Housing Edition The Cavalier Daily
Inside: ON-GROUNDS OPTIONS OFF-GROUNDS OPTIONS HOUSING RESOURCES
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The Cavalier Daily “For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.” —Thomas Jefferson
Matthew Cameron Editor-in-Chief Aaron Eisen Kaz Komolafe Executive Editor Managing Editor Gregory Lewis Anna Xie Operations Manager Chief Financial Officer
Contents
The Cavalier Daily | Housing Edition
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On-Grounds Options The Lawn, Bice, Lambeth, Faulkner, Copeley, Language Houses and IRC
Opinions: On-Grounds A first-year explains why she would live on-Grounds even if it wasn’t mandatory.
Off-Grounds Options The Corner, JPA and Downtown
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Opinions: Off-Grounds
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Resources
Students should embrace the freedom and choices available in off-Grounds housing.
STAFF Assistant Managing Editors Charlie Tyson, Caroline Houck Associate Copy Editors Andrew Elliott News Editors Krista Pedersen, Michelle Davis Senior Associate Editor Joe Liss, Opinion Editors George Wang, Katherine Ripley Senior Associate Editor Alex Yahanda Production Editors Rebecca Lim, Sylvia Oe, Meghan Luff Sports Editors Ashley Robertson, Ian Rappaport Senior Associate Editors Fritz Metzinger, Daniel Weltz
Graphics Editors Peter Simonsen, Stephen Rowe Business Managers Kelvin Wey, Anessa Caalim Advertising Manager Sean Buckhorn Life Editors Abigail Sigler Caroline Massie Photography Editors Thomas Bynum, Will Brumas Health & Science Editor Monika Fallon
A&E Editors Caroline Gecker, Conor Sheehey Senior Associate Editor Kevin Vincenti
Where to go for more information about housing options.
Photos courtesy of Jenna Truong
*Russian House picture courtesy of http://hoostories.blogspot.com/2010/03/residence-life.html
The Lawn Location Lawn rooms are part of Jefferson’s original design for the University’s Academical Village, situated between the Rotunda and Old Cabell Hall.
Layout Each of the 54 rooms is furnished with a twin bed, rocking chair, desk, closet and sink. Most of the rooms have fireplaces, repairs on which are scheduled to be completed by November. Students must apply to live on the Lawn and are selected based upon their contributions to the University community through academics and extracurricular involvement. The application process includes submitting essays, as well as a resume.
Atmosphere “I think it is just a place for ideas,” said Melissa Rickman, a fourth-year Batten student and Lawn resident. “There is something special about it.”
Pros The residents and the view make living on the Lawn so special, Rickman said. “By far my favorite thing to do is open my door every morning,” she said. “I’ve started taking pictures.” During the day Lawn residents mingle with other Lawn residents and host guests in their rooms. “It really, truly is an intellectual community,” Rickman said. “You can knock on their [neighbors’] door and have an hour-long conversation.”
Cons One of the biggest issues residents need to overcome is learning to manage constant distractions, Rickman said. “Literally, you can’t do work in your room,” she said while watching a small family play with children outside her door. She also admitted the trek to the bathroom might be less than enjoyable during the winter months.
Costs Room prices for the 2013-2014 school year will be announced in the spring, though rooms this year run $5730, with a slight discount for rooms without fireplaces. Lawn residents also often decide to buy meal plans because of their proximity to Newcomb and the Pav. Rickman, however, found the Corner to be “cheaper and faster.” There are no parking spaces specifically for Lawn residents, but parking passes for the Emmet/Ivy Garage can be purchased for a monthly fee of $18. —compiled by Audrey Waldrop
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Bice Location
Bice House is located on Brandon Avenue, off of Jefferson Park Avenue, behind the Student Health Center and south of Cabell Hall.
Layout
Each apartment is comprised of two or three double-occupancy bedrooms, with one bathroom for a four-person apartment and two for a six-person. Each apartment is air-conditioned and comes with a kitchenette with stove, refrigerator and sink. Apartments come furnished with a sofa, arm chairs, coffee tables and a dining table with chairs. The building has eight floors and two elevators. Laundry facilities are communal in the basement.
