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SEPTEMBER

2026

HOUSING

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THE DAILY ILLINI Editor’s note 1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, IL 61820 || 217-337-8300

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ast Housing Guide editor’s notes have reflected on the University’s yearly overadmission, increasing apartment prices and the difficulties both impose on students. This year, there was a waitlist in August, alongside students who endured temporary housing due to construction delays at Trelease Hall. Housing has remained what it is at its very core: an unnerving transition from the old into the new — even if it’s maintained its old ways when finding a place to live in Champaign-Urbana. I’ve resided in the same apartment for the past three years, gaining firsthand experience of all the ups and downs — fire alarms blaring at 1 a.m. and two of three elevators breaking down with 20-

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plus floors — one might come to know. While we took the opportunity to report on situations like these (find move-in experiences on page 17), we also balanced this substandard side of apartment living with the advantageous, including University Housing as well. Construction has become common in C-U, so we’ll keep you updated on a few of those projects on page 4. Creating stories on University Housing wouldn’t be complete without noting several of its residence halls, including a deeper look into the Spring 2020 closure of the Busey-Evans Dining Hall (page 5) and Nugent Hall’s accessibility options (page 10). Have you ever wondered about what it’d be like to live in a house show venue? Learn more on page 24, before turning to page 27 for information on how several students have transformed their house into a home. And you’ll find a home here, too.

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The DI || Volume 156 Issue 02 || September 2026

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ON THE

COVER

HERE and 309 Green are two prominent high-rise apartments along Green Street in Champaign. While each complex has been housing students for over 10 years, an increased need for student housing has led to even more large complexes being constructed along the busy commercial road.

HOUSING GUIDE

ISSUE 02 ISSUE

IN THIS

VOLUME 156

DESIGNERS Rikkie Gunawan Shannon Moser Santos Medina Aliana Arifi Emma Qian Kamilla Alimzhanova

HOUSING GUIDE What’s coming soon? Housing projects

4 around campus

Housing, students talk Busey-Evans 5 UI Dining Hall

housing brings safe 7 Gender-inclusive spaces for all identities

8 selors, RCMs combat mental health stigma

‘Web of support’: Embedded clinical coun-

Nugent Hall offer 10 BRSS, accommodations for residents

12 Graduate housing: A closer look 14 Townies make room for home in college

students talk difficult move-in 17 UI experiences

21 Living on Green Street: Is it worth it?

groups across campus offer 22 Housing summer cleaning

24 The secret lives of house show hosts 27 UI students make their house a home Apartment living broadens housing

30 knowledge

30 HOUSING GUIDE

| Buildings don’t make 35 Opinion memories

The DI || September 2026

What’s coming soon? HOUSING PROJECTS AROUND CAMPUS SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

VANESSA TURNER vturner4@dailyillini.com

f you’ve waited in line at The Red Lion recently, you can’t have missed the adjacent construction site for a new high-rise apartment building on Green Street. Amid a housing shortage affecting apartments and residence halls alike, students are scrambling to find places to stay — and both private companies and the University are listening. The future Hub Champaign Green Street isn’t the only upcoming housing project on campus: Bromley Commons and a residence hall to replace Taft-Van Doren Halls are also in the works.

HUB CHAMPAIGN GREEN STREET Construction on a 15-story building with 1,577 bedrooms is underway at 201 E. Green St. Eric Van Buskirk, senior planner for the City of Champaign, provided The Daily Illini with more specifics. Van Buskirk said the unit breakdown is 82 one-bedroom units, 67 two-bedroom units, three three-bedroom units and 338 four-bedroom units. The building will also have 129 vehicle parking spaces and 790 bicycle parking spaces. “Throughout that construction process, the city does regular inspections of the site, making sure that they’re following those plans,” Van Buskirk said. “When the building is done, there’ll be a final inspection that completes that process, and then we certify that it’s safe to occupy.” Charlie Cervenka, graduate student studying psychology, lives in a nearby building and credits the construction with various disturbances. “Every time I leave the house, I don’t know if the street to my left will be blocked off, if the street to my right will be blocked off,” Cervenka said. “It’s just added that extra uncertainty to my day.” Cervenka said that while there is construction noise, the loudest annoyance was circus music from protesters across the street.

RUHI HARYADI THE DAILY ILLINI

Construction of the Hub Champaign Green Street building expands around the block on Aug. 9.

Local union carpenters and electricians have held demonstrations against project manager PC Treehouse for hiring out-of-state and non-union workers. Core Spaces and Power Construction, the companies that make up PC Treehouse, have not responded to requests for comment regarding the protests. Cervenka believes that companies are increasingly building high-rises to “price gouge” but also appeal to a “culture of fear,” where students worry about finding leases. “These high-rises and these big buildings kind of capitalize on … student anxiety and uncertainty that is bolstered by this notion and perception — however true it may be — of this housing crisis,” Cervenka said.

BROMLEY COMMONS

Developed by the same company that created Bromley Hall, a popular option in Private Certified Housing, Bromley Commons is projected to open in Fall 2027 at 310 E. Chalmers St. The building will have 400 beds in suite-style rooms with semi-private bathrooms, according to Mari Anne Brocker Curry, director of housing information & marketing for University Housing. She said leasing for next year will start this semester. Working with private companies is

The DI || Volume 156 Issue 02 || September 2026

different from the University building its own housing, Brocker Curry explained. “There is a process for private entities to apply for certification,” Brocker Curry wrote in an email to The DI. “If we have a need, we look to partner with existing certified housing partners first.” Van Buskirk said the finished construction will be 72 feet tall with six stories. The building will have study rooms, a fitness center and lounges, according to Brocker Curry.

TAFT-VAN DOREN’S REPLACEMENT A 670-bed residence hall and 320-seat dining facility is set to open in Fall 2029, according to Brocker Curry. The building will replace Taft-Van Doren residence halls on the corner of Fourth and Peabody. Brocker Curry said the project — which has an estimated total cost of $195 million — will contain a seven-story section and a five-story section, along with four different retail dining venues. The space will also include study rooms and on-floor laundry rooms. As a University Housing project, it is subject to a state-level review but not to city zoning rules, according to Van Buskirk. The existing Taft-Van Doren Halls are set to be demolished in May 2027, according to Brocker Curry.

