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Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
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Tuesday, February 24, 2015
5
Make the apartment hunt easy Red flags and must-haves to watch for while on a tour BY JAINI SHAH STAFF WRITER
Whether a freshman, sophomore or junior, apartment hunting comes with its fair share of challenges, like finding a leasing company, budgeting for rent, finding roommates and paying utilities (all of which are just skimming the surface of this painstaking process). But according to Brittany Glenn, program manager at the Tenant Union, students can make finding an apartment a little easier. The University’s Tenant Union, which is located in Room 326 at the Illini Union, allows students to learn about various housing options and the countless apartment companies on campus that market for students and non-students alike. “We have an array of different services,” said Glenn. “We do lease reviews for students, ... and we also have the complaint records here on file for landlords from the past five years, so all tenants can see what some of their complaints are from their peers. She also added that students can request information through the Tenant Union’s website, as well as attend “signature programs and workshops offered throughout the semester, pertaining to speed-roommating and the nutsand-bolts of apartment searching.” According to Glenn, students often overlook “their move-in and move-out dates, especially when there are holdover fees ... if they’re in the unit longer than the date they’re supposed to be.”
One piece of advice she gives students is to be aware of the specifics of the furniture, and whether it is included in the lease. “(In the past) students have been promised furniture (verbally), and since it’s not stated in the lease, the landlord is not obligated to give it to them,” she said. Namita Parikh, senior in LAS, had an entirely different problem. She leased from Campus Property Management last year at 52 E. Armory Ave. in Champaign, and described problems with the building’s overall maintenance. “There was a leaking bathroom faucet that they failed to fix after we repeatedly called them,” she said. “Another problem was that my roommate had a hole in her ceiling. Both of these issues weren’t fixed until the end of our second semester.” Overall, Parikh said she wouldn’t recommend living with Campus Property Management and that there are other options available. When looking for an apartment, Parikh suggested proximity to campus, as well as making sure it is “spacious enough for the number of roommates and at an affordable cost.” Though Parikh had a negative experience, Rachel Bessonny, a senior in Business, had quite the opposite experience this year living with Bankier Apartments at Skylight Tower. “The apartment was a triple. It was a passdown on Green Street, which is a pretty popular location,” she said. “It was also recently renovated, and it had a washer and dryer unit, and two full bathrooms.”
SONNY AN THE DAILY ILLINI
Jaclyn Koller, leasing coordinator at Bankier Apartments, shows juniors Thomas Lawless, in Media, John Hadley, LAS, and Ryan Schaffer, ACES, a property located on Green Street. She said Bankier allowed rent to be paid electronically, and had a really efficient maintenance service, as well as coordination in terms of scheduling. Another thing she liked was how she got a discount on her rent by showing the apartment to other potential tenants. “I would recommend Bankier, because it seems (like it is) more run by, like, a family,” she said. Her idea of a perfect apartment would be one with a “washer/dryer, a dishwasher (and) general upkeep, like newer carpets, location and parking.” According to Bessonny, a lot of it also
depends on what she’s heard from her peers. Both Parikh and Bessonny agreed that in order to begin apartment searching, starting early is key, possibly as early as first semester the year before move-in. They also said it is important to be patient when choosing an apartment. “Don’t be intimidated into signing into the next day,” Bessonny said. “Take the time to get critical details, and make sure you talk to your parents, too.”
Jaini can be reached at jgshah2@ dailyillini.com.
How to cook for one when dining hall meal plans are done BY ABBY GLICKMAN STAFF WRITER
Without mom and dad’s cooking or the comfort of the dining halls, getting fed every day can be a stressful thing to tackle. To relieve some anxiety, here are some quick and easy recipes from a few of my favorite food bloggers.
Individual Mac and Cheese Ingredients: 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided Cornmeal, for dusting 4 ounces cavatappi pasta 2 tablespoons flour 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard Salt, to taste Freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup, plus 2 tablespoons Gruyere cheese, freshly grated 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated 2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano, freshly grated
Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 12-ounce dish with 1 tablespoon of butter. Pour cornmeal on the dish and put the dish on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Set dish to the side. 2. Add water and salt to a medium-sized saucepan and boil. Add the pasta to the pan and cook for 5-7 minutes (the pasta will finish cooking in the oven, so it is important to not overcook the pasta when boiling). Drain pasta and set aside. 3. On medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the saucepan. Add flour to the pan and whisk until golden brown. Pour in milk and stir until it is a creamy texture. 4. Season the pan with salt and pepper, and stir in mustard. 5. Add 1/2 cup Gruyere cheese and all the cheddar and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Stir until texture thickens and all the cheese has melted. 6. Add noodles to saucepan and mix the noodles and the cheese. 7. Put the noodles and sauce in the buttered
pan and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of Gruyere cheese to the noodles. Season as desired and bake for 25-35 minutes. Recipe courtesy of Karen Covey of Gourmet Recipes for One
5. Those who want more flavor can add barbecue sauce. 6. Bake in oven (or toaster oven) for 10 minutes. Recipe courtesy of StudentRecipes.com
Personal Gourmet Pizza Ingredients:
Red Beet and Goat Cheese Salad Ingredients:
Naan or pita bread Your choice of veggies (the online recipe includes tomatoes, mushrooms, olives and onion) Asiago and Parmesan cheese, grated Pre-cooked chicken or other meats (optional) Barbecue sauce (optional) Olive oil Italian seasoning
Instructions: 1. Evenly distribute olive oil on bread. 2. Add all and any additional desired toppings. 3. Add cheese 4. Add Italian seasoning, if desired.
4-5 whole small beets, canned, roughly chopped 2 cups of lettuce spring mix 1/2 cup chopped raw walnuts 2 ounces crumbled goat cheese
Instructions: 1. Wash lettuce spring mix and dry. Put on dinner plate as the salad base. 2. Add beets, chopped walnuts and crumbled goat cheese to the salad. 3. Spread a balsamic-based dressing, or another desired dressing, over the lettuce. Courtesy of Ashley Lojko of Cooking For One
Abby can be reached at glickmn2@ dailyillini.com.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
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Energy-efficient, comfortable home solutions for drained bank accounts Energy Star appliances, communication can help save money BY BECKY NGUYEN STAFF WRITER
Cursed with a relentless combination of bitter, arctic winters and sweltering summers, University students who live in apartments have had their fair share of paying for hefty utility bills. Add to that dozens of electronics and appliances that constantly consume energy, and some students may find themselves staring into an empty wallet at the end of the month. However, there are several ways to downsize energy bills, no matter the season. LEED-certified buildings are evaluated based on environmental factors. Students can save money and resources while promoting renewable, clean energy by living in several LEED-certified buildings on campus, including private-certified Presby Hall or one of campus’ newest apartment buildings, HERE Champaign. The certification process varies from building to building, where each is evaluated on factors including the construction, design, development and maintenance of the building. “There (are) certain things that you have to comply with, with regulations, that make you more efficient,� said Cassie Leigh, general manager of HERE. To reduce energy costs, Leigh suggests looking at newer buildings because of their new designs and high-efficiency appliances that will conserve more energy than their older counterparts. Consequently, tenants can expect lower energy bills, she said. If the apartment you’re eyeing is an older building, Leigh said it’s ideal to look for the “Energy Star� label on things like light
bulbs, electronics, appliances and other household products. The label means that it meets strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For students living with roommates, communication about bills may be a major concern, Leigh said. For instance, it’s not uncommon to see pricey energy bills when one roommate has his or her window open in the middle of winter. “With energy bills, basically it comes down to the kids all communicating with each other,� Leigh said. Daniel Chavez, junior in LAS, admitted that communicating with his roommates earlier in the year could’ve saved them from paying an arm and a leg for utilities. He lives in a two-floor apartment where the heat tends to rise from the bottom to top level, making it harder for the roommates to agree on a maximum temperature. Jane Gomes, leasing and account executive at Campus Property Management, echoes Leigh’s advice on communication. She said that coming to an agreement definitely helps with lowering energy costs. She also suggests turning down the heat at night or when no one is there to 64 or 65 degrees Fahrenheit so pipes don’t freeze and the heat won’t kick on every few minutes. According to Energy Star’s website, almost half of the energy used at home goes to heating and cooling. The rest goes to water heating, appliances, lighting, electronics and other electricity outlets. Making sure that all windows and doors are completely closed is a good way to prevent heat or air from escaping, as drafty
apartments can be detrimental to tenants’ pockets when it comes time to pay the bills. “The plastic that you can put up on windows and balcony doors—I know it looks kind of bad and people don’t like to do it, but it makes a big difference,� Gomes said. “It’s cheap so it’s definitely worth it and more people should do it. That would be my No. 1 recommendation.� Additionally, turning on ceiling fans or any fan will help circulate the air better. Even in the cold winter months, fans can help evenly distribute heat throughout rooms, Gomes said. “Keep ... shades open in the winter,� she advises. “If you have a window that faces sunlight, that will help warm up (the room). Alternately, when it’s really hot out, if you keep the blinds closed, it should keep the apartment a little cooler.� As for light fixtures, Gomes suggests going with LED or Compact Fluorescent lights. They’re just as bright as regular ones, and although they cost a little more upfront, they save students money in the longterm. They are more efficient and last a lot longer than incandescent bulbs. Other easy ways to save on energy includes filling up dishwashers “like adult Tetris,� washing clothes in cold water and turning off all of the lights when no one is home, Gomes said. “If renters suspects that their bill is too high or something like that, for heat especially, just check windows and doors to see if you think there’s a draft,� she said.