Atmosphere
“It’s pretty easy to study here,” said second-year College student Bekah Briggs. Bice is somewhat secluded from the rest of Grounds. “Brandon is a pretty quiet street,” added fellow second year Madeline D’elia.
Pros
Many second years live with students from their first-year dorms, like D’elia. Living in Bice is also affordable. “I think for what we’re paying for, this is good,” D’elia said. The building’s elevators also reduce the number of stairs residents have to climb, and the dorm is very close to the South Lawn, Jefferson Park Avenue, and the Lawn.
Cons
Bice’s parking situation is very limited, with each apartment only receiving one spot. “The parking is horrible,” D’elia said. “I live with five other girls. You have to do the lottery.” Sharing one bathroom amongst four people can also become difficult, some residents said, and each apartment has a bedroom that is smaller than the others.
Price
Costs ran from $5,430 for a six-person apartment to $5,570 for a four-person during the 2012-13 academic year. Parking passes can be purchased for $39 per month. —compiled by Lizzy Turner
Lambeth Location
The Lambeth Field Apartments are located north of Central Grounds on Emmett Street, near Emmett/Ivy Parking Garage and University Hall.
Layout
The complex is comprised of 174 apartments in 24 buildings. Each apartment contains either two or three double-occupancy bedrooms. Each apartment is air-conditioned and has one-and-a-half or two baths, a living room and a kitchen with a stove, a refrigerator and a sink. Housing & Residence Life completed full-scale renovations of all of the buildings this summer.
Atmosphere
Lambeth’s size creates a community for upperclassmen, the majority of whom are second years. “Pretty much all of my friends live here,” said second-year Education student Shannon Heard. Lambeth is mostly quiet, although its proximity to the railroad tracks, band rehearsals and fraternities can make things noisy. Apartment parties and pregames also enliven the complex on weekends.
Pros
Lambeth is near northern Central Grounds and the Corner but it is a bit of a hike to the Engineering or Nursing Schools. “[Lambeth] is close to everything I need to get to,” Heard said, citing Memorial Gymnasium as a place she frequents. It is serviced by the Central Grounds Shuttle and the Green and Northline bus routes.
Cons
The kitchen area is too small to accommodate six girls, Heard said. Other students have complained about the noise on weekends, and going up four flights of stairs can make moving in difficult.
Costs
For the 2012-13 academic year, the cost ranges from $5430 to $5570 per person, depending on whether the residents live in a four-person or six-person apartment, with the six-person arrangement being the cheaper option. Parking is available for residents for $39 a month. —compiled by Lizzy Turner
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Faulkner Location The Faulkner apartments are located near the John Paul Jones Arena, Copeley apartments and the North Grounds Recreation Center.
Layout The Faulkner complex consists of three buildings. Each apartment contains four bedrooms (all single rooms), a bathroom, a living room, a dining room and a kitchen. All apartments are fully furnished and air-conditioned. Residents have access to a communal study lounge, laundry room and picnic area.
Atmosphere Students described Faulkner as a quiet and secluded residence area. “It’s quiet, calm, not hectic and crazy,” second-year Nursing student Lena Alvesteffer said. Students also said it could be isolating — a condition alleviated by occasional social activities planned by resident advisers. “Nothing is going on here,” second-year College student Kevin Postigo said.
Pros Faulkner’s greatest assets are its spacious and amenable living conditions. “It’s nice that you get your own room,” second-year College student Jordan Jackson said. Although the entire complex shares the same communal facilities, it never gets crowded. “Whenever I go into the laundry room, there is no one or only one person there,” Alvesteffer said.
Cons The distance between Faulkner and Central Grounds is the complex’s biggest flaw. Many residents rely on the Northline bus route to attend their classes. “It’s very bad when you are in a hurry because the Northline doesn’t always run on schedule,” Alvesteffer said. Students usually plan ahead to see the bus routes. “I have to come out early, triple-check the Internet to see when the bus is coming,” Postigo said.
