing with a number of disputes over security deposit returns.

Beckee Bachman, office manager at Stu-dent Legal Service, said that a common mis-take students make when moving into apart-ments is not taking pictures of its original state.

“It is important to have evidence of damage that existed before moving into the apartment, otherwise students can get charged, and they can’t object without proof,” she said. “A good landlord is one that stays on top of repairs and observes laws of not entering without the proper prior notice.”

In addition, it is equally important to be aware of all expenses before signing a lease. Make sure to take into account the cost of utilities, internet, sewer and recycling if they are not included in the lease.

“It’s always a good idea to ask existing ten-ants how much their average monthly utility bill is,” Jay said.

The Tenant Union offers a workshop that outlines the nuts and bolts of apartment hunt-ing. It also serves as a middleman by pro-viding counseling during legal disputes and assists with reaching compromises regarding roommate conflicts or other situations where no legal action can be taken.

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TOREY BUTNER THE DAILY ILLINIA Tenant Union employee works to ensure students understand apartment rentals.



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BY RABIA ILYASSTAFF WRITER

With so many options available, choos-ing where to live can be a dilemma for many University students. Many fresh-men, especially, are unfamiliar with this lengthy process.

What is important for this new class of students to realize, though, is that each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. Factors like location, cost, food access and connections hold different meanings for each student.

For someone like Meghan Costigan, senior in LAS, who has tried a few dif-ferent housing options, location is the

greatest concern. Costigan lived in a dorm for three years and is now living in an apartment fairly close to campus.

“I wanted to try out something new, and I felt ready to take on the extra responsibility living in an apartment had,” Costigan said.

In terms of advantages of living in an apartment, she said that apartment life has helped her become more inde-pendent and responsible.

“It also lets me be more flexible, in the sense that I can eat whenever and whatever and do not have to rely on din-ing hall timings,” Costigan said.

However, Costigan has to rely on her-self a lot for grocery shopping and cook-ing her own food, which she considers a disadvantage.

She misses the dining hall conversa-tions she would have that allowed her to meet new people.

“A huge benefit about the dorms was that I met a lot of new people and I have since kept in good touch with them,” Costigan said.

Having experienced both dorm life

and apartment life, Costigan recom-mends for freshmen to continue living in residence halls if they do not feel ready to take on the larger respon-sibility that comes with living in an apartment.

For Hannah Van Nevel, freshman in ACES, this advice holds true. Nevel has yet to decide on her living arrange-ments for the upcoming school year, but she prefers to live in a dorm.

“I like my current dorm because it’s very quiet and I have met a lot of diverse people that I never would have met if I had not lived here,” she said.

Van Nevel, a resident of Busey-Evans Residence Hall, likes that it’s close to campus and that it comes with many luxuries such as air conditioning and Wi-Fi. For her future housing plans, she said she might consider an apartment, but only on the terms that it is close to campus and is safe.

Like Van Nevel, English Henderson, a sophomore in LAS, has yet to experi-ence apartment living. For Henderson, living in a dorm was the most conve-

nient option because of the proximity to campus and the appeal of the din-ing halls.

Henderson also reasons that at the end of the day, the cost of living in a dorm is equal to living in an apartment.

“You have to spend money on your own food and you have to put energy into preparing that food as well,” she said.

Henderson added that a main advan-tage of dorm living is that students can feel more connected to the campus.

“I am more aware of events going on around campus because there is so much exposure in a residence hall,” she said.

However, like Costigan, Hender-son hopes to someday gain the inde-pendence that living in an apartment brings.

“I definitely want to experience living in an apartment for at least one year, because I think it will ease my transi-tion into adulthood,” she said.

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Finding the right next step for housingStudents consider pros, cons of apartment, resident hall life


Cutting costs, promoting energy effi ciency in apartmentsStudents can save money by considering effi ciency, convenience

BY NASTARAN SHISHEGARCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Saving money in college can involve shopping smart and cutting down on eating out. But a student’s choice of residence can also have an impact on expenses.