Ways to split bills between roommates
1. Chase Quickpay (only works if everyone uses Chase) 2. Splitwise (an app that keeps a running total over time so roommates can pay each other in one big payment) 3. Create a Spreadsheet on Google Drive to keep track of who owes what 4. Venmo (free app that connects to your bank account, allowing you to pay or request payments from your roommates) 5. Old-fashioned checks or cash
“The plastic that you can put up on windows and balcony doors—I know it looks kind of bad and people don’t like to do it, but it makes a big difference.� JANE GOMES
LEASING AND ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE CAMPUS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Becky can be reached at bnguye28@ dailyillini.com.
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Tuesday, February 24, 2015
More than just a friendly face Carrie Darsham shares the ups and downs of being a BSW HANADI ABUNAIM STAFF WRITER
Residents at Pennsylvania Avenue Residence Hall may recognize this friendly face walking in the halls of Blaisdell and Saunders. But, make no mistake, she is not a resident. The Daily Illini got a chance to speak with Building Service Worker Carrie Darsham, to get a sense of what it is like to work in a residence hall. The Daily Illini: How did you get your job at the University? Carrie Darsham: My mother-in-law worked at the University as a linen maid, and so I kind of got in through her. One of the best things about working at the University would definitely be the benefits. Between the health insurance, even the vacation and sick time, it’s just wonderful benefits. When my husband and I had our first kid, I did not work (at the University) and was under my husband’s health insurance. I had a C-section, and the bill was around $4,500. With our second child, I was working at the University, and I had another C-section. The health insurance at the University, with all my doctors appointments and the three-day stay in the hospital, the cost was about $250. It’s a big difference. You definitely can’t beat the insurance. I really appreciate it. PORTRAIT BY HANADI ABUNAIM THE DAILY ILLINI
DI: How long have you been working at the University? CD: I’ve been working here for going on 11 years. I’ve worked at LAR and PAR. I started out on weekends at PAR for a little more than three years, then LAR for a Monday through Friday job for five years, and then I came back to PAR. When I was at LAR, I was in Shelden, and it was all girls so it stayed really, really clean. One of the reasons I went back to PAR was because Shelden was going co-ed. When I worked at LAR, it was definitely a lot cleaner, but that’s okay. DI: What does a typical day at work entail? CD: It depends on the time of year. Over the school year when the students are there, if you’re Monday through Friday, you are assigned a run. I’ve got three floors, first and third floor Saunders and third floor
Blaisdell, that I take care of. And over the summer we clean the dorm rooms and do the floor work and that kind of stuff when the students are gone. DI: What do you look forward to when coming to work? CD: Interacting with the students. Each year you get to meet new people from all over, and it’s just nice to make those connections. There was one girl years ago when I worked at LAR whom I built a really strong friendship with throughout the year. I’ll probably always remember her. When she was moving out, she had her mom bake me some cookies. She brought them to me, and that really touched my heart and I thought, ‘Wow, that was really awesome.’ This year a resident adviser at Blaisdell made me a snow globe. It makes you feel like what you do is worth
it and that someone is appreciating it. DI: I bet. And, on the other hand, what do you look forward to the least when coming to work? CD: Certain messes that we have to clean up. I’m sure if you use your imagination you could think some up. It is what it is, though. So you just clean it up and go on. DI: What do you want students to know about your job? CD: It is pretty hard work. Some people might not think so, you know mentally it might not be much, but physically it definitely takes a toll on your body. DI: Besides your job, what do you want students to know about you? CD: I enjoy spending time with my husband
and kids. I enjoy reading, watching sports and camping with my family. It’s relaxing. And I’m a regular person, like everyone else. It would be nice if students kind of thought, ‘Hey these are people, too.’ Some students don’t even acknowledge us when we say hi. They could just be having a bad day or something but it’d be nice if they can acknowledge us, because we’re people, too, and there are several students who do. You just sometimes get the occasional ones who act like you’re not really there, but there are not too many of those.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Hanadi can be reached at habuna2@ dailyillini.com.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
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The girls with ‘The Yellow House’ Seven seniors experience senior land living from a sunny perch BY MIKAYLA OSTENDORF STAFF WRITER
Greeting passersby with its bright, unusual color, “The Yellow House” sits on the corner of First and Chalmers streets on the outskirts of “senior land” — a place where many students choose to reside during their final year at the University. When inviting guests over, Riley Dunne, senior in Nursing, said she describes her residence as the “big yellow house, and it kind of looks like its about to fall down.” In fact, during a recent flight from Champaign, Leah Horton, senior in ACES, who lives in the house, could see The Yellow House from the plane window. The corner lot house includes seven bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living room and a kitchen, Dunne said, all for seven seniors to share. They described the location as ideal — sandwiched between frat houses, dorms and senior land. It lets its residents, who all met through the Delta Zeta sorority, get a taste of all aspects of campus life. Before sorority sisters occupied the house, Illinois football players lived there. Angie Flanagan, a 2012 University graduate and an alumna of Delta Zeta, said she
and her friends signed the lease for The Yel- rent Yellow House resident, said they are low House during her sophomore year and friends with the two neighboring houses and secured the property as their own for the enjoy mingling between the three houses. following two years. “I open my window and I yell to my neighAccording to Angie, the condition of the bors from my window, and we just go downhouse upon move-in was “really bad and stairs,” said Megan Flanagan, current Yellow gross. We had to do a lot of cleaning up of House resident, senior in AHS and Angie’s stuff.” sister. The girls made the home their own by paintNeighbor Brenna Koerner, senior in AHS, ing walls and remodelsaid that she enjoys footing some rooms into bedball gamedays, when the rooms to accommodate neighbors will spend time the seven residents. on the front lawn and meet During the first three new people walking by the weeks of her senior year, houses. Angie and other resi“(The Yellow House residents) are all very outgodents brought out a slip and slide. ing and different,” she “Everything we did I said. “I feel like their perfeel was just more noticesonalities kind of match able,” she said. “Other the house in a way, but in people did (slip and slides), a good way.” but you live pretty much Koerner said alumni, on one of the biggest corincluding former Illini BRENNA KOERNER ners of campus with a football players J Leman NEIGHBOR, SENIOR IN AHS bright yellow house, (so) and Dick Butkus, come you are certain to get back to visit the houses. noticed more easily.” One of the walls in KoernAngie and her friends would also pull er’s house features football player autocouches outside, grill and eat on the lawn, graphs, and the football team still uses the just as the current residents still do. parking lot for a barbecue for the families Horton’s sister Stephanie, a 2012 graduate, of the football team after the Spring Game, lived in the house and was looking to pass it Koerner said. The Yellow House residents hosted “Yellow down to younger members of the Delta Zeta sorority, so current tenants, Horton and six House, Yellow World” in the fall of 2013, a parother girls, decided to take it over for the start ty where guests wore yellow, Megan said. She of their junior year. created the name when making the Facebook Shelby James, senior in Business and a cur- event, and it stuck. Megan said if partygoers
“(The Yellow House residents) are outgoing and different. Their personalities match the house.”
weren’t wearing yellow, the color was drawn on their faces. The next day, yellow face paint covered the walls and front door. Living in the house can be “chaotic. I just feel like there’s something always going on, especially now that it’s senior year,” Dunne said, but their shared campus coordinates bonded their friendships. “I’ve become so close with them. It was one thing living in our sorority house, but it was another thing becoming more independent living with them and learning how to live with more than just your roommate,” Dunne said. As Angie recalled, living in senior land had a “more home-y” feel, because “pretty much everyone knows everyone, and all of your friends are living in a smaller area, rather than separated all over campus.” Now living in an apartment, Angie urged college students to live somewhere that will lead to memories. She said you don’t need to spend all this money on a nice place while in college, as it is more important to find a home that will provide happiness. As a current resident of The Yellow House, Dunne said she most enjoys the nights spent staying in and watching “The Bachelor” on TV or watching HBO until 4 a.m.. Another pastime includes sitting outside and peoplewatching as freshmen go out for the first time on syllabus week. “We had a pool party on the first warm day — we are probably the most spontaneous, outgoing (house), at least on a main road,” Horton said.