Costs The costs for a single bedroom and a large bedroom are $6080 and $7070 respectively for the academic year 2012-2013. Parking passes can be purchased for a monthly fee of $39. —compiled by Jiaer Zhuang
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Copeley Location Copeley Apartments III and IV are reserved for upperclass undergraduate students, and are situated on North Grounds directly across from the Law School. The Northline bus route services this area.
Layout Each Copeley apartment has two double bedrooms, a furnished living room, a full bathroom and a half-bath. Residents can share a room, or pay an additional fee to have a double room to themselves. The kitchen comes with a refrigerator, stove and sink, and the complex shares laundry facilities.
Atmosphere The Copeley apartments include housing for both undergraduates and graduates, with housing for families of students as well. The atmosphere is rather “pleasant,” fourth-year College student Michael Carmone said. Its location far away from central grounds makes it a good residence for catching up on sleep or getting some studying done.
Pros The complex is within a short distance of Barracks Shopping Center, the North Grounds Recreation Center and the Law School Library. Students frequently walk to Barracks to socialize or shop, and its location separates it from other, noisier housing areas. “It’s quiet so it’s easy to get work done and sleep,”said James Sipthorpe, an exchange student studying in the College. Carmone said he also gets plenty of exercise riding his bike to and from classes each day.
Cons Copeley’s seclusion comes at the price of putting a great distance between itself and undergraduate classes. “Being so far from central Grounds is a double-edge sword,” Carmone said. Carmone bikes to class, but Sipthorpe has to rely on the bus system, which runs about every 15 minutes.
Costs The cost of living in Copeley apartments is $5,570 for a two bedroom suite with two occupants in each bedroom, and $7,070 for a single bedroom for the 2012-2013 school year. —compiled by Donald Sensabaugh
Language Houses Location
Spanish House
The Russian House, La Maison Française (French House), the German House (also known as the Max Kade Language House), La Casa Bolívar (Spanish House) and the Shea House (for speakers of Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Hindi-Urdu, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Persian) are located at 102 Cresap Road, 1404 Jefferson Park Avenue, 583 Brandon Avenue, 1408 Jefferson Park Avenue and 400 Monroe Lane, respectively.
Layout
All language houses have a living room, dining room and community kitchen.
Atmosphere
The language houses stimulate learning and appreciation of foreign cultures through various social functions, some of which are open to non-residents. In the Russian House, students may watch Russian television stations or movies and converse with residents while sipping tea. Residents of La Maison Française hold a Pause-Café on Thursdays and also host a Ciné-Club where students and others watch French films. Students in the German House celebrate holidays like Oktoberfest and host concerts and poetry readings. Finally, activities at Shea House have included the Ariana Grill Kabob House gathering and the Chai Tea Event.
Pros
These residences are an excellent fit for students who are passionate about a foreign language. Practice of the language is never far away as conversations in the public areas of the houses are almost always in the foreign language. Some of the residences offer heating and air conditioning, as well as Ethernet cables for enhanced Internet usage.
Cons
Living in a language house typically entails purchasing its designated meal plan. On most weekdays, students will need to eat in the houses as part of the process of improving their language skills. Residents are responsible for planning their own meals on days that are not covered by the language house meal plan.
Costs
Prices vary based on whether the room is a single, double, or triple but range from $5,430 to $6,100 for the academic year. Lower-occupancy rooms like singles are more expensive than their higher occupancy counterparts. Parking pass availability varies by house, and all are limited, but passes for the Emmet/Ivy Garage can be purchased for a monthly fee of $18.
French House
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Language Houses, cont’d The Russian House
German House
On top of the features common to all of the language houses, the Russian House also has a library. Residents live in double or single rooms.
La Maison Française
Like the Russian House, La Maison Française has a library and also a seminar room. La Maison Française has one triple, eight double and eight single rooms.