People have different tastes. But are there any guidelines or facts peo-ple should consider when looking for a new place in order to save money?

Location can be one of the most important factors, if not the most important one. Proximity to class-es can be a key consideration in the apartment search.

This matter becomes incredibly important when it gets cold — winters in Champaign-Urbana can be pretty intense. Hence, living close to class-es can not only spare students from facing the unbearable cold for long periods of time, but students can also save a considerable amount of money at the end of the year, as they won’t need to drive or own a vehicle. Conse-quently, they won’t pay for fuel, auto insurance, a parking space and other related expenses.

Stephanie Chiricuta , a graduate stu-dent in architecture, chose to live on campus so she could easily walk to her classes.

“It’s safe, cheap and also I do not need to be worried about fi nding a parking space,” Chiricuta said. “Everyday walking helps with my health, and also I think I have a part in terms of air pollution reduction.”

People have two major responsibili-ties or concerns: One for themselves, and the other for people around them. One might categorize these things as personal choice and social responsi-bility, respectively.

When students choose to live close to classes, they might only be consid-ering personal convenience. But the decision to live within walking dis-tance is in fact a step toward help-ing the environment. By not driving,

students contribute to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, and con-sequently take a step toward decreas-ing air pollution.

Moreover, students can save money and the environment if they choose to live off campus. Rent rates tend to be lower off campus than on campus, and taking the bus is a smart option fi nan-cially and environmentally.

Dana Taylor, a graduate student in architecture, lives off campus and usually bikes to and from class. She utilizes her bike or the bus depending on the time of year.

“The bus is a good choice for me on cold, windy and icy days of the win-ter,” Taylor said. “(And) everyday bik-ing adds exercise time to my sched-ule, which is so benefi cial to my body.”

Furthermore, students can cut out unnecessary expenses by being smart with utilities. There are two important factors to consider. One is of course consumption behavior. But the more important one is looking into the energy effi ciency of the build-ing in which students wish to live. As the energy effi ciency of a building goes down, a resident’s consumption goes up.

Grant Mosey, a graduate student in architecture who specializes in resi-dential building energy consumption, said the simplest thing students can do is to be aware of their consumption.

“Often, electric lights are left on even when daylight would be suffi -cient,” Mosey said. “Mechanical heat-ing and cooling is being used even when the outdoor temperature is com-fortable. Air conditioning is being relied upon when a simple open win-dow would suffi ce.”

He also mentioned the use of incan-descent light bulbs instead of CFL’s or LED’s, which are more energy effi -cient than incandescent bulbs.

“Each of these examples represent relatively small changes in lifestyle or awareness, but cumulatively, they

can have a great impact,” Mosey said.On the apartment search, look for

double or triple glazing windows — insulated glazing which includes two or three glass windows separated by a vacuum or that includes a gas-fi lled space to reduce heat transfer — prop-er insulation and suffi cient daylight coming in. This can be important especially during long and cold winters.

Mosey said it’s important to under-stand how buildings use energy. He said space heating accounts for the largest amount of energy use; fol-lowed by appliances, electronics and lights; then water heating. Air conditioning places last on the list, according to U.S. Energy Informa-tion Administration’s 2009 Residen-tial Energy Consumption Survey.

“So the largest single factor in effi -ciency is reducing heat loss,” Mosey said. “This means students should look for compact buildings with low surface to volume ratios. Having fewer windows and using energy-effi cient, double-pane windows will also make a difference.”

The more sunlight there is in a home, the less energy consumption there will be, as the need for artifi -cial lighting will be reduced.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, south-facing windows allow the most sunlight into the home in the winter and the least amount in the summer, so they are a great option for places with cold climates, such as Illinois.

East and west facing windows pro-vide direct sunlight in the morning and afternoon, respectively, and could be the second-best choice for housing.