Mikayla can be reached at ostndrf2 dailyillini.com.
“The Yellow House” lies in senior land, and currently houses seven Delta Zeta sorority sisters. The residence was formerly occupied by Illini football players.
OLIVIA GODNIK THE DAILY ILLINI
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Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Climbing the housing ladder: Why I’ll never be alone with good friends ABBY GLICKMAN Staff writer
T
wo years ago, when I moved into Illini Tower as a freshman, I had enough nervous butterflies for the entire student population. I had only been away from home a few times — a weeklong journalism camp in high school, and a school trip to Australia for 12 days. To put it simply, the concept of living away from home terrified me. Although my college roommate and two suitemates had gone to high school with me, I still felt uneasy about being away from my family, my pets and my big cozy bedroom. Luckily, other than lots of homework, I didn’t have too many responsibilities when it came to taking care of myself. I had a meal plan where I could have two meals per day, an extremely helpful resident adviser and even a study room where I could do my homework (and print it out for free). Having these things to help me along the way definitely made the process of leaving home less overwhelming. At the beginning of my freshman year I also went through recruitment and joined my sorority, Alpha Epsilon Phi. I made close friends in the sorority whom I could talk to and share new experiences with. They came over to Illini Tower all the time, and we would get ready for barn dances, formals and just hang out and enjoy each other’s company. Since I had a good amount of space in my room, it became a popular hangout spot.
As the year went on, and we became closer, they became my greatest support system away from home. I still talked to my parents regularly, but at school, these were the people I would go to when I needed anything. This year, I live in the sorority’s chapter house with the same friends who helped me through my first year away from home. I am extremely comfortable here, being able to share the entire house with three of my best friends and other new friends that I have made along the way. One of the best things about living in a sorority house is knowing everyone I live with. When I lived in Illini Tower, it was very hard to know everyone, considering how many people lived there. At the house, it’s a much more homey environment. I still get meals here, my favorite being “Bagel Bar” on Fridays, when everyone in the house, including outof-housers, can come enjoy bagels and soup. I always look forward to it because everyone can be together in the company of delicious food. Our RA and House Director, also known as our “house moms,” Jordan and Holly, also make living in the house feel like home. Holly brings her adorable oneyear-old son, Jackson, to the house every day. We have dubbed Jackson our “House Baby” and, as you can imagine, he is never starved for attention. And now, next year, I am moving on to my first apartment. I will be with three of my best friends from Alpha Epsilon Phi, but it’s still nerve-racking to think about how many new responsibilities I will now have. My main concern for next year is, of
PHOTO COURTESY OF ABBY GLICKMAN
Abby Glickman with Brittney Nadler, Illini Media employee and sophomore in LAS, and Jenni Jozwiak, sophomore in Education, in front of the sorority house on move-in day in August. course, making my own food. I’m hoping I will learn enough cooking over the summer so I can make things other than boxed pasta and peanut butter and jelly. It will also be weird not having someone looking after me in some official capacity. My days of being taken care of by an RA or a house mom will, sadly, be over. How-
ever, I am comforted to know that I will be watched over by the friends I am living with. I’m nervous to be on my own, but I will never be fully on my own, because I have them.
Abby is a sophomore in LAS. She can be reached at glickmn2@dailyillini.com.
Sense of community, friendship gained in loss of space ANNABETH CARLSON Assistant copy chief
L
ast year, I lived at Presby Hall, a private dorm on campus, and to say I had a lot of space would be an understatement. Presby is a suite-style dorm with the best amenities on campus. I shared a suite with five girls that included a living room, balcony, kitchen, a washer and dryer, two bathrooms and separate bathrooms. While I had a roommate in my personal room, a wall divided our spaces for privacy. In addition, I had my own closet, dresser, desk and bed with storage space underneath. It seemed like the perfect living situation, since I could hoard all of my clothes and shoes in one place, and even cook and do laundry in the same room. While many of
my friends learned to live in small spaces their first year of college, I felt like not much had changed from my living situation at home. However, when I joined a sorority, I knew the days of spacious living were numbered. While I was excited to live in the sorority house with all of my best friends, I knew I would not have the same amount of space as Presby. I was going to be sharing a room with two other girls, but that was not all. We would also share a dresser, closet and desk, as well as community bathrooms with the 40 other girls living in the house. No more easy-to-access kitchen or laundry machines either. When I moved into the sorority house,
it was an adjustment— just as I predicted. However, it was much easier than I thought it would be. Even though my roommates and I shared basically everything, we found an organizational system that worked for us. We each got a few drawers in our dresser and divided the closet into sections. I even realized that the community bathrooms are fun, since we all could get ready together each morning. Before moving into the house, I didn’t understand how nice it was to live with my best friends. We study together, eat together, go out together and more. If I had a rough day or just need someone to watch “The Real Housewives of Beverly
College is about broadening your horizons and forming relationships that will last a lifetime.
Hills” with me, they are always there. One weekend, my roommates went home, and despite having the entire room to myself, I was counting down the seconds until they came back. I will say the one thing I miss from Presby was the washer and dryer. I can often be found crawling under my desk and searching through my purses for spare quarters to do laundry. But all in all, I have realized that extra space in your college situation can be nice, but it is not the most important thing. College is about broadening your horizons and forming relationships that will last a lifetime. In 20 years, I know I won’t remember how much space I had for my things. Instead, I’ll remember the fun times living with my best friends in the world.
Annabeth is a sophomore in Media. She can be reached at aecarls2 @dailyillini.com.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
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Why I’m glad I skipped the residence halls transferred from community college to the University as a sophomore. After I learned of my acceptance (much later than most) in the spring of my freshman year, I had to deal with declaring a major (I came in undeclared), tuition and, of course, housing. As if making a transition wasn’t scary enough, I was on a time crunch. I had less than one month after my acceptance to secure my housing, without ever physically seeing my options. Before I looked into other options, I immediately wanted to live in the dorms. Since I’d spent the last two years going to community college, I had never had that “dorm” experience I’d heard so much about. When comparing this to the thought of living back at home, I knew I wanted a chance to meet new people and start fresh. Little did I know, that “dorm” experience came with a pretty hefty price tag. As I’m sure many college students know, money is a major factor to consider when coming to college. I’ve always worked for
what I wanted, and I come from a lowermiddle class family. Because I had looked into housing so late in the game, I had lost the opportunity to live in the cheaper options for dorms. Living in dorms was almost impossible to achieve on my budget, and, at one point, I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to actually transfer. It was a scary thought, considering I had done so much to get into the University in the first place. After filing some paperwork, I was granted a waiver to live in an apartment off-campus. I literally signed a lease within the last two weeks of summer with a girl whom I had only talked to through e-mails and Facebook messages. Again, scary. While I finally jumped over that hurdle, I was going to be experiencing the lifestyle change that all of my friends had already gone through. I arrived at my new apartment a week before anyone had even arrived on campus. Not knowing anyone, I spent the first few nights alone, and I had my stereotypical freshman breakdown. However, the feeling quickly passed. Living in an apartment straight into college began to feel almost... natural. I think this was because my experience at community college had already
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forced me to grow up faster than most people my age. This feeling was reaffirmed two weeks ago, as I was walking back to my apartment with my boyfriend. He asked me if I felt as though I had missed out on the “complete” college experience because I hadn’t spent a year in the dorms. Honestly, when I look back on my life, I do feel like I missed out on some of the exciting things about coming to a university straight out of high school. I will never experience being stuck in a tiny room with a roommate whom I hate. I will never experience the awkward first time walking into a dining hall knowing that I might be sitting alone. I will never experience the “coolness” of getting into a bar at midnight on my 19th birthday. And while friends have told me that I’m lucky that I didn’t need to go through it all, I can’t help but feel like I missed out. Regardless, even though people might think that going straight to an apartment is an isolating option, I feel the complete opposite. Maybe it’s who I am, but I feel like moving into an apartment made me want to get
out of my shell even more. Living in my own apartment forced me out of my comfort zone. I was forced to make friends with people through classes and RSOs, not just because they lived on my floor. I’ve also become closer to people who I went to high school with, as well as their friends. If I was able to go back in time, or if I had been given the funds to live in a dorm as a transfer student, I honestly don’t think that I would do it. If going away to school has taught me anything, it’s that what’s meant to happen will happen. Anyone who knows me knows that this is a huge thing for me to say, considering that I used to be (and sometimes still am) an uptight person. But everything that has happened to me has been for the best. I feel like I may have missed out on some things, but I have gained so much from my experience in an apartment that I wouldn’t change a thing.
Since I’d spent the last two years going to community college, I had never had that ‘dorm’ experience.
Victoria is a junior in Media. She can be reached at vnsnell2@dailyillini.com.