La Casa Bolívar
The residence has two sitting rooms, eight double rooms and eight single rooms to offer its residents.
The German House
Containing triple, double, and single rooms, the German House is located in Bice.
Shea House
Resources abound in the Shea House. Replete with laundry facilities, an elevator, a kitchen in which students can cook, and access to a terrace that can be used for outside dining, the Shea House features double and single rooms. —compiled by Robert Shimshock
Shea House
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IRC Location
The International Residential College is located next to Alumni Hall on Emmet Street, near the Emmet-Ivy intersection.
Layout
The IRC is a complex of four dormitories, each with its own characteristics. Gwathmey and Munford are hall-style, and women make up nearly all of Munford’s residents. Hoxton and Lewis are both suite-style. All buildings have kitchens on each floor, and the complex has a computer lab, television and game rooms and four laundry rooms.
Atmosphere
Russian House
Students describe the college’s atmosphere as relaxed, engaged, culturally aware and diverse. Residents host social events several times a week, many of which have international themes, and the IRC Council hosts at least three social events each week. Nearly all events have free food.
Pros
IRC resident advisor Scott Tilton, a second-year College student, said the idea of global contact is one of the college’s greatest assets. “It is sort of a different mindset,” he said. “So I have friends from the Netherlands, Thailand and Singapore.” Students living in the IRC are exposed to a variety of different cultures. Many in the University community tend to believe international students primarily inhabit the IRC, but in reality most are Americans, Tilton said. There are also weekly “Breakfast of Champions” and Conversazione Series dinners featuring international cuisines and guest speakers. “Another big pro is the food,” Tilton said.
Cons
The college’s distance can wear down its residents. “We are relatively far away,” Tilton said. But new bus routes have made the complex more accessible in relation to Central Grounds. Students also said the “mouse trap” — having to swipe into each connecting building — got on their nerves.
Costs
Single rooms in the college range from $5,730 to $6,240 depending on the dorm. Double rooms run from $5,110 to $5,540. Free street parking is limited, but the Emmet-Ivy Garage is across the street. Students can purchase parking passes for a monthly fee of $18. —compiled by Audrey Waldrop
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Hereford Location
Hereford Residential College is located behind Gooch/Dillard, now first-year dorms, and near Runk Dining Hall.
Layout
Hereford Residential College consists of Norris and Whyburn houses. Each is co-ed and single sex by floor. First-year students typically share rooms, whereas upperclassmen have the option of having their own bedroom. Bedrooms in the non-residential college area have both single and double rooms for upperclassmen.
Atmosphere
Michael Kang, a first-year college student, described Hereford as both quiet and dynamic, as well as being a good place to complete schoolwork. “There is even a study room with free drinks and snacks,” he said. There is also a wide range of activities going on around the community, including movie nights and an annual crab fest. The residential college sponsors social activities throughout the year for the community.
Pros
In addition to the diverse activities, one of the advantages of living in Hereford is maintaining the close social scene of a dorm. “Living with upperclassmen helps new students like me with the transition to new environments,” said second-year College student Zhuo Yan Lu, who lives in Weedon. There is a quad where students can play sports or relax in a hammock. Additionally, Runk Dining Hall is merely a few steps away, and many students have meal plans.
Cons
Students said the distance between Hereford and central Grounds is one of the downsides of living in this area, and getting home late at night can be a challenge. “It’s very dangerous when I get back from the library late at night,” Lu said. In addition, older facilities and poor phone connections were two problems commonly cited by students. “Two shower faucets have broken in my hall,” Kang said.
Costs
A double room costs $5,090 and a single costs $5,150 for year 2012-2013. Parking permits can be purchased for a monthly fee of $39. —compiled by Jiaer Zhuang
Brown College Location
Brown Residential College, located in Central Grounds just west of the Lawn, consists of 12 “portals” connected by underground tunnels.
Layout
Brown College boasts 144 units and 288 residents. Each unit is comprised of two single bedrooms and shares a bathroom with one to three others.
