THE DAILY ILLINI
Housing Guide Monday, October 10, 2016
Living the apartment life on a college budget
Q&A with an RA: Life as a resident advisor
Benefits of living in a house
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Monday, October 10, 2016
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Simple kindness makes a good roommate a great one JACQUELINE BETTHAUSER Staff Writer
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hether your roommate is your best friend, someone that you met on Facebook or an entirely random roommate paired with you by University Housing, the fi rst night of college can be a little awkward. Questions like, “Can I turn the light off now?” and disclaimers such as, “Wake me up if my snoring bothers you,” will make you realize that you’re probably a little out of your comfort zone. Growing up with a twin sister, I considered myself to be a professional at sharing. Even for me, the fi rst night of college was still weird. Despite the potential for initial awkwardness, living with someone can turn into a great experience if you put in the effort. Since the fi rst day of school, I have gotten to know my roommate — who I had met through the Class of 2020 Facebook page — extremely well. Today, she is one of my best friends on campus. I feel very fortunate to have such an awesome roommate, but I know that this is not the case for everyone. You’re not obligated to be best friends with them;
simply coexisting works for plenty of people. However, many factors distinguish a great roommate experience from a good one and are worth trying if you want to improve your situation.
Mutual respect
Students come from all over the world to attend the University; thus, roommates may have different customs and values. Obviously, not everyone is going to agree on decisions regarding the room or life in general. Despite these differences, roommates should express mutual respect. Respect includes being mindful of your roommate’s opinions and values, even if they differ from your own, and treating their personal belongings with care. For instance, my roommate has the amazing ability to fall asleep with the lights on, but I do not have this superpower. When I am ready to go to sleep, she understands that the lights need to be off, so she will often use a nightlight or fi nd somewhere else to study. She is always accommodating: she respects my sleep schedule, and I respect hers.
Good communication
Great roommates practice open and honest communication. Without proper
communication, problems may arise that could have been completely avoided if one roommate had told the other how they feel about something. For example, my twin sister — who I love, but who has a self-admitted flare for the dramatic — was looking into the process of getting a single room after two days of school because her roommate kept leaving things on her bed. With the full knowledge of how much she hates things on her bed, I advised her simply to tell her roommate that it bothers her. After she had told her that she likes keeping her bed clean (her roommate stopped setting things on it), they talked about other pet peeves that they have, and their dynamic completely changed. They went from being enemies living in close quarters to good friends.
Supporting your roommate
Supporting your roommate is arguably the most meaningful thing you can do, and it can differentiate a great dorm experience from just a good one. College is a busy time and feeling like someone supports and cares about you can make it much less stressful. While I would not recommend missing out on precious sleep, I really look forward to my late-night chats with my
roommate about our days. Whenever one of us has an awful day, we shamelessly rant to each other about it. When we’re in better moods, we tell each other about our good days and successes too. For example, when I made it into an a cappella group, I called my mom and then immediately texted my roommate because I knew that she would be genuinely excited for me. Being there for one another turns this shoebox of a room into a home. Great roommate experiences may not happen for everyone, but still, try to do your part by being the best roommate that you can be. Be respectful, communicate, and support your roommate and maybe they will start to mirror these behaviors. Even just general kindness and understanding can make the room a welcoming place like no other. Again, you do not have to be best friends with your roommate, but if you feel like you want to better your relationship with your roommate, then give these actions a try and see how they go. Having a college roommate is a really unique experience, so just try to enjoy it while you can and make the best of it.
Jacqueline is a freshman in LAS. jnb2@dailyillini.com
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Apartment preferences
Aidan Miller Junior in LAS
Lisa McGovern Senior in LAS & Education
Rob Klein Junior in ACES
Jacob Bardell Senior in Business
Natalie Noonan Junior in AHS
Q: What’s the max price you are willing to pay for monthly rent in Champaign-Urbana? “It would depend on the location, but the maximum I think I would pay would be around my current rent, which is $650 (per month).”
“I’ve never gone much over $600 a month. I think it’s pretty easy to find a nice place for that. So $600, I’m gonna say.”
“Per month? $550 without utilities. We’ve lived in places for (less than) that pretty comfortably, and I don’t see any reason to pay more.”
“About $600. Any more than that, it’s just getting too expensive, it’s almost the same price as a dorm. You might as well not worry about getting an apartment at that point.”
“$1,200 ... I know the price range, and I know good quality. I understand the process.”
Q: What’s your advice to people moving into their first apartment in the coming year? “Look around; there’s a lot of different apartments. Many of them have different philosophies on what they want to include, parking spots and services that are there. And also look that stuff up too, because sometimes you may need it.”
“Trust the people you’re gonna live with, and know them well. I know there’s that idea that you have to find apartments early, so if you have a specific apartment building and specific unit in mind, get it now. But if you don’t, you don’t have to. So wait until you have people you like and trust, and you’ll find a good place. And also, find a place on a bus stop.”
“You gotta start shopping now. Actually, now is too late. You should have already been shopping. And read that lease and make sure you’re not gonna get screwed over.”
“Don’t move in with people that you don’t really know. Make sure you move in with people you’re comfortable with and that you actually trust paying because if they don’t end up paying then you get screwed over.”
“Even though it may be cheap, it’s not necessarily a living condition you want to live in. Cheap isn’t always good, sometimes it’s worth the price you pay in rent.”
Q: What do you look for in your ideal apartment? “My ideal apartment? Usually location relative to bus stops and whether or not water, power or parking is included.”
“No stairs in the apartment. I hated apartments that had stairs. And if it’s more than two people, two bathrooms or two toilets, because I don’t need two showers. The landlords are all terrible, so it doesn’t matter which landlord. Honestly, they’re fine, but they also all suck. Good appliances, but honestly no stairs.”