However, north-facing windows admit only diffused daylight into the space. Thus, residential units with only north-facing windows are usu-ally cold and dark in the winter.

Taylor said she’s not happy with the amount of light in her bedroom.

“One reason that I prefer to do all my homework at school is that I do not receive daylighting on my desk at home,” she said.

When on the hunt for an apartment, students should look for a good loca-tion and an energy-effi cient building that is convenient, safe and warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

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Easy, stove-free recipes to try out in dorms

BY ISABELLA JACKSONSTAFF WRITER

Students living in residence halls can still manage to prepare meals, snacks or desserts using the microwave in their rooms.

Cinnamon-Apple Chex MixThis sweet and crunchy mix makes a

great late-night snack and can be made easily with just a microwave.

Ingredients:5 cups Chex cereal1 cup lightly-salted whole almonds1/4 cup butter1/3 cup brown sugar2 tablespoons light corn syrup1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1 cup dried apples1/2 cup vanilla yogurt-covered raisinsDirections:In a large microwaveable bowl, combine

the Chex and almonds.

In a smaller microwaveable bowl, micro-wave the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and cinnamon until mixture is boiling, stir-ring after each minute.

Pour over cereal and almonds, and mix until coated evenly.

Microwave again for 3 minutes, stirring every minute.

Add apples, and microwave another 2 minutes.

Spread on waxed paper to cool for 15 minutes, then stir in raisins. Store in an airtight container.

Adapted from All Recipes

Loaded Baked PotatoPotatoes can be cooked in the microwave

and served with various toppings for a fi ll-ing meal with little effort.

Ingredients:1 medium-sized Russet potatoSour cream, cheese, green onion or oth-

er toppingsDirections:Rinse potato and pat dry.Poke a few holes in the sides of the pota-

to with a fork.Microwave 3 minutes, turn potato over,

and microwave another 3 minutes, or until the potato is soft.

Cut in half and top with salt, pepper or any other toppings.

Adapted from Start Cooking

Single-Serve Mug BrownieIngredients:2 tablespoons of butter2 tablespoons of sugar1 tablespoon of light brown sugar1/4 teaspoon vanilla extractPinch of salt1 egg yolk4 tablespoons fl our1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder2 heaping tablespoons chocolate chips

Directions:Melt butter in microwave safe mug.Stir in white and brown sugars, vanilla

and salt.Stir in the egg yolk.Add fl our and cocoa powder, and stir until

well combined.Add chocolate chips.Cook for about 45 seconds in microwave,

being careful not to overcook.Serve plain or topped with ice cream or

whipped cream.Adapted from Number 2 Pencil

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PHOTOS BY ISABELLA JACKSON THE DAILY ILLINI


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BY AMINAH KOSHULSTAFF WRITER

The following are some absolute must-have items to help you make it through the year with ease.

Desk lamp: You’ll need this for long nights of studying, when your roommate wants to check in early but you’ve got that major midterm tomorrow.

Storage bins: Closet space may not end up being enough to store everything you need.

Shoe rack: This helps organize shoes so they don’t litter the fl oor and you’re not scrambling to fi nd your other sneaker while running late for class.

Poster putty: This can be used to hang up posters without damaging the walls and getting charged.

Posters/pictures: Pictures of friends and family help personalize your room and make it feel more like home.

Bedsheets: Bring a few extra sheets so you can change them throughout the year. (This is especially useful for those lazi-er days when you don’t feel like washing your old ones right away and you need a fresh set.)

Pillows: We all know how important head support is when you’re trying to nap and escape your responsibilities.

Comforter: Choose a nicely-patterned one that ties your décor together.

Laundry basket: You’ll need this to store your dirty laundry and carry it to and from the laundry room.

Microwave: Microwave meals are pretty convenient when you’re not eating in the dining halls.


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BY SAMANTHA SKIPPERCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Looking to create a new look in your apart-ment or dorm without spending big bucks? Consider repurposing some of your old items and trying a few fun do-it-yourself projects.

