CSUN Housing Guide 2011

DAILY SUNDIAL

Housing Guide 2011 California State University, Northridge

Newest in Northridge, living the life, the really good life

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9423 Reseda Boulevard, Northridge, Ca 91324 (877) 812-0062 • www.MeridianPlaceApts.com INSIDE: Keeping the peace between roommates • Dorm myths BUSTED! • Local housing map

2 | 2011 Daily Sundial Housing Guide

Tips for adjusting to life with roommates Blanca Gomez DAILY SUNDIAL

When living in a dormitory, here are a few basic facts to know about the stranger who will soon be sharing your space.

1. Get to know your roommate before moving in. The first thing to do, preferably the day you move in, is talk.

Ice breakers can work by finding something in common with your new roommate, making things familiar and less awkward.

Become aware of any health problems that your roommate might have. Keeping contact information for their family and close friends is always a good idea, in case of emergency.

2. Posting each other’s school schedules somewhere in your dorm is also useful. Knowing when and where your roommate is in class will help with safety and communication issues.

3. Study habits are also a sub-

ject that must absolutely be discussed. Some may need music or food, while others need total quiet in order to be productive. The dorms have special study rooms in every building for those who need their own study space.

4. Sleeping habits are also something that need to be addressed. It would be nice to know if your roommate has frequent nightmares, sleep walks, or prefers to stay up all night and sleep in.

5. Food habits are also something that need to be recognized.

Find out if your roommate prefers to eat alone, at night, healthy, junk food, or if he or she likes to cook. Remember that everyone is different, and that can also apply to food choice. Not everyone will like the smell of your dishes.

don’t care. Simply asking if they can pick their belongings up can avoid confrontations. If something has expired in the fridge, ask your roommate if you can throw it away. It is so important to establish a list of rules from the beginning. If that doesn’t work, suggest setting aside weekend mornings for a quick cleanup for the both of you to participate in.

Roommate Types

The loud roommate. Some like to blast their music, carry on with long phone conversations into the night, and even subconsciously hum to themselves. If these loud

The messy roommate. Understand that some people can be clean freaks, while others just

The roommate with a significant other. If you are uncomfortable with your roommate’s boyfriend or girlfriend constantly invading your space, try to talk about the situation with your roommate and express how you feel. Remember that it is your room too, and you should have a voice in the situation.

habits are driving you crazy, simply ask them lower the volume and be considerate to your needs.

When studying for tests, remember that you always have the option of going to the library or study rooms to get the quiet that you need. However, if it happens all the time or if it is interfering with your sleep, ask if they can put headphones on if they’re listening to music or go somewhere else if they are hanging out with friends.

The roommate who never leaves- Let’s face it, we all need our alone time. Although it doesn’t seem like a big deal at the beginning, it may start to annoy you. Knowing each other’s schedule helps this situation, because you can learn when you will have the opportunity to have time to yourself.

While there are many other roommate problems, most can be solved by talking to your roommate as the problem emerges.

2011 Daily Sundial Housing Guide | 3

4 | 2011 Daily Sundial Housing Guide

10 ways to decorate on a budget Michelle Nellett MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

Whether you’re just moving in or it’s time to refresh your nest, here are 10 tips for stylish, low-cost decorating. (You owe us!)

1. Head to Barnes and Noble

Those cozy armchairs are beckoning, so grab an armful of decorating books and take a load off your feet. Flip through for ideas —you don’t need to buy the expensive stuff, but you may get some ideas about color and placement.

2. Antiques (or almost antiques)

You can find great stuff at flea markets, antique shops, and thrift stores if you keep your eyes open. Flea markets can be treasure troves for large furniture, while some thrift shops have kitchen sections.

Tip: Shop late in the day at flea markets, when vendors are willing to make deals so they won’t have to cart stuff home. Don’t be shy about bargaining—everyone does it.

3. Cast an eye on cast-offs

Mom and Dad probably have a boatload of stuff they’d love to give you. Some of it

may be horrid (like those orange ‘70s plastic stools) but some items may have retro cool (like those orange ‘70s plastic stools). Don’t be shy— ask to raid the ‘rents’ cast-offs.