“As long as it doesn’t have bedbugs and roaches. And there aren’t squirrels in the roof, has a shower that works. And has a bedroom that’s big enough for at least one person to be in, it’s good enough for me.”
“I like cooking, so I like to make sure it has a pretty decent kitchen. I’ve looked at apartments where the stove is really small, and it’s not really ideal for me. And other things, just like the other things that they add in for the bill each month. Like if they include water, the garbage disposal, the Internet. Stuff like that.”
“Clean and sunshine.”
Compiled by Michael Semaca semaca2@dailyillini.com
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Living the apartment life on a college budget ISABELLA JACKSON Special sections editor
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fter the rent, utilities and grocery bills have been paid, students living in their first apartment may feel like they are drowning in payments without receiving a full-time paycheck. Luckily, creating a budget and limiting some costs is simple to do. It just takes some willpower and smart spending. College is a great time to learn how to keep a budget and develop habits that will help you in the future.
Set a budget and stick to it!
There are many tips and tricks for creating a budget, but the most important is to have the willpower to stay with the budget you created. If not, you have a wonderful sheet of paper with your goals, but no money in your bank account. To create a budget, I like to use an Excel document to list all of my expenditures and deposits, with a sum function totalling my balance in the last column. I also can colorcode my purchases, so I have a system to see how much I am spending on groceries, utilities, shopping or other expenses.
Save electricity and water
Growing up, I definitely took the power in my house for granted. I wasn’t paying
the bills, so I didn’t think much about how much it costs to power my daily life. Getting the first few electric bills at my apartment was a bit of a shock. To save money on utilities, be a little more conscious of when you are using electricity and water. Turn off the lights when you leave the room, shave a few minutes off your shower and turn the air conditioning off when you can get by using a fan. Running either a window air conditioner or central air takes a lot of energy, especially in a college apartment where the walls and windows are not the most insulated.
Don’t waste food
I have a bad habit of going grocery shopping, buying something new and exciting and not knowing how to cook it when I get home. Right now, I have two sweet potatoes on my counter and no recipe to use them in. Unfortunately, this sometimes leads to food going bad before I can use it, and I basically throw money in the trash. I’ve learned to only buy enough perishable food, like produce or milk, to last four or five days, and to make more frequent grocery shopping trips. I realized that I won’t eat vegetables that have gone even a little soft, so frequent trips allow me to save money and cut down on waste. When I bring food home, it’s nice to store it systematically, so nothing gets lost in a corner of the refrigerator. Having all of the vegetables, cheese or fruit grouped together makes it easy to see what I need to buy,
what needs to be eaten and what will stay fresh for a few more days. When it comes to cooking meat and fish, I almost always freeze the meat and take it out as I use each piece. I simply can’t cook a full package of chicken or beef before it expires. You can purchase meat pre-frozen in a big bag, or you can buy fresh meat, divide it into smaller servings and freeze it yourself. Just be sure to use freezer bags — they are a little thicker than normal baggies and will keep the food from getting freezer burn. If you still find yourself spending too much money on groceries, try signing up for a rewards system, such as M Perks at Meijer or shopping at Aldi, which sells food at considerably lower prices than the namebrand items.
Save a portion of each paycheck
Next semester, I’m studying abroad in Spain and I’m working to save money for my travels. I’ve found that for me, the best way to save money is to have it never really appear in my checking account. When my paycheck comes through, I set aside a portion of it for Spain, and I don’t think about it again. Many banks will provide this feature automatically by scheduling a recurring withdrawal on payday, but it’s easy to remember to do yourself. Think of it as paying a bill that comes in on payday, and use that money for travel, concert tickets or another big item that you are saving up for.
Set aside money for fun
I love coffee. Whether it’s first thing in the morning, between classes or when I get home at the end of the day, nothing sounds better than a latte from Espresso Royale or a nice blonde roast from Starbucks — at least until I realize how much money I’ve spent at coffee shops that week. When paying for a drink is as easy as holding my phone up to a scanner, it’s easy to forget how much money I am actually spending. Because I know that trying to stop myself from buying coffee altogether is unlikely, I’ve developed a system to limit my expenditures. At the beginning of the week, I stop by the ATM and pull out the amount of cash that I’m willing to spend on “fun items” — coffee, eating out, etc. — for the next seven days. If I run out of cash, I’m done for the week. It’s an incredibly simple system, but it works for me. I think that I’m more likely to stick to a budget if I limit myself to a little money spent on things I like, so I don’t feel like I’m giving up everything to save money. Living on a budget in college does not necessarily mean living on ramen noodles and never leaving the house. By being smart about your expenditures and saving money where you can, you can cut costs and develop good lifelong habits.