HOUSING GUIDE

UI Housing, students talk Busey-Evans Dining Hall SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

MACY MEDENDORP macym3@dailyillini.com

usey-Evans Dining Hall closed in Spring 2020, and since then, it’s been collecting dust. While students have floated ideas of what to do with the space, Mari Anne Brocker Curry, director of housing information & marketing for University Housing, said it likely won’t see any changes in the next couple of years. Initially, Busey-Evans Dining Hall closed down in preparation for Illinois Street Dining Center’s opening. Staff was then reallocated to the new space to ensure the larger dining hall operated smoothly. Brocker Curry said University Housing assessed staffing numbers and traffic at Busey-Evans Dining Hall before making the decision to close it. Together, Busey Hall and Evans Hall house about 400 residents, Brocker Curry said, whereas ISR is home to more than 1,000. Given the closing of the BuseyEvans Dining Hall, those 400 residents now need to take a six-minute walk to Lincoln Avenue Dining Hall or a 10-minute walk to Illinois Street Dining Center. If they’re feeling ambitious, it’s a 14-minute walk to Pennsylvania Avenue Dining Hall or an 18-minute walk across campus to Ikenberry Dining Center. While buses can shorten the journey, Maddux Smith, sophomore in LAS who lived in Evans Hall last year, said it was still annoying at times to make the trip, especially on cold or windy days. “It would have been really nice to have a dining hall in our very own building,” Smith said. “It would have saved some trouble.”

HOUSING GUIDE

RAY BUTTERWORTH THE DAILY ILLINI

A sign saying “Welcome Home, Illini!” is displayed outside the main entrance of the Busey-Evans Halls on Sept. 1.

Basira Iqbalzada, freshman in LAS, currently lives in Busey Hall. She only moved in about a month ago but said she has enjoyed it so far. As for the Busey-Evans Dining Hall, she said she “definitely” wishes it was open, especially on days when her schedule is packed and she doesn’t have much time for meals. “I have to plan around it,” Iqbalzada said. “Having a dining option closer would make things a little more easier.” For now, the dining hall space stands closed. Smith and Iqbalzada both said if the space were to reopen as something else, they would like to see it converted into a study or hangout space. University Housing will take student input into account when making its plans, Brocker Curry said. However, she said the timeline of the project remains undetermined. The process is a bit more complicated than it would be with different residence halls, Brocker Curry said. Busey Hall and Evans Hall are on the National Register of Historic Places, meaning

there’s more red tape involved with any potential project. Funding is also an issue. Since University Housing is self-funded, room and board rates might need to be adjusted to finance any sort of future development. “We certainly are very cautious about how we spend that money,” Brocker Curry said. “As we’ve talked about these different opportunities for Busey-Evans (Halls), what has happened over the years is there have been other things that have been more pressing or that were a better use of the dollars that students have entrusted us to use for their experience.” Developing the space is in University Housing’s long-term plan, but unless it has space in the budget in the next few years, Busey-Evans Dining Hall is likely to remain untouched, according to Brocker Curry. Despite the still-closed dining hall, Smith said he enjoyed his experience as a resident of the joint halls. “People should take a chance on Busey-Evans (Halls),” Smith said. “It’s an awesome place.”

The DI || September 2026

The DI || Volume 156 Issue 02 || September 2026

HOUSING GUIDE

Gender-inclusive housing brings safe spaces for all identities STAFF WRITER

PENELOPE ROEWE proewe2@dailyillini.com

AR is currently under construction — the residence hall’s communal bathrooms will be converted into individual single-use stalls. This change is not just for aesthetics. According to Mari Anne Brocker Curry, director of housing information & marketing for University Housing, the renovation will create a more gender-inclusive living arrangement for future students. However, gender-inclusive housing is not new to campus. The University has 15 undergraduate gender-inclusive housing options, according to its housing website. For each residence hall, that means something different. Whether that be in-room coed arrangements or individual-use bathrooms, Brocker Curry said there are housing options across campus designed to accommodate all students’ identities. “It’s definitely a mix across our inventory, but I think that it gives students a higher level of control and autonomy over how they choose,” Brocker Curry said. “So a student, no matter how they identify, could walk through the system and pick a room without having to out themselves, without having to talk to someone in the housing information office because of the way that we have it set up.” Traditionally, FAR’s Oglesby Hall separates floors by gender; an all-female floor shares one communal female bathroom and an all-male floor shares one communal male bathroom. Brocker Curry said that the new bathroom renovations will make floors coed and provide students with more privacy. Bousfield Hall, Hopkins Hall, Nugent Hall and PAR are just a handful of other gender-inclusive residence halls on campus. But unlike those, Allen Hall has a gender-inclusive wing where all

HOUSING GUIDE

SORO UNG THE DAILY ILLINI

students share one communal bathroom, regardless of gender identity. Emma Jaros, senior in Social Work and LAS, lived in Allen Hall their sophomore year. Jaros said living in the genderinclusive wing brought them some of their closest college friends. The residence hall became a safe space for Jaros, who is now an education and training intern at the Gender & Sexuality Resource Center. “It’s nice to live in (Allen Hall) because, obviously, I can come (to the GSRC), and then we’ve got this vibrant queer community here,” Jaros said. “Depending on where you’re living, when you go back to your dorm or to your apartment, that space doesn’t always come with you. But when I was living on the gender-inclusive floor, I was living in that space every day.” Yolanda Williams-Goliday, director of the GSRC, said this safe space is fostered by the understanding of peers. “I think the other factor is being in a room or a suite or on the floor with someone you don’t have to explain nonbinary to,” Williams-Goliday said. “You don’t have to explain pronouns … It’s a familiarity in your housing space because home is supposed to be the safest space for

you, whether it’s home here or home from where you’re from.” Allen Hall is also home to the Unit One Learning-Living Community, which provides a variety of arts spaces for students to “explore their creativity.” The LLC also gives students the opportunity to take free music lessons, host field trips and participate in volunteer activities. Unit One LLC has been welcoming of all identities throughout its existence, Brocker Curry said. “There’s all kinds of ways for people to engage,” Brocker Curry said. “And I think historically, it has been a very inclusive community, just in general, very welcoming, very open of all different identities.” As University Housing continues to remodel its options, Brocker Curry said gender inclusivity is always in mind. For Jaros, gender-inclusive housing will always be important to students on campus, especially for transgender and non-binary students. “It’s incredibly important, particularly for trans and gender-nonconforming students, to have a space in which they can feel safe and supported, that their identity is respected,” Jaros said. The DI || September 2026