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11
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
A final year worth spending with friends DARRAH PERRYMAN Assistant features editor
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year ago, the prospect of beginning my senior year sent cold chills up my spine. The daunting questions about my future and where I would end up after college haunted my spirit and clouded my vision. Yet, at the same time, I knew that senior year would be special — it would be one of the last times I would get to live around all of my best friends. The close friends that I have today are the same ones that I met through a spring break service trip in New Jersey in 2012. Maybe it was all the spackle on our clothes, the smell of paint climbing up our noses and the sleep our bodies yearned for that bonded me with my current roommates. While getting close to people on service trips is not uncommon — the friendships I made on this trip were unique. After we returned to campus, it felt as if we had never left New Jersey. We found ourselves hanging out every chance we got and making long-term plans over the summer. Our friendship grew and blossomed and when it came time to sign leases for our year, we knew we wanted to live together. But it was the decision to live near our three guy friends, whom we also met
on the trip, that completed our housing riddle. Living in the same apartment building with all of your best friends is great, especially when every one is preoccupied with their own lives. From Monday night Bachelor viewing parties to random talks in the afternoon, we never have to schedule a time to see each other. Hanging out becomes natural. I reflect on the days when I had to call my friends in advance to schedule lunch or to catch up. When you live this close to your friends, finding moments to share with each other becomes normal. But there are downfalls. Constantly being around your friends can mean that sometimes you have to miss out on things that you really don’t want to miss out on. Going home for the weekend can mean missing out on the big and small moments that occur in passing. But it is important to pick and choose the things to miss and to not miss. This test is the first real taste of the real world. This conflict is prevalent — everlasting, especially when there are distractions around you at every corner. Ultimately, living around friends solidifies the friendship, and it doesn’t take long for them to start to feel like family. Having this support system readily available for me when I come home makes my apartment actually feel like home. I know I can count on them no matter what — and it’s not just my two roommates I can turn to. I have a whole other line of support, in the same apartment building,
PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROLINE SZOSTAK
Roommates Sam Bohner, senior in Business, Darrah Perryman and Caroline Szostak, junior in LAS, decorated their apartment for the holidays and enjoyed Christmas festivities. waiting with open arms to laugh at life’s misfortunes with me. As the countdown to graduation begins, I relish in the small moments my friends and I have together and cherish every laugh, joke and obstacle that comes our way.
Because before you know it, the timer will go off — and these moments will be gone.
Darrah is a senior in LAS. She can be reached at perryma2@dailyillini.com.
Dorm living eases students into college DRAKE PENA Staff writer
S
tepping into the doors of Allen Hall on Aug. 19, I had no idea what to expect. For the first time in my life I would be living alone. With no one to tell me to do my work or to come home, it was just me, myself and I. This of course is 10 times more exciting than it is scary. Freedom is liberating, and getting so much at once makes adulthood feel real. In a few years I will have to worry about taxes, apartments and finding a job. The book of adolescence will officially be closed, if it isn’t already. Every freshman battles with this reality when they first get to school. The end
result is inevitable. After college we will be adults, plain and simple. That’s part of why living in the dorms is so special freshman year. You are in a building, where, outside of a few exceptions, everyone is in the same boat. For one year, if not more, you get to live in a building where you are constantly surrounded by some of your best friends. Friends who teach you how to iron your clothes when you have your first job interview, or who share their ramen with you after your first trip to the magical place known as The Red Lion. Living in the dorms, I’ve already discovered so much about myself. I have learned that when needed I can be
a leader and that the major I’ve chosen is without a doubt for me— and I can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s such an amazing feeling, but nothing is better than seeing all of your friends and peers make these same discoveries. You may meet some who started in engineering, but realized they want to do cinema studies or dance, because that is their true calling. Or some who realized that college wasn’t right for them in the first place, and that they want to leave their mark in this world doing things their own way. Every person you meet in the dorms is walking down a different path. Some choose to walk alone, and there
Living in the dorms, I’ve already discovered so much about myself.
is nothing wrong with that. An individual journey can often yield the greatest results. Others, however, know that walking down the long trail to adulthood isn’t one that can be taken alone. I am one of these people. I know that I will continue this journey with many of the people I have met in the dorms. I, personally, have met people who I know will forever be with me — in college and beyond. The best man in my wedding will, without a doubt, be my roommate, and the men in suits behind me will be my floor mates and neighbors. I have met some of my best friends in the dorms, leading me to believe that without a doubt there is no better place to live as a freshman.
Drake is a freshman in Media. He can be reached at dapena2@dailyillini. com.
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12
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Upscale townhomes take root on campus BY BRIDGET HYNES STAFF WRITER
Starting in Fall 2015, two new apartment complexes will open for student living on campus: West Quad and HERE Champaign. West Quad is currently under construction at 30 E. John St. in Champaign, while HERE Champaign is being built at 308 E. Green St. in Champaign. CA Student Living, formerly Campus Acquisitions, is a student-living housing division of CA Ventures. The housing development company will operate the buildings, and the two are the company’s first housing options on campus. The company is also located on other campuses such as the University of Oregon, Purdue University, Illinois State University, the University of Arizona, the University of Washington and the University of Tennessee. Cassie Leigh, area general manager for CA Student Living, and Meredith Dickensen, national leasing specialist, emphasized that the difference between CA Student Living and other apartment companies on campus is that they focus primarily on the students and their experience. Leigh said that after talking to students on campus living in other places, she received a lot of feedback from students saying that either they don’t have roommates or that they don’t know their neighbors. “It’s kind of sad,” she said. “Look at all the people down here. You have the opportunity to know 40,000 people. That’s a oncein-a-lifetime thing as far as I’m concerned.” To combat the problem, Leigh said the new apartment complexes will offer on-site, free amenities to increase the communal feel between residents. Both locations will offer free tanning, 24-hour fitness centers with CrossFit equipment and study rooms,
she said. These study rooms can be used for private studying, meetings or organized resident activities. The HERE Champaign complex will also feature a golf simulator and movie theater, and West Quad will be complete with a courtyard outfitted with an outdoor pool and a Jumbotron built in the outdoor courtyard. CA Student Living also offers roommate matching and online leasing if potential residents prefer. In addition, all utilities and a professional moving crew will be available to move students into the building free of cost, a service that is included in the rental fees. Leigh also said that students will see her on-site daily. “I don’t have any children, and one thing I tell these kids is I don’t have one child, I have 1,000 children,” she said. “To me, that’s the most important part of it.” Dickensen said another theme CA Student Living focuses on is being innovative with the buildings and amenities. For example, HERE Champaign is LEED certified and it will also have a robotic parking garage for residents. “No one will be in the actual parking garage,” she said. The system works so that cars are brought along a track to their parking spot. There will be an app for residents to tell the system where to park their car, Dickensen said. While the amenities and parking options are a focal point of the CA Student Living staff, the floor plans of the units are also appealing, said Leigh. “We have really unique designs, and we try to do a bunch of different floor plans so there’s an option for everybody,” Leigh said. At West Quad, there will be two rows of
PHOTO COURTESY OF CA STUDENT LIVING
town homes adjacent to a five-story apartment building, forming a three-walled exterior to the courtyard. At HERE Champaign, the town homes will be built into the 27-story high rise. However, as Leigh explained, the high rise is a 15-story building, with a two-floored town home on each story. Scott Stover, senior in ACES, signed to live at West Quad in January when two of his friends said they were in need of two more roommates. Stover, who will be a graduate student in the fall at the University, will live in one of the town homes built into West Quad. He said he is excited to experience a more communal apartment experience. “We’ll all have that quad area and those amenities to share with each other. Basi-
cally it will be a lot more social,” he said. John Druffel, executive vice president of CA Student Living and a University alumnus of 1984, said he has three kids at the University and has seen the student rental market mature over the past decade. “I lived in a small apartment in Urbana and I lived in a really trashy house in Champaign,” he said. “These days, student living is trending much more toward the type of experience you would expect if you were in downtown Chicago in a rental property, where safety, security, cleanliness and service are expected.”
Bridget can be reached at bhynes2 @dailyillini.com.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CA STUDENT LIVING
Both West Quad and Champaign HERE are currently under construction, but these renderings highlight examples of what the buildings’ exterior, interior and amenities may look like.
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Tuesday, February 24, 2015
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21
Groceries: from corporate to co-op BY CHRISTINA OEHLER STAFF WRITER
Whether it is academics, finances or gossip, students have a variety of factors that are constantly influencing their daily decisions. Healthy living choices are no exception, and with the media constantly reminding students that “clean eating” and “buying local” are crucial to a well-rounded diet, it is hard to keep up with the latest eating trends on a college budget. Champaign-Urbana is home to a many different grocery stores that can help provide inexpensive produce, wide varieties or healthy selections.