Isabella is a junior in LAS. ijackso2@dailyillini.com
Without a dining hall, students have to learn to cook BROOKS BERISH Assistant special sections editor
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hen students finally make the decision to move out of the dorms and into their first apartment, they have to make some new adjustments. One of the biggest changes that students have to quickly get used to is cooking for themselves. When living in the residence halls, students often take for granted the convenience of the dining halls with their endless buffet, but most students in apartments do not purchase a meal plan and instead learn to cook for themselves. It’s not hard to understand why students would want to cook for themselves instead of having the same kind of dining hall food every week. Cooking offers up a lot of freedom, but it also carries a lot of responsibility. Students have to go out and buy ingredients or supplies at least once a week to keep all their food items in stock. In addition, since most people will share their living space, they will have to coordinate with their suitemates about what to
buy, when to buy it, and who will have to get it. Eventually, people will settle into a routine, but initially, there is a period of confusion where they will have to figure out what works best for everyone. Additionally, one of the best parts about living on one’s own is the ability to cook whatever kind of food you want. I know I’m not the only one who watches those cooking competition shows and then immediately goes to the kitchen to formulate my creation. Students have the opportunity to follow recipes and cook something tasty or unique, but it’s important to have a few recipes that you can cook quickly. Some nights, you won’t feel like making something fancy, and you’ll be content with some pasta and Ragu sauce. Also, those cans of crème fraiche do not come without a price, so perhaps consider working on your Michelin stars only once in awhile. Oscar Medrano, a sophomore in LAS, said that it can be difficult to find the time to cook healthy meals that fit his vegan lifestyle. “The hardest part about cooking as a vegan when moving into an apartment is having to constantly think about what your next meal will be,” said Medrano, “You always have to prepare food for the next day, (even)
when you have five classes to attend.” I thought that vegans or those with other dietary restrictions would have an easier time finding things to eat outside the dining halls, but as it turns out, they have a tough time finding things to eat anywhere. The issue of figuring out what to eat next is something that everyone faces when cooking for themselves. This is an especially difficult decision when you don’t have a lot of time to prepare something or if you don’t have a lot of ingredients to choose from. This is why some people try to stick with the same kinds of food that are both tasty and don’t take too long to make. McKale Berg, sophomore in Engineering, said that rice and pasta are great options because they are easy to cook, and vegetable or other additional ingredients can be thrown in to make it healthier. “We usually look up recipes online and trying to use whatever we have leftover from the last grocery trip,” Berg said, “Also fruit so you don’t get scurvy, and you don’t actually have to cook anything.” Keeping fruit and vegetables on hand makes it easy to grab something healthy for a snack, instead of automatically reaching for the Goldfish. At the beginning of the
year, stock up on non-perishable items that you enjoy eating, such as pasta or canned soup. When you haven’t had a chance to get to the grocery store recently, you can still make a quick dinner. Students also have the choice of eating at one of the Champaign-Urbana restaurants. Going out for a meal can be a nice change of pace, especially considering the many varieties of food offered locally, but the bills add up and can cost a fortune if done too often. It’s important to find a good balance between eating at home and going out. With so many different options, I would recommend just trying out everything at the beginning and finding what works best. This way, you don’t have to exert yourself trying to find different things to make. However, if the food gets a little boring, then perhaps it’s time to go out for a meal or two. Cooking shouldn’t be a nuisance in college, so don’t make it one. Mostly, keep things simple, but if you happen to have some extra time on your hands, then you can go all Gordan Ramsey and make a soufflé or something. Brooks is a sophomore in Business. berish2@dailyillini.com
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Quick and effective ways to keep living space clean EMMA PALATNIK Staff Writer
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Students living on campus enjoy the energy and opportunities of Green Street.
Moving to school without leaving town WILL GERARD Staff writer
B
eing from Champaign, I’ve always been a bit apprehensive to disclose my status as a “townie” — which trust me, is quite hard to avoid given that when you first meet someone, where you’re from is generally one of the first questions asked. This is a real shame because, quite frankly, I’m proud of my hometown and of my decision to attend the University. For those of you unaware, “townie” is a popular term used by University students in reference to those from around the Champaign-Urbana area. The term itself gives me mixed emotions. There seems to be a negative connotation surrounding its usage, as if Champaign-Urbana breeds a strange sort of people, opposed to what is presented by a perceived culturallyenriched suburban lifestyle. However, referring to oneself as a townie can also serve as a rallying cry among locals. Seriously, I’ve heard people from as far as Arcola proudly claim the title. Arcola is a 40-minute drive. You be the judge. During my time at the University, I chose to live on campus rather than to commute to school every day. In my opinion, commuting back and forth would be a major inconvenience. Anyone who has attempted driving on campus can relate to what a difficulty it would be to go a semester without hitting a pedestrian. On top of that, once you’re finished weaving around students, you still have to find somewhere to park. The cost is obviously much less than the price of living on campus, but it’s safe to say this is no small fee. Good luck to anyone having to regularly drive back and forth.
It’s nice getting to check in with my family on my own terms. In an apartment, I get the freedom of living by myself while having a safety net of my family not far down the road. Many students, especially those who come from in-state, visit home every once in a while. It’s not much different for me, except instead of riding a crammed bus, I can easily give one of my parents a ring and have them pick me up. This is extremely convenient when I’m running low on toilet paper or need to do a load of laundry. I’m grateful that I have the privilege of walking home to hang out with my sister on a slow afternoon without the burden of re-living the dreadful days in which my mother dragged me to school. Living at home hinders your ability to meet new people. If you’re living at home, chances are you simply won’t spend much time on campus. Some of the most interesting interactions I’ve had occurred while I was walking down the street. Another important factor — which wouldn’t affect me since I, of course, never partake in such activities — is how one living at home can spend a night out with friends. Sure, a late-night Uber isn’t a bad choice if you (and your parents) don’t mind that you’ll have to slip back in while everyone else is asleep. Otherwise, it may be difficult finding somewhere to stay for the night. If your pal doesn’t mind you crashing on their couch, go for it. However, that would not be my first choice. I’m glad I made the decision to live in an apartment after my first year in the dorms, but if you are a fellow townie that happens to be living at home, I can’t knock your decision either. Odds are you won’t eat ramen noodles every night and spend much of your adult life paying off student loans. Ultimately, do what is right for you.