‘Web of support’ Embedded clinical counselors, RCMs combat mental health stigma ming, their bulletin boards, they’re talking with residents, they’re doing chloeb4@dailyillini.com all these different things, and they’re just undergraduate students, too, right? t wasn’t until 2018 that the UniversiThey’re students first. ty’s embedded counseling program “And so I think that our job is differstarted. Even then, it only had two ent because we get to focus just on this. embedded clinical counselors to supThis is our main thing. And we’re able to port an enrollment of nearly 50,000 kind of specialize in that, and we’re able students, according to University to dive into what resources are available Housing embedded clinical counselor for students.” Carrie Finkill. Similar to RCMs, embedded clinical Today, the number of embedded counselors play a pivotal role in training clinical counselors has increased to RAs. However, both Finkill and Benkert 13, with University Housing retainemphasized that one main difference being two of its own: Finkill and Kim tween their positions and other resourcBenkert. Other areas on campus with es is that their sessions are confidential. embedded clinical counselors include As a result, the RCMs are among the College of Law, the College of Libtheir biggest referral sources, since eral Arts & Sciences and The Grainger clinical therapy remains with them. College of Engineer“I like to say that ing, among others. we are a piece of Embedded clinical their case managecounselors specialize ment puzzle in that in mental health and mental health is just are licensed profesone aspect that maysionals with years of be a student is dealexpertise, Finkill said. ing with,” Benkert They offer a program said. “Maybe they’re known as “Let’s Talk,” also having some which is a 15-minute food insecurity; appointment for stumaybe they’re also Carrie Finkill, University Housing embedded clinical counselor dents seeking guidance dealing with some loneand information before liness … And (RCMs) are committing to confidential counseling. with students repeatedly to spend time able to connect them to multiple services.” If a student wants to schedule an creating goals and wellness plans or Before arriving at the University, Beninitial counseling session, Benkert said talk about and contact other available kert said she had developed a passion for she just needs to pull up her calendar on-campus resources. working with college students through to see her availability and will schedule Outside of one-on-one meetings, RCMs her internship at the Ball State Universian appointment on the spot. Benkert can also be found at Wellness Wednesdays. ty Counseling Center and joked that she and Finkill also participate in Wellness As part of the support web, Thoren had been trying to return to this level Wednesdays and table at PAR and SDRP explained that health and safety inci- for a long time. Finkill said she actually to provide stress-management materi- dent reports filed by resident advisers discovered her dedication to working at als, resources and giveaways. and resident directors move directly to the collegiate level here after experience “It’s about just removing any of those the RCMs. They also coach RAs and RDs at two Colorado-based colleges and as a barriers to give people access,” Finkill with balancing their individual needs clinical director, assistant clinical direcsaid. “And some people see us at tabling alongside their responsibilities, accord- tor and in private practice. things, and they’re like, ‘Oh, I know who ing to Thoren and Slaughter. “What students are accomplishing they are.’ They may never come and talk “When you think about what an and what they’re going through, it’s difto us and never set up an appointment, RA does, they have lots of jobs, right?” ferent than it’s ever been before,” Finkill but they know who we are and that we Slaughter said. “They have program- said. “And so we look at (being an emEDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CHLOE BARBARISE

get it and that we’re available.” Another support service that University Housing offers is residential case managers. Established in Summer 2024, Urbana RCM Mariah Slaughter said University Housing designed the position because there was a higher need for student assistance. Champaign RCM Amy Thoren compared their role to being two extra strands on a “web of support.” Unlike embedded clinical counselors, RCMs don’t have licensures, but they do possess experience in handling mental health concerns, Thoren said. Students can schedule a 30-minute or one-hour appointment with an RCM online and, according to Slaughter, tailor the session as they see fit. With their availability, RCMs can meet

We look at (being an embedded clinical counselor) as a really important process and part of student affairs to help students be able to handle what they’re dealing with every day, because it’s a lot.

The DI || Volume 156 Issue 02 || September 2026

HOUSING GUIDE

SARAH SLATTERY THE DAILY ILLINI

Students create friendship bracelets and color with Amy Thoren, Champaign residential case manager for University Housing, during a Wellness Wednesday at Ikenberry Commons on Sept. 9. Students can schedule appointments with RCMs to discuss resources and wellness plans.

bedded clinical counselor) as a really important process and part of student affairs to help students be able to handle what they’re dealing with every day, because it’s a lot.” As for the RCMs, Slaughter has a master’s degree in college student personnel and said her positions as an RD and area coordinator led her to become an RCM to support students. However, Thoren’s path diverges from the rest. Thoren has a master’s degree in divinity and was a Lutheran pastor for 18 years, working with all ages and on campus in a religious capacity. She’s now finishing her master’s degree in social work. “We are not licensed mental healthcare professionals, but we are very interested in trying to help break the stigma around mental health and other emotional health kind of issues,” Thoren said. Their Fall 2024 data exemplifies just that. Only a few months after

HOUSING GUIDE

the RCM position began, Thoren and Slaughter handled 208 health and safety incident reports, which increased to 317 the following fall, according to Slaughter. In Spring 2026, Thoren said the RCMs had 189 cases, compared to 76 the year prior. She also noted that spring reports are consistently lower than fall semesters due to the lack of the college transition. The reputation and demand for embedded clinical counselors precede them, according to Finkill. University departments without these counselors want them, Finkill said, because of the access they provide. “We’re part of the future,” Finkill said. “The work that we do and the barriers we bring down and the things we help people work through, they can go do the rest of what they were always intended to do. “I always say to the students, especially when I’ve stopped seeing them,

‘OK, I’ll look for your autobiography or some book that you write some day,’ because the potential here is just off the chain.” If interested, students can schedule appointments with embedded clinical counselors and RCMs (Thoren and Slaughter) online and contact the Counseling Center at 217-333-3704.

We’re part of the future ... The barriers we bring down and the things we help people work through. Finkill The DI || September 2026

BRSS, Nugent Hall offer accommodations for residents STAFF WRITER

SONJA AGHAKHAN sagha4@dailyillini.com

tarting in 1981, Beckwith Residential Support Services had been its own residence hall for students with severe physical disabilities under Disability Resources and Educational Services. Almost 30 years later, in 2010, BRSS and DRES partnered with University Housing when Nugent Hall opened. Now, BRSS is on the first floor of Nugent Hall and assists residents with physical disabilities who need aid in basic activities of daily living. Each room features adjustable furniture, residents’ i-cards to open and close their doors, a wireless paging system for assistance and more. Nugent Hall’s first floor has 26 single-room suites, which include two single bedrooms that share a bathroom. Rooms are first come, first served because space is limited. Mari Anne Brocker Curry, director of housing information & marketing for University Housing, focuses on all residence halls’ projects, assignments and outreach methods to ensure students know all housing options available. These outreach methods include having papers in new student welcome bags and using websites and emails. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Brocker Curry said her unit works with DRES as a consultant for accommodations in the residence halls and Private Certified Housing. According to Brocker Curry, the BRSS staff ensures that students have the support to learn and live more independently and manage their personal assistance. Brocker Curry said that Nugent Hall’s suites have the SureHands ceiling lift system, which helps individuals move with support. Outside Nugent Hall, Brocker Curry said ISR, Bousfield Hall and Wassaja Hall have several rooms with the ceiling lifts. University Housing also has transitional rooms and Private Certified Housing