Tip: Once you decide what to keep, offer to organize a yard sale for Mom and Dad. They’ll probably be so grateful to dump their junk that they’ll let you keep the proceeds.

Use the money to buy a dining room table or other big-ticket item.

7. Color me beautiful

Paint is the cheapest decorating tool, and you can even do it yourself. Nothing brightens a room like a fresh coat of enamel—choosing something besides white is a definite plus.

8. Art on the cheap

Swedish modern at affordable prices. Need we say more?

Want to display great works of art but don’t have enough dough? Old maps and botanical books are great sources of wall art. Some stores specialize in old art prints; you can also find old prints in antique stores or even junk stores. Once they’re framed, they look mighty pricey — you’ll be the only one who knows they cost $5.

5. Buy transitional pieces

9. Cover it up

4. IKEA, IKEA, IKEA

Use a patio set in your dining room and move it outside when you buy the real thing.

A futon can fill in for a living room sofa; later, move it to a guest room or office.

6. Labor for goods

If you’re renting a house or apartment, offer to trade labor for a break on your rent. If you want to refinish the floors or require more electrical outlets for your technology needs, try to make a deal with your landlord.

If you have a functioning couch but hate the upholstery, cover it up. Slipcovers are cheap alternatives to reupholstering, which can cost hundreds of dollars. If you can sew, do it yourself; otherwise, ask Mom, Grandma, or another skilled tailor or seamstress to help you make classy covers for your declasse furniture.

10. Put your gifts to work

If you’ve got it, flaunt it! Break out those crystal candlesticks—even if it’s just dinner for two.

2011 Daily Sundial Housing Guide | 5

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6 | 2011 Daily Sundial Housing Guide

Meals that won’t break your budget or your waistline Liana Hofer DAILY SUNDIAL

It’s a well-known fact that the college years are some of the unhealthiest times in a person’s life. With multiple classes, part-time jobs, extracurricular activities, and the occasional hang out with friends, finding time to eat well is difficult. After a busy day, students want the easiest choice for food, which is usually synonymous with fastest and greasiest. No one wants to spend an hour cooking a meal when they’ve been on their feet all day and there’s a pile of studying waiting for them, so they go to Ronald, the King, or good old Wendy for something quick.

Grocery stores known for specializing in health foods are always an option for students looking for fast, microwave-ready meals that are

a much healthier alternative than what you’ll find at a greasy diner.

Yet, with prices that hover between $4 to $8, their convenience comes at a cost. Continually pay that much for your meals, and your wallet won’t know the difference between that and a large combo meal at Carl’s (even if your waistline will).

The choices are bleak for those looking for quick dinners; save money and sacrifice your health, or save your health and sacrifice your money.

There’s no easy answer for the college-meal dilemma, and whoever could come up with one could make a fortune. However, there are healthier and cheaper options than fast food that don’t require a lot of time in the kitchen. If you can believe it, there are meals out there that can be made in minutes. And no, they don’t all

consist of noodles in a cup.

First, get into the mindset of thinking ahead. Take your free afternoon and make a couple of large dishes of food that will last throughout the week. Cook up a batch of rice, along with a few chicken breasts and some vegetables, and you’ve got yourself a gourmet meal that didn’t cost you an arm and a leg. Take it one step further, and you can freeze individual meals for yourself, so on that day you sleep through your alarm clock, and you have to rush out the door, you can quickly grab a meal for later.

Also, for college students cooking for themselves, frozen goods are fast ingredients toward a healthy and quick meal. Packages of frozen meat, vegetables, or pasta can be easily stored and saved for weeks, saving you from the horrible discov-

ery at the bottom of the refrigerator of ground beef that went bad 10 days ago. Even if you’re the only one eating your groceries, freezing produce allows you to buy in bulk, which generally costs much less than buying smaller packages of food.

Finally, use the Internet as your tool for meal ideas. Visit Amazon and its customer review section to find a cookbook that’s right for you.

And while there are many cookbooks that are available for students on the go, there are even more websites and blogs devoted to quick dinners and helpful cooking tips. For starters, check out the site “Budget Bytes,” which features inexpensive meals that don’t take long to prepare. There are a variety of resources available to help you cook fast and healthy meals—you just have to make use of them.