Walgreens Location: 407 E. Green Street in Champaign Pros: Walgreens is convenient for students who live near campus or are constantly commuting to Green Street. Walgreens provides a variety of snack foods, drinks and some produce items. It also carries a wide variety of overthe-counter medications and injury remedies, with a selection large enough to cater to most common needs.
Common Ground Co-Op Location: 300 S. Broadway Suite 166 in Urbana Pros:
Cons:
Common Ground Food Co-Operative is a cooperatively owned grocery store, which means it is, according to its website, “owned by members of the community (like you!) who buy shares.” Common Ground sells produce from local Central Illinois farms, therefore supporting the local economy. “We have a really abundant selection of fresh and organic produce here,” said Joy Rust, Marketing Manager of Common Ground. “We know that the high quality comes with a cost, so we offer a huge variety of coupons for shoppers.”
Common Ground is located in downtown Urbana, which is not walking distance from campus. For students who live in campus dorms or in Champaign, a car or bus ride might be the easiest way to get to Common Ground. Additionally, prices can be steep. “We have all of the high standards that go into providing locally grown and organic food, so the high quality does typically cost more.” Rust said.
Cons:
Despite its close location, Walgreens does not have a very wide variety of produce items. “Walgreens is only a block away from my apartment, so it is great for any necessities, but when it comes to produce, I usually can’t go there for most of the fruits and vegetables I want,” said Walgreens shopper Kristy Theisen, sophomore in Education.
County Market Location: 331 E Stoughton St. in Champaign
Walmart Location: 2610 N Prospect Ave. in Champaign Pros:
Cons:
Walmart prides itself on its low prices, which is perfect for the college-student budget. Not only does it provide fresh produce, but it is also a one-stop-shop for groceries and household needs.
Because of its location on Prospect Avenue, it is very far from campus. For students who do not have frequent access to a car, it can become a chore to wait for a Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District bus to go there and back.
KEVIN VONGNAPHONE THE DAILY ILLINI
Pros:
Cons:
County Market provides a wide variety of fresh produce at a very convenient location. Because of the tight concentration of student apartments located around Stoughton Street, it’s easily accessible by many students. County Market is open 24 hours, seven days a week, which makes it a great place to pick up a snack when pulling an all-nighter. “It’s also a great place for students because it is so close to campus, and we have a full grocery store, which means we have a huge selection of foods.” said Scott Sanders, store director. “We also have a coffee shop inside our building, which is a great place for students to study.”
The large selection of fresh produce also comes with a cost. “I love shopping at County Market for any fresh food, but it can get pricey,” said shopper Lisa Fernandez, sophomore in FAA. “Even though they sell some amazing food there, it isn’t practical to shop there every week.” Sanders explains that there is a reason behind the prices on the produce. “The fresh and organic foods we provide don’t last as long because they are free of additives,” Sanders said. “We pay more for them, which means they will be a more expensive sale.”
Christina can be reached at oehler2@ dailyillini.com.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
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22
Hometown roommates make campus comfortable JOHNATHAN HETTINGER Editor-in-chief
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oming out of high school, my biggest fear was that I would be unable to make new friends in college. I knew that a roommate would be a key way to make a new friend – or a disastrous way to help ruin my freshman year. I had heard the roommate horror stories – bullies, people who don’t shower, partiers who drink eight nights a week. I didn’t want one of those roommates. But I had also heard about how great some roommates are, spurring lifelong friendships that begin in a closet-sized dorm room. I didn’t know if the risk was worth it, so I decided to live with someone I already knew, a friend from my hometown.
Many people I knew from home told me it was a cop-out move. I wasn’t branching out. I wouldn’t get to learn about someone new – where they were from, what their culture or their religion was like. It would just be more of the same. But to me, by living with someone I was already friends with, I knew what to expect. I knew that no matter what uncertainty happened at college, I’d always at least have one person. The nice thing was we weren’t that close of friends. We were comfortable enough that we could live together, but not feel obligated to spend every moment together. I didn’t make friends as quickly as I liked, but slowly but surely, I did. It turned out everyone at college also wants to make friends, but they’re also uncertain about it. I went out and tried new activities. I joined The Daily Illini and found other people who liked writing and sports as much as I did. Following my freshman year, I lived
with the same friend. I liked it so much that, despite not living with the same friend the next two years, I lived with other friends from my hometown. Each year, I had a base of friends that I could go back to whenever I went to my apartment, but I didn’t feel like I needed to be with them all of the time. A few different times, I almost lived with friends from outside of my hometown. I was close enough to different people, but it never ended up working out for different reasons. I learned about the world through my friends from different cultures, races, religions and hometowns. I just went home to people from a similar background. As a senior, I’ve never regretted living with people I knew. I gained lots of
friends through classes, work and life on campus, but I shared things with friends from home that other people weren’t able to relate to. We could go days without seeing each other, but we would always have plenty of time to spend together on breaks from school. Our connection from childhood was more than enough to keep up our friendship. College is a great time to spread out and make new friends. It’s a great time to learn about yourself, and learn about the world. Just because it’s a time where you’re exposed to new cultures doesn’t mean you can’t stay friends with people from your hometown.
I’ve never regretted living with people I knew. I gained lots of friends through classes, work and life on campus.
Johnathan is a senior in Media. He can be reached at hetting2@dailyillini.com.
YOUR VOICE
Q: What is your dream place to live on campus? COMPILED BY HANADI ABUNAIM STAFF WRITER
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Going random: The path to a new friendship Staff writer
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hen I committed to the University of Illinois, I was absolutely clueless coming from Louisville, Kentucky. The one pillar of comfort I was able to revel in was the fact that I was being set up with a roommate from the North Shore suburbs of Chicago, and hopefully she would feel comfortable enough to teach me the ways of the University. We could adjust to college life together. My situation is unique, as I am the minority being out-of-state in my room and the school itself. My roommate is from Buffalo Grove, and my suitemates are from Deerfield and Northbrook. Together, they make up the trifecta of the North Shore majority. I was set up with my roommate through mutual friends, and we found our suitemates through somewhat complex situations. Ironically, we each had friends in common, yet none of us knew or had ever met each other. And although my roommates and suitemates lived 10 minutes apart, they had never met either, having gone to different schools and living in different neighborhoods their whole lives. At first, our texts were formal, tentative and sometimes a bit awkward. We were treading lightly, though one would never know looking at our friendship now. Today, our relationship with one another is so strong and symbiotic
ate a sense of cohesion because it allows roommates to know one another personally and work together to make the living space as enjoyable as possible. Diet Coke may seem like a small facet of a roommate agreement, but it allows me to take comfort in my living situation knowing that my roommate has respect for my boundaries. Roommates, inevitably, are going to have disagreements. Whether it is bedtimes, boyfriends and girlfriends or even a question of who took the last bag of popcorn— no room is going to be perfect. Rooming with somebody you do not have a strong, personal relationship with makes it is easier to squash those situations before they emerge. Roommates who do not know one another are typically going to be more respectful while trying to gauge the relationship, and it is more conducive to operate slowly and learn as you go, as opposed to diving into the situation. Beginning college is uncomfortable in general, and meeting a new roommate is simply part of the awkward process. It will teach you how to build relationships with new people and experience a partnership — skills that will only benefit you later in life. A random roommate or a roommate whom you’re set up with through mutual means is the key to a meaningful college experience. It not only makes the living situation a bit easier, but it also exposes you to new people that you can explore the craziness of college life together. You may even be lucky enough to find your new best friend.
Boundaries, ironically, create a sense of cohesion because it allows roommates to know one another personally and work together to make the living space as enjoyable as possible.
Rachel is a freshman in Media. She can be reached at rbass2@dailyillini.com.