Pros
You can, quite literally, roll out of bed and be anywhere in Central Grounds in five minutes flat. We also can’t forget to mention the rooms, which are bigger than those of any other dorm — oh, and you have it all to yourself. The most oft-referenced benefit of living in Brown is its tightly knit community. “Brownies” (as the residents call themselves) bond through activities and events, including bizarre movie nights, monthly banquets and the game of “Infection,” an epic Nerf battle in the Chemistry Building.
Cons
Some unfairly stereotype the entirety of the Brown populace as “artsy and weird,” so watch out for that. The admittance rate is low and the unconventional prompts of the Brown application can be off-putting (“You are the universe observing itself. What is your favorite holiday and why?”). In addition, crossing another resident’s room to get to the stairway and the bathroom may become uncomfortable.
Costs
$5,930 for the 2012-2013 academic year. There are no parking passes available for Brown, but residents can purchase a permit for the Emmet/Ivy Garage for a monthly fee of $18. —compiled by Brown College resident Will Mullany
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Choose...
On-Grounds Ashley Spinks | Viewpoint Writer
Living in dorms brings a sense of community and location you can’t find anywhere else As an incoming first year, choosing a place to live was a non-issue, as all first years are required to live on Grounds. I’m not complaining about my lack of control, though. I am currently writing this article from my bedroom in the lovely WatsonWebb, and I couldn’t be happier. Well, you may remark, of course you’re happy! You’re in the New Dorms complex, which means you’ve got the blessings of air-conditioning, elevators, drywall and carpet! Stop rubbing our noses in it, geesh! Not all dorms are so well-accommodated. That may be true; I did feel lucky for the first two weeks of school when I could open the door to my room and feel the relief of a cool blast of air. For those days when it’s blistering hot and all you want is to stop feeling disgusting, New Dorms offer a slight advantage. After that, however, I’d argue that it doesn’t matter where you live on Grounds, as long as you are on Grounds. As I’ve already said, I’m a first year, so living on Grounds wasn’t a choice for me. But the decision to stay on Grounds is one I will actively make for the upcoming year. Although it may seem like this is just my first year over-enthusiasm talking, I have truly loved every aspect of my on-Grounds living experience. Before I arrived, a term that I encountered over and over again within the literature about first year was “common living experience.” Indeed, it’s a unique experience. The fact that all first years live in exclusively first-year dorms has greatly facilitated socialization. In
the dorms, you’ll always have friends — people with whom you are sharing classes, stresses, and explorations — right down the hall. The lounges are constant hubs of activity, whether that means a communal viewing of the latest episode of “Parenthood,” a giant study session or a viciously competitive game of Scattergories. There is no need to “plan” activities, and it’s not an effort to see your peers regularly — events tend to just materialize at convenient times. You see each other in the kitchen, in the hallway, in the bathroom, walking to and from the building, at the nearest dining hall. Although you may have some friends in off-Grounds housing, you will never feel as integrated into your own class or the school community as a whole as you do on Grounds. All the dorms have their own perks in terms of location, although I can’t even count how many times I’ve groaned to my roommate, “Alderman is so far!” Being on-Grounds constantly means that I am especially tuned in to school events, because I see the posters and the chalking every time I step outside my building. Off-Grounds dorms may have their benefits. But living on Grounds is relatively affordable and involves a nine-month contract instead of the inconvenient year-long rental you’ll find elsewhere. It also offers invaluable bonding opportunities, and hey, you don’t have to clean your own bathroom. From where I’m sitting, there’s no place I’d rather be.
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The Corner PROS: The main draw of living near the Corner is being tucked right in the middle of all the action. The proximity to appetizing restaurants is a huge plus, and Bodo’s becomes a go-to pit stop when walking to or from class. And if you’re pushing the clock running to class, Central Grounds is just a short sprint away. Perhaps best of all for some students, the frat and bar scene is right in your backyard.