facilities that are wheelchair accessible, according to Brocker Curry. Brocker Curry also said that students who primarily live independently can get specific room enhancements, like strobes for those with hearing impairments. Despite limited space, Brocker Curry said University Housing is not turning away students with medical needs; Nugent Hall has had enough space for the past few years. Brocker Curry works with DRES for students’ medical needs in housing and holds rooms for students who need them. Swarnika Sundaresan, senior in AHS, has worked with BRSS since May 2025. She is a personal assistant with two residents and has worked with them for three semesters. Sundaresan is also a floater, where she waits to be called and assists residents if no one is already scheduled to help the resident. Another accommodation available is the DRES Bus Ridership program, Sundaresan said. The program provides transportation for students to different locations across campus, and students can receive rides to class, their residence halls and more. “(Students) like to utilize that service so that they don’t have to walk all the

way to class or exert as much energy, especially during the hotter or colder times,” Sundaresan said. Delilah Salzinski, senior in AHS, is a personal assistant at BRSS. Salzinski said she helps residents with daily activities like personal hygiene. “(A resident and I) work together to figure out when the best time (is) for me to come in, whether that’s in the morning to help them get up and ready for class, in the middle of the day or a night shift,” Salzinski said. For accommodations, Salzinski said there are lifts installed in the ceiling and tracks in the ceiling of the rooms and bathrooms. Automatic doors, wheelchair ramps and larger showers are also available. Salzinski said that BRSS is a community where people connect well with each other. It also offers students with physical disabilities the opportunity to be as independent as possible while still having assistance if necessary. “Many of the alumni of the program that we talked to would say, ‘I didn’t think I was ever going to be able to continue my education … until I came across Beckwith,’” Brocker Curry said. “It has a huge impact on those students that need extra support.”

AFRAZ AMIN THE DAILY ILLINI

Nugent Hall is pictured on Sept. 8. Beckwith Residential Support Services, housed within the residence hall, offers support and accommodations for University students with disabilities.

The DI || Volume 156 Issue 02 || September 2026

HOUSING GUIDE

The DI || September 2026

Graduate housing: A closer look STAFF WRITER

ALEX MURPHY

alexm10@dailyillini.com

or some, the stress of finding housing doesn’t end after graduation. The University offers a variety of housing options for graduate students. Tourna Khan, graduate student studying community health, currently resides in graduate-specific housing. For three years, she’s lived in Ashton Woods — a complex that offers furnished and unfurnished two-bedroom apartments. “Overall, I think it’s a really good option for grad students, especially because we find it very affordable,” Khan said. For those wanting to live in an apartment like Khan, the University has many options. Orchard Downs Apartments provides furnished and unfurnished one- and two-bedroom apartments made for families, equipped with full kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms. Other amenities include a playground and a community center for hosting events. Goodwin-Green Apartments offers furnished sleeping rooms, efficiency apartments and unfurnished one-bedroom apartments. For graduate students who would like to live in a residence hall, Daniels Hall and Sherman Hall are open to graduate students and upper-division undergraduate students. With these different op-

tions, the University has been able to provide graduate-specific housing spaces for a large number of students. Currently, with both apartments and upper-division housing, graduate housing accommodates 1,200 residents, said Brooke Feeney, associate director of University Housing communications and marketing. “Every graduate student has a different set of needs, but we do try to really craft our different spaces to meet the needs of the populations that are choosing to live with us,” Feeney said. “For example, Orchard Downs is a community where we have graduate students and their families living, and so we do have babies, schoolage children (and) dependents.” These options, plus the location, price and other amenities, make it a desirable option for many. Khan said she feels very connected to the University community while she’s been living in Ashton Woods. With a convenient location and a reasonable price, Feeney said students like Khan choose to live in graduate-specific housing for multiple years. “We have a large pool of applications, but we have a really great return rate,” Feeney said. “Our residents love living with us, and so we have a very high renewal rate. We may have students who live with us while they obtain their Ph.D. for up to 10 years sometimes.” While the University offers many different options for graduate-specific housing, it can be competitive to get a room.

Jordan DuVall, graduate student studying law, applied for housing at Orchard Downs in June 2026, for both its furnished and unfurnished options. Immediately after she submitted the application, she was placed on a waitlist. “(The University) said that there was a chance that I would maybe get off (the waitlist),” DuVall said. “But they weren’t 100% certain. So I didn’t have super high hopes, but I did really want to live on campus, just so it would be a quicker commute because, where I did end up living, it’s kind of a far commute for me.” DuVall now has a 30-minute commute from her apartment to campus, which can be even longer on days with heavy traffic. While she was disappointed about not being able to live on campus, she said University Housing updated her pretty well. Like undergraduate halls, graduate upper-division halls have resident advisers and resident directors. In the apartments, there are neighborhood assistants — a position similar to an RA. Beyond standard University Housing features, Feeney said there are unique programs to accommodate students. This includes opportunities like a weekly on-site health clinic for women, children and infants. Feeney said graduate housing at the University is ultimately designed to aid graduate students in their living situations, helping them feel a part of the community.

ANJALI WADHWA THE DAILY ILLINI

The DI || Volume 156 Issue 02 || September 2026

HOUSING GUIDE

The DI || September 2026

Townies make room for home in college STAFF WRITER

ELIZABETH BICHKOFF emb10@dailyillini.com

or many, the University feels like home. For some, it literally is. Local students, often called “townies,” grew up in the same community where they attend college, making the decision of where to live different from their peers. For Illinois Student Government president Jaden Campbell, senior in LAS, staying home is the obvious, practical choice. As a self-proclaimed “family-first” individual, Campbell said he sees little reason why students with supportive home lives should leave them behind. “If things are good at home, why leave?” Campbell said. For other locals, the answer may not be so simple. Margo Gengler, freshman in AHS, said that living on campus can be an effective way to become even more self-sufficient. Gengler said living on campus has pushed her to take more responsibility for the everyday parts of college life. “I think, especially freshman year, it’s a really great learning opportunity to build independence,” Gengler said. “I’m kind of a helicopter child. My parents are like, ‘You need to call us less.’” She also said she gained independence by learning to set a routine and do chores on her own time. “I’ve done laundry by myself, but not on my own schedule,” Gengler said. “I have to do all my own dishes and stuff, and I have to get my own butt up and get to class, and I think if I lived at home and just commuted for the full four years, I would be losing that experience.” According to Giulia Bedini, freshman in Social Work, living on campus offers the advantages of proximity to friends and a heightened social life. “I think I’d still be able to make friends if I commuted, but I wouldn’t be

ADAM EDWARDS THE DAILY ILLINI

Margo Gengler, Champaign native and freshman in AHS, in her room at Allen Hall on Sept. 10.

able to have those daily rituals, or it’d be harder to go out with friends at night, or just do things at night,” Bedini said. Bedini said she has observed that the social lives of her friends who commute from home are significantly limited because of that choice. “I have a lot of friends from high school that go to U of I, and they commute, and I feel like they’ve had a harder time making friends,” Bedini said. “I feel like the friends that they have right now are people from high school that go to U of I … They’re not on campus as much as someone who lives in the dorm is.” While Bedini sees campus proximity as an important part of the college experience, Samaira Sandil, junior in LAS, said she has found value in having a familiar place to return to at the end of the day. “For a period of time, I really thought that living at home would be dumb and stupid, but ... I’m really enjoying it,” Sandil said. “That was something that I didn’t realize I needed until I was actively living at home my sophomore year.”