The following ideas use objects that are easy to find. In fact, many students already have them in their dorms or apartments.

CollagesCollages are simple and can be made from

nearly anything, including old maps, brochures and magazines. This one is made of paper lace scraps and an old issue of National Geographic.

Old board gamesThese boards are my favorite because you

can do so much with them. I got this board for $1 at the I.D.E.A. Store at 28 E. Springfield Ave., Champaign.

Make your own by using a piece of wood or cork board and some nails or tacks. You can hang everything from keys to jewelry on the nails. Add pieces of old board games for a unique touch.

CoastersThese are made of rubber tile scraps and

buttons, but you can also use wood, cork board, cement or tiles. If you don’t want to add some type of epoxy or decoupage, just decorate along the sides of the tile so a cup will lay flat.

Bottle capsYou can always add some bottle caps to

the edges of various pieces, such as picture frames, to give them a new, fun look. They come in all different colors and styles for a variety of tastes.

PostcardsTo make a postcard chain, add some post-

cards to paper backings in a long chain.You can also use pictures from old calen-

dars as posters.Whether your projects involve turning items

into useful or decorative pieces, you can be creative with everyday objects.

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Creative ways to revamp your space

SAMANTHA SKIPPER THE DAILY ILLINI



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BY ISABELLA JACKSONSTAFF WRITER

Houseplants add beauty to a room and can help students feel less stressed after a busy day on campus. With a little time and some basic tips from Whitney Kwok, senior in ACES and a horticulture major, students can grow thriving houseplants in their dorms and apartments.

Choose houseplants either because they are low-maintenance or because of their unique look.

Kwok said that succulents and cacti are some of the most suitable houseplants for students because they are among the easiest to take care of. But spider plant, jade, snake plant and bamboo are all popular species of house plants. For students that want to take on a more care-intensive plant, orchids are a beautiful addition to any living space.

Plant the houseplant in a pot with good drain-age, generally one with holes in the bottom.

Kwok recommended placing a saucer under the pot to keep the water that drains through the holes contained.

Place plants in an area that gets good sun-light, air circulation and humidity.

Trial and error is sometimes the best way to determine which location will be the best for your plant. Kwok said even the best horti-culturists will occasionally kill plants, so stu-dents should not get too discouraged.

Plants will grow toward the closest source of

light, so if the plant is looking leggy or spindly, it may not be getting enough sunlight.

Kwok said that a south-facing window will receive the best amount of sunlight. A student in a residence hall room with limited natural light may want to invest in grow lights for their plants.

Water the plants until the excess water drains out of the bottom of the pot, and then remove the water from the saucer in about an hour.

Houseplants need watering, but most plants would like to dry out before being watered again to avoid being overwatered. The water requirements will vary depending on the type of plants.

Having good soil in the pot is also necessary for healthy plants.

Good topsoil will help plants grow, but some-times additives and adjustments can help cer-tain types of plants that prefer more acidic soil to flourish.

Students can purchase houseplants at local businesses or right on campus.

According to Kwok, Plant Mode in down-town Champaign has a good selection of plants, especially for students looking to make a ter-rarium, which is a clear globe with plants growing on the inside.

Danville Gardens, although farther away at 1413 N. Prospect Ave., Champaign, has a very large selection of plants.

The department of plant biology and the Horticulture Club both have plant sales on campus multiple times throughout the year.

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What is your highest priority when choosing where to live?

Students, faculty talk living aloneBY MILI PANDYACONTRIBUTING WRITER

W hen students consider housing options, the first question that may come to mind is, “Who do I live

with?”The search for a perfect roommate

is oftentimes successful, but can also be conflictual.

The thought of having to share a room with someone can push many students to opt for living by themselves.

“I think some individuals think that they have to have a single room because that’s what they’ve had their entire life,” said Director of University Housing Alma Sealine. “In our culture today, more students are coming to us that have always had a room to them-selves, so the whole concept of a room-mate can be stressful.”