Will is a sophomore in Media. wgerard2@dailyillini.com
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medium because they will shrink if I dry them on hot. I also try to fold my laundry right away. I’m not going to lie – that doesn’t always happen, but I try. When I do this, my clothes aren’t as wrinkly and it helps me find what I want to wear. Clean different parts of your apartment daily. I tried cleaning everything on Sundays but honestly, that is not fun. It’s better if I clean the kitchen on Mondays, living room on Tuesdays, etc. It makes my cleaning go faster and I feel more accomplished. Invest in a Swiffer mop and vacuum. My mom forced me to get these, but I have to admit they have been very handy. The vacuums that my building offers for check out are gross. The Swiffer products aren’t too expensive and they allow me to clean up my mess right away. I tend to drop Goldfish everywhere and it drives my roommates crazy, so the vacuum keeps peace in our apartment and gets rid of my trail of orange crumbs. Always clean up after yourself. When I’m finished studying, I put my books and notes away. When I get the mail, I sort it right away: what to keep and what to throw out. My apartment is a shared space and it feels and looks better when it’s clean. I really don’t like cleaning, but I’ve found that tidying up in small amounts and often keeps it quick and easy.
eeping a clean apartment seems daunting at times, but I am here to offer you some quick and easy ways to stay on top of it. Make your bed every day. This is a task that my mom nagged me to do every single day when I was younger. I really thought she was being annoying, but she was right. A made bed makes a room look much cleaner than an unmade one. Plus, it’s a task that takes 30 seconds tops. Do the dishes right after eating off of them. My roommates and I originally planned to put dishes in the sink and wash them at the end of the day. That did not turn out well, as one of us was always washing someone else’s dishes. We decided to wash our own right after using them, and that has worked much better. It takes less than a minute to wash a few dishes versus 20 minutes at the end of the day. Take out the trash as soon as it’s full. I am a very lazy person but I hate when my room smells. Trash is gross, so I always make sure there is a liner in the bin. I use plastic shopping bags for small trash bins and garbage bags for larger ones. I take out the trash maybe once or Emma is a freshman in Media. twice a week, and it takes me a total of 5 emmacp2@dailyillini.com minutes, but it keeps my apartment from smelling. This is especially important in the kitchen, where leftover food is thrown out and quickly starts to stink. Be careful not to let the trash get so full that the bag breaks. Making two trips is easier than cleaning up a mess of garbage that has broken on the floor. Pick the same day and time to do laundry every week. When I wait until the basket is full, I have to do three loads at once. That doesn’t always work because in my building, there are 12 washing machines for 16 floors. Sunday nights are the worst time to do laundry. I made that mistake once, and I spent two hours guarding the machines so I could get my laundry done as soon as possible. I find that the laundry rooms aren’t busy in the mornings, so I do my laundry before or in between classes. Doing laundry on a regular cycle also helps to guarantee that you won't be stuck when the shirt you want to wear is lost in the bottom of the hamper. Wash your laundry on cold. I hate ISABELLA JACKSON THE DAILY ILLINI separating lights, whites and darks (sorry Mom!), so I wash on cold and I don’t have Clearing off tables and putting items away can make an apartment look much cleaner. to worry about that. I dry my clothes on
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Moving strategies for those far from home MASAKI SUGIMOTO Editor-in-chief
M
oving out of your college apartment can be a relatively easy process for students who come from Illinois. You can simply have your parents come to pick you up, stuff the car with everything from your apartment and drive home in a few hours. But for many students who are international or out-of-state, the move-out period can be daunting. For those students who can’t afford to drive home from school or take all of their possessions with them abroad, this can be a difficult and stressful time. Moving stuff can be an easy arrangement for many of their peers, but these non-native Illinois residents shouldn’t worry. There are plenty of options available when it comes to moving your stuff out for the summer.
Evaluate what you need
A good first step is to take an inventory of what you have and of what you don’t need. You may have used plastic cabinets in one apartment, but you may not need them in your new apartment if it comes
with a full closet and a set of drawers. Those free t-shirts that seemed so great at the beginning of freshman year may not have been touched since you moved in, and if so, it may be time to get rid of them. Knowing what you don’t need is a crucial step that can make moving your belongings an easier task overall. Once you’ve created a pile of things to get rid of, you can try to sell the bigger items on Craigslist. You can then use this extra money to replace any items you may need at the beginning of the next semester. Donate unwanted clothes or other small items to the local Goodwill. Don’t be too quick to trash items like hangers or desk chairs that you know you will need in the future, though. Those could easily be replaced at the beginning of the next year, but buying them year after year can be far too expensive. Please don’t be the person who throws their TV, printer or expensive computer in the trash.
Use a storage unit
Storing your items is a pretty good option. Look into local storage unit centers and see if you can afford them. I recommend sharing a unit with a friend so that you both pay less for the unit and have a secure place to leave everything. Some
storage units can hold big things like cars, mattresses and other items that can seem impossible to take home with you. If you and your friends pack things efficiently, you can store a lot of things in a storage unit. Do keep in mind, though, that getting to a storage unit often requires a car to transport stuff from your home to your unit.
Try to go the long haul
For out-of-state students, especially those on either of the coasts, it can be hard to rationalize driving back home. If you have a group of friends who are from the same area, you could consider renting a U-Haul or else sharing someone’s car to take a good amount of stuff home. A road trip could be a fun way to start the summer, but keep in mind that there are a lot of logistical issues you have to work out, especially because it can be dangerous to drive for long amounts of time in places you are not familiar with. Look into this option with caution. Whatever you do, don’t freak out. Explore your options early and often. A lot of students go through this dilemma, so just know that you are not alone.