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because we came into college not knowing one another. Sharing a room with someone else is essentially sharing your life with them; eating, sleeping, working and living alongside another person takes time to adjust to. You expose yourself in the hopes that your roommate will return the gesture respectfully. It is this exposure that creates a healthy or an unhealthy relationship between roommates, and this is why I’ve found that it is essential to live with somebody you aren’t already friends with in college. It may seem comforting to live with someone you know, especially when you don’t know anybody or anything; however, sharing a room with somebody you already know and trust may make it difficult to create boundaries. With my roommate, we created boundaries by learning about each other dayby-day. As we stocked our space with snacks, we learned our similarities and differences. “What’s mine is yours,” we said to one another, as we found that we had the same cravings for apples and peanut butter, oatmeal and popcorn. There is one thing, however, that I am very hesitant to share. Diet Coke is my favorite drink in the world. Not only that, but I consider it my sustenance in life. Upon telling my roommate this, she knows to never take one of my Diet Cokes unless I offer it. A close friend would probably take a Diet Coke without a second thought because they are comfortable with the other person and may not mind disregarding their weird quirks. However, this is a boundary that must be set when sharing a room. Boundaries, ironically, cre-
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Debunking stigma surrounding FAR living
Florida Avenue Residence halls have an undeserved reputation as worst dorm CAELI CLEARY Contributing writer
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ne of the most anticipated moments of my summer before college was receiving my housing assignment from the University. I was hoping to get somewhere in Ikenberry Commons because of its social aspect, and my second choice was Allen Hall, because it seemed artsy and cool. At the time, I felt pretty confident that I’d get one of those two because of how early I turned my housing form in. Wow, was I wrong. I got assigned. . . wait for it. . . Florida Avenue Residence halls. Everyone I knew who attended the Uni-
versity before me always talked about how inconvenient it seemed to live there and how terribly far it was from campus. The only way I could cheer myself up whenever I thought about it was by continually telling myself that “at least its not Busey. . .” Move-in day came and I begrudgingly went up to my 10th floor room, only to find out that I had the most beautiful view of Dorner Drive, looking out toward CRCE. Now that I’ve been to multiple living areas on campus, I’ve learned that very rarely do you visit a room that has a good view. This made me feel a bit better about my housing, but I wasn’t about to give up my preconceived notions about the place. When my roommate showed up, she informed me that since her boyfriend had an apartment on campus, she wouldn’t real-
ly be living with me. She seemed great, but I was so stoked to have a room to myself. So far, FAR didn’t seem as bad as I first thought it was. A very common saying about FAR is that it is well, far. But truth be told, it’s not. I learned this within the first week of living there. In the warm months, it’s actually quite a nice walk down to the Quad, only taking about seven minutes at most. When it gets cold, the first stop for the 22 Illini and 13 Silver buses is FAR and PAR, or Pennsylvania Avenue Residence halls, so you get first dibs on seating. It is also really helpful to be the person who knows the bus system — they’re a very useful way to get around campus, and you’d be surprised how many people do not understand how to use the different buses. Another thing I worried about before living at FAR was the social aspect. I had heard that it was really hard to meet people at FAR, and since I was generally shy, I thought I wouldn’t make any friends. In reality, I met some of my best friends within the first two months of living
at FAR. Even though we met on accident, they are some of the most important people in my life to this day. The dorm itself was fairly social as well. A different event happened at least once a week in the main lounge and the cafeteria hosted soul food night every Thursday. There was never a dull moment while I lived there. As the end of the semester approached, I tried not to think about leaving because I knew I would miss the place I’d come to call home. From the view from my room to taking the buses — yes, I love riding buses — most of all I was going to miss seeing my best friends every day and knowing that I could just go to their rooms whenever and they’d be willing to hang out. Although I left FAR to live at my sorority at the end of first semester, I have some of the best and wackiest memories from living in FAR. I wouldn’t have wanted to live anywhere else.
Caeli is a sophomore in Media. She can be reached at mgclear2 @dailyillini.com.
Dorm living a viable option for upperclassmen Dorms provide convenient location, scheduled events, community not found with apartment living BY VICTORIA SNELL STAFF WRITER
Spring semester is beginning, and it’s nearing the time to decide where to live next year. While the possibility of independence in an apartment may seem attractive, oncampus residence halls provide an entirely different experience for upperclassmen. Although some students make the transition to an apartment, others decide to stay where they began their college journey. For Annette Popernik, Newman Hall resident adviser and junior in LAS, the idea of living in an apartment is nearly unimaginable. “I definitely don’t feel like I would have missed out living in an apartment because then I’d be far away, I would miss out on all of the events that we have, I might have not been able to meet as many new people,” she said. “If anything, I feel like I’ve gained so much by living in the community that (I’ve lived in since freshman year).” This is Popernik’s third year at Newman Hall, a privately owned certified housing option that is affiliated with St. John’s Catholic Newman Center. She said Newman pro-
vides several opportunities she doesn’t think dents, and helping someone out to have that she could find with a student apartment, such unique experience (that I had),” she said. as a strong sense of community. While Popernik chose to spend her junior “I think it’s so well-knit, and whether and senior years as a resident adviser, Mareyou’re a freshman, sophomore, junior or na Steiner, junior in LAS, decided to stay in senior, there are people that you can talk a community setting simply for the friendto and have dinner ships she’s made there. with,” she said. “At Newman specifical“I wanted to be livly, there are just so ing with my friends,” many things that you Steiner said. “I still can do.” have a lot of friends While Popernik here, and most of my lived at Newman as friends are RAs here a resident initially, at Newman, so it just seemed right to stay.” she became a resiANNETTE POPERNICK Steiner has also dent adviser in the NEWMAN HALL RESIDENT ADVISER fall semester of this lived in Newman year. She said she Hall since her freshman year, but is will continue to be a resident adviser at choosing to live in Newman for her senior year, in order to give an apartment for her upcoming senior year. students the same positive experiences that “I made really good friendships my freshshe has had. man year at Newman, and we’d have really “I’m really happy being able to be an RA deep conversations,” she said. “Some were and passing on these experiences to my resi- religious and some were just in general, and
“You’ll always have a community there, you’ll have resources, you’ll have facilities, and you can keep growing and building yourself.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNETTE POPERNIK
it made me really think about life, and I knew that I wouldn’t have experienced that if I was not living at Newman, or if I was living in an
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DORM apartment.” Steiner said she worries that by living in an apartment next year, she might miss out on the bonds that she’s formed from living in a dorm. Steiner said she believes other upperclassmen might choose residence-hall living because of its location on campus, the tight security and its convenience in meals. She also added that while transitioning to apartment living, she will be apprehensive about finding time to do tasks such as grocery shopping. Despite her choice to live in an apartment for her final year at the University, Steiner said she would not have changed her past experiences in the residence hall for anything. While private certified housing is one option, the University has multiple residence halls that offer a similar communal feeling that
25 upperclassmen and graduates can choose. Kirsten Ruby, associate director of University Housing for communications and marketing, explained that about 40 percent of students, ranging from sophomores and above, choose to go back to residence halls after their first year on campus. She also explained that certain residence halls, such as the Ikenberry Commons’ Nugent and Bousfield halls are geared toward older students, as they do not allow freshmen to live there. Ruby also said that there are a number of other reasons why students return to residence halls. “The residence halls are a tremendous value . . . everything is included when you live in University Housing and that makes it so convenient for people to come back and live with us,” she said. “They don’t have a separate bill to pay, or to negotiate a lease.” She also explained that returning to res-
idence halls are convenient in the sense that students sign contracts and do not have to worry about finding sublets if they choose to study abroad. She also explained that another feature that tends to appeal to returning students is that if they choose to return, they can return with the same rates from their first year. Another perk is that returning students also receive priority when choosing rooms for the next year, Ruby said. She said that while students may want to live in an apartment, living in a hall at least once is a vital experience. “University Housing is an essential part of the Illinois experience,” she said. “This is the one time in most people’s lives that they’ll get to truly live on campus with the University, and we want as many people as possible to take advantage of that opportunity.” Ruby also explained a new element on the
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
University Housing website that may appeal to upperclassmen: it features an interactive map that students can use to choose their preferences when it comes to housing, and from there,are able to look at the selection of halls that meet their criteria. She also said that talking to current resident advisers is helpful when questions come up about continuing to live in residence halls. No matter what, Popernik advised students who are unsure about where to live as an upperclassman, to live where they find themselves as a part of a community. “You’ll always have a community there, you’ll have resources, you’ll have facilities, and you can keep growing and building yourself,” she said. “Based on my experience, and from others around me, it’s a win.”
Victoria can be reached at vnsnell2 @dailyillini.com.
Time to choose: Public, or private? A list of the pros and cons learned by living in private housing, based on personal experience CLAIRE HETTINGER Contributing writer
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you’re trying to decide whether to live in public versus private housing. Here’s what you need to know. The differences between private and public housing are contested around campus. Incoming freshmen are faced with the choice before they’re familiar with campus — they have to decide before they know the real difference. Here’s a list of some pros and cons of choosing to live in private housing over public housing. PRO: The living experiences of private and public housing are actually quite similar, so it doesn’t really matter where you decide to live because they both provide you with the essentials. CON: Private housing is more expensive. My room at Newman Hall isn’t much bigger than a regular dorm room but costs $2,139 more each year. St. John’s Catholic Newman Center is nice and an amazing place to live, but sometimes I question whether the extra money is worth it. PRO: I’ve made more friends at Newman Hall. Dorms like Newman Hall can provide students with a community that is similar to them. At Newman, that community is the Catholic community. In public housing, there may not be commonalities between people who live in certain dorms, so it can sometimes be more difficult to make friends.