Of the 8,365 spaces available in the undergraduate residence halls by Uni-versity Housing, only 467 rooms are singles, according to Sealine. With such a small number of single rooms, the majority of students are forced into an

environment where they must learn to live with someone else.

But the impact of being put in such a situation may be greater than expected.

“I think there’s a lot of learning that takes place about who you are as a person, Sealine said. “You learn more about-what sort of environ-ment you need to be successful.”

Academically, that environment may require a roommate being there to lighten the stress that comes with college.

“Without a room-mate, you don’t have anyone to talk to if you need someone to vent to,” Matt Clarke, freshman in DGS, said. “I also think it’s a lot more pressure on yourself to get your work done. You’re actually on your own.”

Living without a roommate can also have an impact on students’ social lives.

“You’re definitely more susceptible to not going out of your way to talk to people,” Clarke said. “You don’t get to meet new people through roommates.”

However, academic and social benefits exist for students who choose to live alone — even if it requires them to put in a little more effort.

Lauren Schultz, senior in LAS, said there can be many advantages to the independence that comes with living alone.

“Coordinating sleep-ing and studying sched-ules was always a chal-lenge,” Schultz said.

“It’s nice not having to work around someone’s schedule.”

She said she doesn’t think she’d be able to go back to living with a room-mate because she’s grown accustomed

to having her own space.Schultz, who has been a resident

adviser at Bromley Hall for two years, also receives the benefit of not having to pay for her housing. But she has had to deal with higher costs when it comes to purchasing necessities for her room.

“When you had a roommate, you could split it half and half,” she said. “But it was a bit of a shock to me hav-ing to provide everything for the room.”

While living alone has its perks, Sea-line, Clarke and Schultz all recommend that students live with a roommate at least for their freshman year, if not longer.

They said the skills, lessons and experiences that students will gain are priceless.

“You have to have those skills in the workplace going forward, in a rela-tionship going forward,” Sealine said. “When you’re a part of a community, you have to be able to lead individu-als and respect what people bring to the table.”

[email protected]

Lack of roomates can impact social life, emotional growth

“I think there’s a lot of learning (when living with others)

that takes place about who you are

as a person.”ALMA SEALINE

DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY HOUSING

“Cost is the highest priority for me because tuition is already very expensive. As a college student, going to my classes is very important to me and I would not want to have to worry about the cost or expense of an apartment. I chose to instead live in a dorm as a resident adviser.”

MARY THORSENSophomore in Business

COMPILED BY RABIA ILYASSTAFF WRITER

“The highest priority for me is location, because I don’t have a car, so I need to be really close to class. When I am closer to campus, I can always walk or take a bus, and I get to my classes easily.”

ANNA STANSFIELDSophomore in LAS

“Being close to campus and not having to worry about making food would be the highest priority for me in choosing housing. Also being surrounded by people or friends is also very important to me and would definitely be a factor in choosing where to live.”

SHAGUN DOSHIFreshman in LAS

“I chose a residence hall because I felt that I would be able to create more connections. I am also very close to campus and I do not have to worry about making food.”

CHUQIAO RONGSenior in LAS


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BY LAUREN MARTENSCONTRIBUTING WRITER

Choosing who to live with is a strug-gle students typically face each year.

Important things to bear in mind are the characteristics a potential roommate possesses, how many peo-ple to live with and what questions to ask before moving in. These tips are valid for students in all stages of hous-ing, from dorms to apartments.

Lauren Lolordo, junior in ACES, said she used a Facebook group for incoming University freshmen to find a roommate her first year

“I found it really helpful because you could talk to potential roommates and also see what they were interest-ed in based off of their pictures,” she said.

If a student living in a dorm chooses to room with someone random, Uni-versity Housing provides them with a questionnaire to fill out while applying for housing. The form aims to match people with similar interests, person-alities and lifestyles.