Masaki is a senior in Media. msugimo2@dailyillini.com
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For some sophomores, staying in dorms is the best option HARRISON LINDHOLM Staff writer
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iving in the dorms can be a fantastic experience for freshmen coming to campus for the first time, but for some students, it is a stressful situation. For some, the dorm room is the smallest room they have lived in. Dorm life could also be the first time students share a room with another person. Shortly after adjusting to being in the dorms, freshmen are required to decide where to live for their sophomore year. Deciding on housing for the next chapter of your campus life can be difficult. Do you rent an apartment or house, move into your fraternity or sorority house or stay in the dorms for a second year? If you are like me and don’t like change, or have found that you are completely content in the dorms, staying in University or Private Certified Housing can be the easiest option. As a sophomore in the dorms, I can tell you that it is a worthwhile decision. There are many benefits of living again in the residence halls. You get to choose your roommate, and after being at school for a little
while, it is very easy to find someone that you resonate with and could see yourself living with. As an upperclassman, you have an early pick for the resident halls. Those with a James Scholar or honors status have exclusive access to certain rooms and floors as well. If you utilize these privileges, you can snag a room in one of the most desirable dorms. These include the newly-built dorms in the six pack: Bousfield, Wassaja and Nugent. Bousfield has suite-style rooms. These are larger than most, and bathrooms are shared between rooms. This provides you with much more privacy. If you work out a schedule with your suitemates, you never need to wait in line for a shower. Bousfield also has nice study rooms on each floor, as well as televisions in the common areas. Wassaja is the newest dorm built on campus, and opened just in time for this fall. The rooms are arranged in pods, with individual-use bathrooms for each pod. Residents have lots of amenities to enjoy, including nice study lounges. Unlike other dorms, it has rooms set up for video chat calls so you can facetime your long-distance significant other or maybe even give your parents a call. Nugent is also a fantastic choice for stu-
dents upgrading to a newer dorm. It has nice rooms and is connected to the Ike. Being connected to the place where you get your meals and packages is critical in the winter when the temperatures are below freezing. Nugent also has study areas and lounges with TVs for relaxation with your friends. If you are not able to get into the new dorms, there is still hope. You can get a triple room in many other dorms and have a lot of extra space. Also, some older dorms such as Weston, have rooms that used to be designated as triples, but now are considered doubles, so they are more spacious. Wherever you live, sophomores can strategically pick rooms next to their friends, so instead of one roommate to hang out with, you can surround yourself with people you know. For me, one of the main reasons I stayed in the residence halls was the meal plan. Although dining hall food can get repetitive, it is food that is prepared for you, instantly ready when you arrive at the dining hall — and the dishes are done for you when you are finished eating. Students who live in the residence halls also have access to the residence hall libraries. These contain many books as well as CDs, video games and DVDs. Students
in residence halls have access to computers and printers, and many are located within the residence hall. It is also wonderful to have the opportunity to meet many new people in the dorms. So many interesting people study at Illinois, and it is a privilege to meet them. I definitely do not regret returning to the dorms for a second year.
Harrison is a sophomore in DGS. hlindho2@dailyillini.com
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Monday, October 10, 2016
Q&A with an RA: Life as a resident advisor BY JESSICA PETERSON STAFF WRITER
Niharika Roychoudhury, or Nika, is a junior in LAS. This year, she is a resident advisor (RA) in Presby Hall, one of the Private Certified Housing buildings on campus this year. She sat down with one of the Daily Illini writers to discuss life as an RA, what made her decide to work in the residence halls and her strategies for being a great resource for her residents.
How long have you been an RA? This is my fi rst year.
What do you think so far?
No big issues so far. I have a lot of international students on my floor that I think I can relate to because I’m an international student too. In fact, I’m holding an event tomorrow to explain the internship process for international students. We can’t just apply and be accepted and start working; there’s a whole process and paperwork through CPT (Curriculum Practical Training) and stuff. They need to know about it.
What made you want to become an RA?
I actually lived on this floor my freshman year, and my RA and I got very close. When I fi rst got to campus, I didn’t know anyone. No one from my high school came here.
Where are you from exactly?
Mumbai, India. I knew a few people who I met later after acceptances were given out, but we only met once or twice. My RA and I got close right from the start, and we’re still really good friends. She was an education major for special ed, and she’s
working and stuff now, but she’ll still snap me. She’s just the sweetest person So I thought, you know, if I could one day emulate where she’s at, that’d be good. It gave me a goal to work toward; she is a role model in a lot of ways.
What kind of characteristics did she have that made her a good RA?
She was always there for you, never judgmental, and she could’ve been. I didn’t realize how homesick I’d get because I went to boarding school before, but she helped you assimilate into campus culture. She also offered a lot of resources and had mentioned, “Hey, maybe sorority rush would be a good fit for you.” Not a lot of international students rush, if you think about it. There are a couple of cultural sororities, but I rushed Panhellenic and ended up joining a house, Delta Zeta, and that’s helped me grow so much personally and professionally. It has been a very strong support system on campus.
How do you take that experience and apply it to being an RA now?
I just try to listen. I assume that everyone’s having a hard day, and I’m just nice to them, so hopefully that gives them a little boost to their step. It’s such a small thing to compliment someone on their dress, but it can turn their whole day around if they’re having a bad day. I have an open door policy. I’ll be in the building, and they can come to me with whatever. Sometimes, even though you know it’s going to be okay, you need someone to be there and tell it to you. Yeah, in general, I think that’s what the biggest role of an RA is, just to be there for people.
BRIAN BAUER THE DAILY ILLINI
Resident Adviser Nika Roychoudhury sits outside the courtyard of Presby Hall.
What would you say residents don’t realize about their RA?
They don’t realize that I’m more than an RA sometimes. So like they’ll see me on the street with my friends or out at a party and go, “What? You have a life?” Yes, actually. I have many aspects to my life and am not just an authority figure.
Is it hard finding the balance between being an RA and a student?