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Living at home can provide the emotional benefit of separation from academic stress, but Campbell said he mainly focuses on the practical and financial benefits. Campbell initially considered living on campus his freshman year after receiving financial aid, but he ultimately decided against it after thinking through his own long-term goals. “Yes, I can afford it now,” Campbell said. “Yes, I’ve got this refund check, but will I be able to last a whole six months? Will I be able to fork over three months’ worth of rent and then be a full-time student and then work a part-time job?” For Campbell, the decision to live at home goes beyond just money. He said many townies also grapple with where they fit into the University community, belonging to two seemingly disconnected populations. “There’s a lot of townies that wear U of I (merchandise) but have never been to U of I,” Campbell said. “But guess what? They go out to the tailgates; they’re the ones that go out and wear all of our merchandise. They rep U of I, but they’ve

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never even seen what the Illini Union looks like.” The connection non-local students have to the community extends beyond people who grew up in Champaign-Urbana. Campbell said the label is less about where someone grew up and more about how they come to understand the community around them. He said students can develop a connection to C-U, even if they came to the area for college. “You’re here for four years of your life,” Campbell said. “Damn near — you

ed me when I would hear … students saying, ‘There’s nothing in Champaign, other than the campus,’” Gengler said. “I’m like, ‘Well, I’m here.’” As for attending the University in the first place, Gengler said she felt it would be too close to home. Both Gengler and Bedini said that many people from their shared high school went on to attend the University. Gengler said this initially made her uninterested in attending the University herself.

I know in high school, I was like, ‘I don’t want to go to U of I, it’s going to be so familiar,’ but actually moving into being here, it feels like a completely different world.

Margo Gengler, freshman in AHS are a townie.” To get a more holistic view of C-U, Campbell said students should go beyond the boundaries of Campustown and explore spaces less commonly populated with students, adding that local students sometimes receive scrutiny from locals for not doing so. “Go out there and experience what this city has to offer, because there’s so much more than campus,” Campbell said. “And I think that will also help break that stigma that people in the community feel … It’s like, ‘Oh, these students don’t know anything.’” But the relationship between campus and the surrounding community is not always easy to navigate. “A lot of people who live in Champaign avoid campus,” Bedini said. “It’s also just hard to drive — everyone avoids it because it’s crowded.” Gengler said she’s seen a similar disconnect between locals and non-local students due to comments they make about the surrounding community outside of just campus. “Growing up, that always frustrat-

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“I know in high school, I was like, ‘I don’t want to go to U of I, it’s going to be so familiar,’ but actually moving into being here, it feels like a completely different world,” Gengler said.

Gengler said townies shouldn’t feel like they have to commit to one choice for all four years when weighing their options. “Definitely don’t think about it in absolutes,” Gengler said. “Think about, ‘OK, do I want my first year to be on campus?’ You don’t have to think about ... ‘When I live on campus, I got to do all four years.’” After living on campus her freshman year, Sandil began to view home as a safe space to return to after the hustle of school. She said she was worried that being away from campus would make it harder to stay connected with friends and activities, but she found that commuting did not prevent her from getting and staying involved. “Being able to just have that transition drive back home and see my family and my cats who don’t constantly keep up with what I’m supposed to be doing ... it is nice, and it’s nice to sleep in my bed,” Sandil said. Living at home and commuting to school has also helped her stress levels and overall well-being, she said. “My biggest priority is not getting stressed and dying,” Sandil said. Though personal priorities and lifestyles may differ, and living on campus or with family may shape how townies experience college, there’s still no place like home.

ADAM EDWARDS THE DAILY ILLINI

Giulia Bedini, townie and freshman in Social Work, in her dorm at Newman Hall on Sept. 10. The DI || September 2026

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UI students talk difficult move-in experiences STAFF WRITER

SOPHIA VASILAKOPOULOS sophiav5@dailyillini.com

oving into an apartment can be one of the most important milestones in a college student’s experience. It’s a new chapter for those who previously lived in residence halls to gain a newfound sense of freedom. But what happens when move-in doesn’t go as planned? That’s what happened to Frank Fu, sophomore in Engineering, when he moved into a one-bedroom apartment at Octave, an off-campus student apartment building, a week before school started. Fu shared his story in a now-reposted Reddit post on Aug. 30, where he described seeing fleas, urine stains on the walls and feces in the bedroom carpet upon movein. Before moving in, he requested a pet-free unit due to his sensitivity to dog dandruff, but he discovered it embedded on several surfaces, causing him to have an allergic reaction. When Fu brought his concerns to Octave staff, they wrote that the apartment was a pet-free unit that was professionally cleaned before Fu moved in. Fu said he was surprised to discover the condition of his apartment. “I was absolutely shocked, as you can expect, because Octave … they literally advertise themselves as a luxury living unit, and they charge one of the highest rates on campus,” Fu said. “I’m paying $1,850 (per month), which is outrageous.” He said that fleas had bitten him several times, and he went to the McKinley Health Center in early September to get prescriptions to address the bites. Fu wrote to Octave’s management asking if he could vacate the apartment, but they refused and said the apartment was safe to live in. Fu said the topic of vacating the apartment received “no further discussion” afterward.

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ANJALI WADHWA THE DAILY ILLINI

Since sharing his story, Fu said he has had current and past Octave residents reach out to him about their living conditions and hopes his story makes an impact. “I want my story to be an example of … how landlords can just get away with ridiculous things,” Fu said. “As students, it’s your right to speak up, and landlords have the obligation to make the unit happen for you.” The Daily Illini reached out to Octave for comment. The company’s representatives declined to comment on the record. Emma White and Rhys Mix, juniors in FAA, also had a less-than-ideal move-in experience. But their leasing company, Green Street Realty, had given them a more positive response. Mix moved into the apartment before White but said he had discovered several paint chips on the carpet, curtain rods on the ground and a drawer facedown on the floor. Mix and his parents immediately went to Green Street Realty’s leasing office to inform them of the apartment’s condition. They were told the apartment would be cleaned after the apartment next door was cleaned. After a few hours, they called

the leasing office, who apologized for the wait and sent an outside cleaning company to the apartment. “They addressed some of the more obvious issues,” Mix wrote in an email to The DI. “For example, they did a good job scrubbing the toilet, and they wiped down the kitchen cabinets. They were also able to remove some of the paint from the furniture, although there are still some paint splatters remaining.” White and Mix were informed not long after that their apartment wasn’t on Green Street Realty’s cleaning list. White and Mix both noted in their interviews they plan to have a cleaner remove the remaining paint chips when they’re out of town. White said the property manager has been responsive to the filed maintenance requests, including removing a stained couch, and reduced the apartment’s upcoming rent because of the situation. She spoke further about her and Mix’s future plans living at the apartment. “It was completely out of our control,” White said. “But … we’re most likely not going to be living here again, just because of … everything we’ve gone through. But we’ll see where time takes us.” The DI || September 2026