CONS: Passing all those wonderful food places makes it hard not to stop in, grab a bite and lighten your wallet every day. Making the trek to class isn’t so easy if you’re in the Engineering School or science buildings. Although crossing the train tracks is convenient for now, there is concern that the train company plans to erect a fence, which will create an inconvenience. On party nights, noise and people walking by constantly can be a nuisance. 14
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JPA PROS: Living on the side of Grounds opposite the Corner offers a nice contrast to the hustle and bustle of the seemingly perpetual night life there. JPA puts you between quiet suburbia on one side and Grounds on the other. Rent is generally cheaper, and high-quality bargains are there for the taking. The surrounding area is a relatively safe one, and if you are in the Engineering School you don’t have far to walk.
CONS:
The biggest downside is the distance from everything — most classes, the Corner, the grocery store, etc. Biking or riding the bus can reduce the travel time, but when it rains, the bus is the only viable option to avoid the long trek. Having a car or at least a roommate with one is almost a must.
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Downtown PROS: The farther you go, the cheaper rentbecomes.Morespaciousplaces are available for equal or lesser prices compared to other housing options. It is easier to take part in activities downtown and in greater Charlottesville.
CONS:
Thefartherawayyougo,thefarther away you go. It’s a long commute. Even on a bike, the time it takes to get to Grounds can be lengthy because city traffic comes into play. Moving outside the classic college setting can also take away from the typical collegiate experience.
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Choose...
Off-Grounds Choosing to live off Grounds is a smarter decision that gives students more freedom Aaron Eisen | Executive Editor For various socio-aesthetic reasons I have resided in hermitage on Jefferson Park Avenue since the end of my first year. Here I have hibernated through winters and reclined through summers – which you can’t do living on Grounds – in aloneness, enjoying that view you can only get in an off-Grounds apartment: of the real world. I am part of the “58 percent” of students living off Grounds who know on-Grounds housing just sucks. What on-Grounds accommodations do like to boast is proximity. This is hardly true: Lambeth is kind of close, Bice at the dead end of Brandon, and have fun busing to whatever the rest are called. The nearest on-Grounds locations – Brown College, the language houses, the International Residential College and also the Lawn – are pretentious enough to demand applications, unwittingly screening out those who demand hospitality not contingent on niche. Walking the Lawn arcade, I see fourth years rocking in chairs and can’t help but think the University’s best and brightest, or at least most ambitious, have taken the emperor’s robes. Take a small room, add a bunk bed and call it “prestigious” and look who all will apply – and no, I would never. At least on-Grounds living is cheaper. But the University itself admits that prices can be equally competitive on- and off-Grounds, especially as an on-Grounds apartment could require you to put things in storage for summer if you don’t live in-state. What off-Grounds apartments do offer – in terms of cost, location and
people – is choice. On-Grounds housing agents infiltrate first-year dorms in the fall and demand sign-ups from November to February. Even if you do take the gambit for another year on-Grounds, you are assigned a room and roommates based on a lottery. With an off-Grounds lease, you signup when you want to live where you want with whom you want, with many more options besides. Everything comes ready in an on-Grounds apartment. There are utilities and “furniture.” There is a residence staff to remind you of the rules when you break them, to pour out your drinks when you drink them, to stamp out your drugs when you toke – only to go do these themselves. The comparison of on-Grounds housing to an institutional complex is too easy to make. No one is confining you to these facilities, though: These prisons are there for the leaving. Living off-Grounds (re: in-life) is chaotic in the ways of the night. There is vomit and crime; there is noise, relentless until it is quiet. There is distance between roommates and neighbors; there are mountains between you and the school. Unlike resident advisors, landlords only check-in for your money. This is terrestrial anonymity – you may as well no longer be a University student, but just another person in a building, the room empty save what you bring to it, a tenant paying on borrowed time – this is the real world. Or at least a young version.
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RESOURCES
1.
http://offgroundshousing.student.virginia.edu/
2.
http://www.virginia.edu/housing/room_selection.php
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