I’ve always been multitasking, so this is actually the easiest year I’ve had. You need to put in time and work for shifts and stuff, but overall I’ve always been a huge planner, so it is just a matter of scheduling and it works out fi ne. Also, people here are super understanding. It contributes to the Presby feel of being really family-oriented. We’re there for each other as more than just coworkers.
What do you think is important as an RA when it comes to bringing domestic and international students together?
THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO
Presby Hall is a Private Certified Housing building located near the corner of Fifth and John
I think just being tolerant and understanding people have different life experiences. Students still need to have their own identity and be connected to their roots. I feel much closer to my culture (and) my traditions here than I did in India, because there I just sort of took it for granted. Here you have to actively be like, “Oh
what’s the Indian Student Association doing? Maybe I should attend Garba.” Managing to adapt and fit in this culture is small adjustments. Getting used to differences but also maintaining their sense of identity so they don’t get lost in American culture. Finding that balance is what an RA can provide.
What have been the most rewarding and challenging parts of being an RA?
I had an event where about 20 people on the floor came. It was really nice because I didn’t have to facilitate the conversation, it was just flowing, and people were getting to know each other. Well, I don’t think the most challenging part has really come from the students. I think it’s the time management thing, and maintaining all the different parts of my life.
For students who don’t think they can find community here, what is something you want to say to them?
I guarantee that there are others on the campus who feel the same way. Even if you are not an extrovert, just go out and talk to someone. You could talk to one person in your class, and they might introduce you to your entire new friend circle. This campus gives you what you put into it.
jtpeter3@dailyillini.com
Monday, October 10, 2016
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Calmly handle problems with apartments ISABELLA JACKSON Supplements Editor
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ollege apartments put up with a lot. Property managers often deal with posters hung with push pins, students who only clean when their moms visit and at least a few spilled drinks. Unfortunately, this means that when students move in, the apartment might not be in the best shape. First, take advantage of the list of items that your landlord gives you upon moving in. This paper allows you to write down all of the issues with the apartment, including broken furniture or appliances, chipped paint, holes in the wall or areas that weren’t cleaned. Marking these down and taking pictures proves that these issues were there when you moved in. This documentation protects you when you move out. Additionally, let your landlord
know about any issues that need to be resolved right away. Get the name or business card of the property manager for your building. Many of the leasing companies on campus are large and own multiple properties, but there will be one staff member that will know the most about your building. Having his or her email will help you if there are issues or if you have questions about the property. Familiarize yourself with the maintenance phone numbers for your apartment and the services provided. Acknowledge that some calls, either for issues after hours or problems that you caused, may result in a fee. Looking at these early, when you are calm and have enough time to pay attention to the information, will be helpful when the dishwasher starts to leak, or the hot water won't work a half hour before class. Reach out to the companies in charge of utilities if you have any concerns. In my experience, they are very helpful.
Last year, I came home from studying during finals week and thought I smelled gas in my kitchen. I called a friend who luckily was willing to come over at midnight to see if I was imagining the smell. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a stress-induced overreaction, and he told me to call the Ameren gas hotline. The number is staffed 24 hours a day, and the woman who answered the phone calmed me down and said that a worker would be over within a half hour. The worker found the leak, turned off the gas and gave me a piece of paper detailing the incident to give to my landlord. Ameren, which provides gas and electricity for the state, also offers an Outage Center feature, which allows customers to report power outages and check the status of their power if they are not at home. Next, double check all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your unit, and make sure that the batteries are kept
up to date. While you’re at it, clean the oven and stove. When the oven turns on, a little bit of spilled food — like the cheese from last night’s frozen pizza — can start to burn and trigger your smoke detector. Keeping on top of cleaning and basic maintenance can make sure that small issues are noticed before they become major ones. Lastly, be respectful to your neighbors. If you don’t clean up your kitchen and get roaches, they will migrate outside of your unit and become a disgusting problem for the rest of the building. If you have an issue, be sure to mention it to your landlord and follow up if it is not corrected quickly. It is important for you to advocate for yourself, especially in a situation where something is broken or potentially unsafe. After all, you are paying rent to live there, and you deserve to get what you are paying for.
Isabella is a junior in LAS. ijackso2@dailyillini.com
Don’t make me sign my lease a year ahead LILLIAN BARKLEY Features editor
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’m tired of moving. I’ve lived in four different places over the last 12 months, and I would prefer to stay in my current home for senior year. However, if I don’t find four people to live with me by mid-October, my opportunity to re-sign will be forfeit. It seems like I just moved in, but I already have to decide if I’m going to move out because of the local housing market, which generally requires that you sign a lease within months of moving in. For everyone searching for housing, this creates pressure and stress, which is totally unwelcome in the midst of midterms. I’m lucky that I haven’t run into any issues with my roommates, besides the fact that they’re all graduating and moving away this year. Signing at least 10 months ahead of time leaves plenty of room for friendships and agreements to shatter, however. For potential roommates, it’s almost like playing a game of chance about whether everyone will get along, and that’s before even trying to live together. This puts even more stress on younger renters who are trying to find a home, find roommates and navigate rental
agreements. Organizing a group of four or so who all agree to move into the same house can be hard when you’ve only had about a year to get to know everyone — I’m not surprised that sophomores elect to stay in the dorms. Having a short timeframe for signing the lease means that I have to put pressure on my friends to tell me whether they can live with me. I also barely know the house. I can’t imagine how stressful it must be to try to actually buy a home; I’m still getting used to stepping around the creakiest floorboards and setting the perfect balance between burning and freezing in the shower. Even though I know from my roommates that there’s nothing wrong with the house, renters in other homes might not realize serious issues until after they sign the lease. You’re not going to know if the pipes have a tendency to freeze and burst until a full year has passed. There’s also the issue of rising housing costs when it comes to signing a lease. There are so many new luxury apartments on campus, but that’s not doable or desirable for all students. It’s definitely easier to coordinate a housing search with fewer people, but this often means that rent is higher. All of my renting experience has been with houses and co-ops in Urbana, but even then I feel like I have no room to
LILY KATZ THE DAILY ILLINI
Apartments on and near campus often require students to sign leases early in the fall semester. negotiate or shop around for different rental prices because I might not find a house that’s as good as my current one. I do understand my landlord’s concern that waiting too long to show the house will result in no one wanting to rent. I may not be a good judge of the housing
market, but it seems like if there’s a reliable tenant already willing to rent the house, it would be better to allow some leeway and reduce the housing panic.