Jennifer Reardon, sophomore in LAS, said she chose to go with a ran-dom roommate and thankfully, they were compatible.

“We both slept in late, ate the same things and had similar style,” she said.

Despite her luck, she advises stu-dents to “pick someone who has a life-style similar to your own.”

Students should have discus-sions with potential roommates to

ask important questions, such as what their interests are or if they’ve roomed with someone before.

If they have lived with someone before, it can prove to be beneficial, as they would already be accustomed to accommodating to someone else’s schedule. They will understand dif-ferent sleeping, school and social schedules.

“I think you should definitely hang out with your potential roommate a few times before making a decision,” said Deni Alvarez, sophomore in AHS.

One should also consider whether the person prioritizes going out or studying, or if they’re unorganized or messy. Decide what your priorities are, and make a decision based on that.

The next decision to make is how many people to live with.

Lolordo has lived with one person, is currently living with three others and plans to live in a house with 20 people next year.

“As long as you enjoy the people you live with, it doesn’t really matter how many people I’m living with,” she said.

While compatibility is more central to finding harmony than the number of people a student lives with, they should once again take their prefer-ences into consideration.

If a student doesn’t want all the energy that comes with having sev-eral roommates and if they like a quieter atmosphere, they should try sticking with no more than one or two

roommates.But if they’d like to have a more

social experience, more roommates can expose them to that. In the end, students should aim to find a balance between academic and social success, and they should surround themselves with people who can help them attain that balance.

No matter how many roommates a student has, it’s important to find ways to avoid conflicts. Sometimes, space can be the best solution, Reardon said.

“Fights were avoided by having a few different friend groups and let-ting them do their own thing, and not necessarily doing everything together all the time,” she said.

Open communication can also be key, Lolordo said.

“I think it’s important to address things that bother you or fights as soon as possible in order for them not to get worse.”

[email protected]

Condsiderations for chooing a roommate

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Students should think about charac-teristics, number of roommates


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Luxury living is becoming more promi-nent on campus, with some apartments fea-turing four bathrooms, internet, satellite TV — including HBO and Big Ten Network — a yoga studio, in-building coffee bars and, the seemingly most outrageous, a golf simulator.

With all these new luxury apartments, people who want to live well for less can still do so in older luxury apart-ments. These apartments aren’t the “it” places to live anymore, but are still in good shape and, of course, are at the same good locations.

So the question becomes: Is luxury living worth the money?

Well, it depends. Do you want to live in an amazing apartment that puts most residential homes to shame? Or would you rather live in an apartment that is still nice, but costs much less money?

The rent of luxury apartments continues to skyrocket like the buildings that house them.

And the crazy part is, the second-best apart-ments sometimes go for the same prices that

older apartments go for. Perhaps because peo-ple think they are too expensive on a college student’s budget.

So, there are apartments available until the last minute in buildings such as 309 Green,

which was not too long ago considered the most current option for luxury living.

They don’t sell as quick-ly because the people with enough money look for the newest and best choices.

These buildings aren’t old, they just aren’t the most luxurious or newest options available anymore. But they are still in good shape and are nicer than some apart-ments that go at a similar price.

In the end, find a place that will make your life easier,

not harder. It may be worth considering if the luxury apartment is worth the price, or if you’d rather have spending money.

But perhaps you’d rather spend most of your time hanging out with friends at your place, with your simulated golf course or your roof-top hot tub.

[email protected]

Is luxury living worth the price tag?

With all these new luxury apartments, people who want to live well for less can still do so in older luxury apartments.

JUSTIN WOLFE THE DAILY ILLINIStudents can find less pricy housing options at good quality with older luxury apartments.


BY HARSHA BELLAMKONDACONTRIBUTING WRITER

One of the most nerve-wracking decisions incoming freshmen have to make over the summer is where they’re going to live.

In fact, the summer before college began, it took my roommate and I two weeks to decide where to live. We were convinced that the wrong decision would ruin our social lives for the next four years on campus.