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Living on Green Street: Is it worth it? ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

OLIVIA DVORAK odvor2@dailyillini.com

reen Street has long been considered the heart of Campustown. Bars, restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops and bus stops are all within walking distance, making the street a convenient home for students who want to stay close to both their classes and their social lives. If you’re a student looking for somewhere to live while attending the University, why wouldn’t you want to live there? But the convenience can come with a price — and it’s not always just the rent. Kassie Bollnow, sophomore in ACES, lives directly across from KAMS. She said the location makes getting around campus easy. The 5 Green bus stops right outside of her building to take her to her classes, and her friends are excited that she lives so close to the bar scene. However, living across from a popular bar also means dealing with its nightlife. Bollnow’s window faces the street, which she said can cause her to hear many different noises throughout the day and night. She said she can hear people walking to the bars, loud music playing and students returning home at all hours. “It was real bad,” Bollnow said about the first Tuesday of the school year, when KAMS held its weekly “Time Warp Tuesday.” “I had to get headphones to fall asleep better; I had music playing, like I’m trying everything.” Still, she said she pays around $600 per month — a price that is notably lower than many other Green Street apartments. That trade-off looks different for Manny Sagaille, junior in Media, who lived on Green Street last year. When picking an apartment, Sagaille said he wanted to be closer to his classes and food spots, since he prefers walking. Like Bollnow, he said he

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appreciated having nearly everything within reach. Yet, Sagaille said he realized being surrounded by restaurants and nightlife made it easier to get distracted. “I would say being able to learn how to balance your school life versus your actual social life (can be a con) because I know some people get caught up in the social life a little bit too much,” Sagaille said. For Sagaille, living in the middle of the social scene also came with a higher financial cost. He paid more than $1,000 per month for rent, which forced him to set boundaries around his spending and how often he went out. “It’s definitely a money grab,” Sagaille said. “But I would say if you’re interested in the properties, how it looks (and) the aesthetics, don’t go for it … Why pay $1,000 a (month) when you can pay $600 and have some of that money saved up in your pocket?” Neila Mahmutovic, senior in Education, was initially drawn to the area because of its price. She said she paid $650 per month for rent her first year and now receives a discounted rate at her current apartment because she works as a leasing agent for Bankier Apartments.

Although many of her education classes are far from Green Street, Mahmutovic said the location still makes daily life convenient. She can grab coffee on her way to class, and the 5 Green bus stops outside of her apartment, similar to Bollnow. The constant presence of students also shapes how Mahmutovic experiences the street. She said she likes seeing people around and being able to check how long the lines are at the bars. But she said she has also felt unsafe at times because of the homeless population on Green Street — particularly at night. “I am kind of hyperaware of everything, so I think that’s just a me thing,” Mahmutovic said. But even with those concerns, Mahmutovic said she would recommend living on Green Street to future students. For Sagaille, living on Green Street ultimately comes down to what students are willing to tolerate. “Living on Green, it’s just a preference thing,” Sagaille said. “If you like it, you’ll like it. If you don’t like it, if it’s not for you, then it’s just not for you.”

ALYSSA SHIH THE DAILY ILLINI

Students cross a busy Green Street lined with restaurants, bars, stores and apartments on April 23, 2025. Student housing takes up a large portion of the buildings on Green Street. The DI || September 2026

Housing groups across campus offer summer cleaning STAFF WRITER

SAHAANA SATHYARAJ sahaana2@dailyillini.com

hether it’s a dorm or an apartment, moving into new housing is no small feat. On top of the move itself, students typically face issues like adjusting to changes in social life, location and roommates, all of which can be mentally and physically exhausting. One thing tenants should not concern themselves with is the cleanliness of the place they’re moving into. Cleaning services, employed

in dorms and apartments alike, ready new homes for their next residents, giving already anxious tenants one less thing to worry about. In an email to The Daily Illini, the University Housing team wrote that their cleaning services function separately from outside leasing companies. Building service staff members are responsible for cleaning in the University residence halls. University Housing also wrote that it partners with campus facilities staff for services like pest control and air quality testing. According to the t e a m ,

building services performs a variety of duties as needed year-round, not just over the summer. These duties include regularly scheduled upkeep and sanitization of designated spaces and can range from general cleaning to buffing and carpet maintenance. The University Housing team’s work order system also ensures residents can regularly call for reliable service or maintenance if needed. “Our team responds to concerns as soon as possible, which is usually within 24 hours for routine cleaning,” the University Housing team wrote. “If there is an emergency or urgent concern, we will respond as immediately as possible.” Unfortunately, some tenants have difficulty finding similarly responsive service elsewhere. Even w i t h

ANJALI WADHWA THE DAILY ILLINI

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cleaning and management services, some students move into apartments that are unclean, adding to what is often already mounting stress. Kaleb Kasper, sophomore in LAS, said that when he first moved into his apartment, he found hair in his bathroom’s shower and sink, which caused drainage issues. “The hair was way too deep, and there was other gunk

with by the staff. “I would imagine every company just has some different standards … the expectation that I tell my cleaners is, ‘This is to be move-in ready when you leave,’” Germano said. Germano addressed the importance of cleanliness to students, but also acknowledged the com-

OCCL can help students understand their options, think through possible next steps, and determine which resources may be helpful. Dana DeCair, director of OCCL

that I couldn’t get out with pliers, and I couldn’t pull the drain stopper out to actually get in there,” Kasper said. “So the sink would fill up instantly, and it’d take forever to drain.” While these issues are not exactly few and far between, leasing companies like Roland Realty said it takes a variety of measures to provide satisfactory cleaning. Mark Germano, Roland Realty’s general manager, described Roland Realty’s cleaning services as third-party vendors who only work throughout the apartments after the leasing group’s maintenance staff conduct a full inspection. Germano said tenants are sent inspection forms upon first moving in. These are intended to document any cleanliness and maintenance issues, which are then noted a n d d e a l t

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plexities of maintaining and servicing 1,200 beds throughout the entire summer. “You live in a place for a year, but we have to provide it back to the new incoming tenant as good as it was the day we gave it to you,” Germano said. “And that’s the goal. Do we always meet that goal? No, there’s always issues.” Germano also noted the possibility of compounded difficulty for companies; for example, Green Street Realty, which, according to him, services around 15,000 beds. Roland Realty’s maintenance staff are sent out months in advance to cover what Germano called “a year’s worth of work” throughout the summer. Germano said tenants should provide thorough details in their inspection forms and document their apartment’s condition during move-in and move-out to make the process easier for both Roland Realty’s staff and future tenants alike. But issues can arise regardless of tenant actions. The University resource