Lillian is a junior in Media. lbarkle2@dailyillini.com
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Monday, October 10, 2016
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Housing options vary in price, location BY RACHEL MELANCON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
With 32,579 undergraduate students and a campus of over 4,500 acres, the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign has endless living possibilities, but a common question students ponder is whether it is worth it to make the move off campus. Khader Doleh, a junior in AHS, decided to make the move and is living off-campus in an Urbana apartment. “I have so much more freedom,” Doleh said. “I am able to cook whatever I want to eat and entertain whenever I please. I also have more space and my own bathroom.” Despite these perks, many of the students at the university opt to live in one of the on campus houses, apartments and Greek houses. Most freshmen choose to live in the dorms located around campus. Most are equipped with dining halls and are within walking distance to the Main Quad. “I decided to live in the dorms because I wanted to meet new people,” Harry Laible, freshman in DGS, said. He is currently residing in the Florida Avenue Residence Halls. “The meal plans are very convenient and I have gotten to know the people in my building.” Laible chose a random roommate, something students are able to do if they select to live in the dorms. Ilana Weiner, freshman in LAS, decided to room with a classmate from her high school. “I wanted to know my roommate beforehand. Many of my friends did the same thing, although some met their roommates through the UIUC Freshman Class of 2020 Facebook page.” Doleh, much like Weiner, was able to choose his roommate. “I met one of my roommates through mutual friends. I didn’t
know the other two beforehand. Luckily we are all now great friends.” Doleh and his roommates share the responsibility of both cleaning the apartment and cooking meals throughout the day. “I rarely eat out,” Doleh explained. “I eat breakfast at my apartment and pack snacks throughout the day.” When living in a dorm or Greek facility, a resident is required to eat during the specific times their dining hall is open. They are limited to the food being served that particular day. In addition to the added flexibility of mealtimes, many people consider the larger size of an apartment a major draw, instead of the smaller dorm rooms. However, some students do not have any serious problems fitting their life into the shared space. “They are livable,” said Weiner. “For the most part, I have enough space to fit my belongings.” Doleh does not have this issue, as he said his apartment allows him a lot of storage space for his belongings. Audrey Christopher, a freshman in Business, currently living in Bromley, is able to easily get around campus due to the convenient location. “I walk everywhere. It’s great exercise and I live very close to the Quad,” she said. Unlike Christopher, Doleh is not within walking distance to much of campus. “It is hard to commute on and off-campus. I always use the bus to get around. I do not go back to my apartment until I am done with classes for that particular day because that is too difficult,” said Doleh. Nevertheless, Doleh explained that it was worth it. Each of them get their own space and bathroom, a luxury not many students enjoy.
FAR welcomes incoming students to the new Fall 2016 semester. Apartments can offer more amenities and more freedom than other living options, such as sorority or fraternity houses, which generally house many students in a small area. However, these houses are conveniently within walking distance to bus stops and the Quad. Most juniors and seniors attending the University move into apartments, but they have many choices about where the apart-
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ment will be located, how much they will pay in rent and who they will choose as roommates. “Being in an apartment has taught me responsibility. I have to pay bills on time and sign a lease. I plan on living off campus next year, as I have enjoyed it,” Doleh shared.
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Making meals for new vegetarians HANNAH AUTEN Creative director
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became a vegetarian at the start of my freshman year of college. Thanks to the awesome array of vegetarian options in the University Dining Halls, my dietary transition freshman year wasn’t much of a struggle. Unfortunately, learning to cook homemade meatless meals in my apartment, especially after growing up on a cattle farm in southern Illinois, was difficult. Growing up, meat was almost always an integral part of every meal. I assumed this meant that to feed myself on a vegetarian diet, I would need to build a completely new mental repertoire of meals and recipes. Thankfully, I assumed wrong. Take meatless meatballs for an example. They sound pretty disgusting, but these, along with various other forms and flavors of fake meat, have saved my life. I was very surprised to learn that, for the most part, these soy alternatives tasted very similar to their meat counterparts. Using soy replacements for old-fashioned meat meals is one of my favorite ways to eat as a vegetarian. For example, I make stir fry with teriyaki chik’n strips, or prepare chik’n cutlets with mashed potatoes, corn and green beans. If you’ve already loaded up on your protein for the day, which soy meat replacement products are typically loaded with, lighter meals are always a good option. Toasting some bread spread with Hellman’s mayonnaise, topped with baked tomatoes and mozzarella and sprinkled with a bit of garlic salt makes for a delicious, quick meal.