I decided after my freshman year to try Newman Hall because I wanted a different atmosphere. I wanted to be a part of this community because I didn’t make many lasting friendships from my time at Allen Hall. At Newman Hall, people are interested in getting to know their neighbors and are generally friendly. At Allen Hall, people usually left me alone which was nice sometimes, too. But you can be left alone or have friendly relationships with people around you no matter where you live. I have made more friends at Newman Hall than I did at Allen Hall, but I can’t be sure this is just because of the dorm. The people I’m living with at Newman are amazing people whom I have tried to get to know. But the nice thing is they’ve tried to get to know me, too. CON: People at Newman will come sit by you if you are eating alone. So, if you want to be alone, either plug those headphones in and look intensely busy or choose a public option. PRO: Private housing is much nicer in general. My room is cleaned professionally every week, there is a sink in my room, a private gym in the basement, beautiful and plentiful study rooms with countless activities and a built-in support system. Newman is committed to making the living experience a community endeavor. CON: There is definitely less diversity at Newman Hall than there was at Allen. The girls on my floor mostly look the same and have similar names and come from certain towns around the state. This seems to be true of most private housing situations I’ve seen. So if diversity is a priority, public
DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO
housing is the way to go. PRO: Private housing offers more options for living styles such as living alone, living in a suite style or apartment style. Around campus the options are plentiful. If upperclassmen are looking for a way to get out of a one-room dorm, but aren’t ready to make food, this is a good option to keep in mind. After living in both situations, I would choose to live in a public dorm again and save the money. It’s been really great living at Newman Hall, but I’m just not sure it’s worth the
extra loans. It’s definitely been a great experience living in private housing, but it’s not for everyone. I don’t think that living in a private dorm has increased my overall enjoyment of college. I view my experiences in both situations equally, and it really comes down to what you are looking for and what you can afford. There is nothing wrong with living in a public dorm, and I have great memories from there as well.
Claire is a sophomore in LAS. She can be reached at hettngr2@dailyillini.com.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
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Away from home but close to family LILLIAN BARKLEY Staff writer
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echnically, I’m not a townie. I didn’t live here or go to school here, but weeks of my summers and winter vacations were spent walking around campus and eating Papa Del’s. My dad was born and raised in Urbana, eventually attending the University in the 1970s. Most of his family still lives here, including my grandma and four of my aunts and uncles, so I’ve been visiting ChampaignUrbana since I was a baby. I always loved getting to see everyone, and I remember myself at preschool age being very upset one year when we had to drive home. My aunt comforted me and told me that everyone only gets together because my parents and I were there, and it was only a party because it was Christmas. When we left, everyone went back to jobs, school and daily routines. Needless to say, I never saw this first-hand until I started attending classes at the University this past fall. The weirdest moment happened when I was studying in Lincoln Hall and my cousin, who is a senior in LAS, walked past me. We had never seen each other in anything other than a social setting, and it was the first time I had seen her since classes started. We looked at each other like there was a glitch in The Matrix. Then she seemed to suddenly remember that I went to school here now, and we talked about how each other’s classes were going as if this was a usual occurrence. Seeing family members going about their daily lives still happens regularly. I was shopping in Meijer the other day and ran
into my uncle, who was looking for tortillas. The experience is still odd, but not any more so than it is normally seeing someone else unexpectedly. Most of my friends moved away from their family when they went to college, including the few who came here. Not having any connections to their school forced them to socialize and get used to each new city. I had no concerns about how living so near to my family could affect my social life. After all, my dad lived at home and still managed to meet my mother, who lived in Europa House, located at 802 W. Oregon St. in Urbana. For the most part, I have the best of both worlds. I still get the support system of my family with the added independence of living away from my parents. I’ve gotten involved on campus and made new friends, but skipped over the freshman confusion of learning my way around. I also have more home-cooked meals than a typical college student. But I didn’t escape the waves of homesickness and unfamiliarity. Even if I have family up here, it isn’t the same town where memories are embedded into each street and building. Regardless, living so close to my family is simply means getting to see them more often. At most, I used to see them six times a year. Now I can see my aunt and uncle’s family house from my window. Their children, my younger cousins, are 12 and eight years old, and it’s so rewarding seeing them grow up. Rather than just seeing how much they’ve grown since I last saw them, which is the experience my dad’s family had when I was growing up, I can actually keep up with what’s happening in their lives. Sometimes, I go to their soccer games, babysit them or even help pick them up from school. In the end, I guess my aunt was right. Now, when my parents visit, we all get together and have a large family dinner and
PHOTO COURTESY OF LILLIAN BARKLEY
Barkley, with her Champaign-Urbana family, at her grandmother’s eightieth birthday party in July 2014, just prior to Barkley’s freshman year at the University. play Scrabble until midnight. But when they leave, my cousins and I have classes, and the rest of my family has work. The only difference is, instead of driving three hours to see
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Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Leave judgment at the doormat ANNA HECHT Creative director
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et’s be honest. There seems to be a certain kind of taboo surrounding college couples that decide to live together. Not only could your relationship spontaneously combust the moment you sign the lease, but many students would also agree that your time would have been better spent getting to know your peers. I was once even asked by a concerned sorority girl if I was “scared of the judgment?” To which I responded, “The judgment?” My answer to any of these questions is simple: If the time is right, you won’t think twice or worry about “the judgment” when considering cohabiting with your college companion. But, just like any roomie relationship, there will be good times and bad times. And it’s how you handle them that matters the most. With a little give and take, open and hon-
est communication, and a whole lot of laughs (and wine), living with your significant other can be a whole lot of fun. For me, the decision to move in with my boyfriend of three years was a no brainer. After meeting freshman year in the dorms, we spent every free minute together thereafter. However, by the time senior year rolled around, we were both so involved in extracurriculars and devoted to our schoolwork that our only interaction on a typical weekday involved a quick “Hey, how’s it going?” text. As a result, those five extra minutes spent together before class and in the evening make all the difference for us. While living together isn’t always easy, it’s definitely been worth it. We’ve found that practicing reciprocity plays a huge
part in our day-to-day lives, especially when the stresses of college really start to set in. These acts of give and take involve anything from basic things, like helping to clean up around the apartment, to being aware of what the other person is going through on a daily basis and being sensitive to those times when the other person is feeling the pressure academically. That way, you won’t be surprised or upset when your significant other neglects to do the dishes for days on end or seems to be acting distant on a given week that’s packed with exams. In any functional, mature relationship, open and honest communication is essential. When living together, keeping an open line of communication becomes even more important. This is because living together and sharing your entire
If the time is right, you won’t ... worry about ‘the judgment’ when considering cohabiting with your college companion. But, just like any roomie relationship, there will be good times and bad times.
lives with one another means getting to know each other on a more personal level; consequently, you can also expect the “honeymoon stage” of your relationship to pass at an accelerated rate — which isn’t always a bad thing as long as you continue to make an effort in other ways. This not only means resolving conflict through conversation, avoiding passive aggression or letting pride dictate your behavior, but also making time for the “little things” that are often forgotten, such as saying you are sorry, giving compliments and offering encouragement. Finally, living with your boyfriend or girlfriend should be fun — and, for the most part, stress-free. College is meant to be a time of self-discovery and the real focus should be on bettering yourself. After all, it is often said that college is the one time in your life when you are allowed to be selfish and completely self-absorbed. Be sure to take this into account as you contemplate your future living arrangements and always think about what will be best for you and your partner in the long run.
Anna is a senior in Media. She can be reached at hecht2@dailyillini.com.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANNA HECHT
Left: A view inside Hecht and Kim’s living room. Middle: Hecht and her boyfriend, Kevin Kim, senior in Engineering, at a friend’s apartment fall 2014. Right: A candlelit Valentine’s Day breakfast at Hecht and Kim’s on-campus apartment.
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Maximize apartment space with DIY hacks Eliminate apartment clutter with these easy organizational and aesthetic hacks BRIDGET HYNES Staff writer
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y three roommates and I moved into our first apartment at 101 E. Green St. in August, which was a big milestone for all four of us. Collectively, it was our first time paying rent, cooking all of our meals on our own and keeping a fourbedroom, two-bathroom apartment clean and orderly. As simple as this may sound, it hasn’t always been easy, especially with classes, work and extracurricular activities. Therefore, within the past six months, we’ve developed a number of do-it-yourself apartment hacks to better use our space.
1. Hooks for winter coats Once the cold weather started, we realized we didn’t have anywhere to hang our big, bulky winter coats. We had been resorting to throwing them on the couches in the sitting room, limiting the space we had to sit down and hang out. Therefore, we decided to hang up four, large plastic hooks by the door using Command strips. Now, we have a place to hang our coats, and we didn’t damage the wall in the process.
2. Laundry basket for shoes Being that we are four girls living together, we have a lot of shoes. Snow boots, rain boots, fashion boots, heels, heeled boots, grungy running shoes for working out, cute running shoes to wear to class, Converse high-tops, ballet flats for interviews and slippers — you get the point. We have a lot of shoes. At one point, these shoes made such a clutter that they blocked our doorway. To combat this problem we decided to buy a basic laundry basket strictly to put our shoes in by the doorway. As a result, the amount of clutter by the door decreased significantly.