Off-Campus Community Living exists to support students with such conflicts. Assistant Dean of Students and Director of OCCL Dana DeCair described OCCL’s services in an email to The DI, which include guiding students through housing searches and landlord, maintenance and roommate concerns. According to DeCair, OCCL does not work directly with any leasing companies but maintains working relationships with them and other housing providers. “When a student is experiencing a crisis—whether related to basic needs, mental health, or another significant concern—we want landlords and property managers to know they can refer that student to the Office of the Dean of Students for support and resources,” DeCair wrote. On top of more critical concerns, OCCL also supports students experiencing roommate conflicts and apprehension surrounding leases and housing searches. “OCCL can help students understand their options, think through possible next steps, and determine which resources may be helpful,” DeCair wrote. “We really encourage students to reach out early rather than waiting until a housing concern becomes overwhelming.” The DI || September 2026

The secret lives of house show hosts NEWS EDITOR

AVERY PATERSON averyep2@dailyillini.com

hough many students may see the sweaty inside of a house show during their time at the University, only a few know what it’s like to actually live there. It’s an experience no other housing situation can offer — one marked by late nights, dirtied basements and, as it turns out, a healthy share of financial planning. Fatima Siddiqui, junior in ACES, has lived at The Spice Rack for over a year, though the venue opened in 2021. She said she never planned to live in a house show venue, but she inherited the house from her roommate’s brother. The owners of The Spice Rack host mostly bands at their shows and hold “porch jams,” daytime sessions where local musicians gather and play on their porch. For their usual night shows, bands play on the main floor of the house — a rarity for house shows, which typically hold performances in their basements. Siddiqui lived in a dorm before moving to The Spice Rack and said

the most unique aspect of house show living is the cleaning process. “We clean right after the show,” Siddiqui said. “We’re not going to sleep until 4 a.m., and we’re mopping the floors like three times, scrubbing the walls … it is a very long day after the show.” Siddiqui said any prospective house show owners should beware of the amount of gum left behind after a show. “We have old wooden floors,” Siddiqui said. “So they get stuck on there, and that (is) not fun. You have to get on your hands and knees and scrape off all that stuff.” Dougan, a graduate student studying veterinary medicine, has lived at The Treehouse for over two years. For them and their three roommates, the cleaning process is less structured. “The cleanup process for us is haphazard, in a word,” Dougan said. “After running a show, we just want to kick it.” The Treehouse hosts shows two to four times a month, focusing on punk bands. Dougan has lived at the venue since its start two years ago. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they faced a severe bout of loneliness and depression, and transferred to the University shortly after. They credit the house show scene with bringing them out of that period. “Going from the COVID isolation era

to being hypersocial, going to all these shows … it really did just pull me headfirst out of whatever funk I was going through,” Dougan said. “If I can provide that, or at least a semblance of that for anybody else, I really ought to.” Both Dougan and Siddiqui said that out of all the reasons to host shows, making money is not one of them. “I think a big misconception is that we make a lot of money doing this,” Siddiqui said. “We make, like, no money. It really is for the love of music.” Dougan said that, typically, 100% of door proceeds go to paying the bands, and funds they make from selling merchandise or other items go into maintaining the venue. Both The Treehouse and The Spice Rack frequently host charity shows benefiting local initiatives. According to Siddiqui, living in a house show venue is like living a double life. “It’s really cool to see everybody come over, have a good time,” Siddiqui said. “And then it’s interesting. We just go back to normal. The next day, everything’s put away. And we just live on … it’s kind of like a little secret.” House show living may bring along a host of headaches, from late-night gum-scraping to payment spreadsheets, but both Siddiqui and Dougan say it is well worth it. “People say the cost of community is convenience,” Dougan said. “It’s not like we make money off of this sort of stuff, but we get paid in experience, getting to know people, getting to do this, getting to hear music. I feel that we’re compensated fairly well in that regard.”

EMILY NNODI THE DAILY ILLINI

The main rooms of The Spice Rack music venue in Urbana on Sept. 8. Before house shows, the furniture is moved away from the area to make room for bandmates and audiences.

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UI students make their house a home SENIOR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER

JORDAN FIKIS jfikis2@dailyillini.com

very year, at the beginning of fall, some University students are faced with the decision of signing a lease for the next school year. For some, this time can be less stressful if they renew their lease and avoid the pain of moving. Joshua Marin, senior in LAS, is entering his third year at the same apartment and said the convenience of renewing a lease is part of why he stays. “Re-signing my lease lets me go home for summer break with just a suitcase,” Marin said. “Honestly, that’s all I take, and that’s all I bring back. So it makes it super easy to leave for break and (come) back from summer break.” Having a place to store items over summer can save time and money, especially for out-of-state students. Stephanie Li, junior in Business, is from California and said that after freshman year, she had to purchase a storage unit about 15 minutes off campus. After sophomore year, Li said she renewed her lease and kept her belongings inside the apartment, making her transition to junior year a little easier. “The cost of having to move everything out and store it somewhere over the summer was just too daunting,” Li said. “So (my roommates and I) prefer to re-sign for one more year.” Whether it’s not having to move over summer or being within walking distance from classes, convenience is a key factor for students when choosing to stay at their apartment. Shrenik Balaji, senior in Engineering, lives in an apartment complex with 11 members of the Illini Drumline. The apartments — or “Megabase,” as Balaji calls it — have been passed down through different drumline members since 2021, according to Balaji. For him, living with people he already spends a lot of time with and knows well made it easy to get along as roommates. “I think definitely having that close-

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knit community is super special with my roommates, and I think it’s a huge part of why we get along so well,” Balaji said. Balaji lives within walking distance of most of his classes, but far from the Marching Illini practice fields, so he usually needs to find a ride. He said having roommates that are involved in the same thing makes that easier. “(When) going to drumline things, I’m like, ‘Well, we’re all going there, everyone else has a car, so someone can definitely drive me there,’” Balaji said. “Which is awesome.” While location and amenities are considerations for lessees, their roommates also play a big role. Marin said that the memories he and his roommate have made in the apartment over the past two years contributed to his decision to re-sign. While he enjoys the location and management, Marin said his roommate is what really keeps him there. “I feel like (my roommate) makes living there all the best,” Marin said. “We hang out a lot, we play games together, we watch movies together. We have a pretty close friendship, so that definitely makes it worth me staying there.” Similar to Marin, Li also said that her roommates are her

reason for re-signing. While she said she feels lucky to have good roommates, she recognizes that not everyone has such a similar experience. Whether you are great friends previously, like the drumline members, or barely know each other, Li said it’s important to set base rules in your shared space. “Just because you guys are friends doesn’t necessarily entail that you’re going to be good roommates,” Li said. “So I feel like (you should) make sure that your baseline cleanliness, living habits and baseline preferences are the same before moving forward.” Living with multiple roommates, Balaji also had to figure out how to live comfortably in a shared space. Balaji said that all 12 of the roommates have to navigate a shared fridge space and laundry schedules. In the end, they’ve been able to work it out and, according to Balaji, communication has been their key to success in the space. “We’re such good roommates because we all talk to each other so much and we all spend so much time together already,” Balaji said. “So I think that’s kind of special.”