I’ve learned that experimenting with recipes is the best way to find meals that taste so good you thought they could only be found on your dinner table back home. For example, the tomato and mozzarella sandwich recipe I just described was born from me getting a little crazy with the ingredients when making a grilled cheese one afternoon. The last, and probably most important, tip I have today is to learn how to cook some mean tofu. Tofu is pretty unappetizing in the package. It’s a white, square blob labeled “firm” or “extra firm,” which seems gross without even looking at the contents in the package. Thankfully, this white blob of protein can be prepared in myriad ways. In my experience, the Internet is your best friend when exploring uncharted territory in the kitchen. Tofu can be fried, shredded, braised, baked or sauteed — and the list goes on and on. Learning how to utilize this versatile food will help you meet your daily recommended amount of protein, while still keeping your tastebuds happy and guessing. Eating vegetarian in your own apartment instead of the dining halls can seem like an intimidating challenge; however, it’s a lot easier than you would think. Once you put your mind to it, there are many meatless meals that you can make. Not only will eating green make you a better chef, but the environment will be thanking you, too. Whether you live as a vegetarian or just try to eat meatless once a week, there are many ways to keep yourself fed in an apartment.
Hannah is a sophomore in LAS. hauten2@dailyillini.com
BILLY GALANT THE DAILY ILLINI
Feels like home: sharing a house with your college friends MASAKI SUGIMOTO Editor-in-chief
If
QUENTIN SHAW THE DAILY ILLINI
Tofu is a great tasty and nutrional addition to any entree or side dish.
you have a large friend group that maybe doesn’t want to stay in dorms next year and thinks there are no apartments just right for them, consider getting a house together. It can be hard to get everyone to agree on a location and stick with the idea until signing a lease, but it can provide great benefits. The best times living in a house can be spent grillng outside on holidays, sitting on the lawn on a nice day or hosting large social gatherings. Many houses will feature places to park your car for less than an apartment pass, and there is more space to hang out outside. These can get rid of a lot of the headaches that the dorms or apartments bring, especially if you feel a little cooped-up in one or two shared rooms. The cramped nature of an apartment
hardly exists when you have plentiful kitchen space and several common areas where people can hang out. Some houses even allow pets, so if someone wants to bring their furry friend to their apartment, some houses can accommodate that. When making the decision, be sure that you will get along with all of your housemates and that they will stick with the lease. Finding a subletter to move in with several strangers can be very hard. The biggest issue can be clutter. Finding the perpetrator of a mess may be hard when you have to consider a dozen other people living in the same building, and there is just a lot more to clean. Making sure that people pick up after themselves at all times is crucial to keeping the house from becoming a pigsty. If you can find a big group of people that you want to live with, I say go for it. The future can be uncertain and you may never get another opportunity to live together with all of your friends.
Masaki is a senior in Media. msugimo2@dailyillini.com
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Monday, October 10, 2016
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Paper (cardboard, newspaper, junk mail, magazines, books & mor
1. Locate green recyling carts near garbage cans at multifamily housing in Urbana (or request a cart if in a single-family home)
Plastic food & beverage containters (bottles, milk jugs, yogurt cups, detergent bottles, shampoo bottles & more)
2. Familiarize yourself with the acceptable recyclables list
lease online! illinitower.net
3. Place both paper materials and containers in the recycle cart together (no seperation necessary)
Glass bottles & Jars Dairy & juice cartons Steel & tin Cans Aluminum cans & foil (clean) Plastic retail or grocery bags only ( no garbage bags)
4. Where do i recycle things like batteries, cell phones and inkjet cartridges? Visit the “Where Do I Recyle it?” page at urbanaillinois. us/U-Cycle
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Sharing a space is possible with ground rules EMMA PALATNIK Staff Writer
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have two younger siblings, but growing up, we’ve never had to share a room for longer than a vacation. My longest sharing experience was at overnight camp for a maximum time of six weeks, so going to college and sharing an apartment with three other girls was a big jump. However, I found that it’s much easier to share a space than I thought it would be. The first thing my roommates and I did was make a roommate contract. Our building required this, and it helped us establish ground rules. It’s also something we could refer to if we ever had any issues. We talked about sharing, washing dishes, cleaning, noise levels and the like. It also gave us something to talk about the first night together. We also decided always to speak up when we had a problem. I’m not perfect, and neither are they, and it does sting for an hour when they ask me not to do something. But I would rather be upset for a short time than have a big blow-up after a month. We
try to resolve issues as they come along so we can maintain healthy relationships with each other. Communication is key. I love talking to my roommates, and they are some of my best friends. I know this is not the case with everyone, but I got lucky. We communicate every day via text or in person. I always tell them where I am going so we can look out for each other. My roommates are my family, and I want them to be safe. I know they feel the same about me. I do my share of work around the apartment. I make sure I get groceries when it’s my turn and clean up periodically. My roommates appreciate when I keep up with my responsibilities. It’s not fair for them to have to do all the work. Because we share such a small space, I give my roommates alone time, too. I make sure that I’m not always in the room. It’s good for them to have some time alone because we all need to recharge, and they do the same for me. Even if we are all in the apartment, we occasionally have quiet time to relax and do homework. I notify my roommates if I have anyone over, or if my parents are coming to visit. They don’t like to be surprised, and neither do I. I don’t mind if they have friends over, but I like to know what to expect when I
LILY KATZ THE DAILY ILLINI
Roommates should stay organized and maintain strong communication to minimize conflicts in small living spaces, especially dorms. come home. This way I know if I need to clean my room or make plans to be out of it. Since the space is not just mine, it’s nice to keep everyone in the loop about what is going on and who is in the apartment. I offer to help my roommates with everything I can. If I’m going to Walgreens, I text them and make sure they don’t need anything. I help them with their homework and edit their papers. If I help them, they will be willing to help me.
Lastly, I treat my roommates with respect. They are like my sisters, but that doesn’t mean that I can treat them unfairly. They are some of the best people in my world, and I want to keep it that way. Sharing a small space went from being a situation that I dreaded to a way for me to bond with some of my best friends.
Emma is a freshman in Media. emmacp2@dailyillini.com
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