3. Homemade curtains Our apartment came outfitted with vertical, white, slatted blinds that cover the sliding glass door that opens to our small balcony. However, within the first week, individual blinds started falling down, allowing bigger and bigger chunks of light to shine through. Although this was fine during the day, at night we often wanted to close our blinds. To solve this problem, we decided to purchase a set of floor-length curtains and a curtain rod. We wedged the
curtain rod in between the two opposite walls and then attached the curtain. Not only did this solve our curtain problem, but it also added some color and personality to our apartment.
4. Communal mirror Although we all have full-length mirrors in our rooms, we were accustomed to having full-length mirrors in more common area places at home. So, we decided to purchase a lightweight, full-length mirror that we attached to a wall with Command strips in between our kitchen and sitting room. Having this mirror is nice when we need to do a quick check of hair and outfits before running out the door.
5. Clothesline picture-hanger My roommate came up with this idea since we are not allowed to hang up pictures with nails. She bought a roll of white, clothesline-string and hung it up on our kitchen wall using Command strip hooks. Now, we are able to attach pictures to the string using clothespins. Besides being practical, this idea is also really cute and convenient. We are able to add or take down pictures very easily, and this particular method of decorating is both new and thrifty.
Bridget is a sophomore in Media. She can be reached at bhynes2 @dailyillini.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIDGET HYNES
Top: Alternative ways to hang up pictures can be helpful in an apartment with restrictions on hammering nails into the walls. Bottom: Eliminating shoe clutter is easy with a simple laundry basket to hold the shoes.
The Daily Illini | www.DailyIllini.com
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Tuesday, February 24, 2015
The Daily Illini | www.DailyIllini.com
30
Only a few 3, 4 and 5 bedroom units remain for Fall. Hurry and call today for a showing!
3 BEDROOMS
306 E Armory $1575
has something for everybody! Call or email us for all of your housing needs.
217-356-8750 leasing@greenstrealty. com | greenstrealty.com
Brand new construction! Remodeled units! Prime locations! Utilities included! Garage parking! Most locations are pet friendly! OTHER NEW CONSTRUCTION
2 BEDROOMS 604 S Neil $1350-$1500 per month Washer / dryer in unit, internet provided, flat screen tv provided, one free parking spot! 204 S Fifth $1390 per month 2 full bathrooms, washer/dryer in unit, internet provided, flat screen tv provided 314 E White $1390 per month 2 full bathrooms, washer/dryer in unit, internet provided, flat screen tv provided 505 S First $1350 per month washer/dryer in unit, internet provided
Half off security deposit special on all campus leases for August 2015 if you sign your lease by March 15th!
(water included!) 810 S Oak $1260, Only $420/person! (water & internet included) 807 S Locust $1125, Only $375/person! 204 S Fifth $2085 per month (BRAND NEW construction! 2 full bathrooms, washer/dryer in unit, internet provided, flat screen tv provided) 314 E White $2085 per month (BRAND NEW construction! 2 full bathrooms washer/dryer in unit, internet provided, flat screen tv provided)
4 BEDROOMS 505 S First $2650 (BRAND NEW construction! Some units feature 2 bathrooms, others have 4 bathrooms) 306 E Armory $1600 1011 W. Stoughton $2000/month Remodeled 807 S Locust $1300, Only $325/person! 810 S Oak $1320, Only $330/person! (water & internet included) 308 E Armory $1995 1306 N Lincoln (Atrium) $1500 per month (ALL utilities included – indoor pool) 609 S Randolph $1600 per month (ALL utilities included)
55 BEDROOMS 1103 S EuclidBEDROOMS $1995 Remodeled
306 E Armory $2100 Remodeled (water included)
• • The Daily Illini | • • tion system • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
9’ ceilings • Alarm system (tenant activated) Modern • finishes 9’ ceilings www.DailyIllini.com 31 Upgraded cabinetsfinishes and flooring • Modern All units accessible • handicapped Upgraded cabinets and flooring Fully sprinkled, full handicapped smoke and fireaccessible detection system • All units Ceiling • fans Fully sprinkled, full smoke and fire detection system Blinds• Ceiling fans Double in bathrooms • sinks Blinds Cleaning • service Doubleavailable sinks in bathrooms ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED • Cleaning service available High Speed Internet • ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED Water• Fiber Optic High Speed Internet Electricity • Water ($15 cap per person) Cable• Package Electricity ($30 cap per person) Building • Amenities Garbage Coffee• Bar65 in Channel lobby Cable Package On-site • management Building Amenities Courtyard with grilland Ground Floor Terrace • Rooftop Fitness• Center On-site management Bag Toss • Bag Toss Secure• garage Closeparking to University of Illinois sporting events!
51 E. John St · Champaign, IL
51 E. John St.112 • Champaign, E. Chalmers St. IL • Champaign, IL www.maywoodapts.com www.maywoodapts.com www.landcasterapts.com (217) 344-3677 (217) 344-3677 (217) 344-2347
a m e n i ti es a m e n i ti es
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Alarm system (tenant activated) 9’ ceilings Tuesday, February 24, 2015 Modern finishes Upgraded cabinets and flooring All units handicapped accessible Fully sprinkled, full smoke and fire detection system Ceiling fans Blinds Double sinks in bathrooms Cleaning service available ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED Fiber Optic High Speed Internet Water ($15 cap per person) Electricity ($30 cap per person) Garbage 65 Channel Cable Package Building Amenities Rooftop and Ground Floor Terrace On-site management Bag Toss Close to University of Illinois sporting events!
Lancaster A PA R T M E N T S Lancaster A PA R T M E N T S
BOTH APARTMENTS: FULLY FURNISHED · IN-UNIT 112 E. Chalmers · Champaign, IL 112 E. Chalmers St. • Champaign, IL WASHER AND DRYER · PROPANE GRILLS www.lancasterapts.com www.landcasterapts.com & ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED (217) 344-2347 (217) 344-2347
• Fully-furnished with wall mounted, large screen television • Fully furnished Energy Star approved appliances in every unit Full-sized washer andwall dryer •• Fully-furnished with mounted, large screen television •• Dishwasher Fully furnished Energy Star approved appliances in every unit •• Microhood Full-sized washer and dryer •• Alarm system Dishwasher (tenant activated) 9’ ceilings •• Microhood Modern finishes •• Alarm system (tenant activated) •• Upgraded cabinets and flooring 9’ ceilings All unitsfinishes handicapped accessible •• Modern Fully sprinkled, full smoke and fire detection system •• Upgraded cabinets and flooring Ceiling •• All units fans handicapped accessible •• Blinds Fully sprinkled, full smoke and fire detection system •• Doublefans sinks in bathrooms Ceiling Cleaning service available •• Blinds ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED •• Double sinks in bathrooms High Speed Internet •• Cleaning service available •• Water ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED •• Electricity High Speed Internet www.urbanaillinois.us/parking •• Cable Water Package Building Amenities www.ci.champaign.il.us/parking •• Electricity CoffeePackage Bar in lobby •• Cable On-site management •• Building Amenities
Want to know where you can park, ow when you can park, and when payment is due?
Visit our websites today for answers to these questions and more.
a m e n ities a m e n i ties • • •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••
Fully-furnished with wall mounted, large screen smart television Super capacity commercial grade refrigerator Fully furnished Energy Star approvedlarge appliances everytelevision unit Fully-furnished with wall mounted, screen in smart Full-sized washer and dryergrade refrigerator Super capacity commercial Dishwasher Fully furnished Energy Star approved appliances in every unit Microhood Full-sized washer and dryer Alarm system (tenant activated) Dishwasher 9’ ceilings Microhood Modern finishes Alarm system (tenant activated) Upgraded cabinets and flooring 9’ ceilings All unitsfinishes handicapped accessible Modern Fully sprinkled, full smoke and fire detection system Upgraded cabinets and flooring Ceiling All units fans handicapped accessible Blinds Fully sprinkled, full smoke and fire detection system Doublefans sinks in bathrooms Ceiling Cleaning service available Blinds ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED Double sinks in bathrooms Fiber Optic Highavailable Speed Internet Cleaning service Water ($15 cap INCLUDED per person) ALL UTILITIES Electricity perInternet person) Fiber Optic($30 Highcap Speed Garbage Water ($15 cap per person) 65 Channel Cable Electricity ($30 capPackage per person) Building Amenities Garbage
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
The Daily Illini | www.DailyIllini.com
32
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Fully furnished apartments Hardwood-style floors available Indoor & outdoor pools Two fitness centers
NORTH 1601 N. Lincoln Ave. SOUTH 1321 N. Lincoln Ave.
Outdoor sport courts Free Internet and satellite TV 22 Illini every 10 minutes Per-person contracts
217.337.7500 | one-illinois.com