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One & Two Bedrooms in t s we idge! e N hr rt o N

Accepting Reservations for 2011/2012! t Rinaldi S 118

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CALIFORNIA STATE UNIV-NORTHRIDGE

Nordhoff St

Haskell Ave

San Diego Fwy

9423 Reseda Boulevard Northridge, CA 91324 (877) 812-0062 Woodley Ave

Plummer St

Hayvenhurst Ave

Lassen St

Louise Ave

Lassen St

Zelzah Ave

Devonshire St

Reseda Blvd

Tampa Ave Winnetka Ave

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8 | 2011 Daily Sundial Housing Guide

Clearing up misconceptions about campus living Kristin Hugo DAILY SUNDIAL

As a dorm resident, there are a number of things I find CSUN students presupposing about the residence halls. Before you decide to either stay at the dorms or leave, make sure you don’t believe one or more of these misconceptions.

The Resident Advisors are out to get you. RAs are obligated to enforce some rules to the best of their abilities. However, this doesn’t mean they’re going to spy on you 24/7 to ensure you’re very obedient. What’s important to them is that the residents are not being disturbed and are enjoying their respective college experiences.

“The RAs are actually here as a resource, to housing and to

the residents,” said RA Rayshaun Miner.

Your RA is trained to help you enjoy and be successful through your college experience. Although they may tell you to keep it down, they’re not there to put a damper on your party.

The dorms are very expensive. A student who shares an apartment off campus with four people, which costs him $487 per month plus about $25 per month for utilities. This includes some parking spaces and use of a fitness center and recreation room.

In comparison, one can live in the CSUN apartments for $669 per month with a fully furnished kitchen. Without a kitchen, it’s $537 per month. The suites, which don’t include kitchens or living rooms, are $517 per month.

There’s nothing to do in the dorms. All the RAs put on programs, and there’s at least one thing going on every week during the core of the school year.

There are mixers, movie nights, pancake parties, pajama jams, and informational meetings, most of which involve free food. Other staff also put on events, including the professional staff and the academic mentors. These events are designed to get you to make the most of your college experience and meet other residents and form community. *** Before you move in or out, or decide that the dorms are just not worth it, ignore the gossip and keep these debunked misconceptions in mind. Living in the dorms is a truly rewarding college experience, and totally worth a try.

Although it can seem like much, this price includes more than just a living space. The rooms are fully furnished with beds, couches, desks, a table, chairs, closets and balcony. Rooms with a kitchen feature a refrigerator, oven and stove. Utilities and cable are also included. There are many events and resources at the residence halls. There is a community center open 24/7, study rooms, conference services, games to check out, and free events about every week.

Also, living off campus can cost you in other ways including commuting time and money. Even if you don’t live too far, parking and traffic mean that living off campus can cost you an hour or two a day. This time could be spent doing something more productive.

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2011 Daily Sundial Housing Guide | 9

Going Home for the Summer?

Or Staying at CSUN? Either way, we have great housing solutions for you. If you are going home, sign your lease today and Pay No Rent until school begins! If you are staying, rent now and Pay 50% Rent during the Summer.

Northpoint Apartments 9850 Zelzah Avenue

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Maravilla 18418 Dearborn Street

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Windward Sea 18414 Vincennes

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10 | 2011 Daily Sundial Housing Guide

Getting sleep even with a snoring roommate Terese Torgersen DAILY SUNDIAL

The snoring roommate scenario is well-known within all dorm room communities. These roommates can cause severe irritation for the other party. Many students need eight hours of sleep in order to function well in class. A problem like this can come between two perfectly good roommates, so in an effort to help the situation, it’s important to talk to your roommate, and explain how this problem affects you. Helping your roommate to figure out why he/she snores is the first step to improving both of your sleeping situations.

Changing your attitude about snoring is another way to get in quality sleep time. Have you thought about all the other noises that are taken for granted, like traffic, people talking, and birds chirping? Why don’t these noises bother you as much as snoring

does? Think about it this way: wouldn’t it be great to seize this opportunity to train yourself to become immune to noises like snoring? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to sleep through loud freeway traffic, or a thunderstorm?