RIKKIE GUNAWAN THE DAILY ILLINI

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Apartment living broadens housing knowledge SENIOR SPORTS REPORTER

BEN SOMERVILLE bens4@dailyillini.com

t the University, first-time students are required to live in housing approved by the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, according to the Student Code. Once that academic year is over, however, students are free to live wherever they choose. There are a plethora of apartments and houses to choose from, both on and off campus. Whether it’s the highrise apartments on Green Street or a two-story house in Seniorland, students can find a space that makes them feel at home.

Eventually, though, senior year comes around, and that apartment or house won’t be home for much longer. After graduation, students have to pack up and head toward their new home, starting the housing hunt all over again. However, the experience they gain from college living can be

valuable as they make the transition to the real world. That is the case for Bisola Adeleke, graduate student studying community health. She’s in her third year at the University and has lived in an apartment for all three years. Adeleke moved into ONYX Apartments for her first year of graduate school. As an international student, Adeleke said she didn’t know much about the University, so she found the apartment online. All she wanted was a nice place to

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live that wasn’t too far from campus, she said. After living there for two years, Adeleke said she wanted something different with more privacy. So she downsized from a four-bedroom apartment to a two-bedroom. She said the new place isn’t quite as nice as ONYX Apartments, but it’s about the same distance from campus. Her experiences in two different apartments as a student gave her an idea of what she’s looking for when she has to find housing after graduation. “I think (it) would really be helpful,” Adeleke said. “I definitely want an apartment that is close to wherever I’m working … The main thing is there’s a kind of standard I want in the apartment: the quality and then, of course, the (price) is within my budget.” Adeleke also mentioned the learning process of apartment living. When she first started at the University, she found her apartment and signed the lease online. Now, she said she realizes how beneficial it is to pay attention to the

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details. While she did tour her current apartment, there are certain things she didn’t see initially that she isn’t the biggest fan of. One of those is the lack of lights in her bedroom. Adeleke said she had to buy lamps since there weren’t any fixtures in her room. Emma Jaros, senior in LAS and Social Work, said they have also figured out their preferences throughout their time at the University. Jaros spent the first two years living in University Housing before finding an apartment in Urbana. They went from one roommate to three — the opposite of Adeleke. While Adeleke wanted more privacy, Jaros said they don’t mind the extra people. “I know some people freak out when you have a high number of roommates, but for me, it’s been nice,” Jaros said. “I get along with all my roommates.” They said they have learned a lot while living with three other people. Communication is a big part of making their living situation successful.

Another unique part of their apartment is that there is no leasing company; it’s just a single person. Jaros said they have not felt any ill effects because of it, though. It is not much different than any other apartment, and they said when they send an email for maintenance requests, it gets done all the same. Similar to Adeleke, Jaros said they feel that living in a college apartment has prepared them for the real world. They now have experience setting up tours and knowing what they’re looking for. “I better understand what my needs are,” Jaros said. “Like if I’m going to prioritize living by public transit or having a parking space for my car, or if utilities are included or not. It’s just made me a lot more knowledgeable, and I feel better equipped when it comes to finding apartments.” While it can be overwhelming at times, living in a college apartment can also be beneficial to develop preferences and become familiar with the housing process.

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ODESSA WINN THE DAILY ILLINI

FAR consists of Oglesby and Trelease halls. These residence halls are the furthest from the Main Quad and have gained a reputation for being freshmen students’ last pick for residence halls.

OPINION

Buildings don’t make memories COLUMNIST

ELIZABETH HANDLEY handley8@dailyillini.com

heels of moving carts shriek as they not-so-gracefully glide across the slightly rubbery, speckled tile. It’s a crisp 97 degrees Fahrenheit, and the excited peer chatter from outside is muffled through the window. You deeply inhale the scent of your new room’s old past, which mostly consists of lingering hints of stale beer and dirty laundry, covered by a desperate Febreze mask. This is it: Welcome to college! When applying to universities, one of the golden questions asked is, “Where are you living?” It is a universal code representative of what your projected college experience will be. If you choose to live in Bromley Hall, you are likely drawn to its famously Greek-heavy social scene and more elevated dormitory experience. As a freshman, private bathrooms and a pool are the equivalent of a New York City penthouse. Even better, you are surrounded by hundreds of people with the same interests, so it essentially is an automatic head start in finding your people and making the most of your first year. If you are prioritizing the “Six Pack,” you are probably seeking a social crowd

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with a classic college dorm feel — crusty, but cute. Sandwiched between Gies Memorial Stadium and Ikenberry Commons, there is a world of possibilities at your fingertips for meeting new people while also experiencing canon firsts like communal bathrooms and infamous 3 a.m. fire alarms. However, with a whopping 24 undergraduate residence halls on the University campus and freshman class numbers breaking records in recent years, the likelihood of getting your first pick is slim to none. So what happens if you receive a dorm that your upperclassmen friends cringe at the sound of? The truth lies well beyond the dreaded email condemning you to a building and number. What newcomers don’t realize is that what really matters happens well after your parents drive away, your decorations are up and your first day of classes has come and gone. In simple words, your dorm truly is what you make it. If all you care about is the unofficial hierarchy of undergraduate dorms, you will never cherish your new home for what it is. Because, in actuality, what matters is not the place itself, but the people. I think that many University students would agree that what they remember most about their freshman year on campus wasn’t the quality of

their bathrooms or dining hall food. It was the room their Welcome Week group always crashed in, what music went triple platinum at KAMS, how many crash outs their introductory chemistry class caused and the best friends they made along the way. And contrary to popular belief, the people who can transform your dormitory experience don’t have to be your roommate. If you were one of the students who got the grim announcement that your freshman year roommate was your resident adviser (writer’s note: been there, done that), best believe that your year still has potential despite the disadvantage. Buildings don’t make memories; people do. Let go of the expectations or dreams you had for your first year, and let yourself enjoy each moment for what it is, even if it isn’t aesthetically pleasing and has no air conditioning. If anything, surviving FAR and Taft-Van Doren Halls builds character and gives a funny story to tell. Dorm stories are always the best when they are genuinely nightmare fuel. Plus, it will make you truly grateful for your shower at home. So enjoy your year, Class of 2030, and if you didn’t get your first-choice residence hall, make the most of every second. Elizabeth is a junior in LAS. The DI || September 2026

28 The DI || Volume 156 Issue 02 || September 2026

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