However, what’s more important than the specific hall you select is the group it’s part of. To make this clearer, here’s an example: Illinois Street Residence Halls is made up of Townsend Hall and Wardall Hall.

The differences between those two are minimal. What truly matters is the features of ISR in general. That’s how it works.

Without further ado, I present to you a general guide of most of the Universi-ty Housing dorms, including a list of pros and cons.

Ikenberry North/South

Includes:1. Barton and Lundgren (North)2. Hopkins (North)3. Nugent (North)4. Weston (North)5. Scott (South)6. Snyder (South)7. Taft Van-Doren (South)8. Bousfield (South)Quick facts: Barton is all-female. Lund-

gren is all-male. The rest are co-ed. Hop-kins, Nugent, Weston, Scott, Snyder and Bousfield are air-conditioned. Nugent and Bousfield are mostly filled with upperclassmen.

Pros: The Ikenberry dorms are close to the Armory, Memorial Stadium and the ARC. The Ikenberry Dining Hall is the biggest dining hall on campus, and also includes an a la carte option — 57 North. The Ikenberry Common Area has its own library and study areas as well. Also, the entire area has its own little quad.

Cons: The Ikenberry dorms are a little far from the Main Quad and Engineering Quad. Also, the Ikenberry Dining Hall is a little crowded at times due to the high con-centration of students living in one area.

Florida Avenue Residence Halls (FAR)

Includes:1. Oglesby2. Trelease

Quick facts: Both Oglesby and Trelease are air-conditioned. Both halls are co-ed. There is also one game room in each hall.

Pros: Adam Oufkir, freshman in DGS, said, “I like that it’s a little more quiet than Champaign. It feels homey.”

He also said he likes the food offered at FAR: “We have soul food. It’s freaking good.”

In addition, all rooms have new, loft-able furniture. FAR is close to the College of ACES and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Break housing is available. This means that students can stay in their own rooms over fall and spring break — for an addi-tional charge.

Cons: Living on the eleventh floor, Oufkir said, “I hate how big it is. Getting to the top floor is a pain in the neck.”

FAR is also far away from the Quad and is on the south-eastern corner of campus.

Pennsylvania Avenue Residence Hall (PAR)

Includes:1. Babcock2. Blaisdell3. Carr4. SaundersQuick facts: All halls are co-ed. There

are no triples available. There is no air-conditioning.

Pros: All rooms have loftable furniture. Babcock and Saunders have newly-remod-eled, individual-use bathrooms. PAR Din-ing Hall has stir fry and offers After Dark late dinner, which is a great option for stu-dents who return home late after studying.

Cons: Just like FAR, PAR is also far away from the Quad. However, the 13S Silver bus goes straight to PAR and FAR, so that’s a huge advantage for residents.

Illinois Street Resident Halls (ISR)

Includes:1. Townsend2. WardallQuick facts: Both halls are co-ed. All

rooms are air-conditioned.Pros: Zach Pease, freshman in Engineer-

ing, said the location is very convenient.“If I need to go to any of my classes,

they’re at most a 10-minute walk away.”ISR is very close to the Main Quad, Engi-

neering Quad and Krannert. That’s a huge pro.

ISR Dining Hall has an a la carte option.

All rooms have new, loftable furniture. Also, break housing is available at an addition-al charge.

Cons: ISR is known to be a little on the quieter side.

Pease commented on a few qualities he disliked.

“The food is a little lacking,” he said. “My furniture has a bit of wear-and-tear.”

Allen Hall

Quick facts: Allen Hall is co-ed. There is no air-conditioning. Quad rooms are avail-able. Allen is home to the Unit One LLC. Allen has a darkroom and even has in-hall classes for credit. It’s a great hall for cre-ative people.

Pros: Kaustubh Vongole, freshman in Engineering, lives at Allen and said he loves the atmosphere.