Who knows how your sleeping situation is going to be at certain times in your life. You might as well start practicing now.

Imagine moving to a big city where the environment is always noisy. At first it can be annoying, but after a while, you start to adapt. Noise becomes just another part of the night because you begin to get used to it. Apply this philosophy to the situation with your snoring roommates. Stop wishfully thinking about all the things you could have: a quiet room, a bigger bed, softer sheets. Once you get these things, you’ll probably miss your old dorm room and all the memories it holds. Ignoring the snoring will help the situation and the quality of your sleep will

eventually improve. It is possible to fall asleep while your roommate is snoring. The problem is, if you spend too much time thinking about the snoring, those thoughts will keep you awake.

If you can’t block out the snoring, try to gently wake your roommate and ask him or her to change the their sleeping position.

According to emedicinehealth. com, people tend to snore more while sleeping on their backs.

Don’t give up. If the method doesn’t help the first time, repeat this until the snoring stops.

If you manage to fall asleep before your roommate, there is less chance of being disturbed.

Earplugs can be another solution.

They are great tools to reduce sound, and it is possible to find comfortable ones designed for the purpose.

High alcohol consumption is another reason why many snore.

Even those who never snore may start doing so after consuming

alcohol. For those who snore regularly, alcohol can make them snore even more. Ask your roommate not to drink too much before he/she goes to bed.

The world won’t crumble just because your roommate snores.

If you’re honest with him or her about the problem and try to find the best solution for both of you, it will work out. It is also important that you encourage your roommate to follow the “rules” that you set up together. Maybe you could do something nice for him or her when the sleeping situation improves? Think about this as a preparation for your adult life.

This will give you great advantages on living with others in the future.

For all you know, maybe your future wife or husband will be a snorer as well. See it as a learning experience. Your relationship with your roommate may become stronger after coming through this together.

Chatsworth, CA

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2011 Daily Sundial Housing Guide | 11

Daily Sundial Housing Guide Map 210

Devonshire St.

11

Lassen St.

5

CSUN

(see inset)

101

4

405

170

Magnolia Blvd.

N



Lassen St.

3

9

2

14

8

2

Glendale 

101 Ventur a

1

Vineland Ave.

Victory Blvd.

4

Sepulveda Blvd.

2

Thousand Oaks 

5

Nordhoff St.

White Oak Ave.

Reseda Blvd.

27

Balboa Blvd.

Topanga Cyn. Blvd.

118

Blvd.

Superior St.

7

Plummer St.

6 10 12

Dearborn St.

Reseda Blvd.

Wilbur St.

9. Northpoint Apartments (p.9) 9850 Zelzah Ave. Northridge 91325

4. Golden State Storage (p.3) 18832 Rayen St. Northridge 91324

10. Palm Terrace Apartments (p.5) 18420 Vincennes St. Northridge 91325

8516 Sepulveda Blvd.

North Hills 91343

5 13

Nordhoff St.

4

CSUN

Rayen St.

Zelzah Ave.

Vanalden Ave.

Prairie St.

Darby Ave.

Vincennes St.

3. CSUN Student Housing (p.8) 17950 Lassen St. Northridge 91325

15655 Roscoe Blvd.

North Hills 91243 5. Maravilla (p.9) 18418 Dearborn St. Northridge 91325

1. Allegro (p.12) 11945 Magnolia Blvd.

Valley Village 91607

6. Meridian Place (p.7) 9423 Reseda Blvd.

Northridge 91324

2. CORT Furniture Rental (p.6) 14140 Ventura Blvd.

Sherman Oaks 91423

7. Meridian Pointe Apartments (p.2) 9500 Zelzah Ave. Northridge 91325

30857 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Westlake Village 91362 339 N. Central Ave. Glendale 91203

8. Muse (p.12) 5251 Vineland Ave. North Hollywood 91601

11. Ramada (p.10) 21340 Devonshire St. Chatsworth 91311 12. Windward Sea (p.9) 18414 Vincennes St. Northridge 91325 13. Windward Sun (p.9) 9151 Darby Ave. Northridge 91325 14. Zelzah Court Apartments (p.4) 9810 Zelzah Ave. Northridge 91325

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