“My floor is really social, everybody’s always outside, (and) the food’s really good. Maybe ties for best with Ikenberry,” he said.

Allen is also close to Krannert and CRCE. Rooms have loftable furniture and music practice rooms. Allen also has its own library.

Cons: While Vongole likes the social

aspect of living at Allen, he dislikes the lack of air conditioning.

“The first two weeks were torture,” he said.

While many students share his opinion, to be fair, air conditioning is only neces-sary during the first six weeks of classes.

Allen is on the eastern edge of campus. Therefore, it’s a bit far from the Main Quad and Engineering Quad. The entire hall is an LLC, so if you’re not interested in join-ing one, you might be discouraged. How-ever, you don’t have to participate in the activities.

In retrospect, it’s easy to see that my roommate and I were extremely wrong and slightly petty when we were stressing over the importance of choosing the per-fect place to live.

I’ve only been on campus for a month, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that no matter where you live, it’s extremely easy to meet new people, have a raging social life and form bonds that last years.

All incoming freshmen should know this. I wish I knew it before freaking out over picking a dorm.

[email protected]

Campus dorms offer array of features for different preferences

DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTOStudents reutrning to the Illinois Street Residential Hall after class on January 27.


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University Housing’s Resident Adviser applications are currently available for students to submit. But before committing

to the job, potential applicants should take a few factors into consideration.

Every year, many students are eager to take advantage of the opportunity because of some of the perks that come with being a Resident Adviser. Some dream of finally having their own room and not dealing with a roommate coming in late at night and disturbing their sleep. Others may be in it for the free housing and not settling for the cheapest meal plan.

And perhaps, for some, the prospect of being a mentor is exciting, as well as taking on a role that can stand out on a resume.

No matter what someone’s motives are, it’s important to note that the job is not as easy as it may seem.

This is the third year Molly Messner, senior in ACES, has been a resident adviser at Nugent Hall. She said one of the unexpected challenges she’s faced has been handling residents’ mental health needs.

“I’ve understood how to be a little more apparent and aware of these kinds of symptoms knowing that somebody may need certain attention in that dimension of wellness,” Messner said. “That has increased my consciousness ... like everybody has their own battles.”

Every summer, newly-hired resident advisers undergo an intensive two-week training where they learn how to handle various situations that can arise in a residence hall, such as residents facing social and emotional issues, vandalism and

the violation of housing policies.Kenyatta Sacha Dunkin, senior in

Business, is a second-year resident adviser at Snyder Hall. She noted the importance of addressing social and community issues on her floor.

“As an R.A., you really have to speak up,” Dunkin said. “There’s no such thing as being a passive bystander – you have to be an active bystander. You have to really take the initiative to speak up because you are monitoring the halls, and if you don’t do it, then no one else will.”

Messner added that the resident adviser’s role is equivalent to being the backbone

of the community, as they facilitate unity in the halls and engagement in campus activities.

“Specifically through programs, bul letin boards and day-to-day interactions, I’m able to educate and engage my residents about different resources on campus and different events,” she said.

Dunkin said potential applicants should consider if the requirements of the job suit their personality before taking on the position.

“It’s not for everybody,” she said. “You become a fish in a fishbowl, where literally everywhere you go, someone is going to know that you are that RA. So if it doesn’t fit in

your personality to be friendly to people, to be a resource and to be a mentor, then it’s just not for you.”

But for those who find the job to be suitable to their interests, Messner said the rewards are plentiful.

She said she’s learned how to be resilient and learn from her mistakes and address issues more efficiently in the future.

“I can see my personal growth in leadership and maturity,” Messner said.

Applications for positions as an RA will remain open to students until Oct. 15.

[email protected]

Resident Advisers share difficulties, experiences withpossible applicants

“You really have to take the

initiative to speak up because you

are monitoring the halls, and if you

don’t do it, no one will.”

KENYATTA SACHA DUNKIN RESIDENT ADVISER AT SNYDER HALL


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