DAILY SUNDIAL
Housing Guide 2012
Featuring Meridian Pointe Apartments | Live. Study. Play. See page 5
INSIDE: Decorating your space • Green up your life • Local housing map PHOTO BY MARIELA MOLINA
California State University, Northridge
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Make sure dorm decor is functional, then flattering Jean Patteson
mcclatchy-tribune
Eat. Sleep. Study. That’s college life in a nutshell—with time out for play, of course. Getting your dorm room ready for those activities takes planning, especially if you’re working with a tight budget. Before you spend the first dollar, check your school’s regulations. May you paint the walls and hang pictures? Swap blinds for curtains? Ask what furniture is provided. Beds and desks are usually standard issue. The common areas may have microwaves and refrigerators. Also get in touch with your roommate and decide who is bringing what.
It is pointless buying things that are already there, can be shared or aren’t allowed, says Lauren Rachel Flanagan, spokeswoman for Bed Bath & Beyond. Once that’s sorted out, turn your attention to the bed, which likely is single and extra-long with a thin, lumpy mattress. Give your bed the V.I P. treatment. It is the biggest, most obvious item in the room. And it is easy to turn it into a striking design statement with inexpensive linens. “One of the challenges students face with dorm living is making the space their own. Students can personalize dorms with fashionable bedding sets in fresh, colorful patterns for girls and simple plaids and colorblock styles for guys,” says Lynette
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Cvikota, vice-president for design for Kohl’s Department Stores. But most importantly, your brain functions better on a good night’s sleep. Your bed must be comfortable and your room dark. Add blinds or heavier curtains if exterior or security lighting brighten the room, and consider replacing an old mattress with the best new one you can afford, advises Gabriella Eitingon, a spokeswoman for IKEA Orlando, Fla. Mattresses with springs offer excellent ventilation, while foam and latex models cushion movements and contour the body well, Eitingon says. If you can’t afford a new mattress, a cushy pillowtop is an inexpensive option. For your pillow, choose between light, soft down or synthetic materials, which are better for allergy sufferers. Pillow height is another consideration. Do you sleep on your side? A high pillow is best. Back sleepers need a medium-height pillow and and stomach sleepers a low one. In warmer places you may need only a
light blanket. If you prefer a comforter, go for a lightweight model. And buy a couple of covers; while one is in the wash, use the other to change up the look of your bed. If you plan on bringing your own bed, consider a loft style, which frees up floorspace below for a desk, bookcase or bureau. Or simply attach bed lifts to the legs of a regular bed to gain extra storage space underneath. Finding a place for everything in a tiny dorm room is always a challenge. Look for furnishings with built-in storage space, over-the-door hooks and doublehand closet rods, all available in stores that carry home furnishings. When your pack for college, pack light. Take only the clothes you know you will wear, and leave out-of-season gear behind. And before you purchase your furnishings and decor items, check whether the store has a service that allows you to shop near home but pick up your items at a store near your college. It’s the smart way to avoid rental-truck costs.
COLLEGE-DORM CHECKLIST Living and sleeping: Sofa bed or loft bed, mattress and pad, pillows, sheet sets, comforter and cover, curtains or blinds, alarm clock, comfortable chair or floor pillows, area rug, wastepaper basket, lamps and energy-saving light bulbs, iron and ironing board. Studying: Computer desk, desk chair, work lamp, file cabinet, notice board, cord organizer, roll-up keyboard, iPod docks, headphones. Eating: Cookware, coffee maker, mug, bowl, plates, flatware, storage containers, can and bottle openers, mini fridge. Storage: Bookcase, media storage, hangers, shoe and closet organizers, shelves, hooks— all non-wall-mounted. Shower: Towels and wash cloths, shower caddy, laundry bag.
Source: IKEA.
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Daily Sundial Housing Guide 2012 | 5
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Tips on dealing with rude roommates
Ernesto Gonzalez daily sundial
College is a time when students move out of their parents’ home and no longer need worry about the many annoyances of their siblings, parents, and other people living at the house. It is also a time of dealing with the annoyances of their future roommates. Living at the dorms or sharing an apartment with others can be a great experience, but no one is perfect and dealing with the imperfections of others and recognizing your own can help make living with others and life much more bearable. “Communication and trust are very important,” said Leah Oaks, 19, art major. “Without those,
life can get really stressful.” Psychology major Nydia Torres, 25, agrees saying that talking with your roommates is the best way to avoid conflicts. “You need to make a list of things with your roommates,” said Torres. “If you are the type of person that likes to keep the kitchen very clean, let your roommates know. If you like to sleep early, tell your roommate your sleeping habits. If you are uncomfortable with having your roommate have people sleep over, tell them.” Torres also advises to not move in with friends you already know. “It is OK for them to live next door, but unless you have lived with them before, it can ruin friendships,” said Torres. Being respectful of others,
regardless of your own views, is something to practice. Erika Bernard, 19, sociology major, had a roommate who was very open about her sexuality and enjoyed walking around naked in the dorm. “I was very uncomfortable around her,” said Bernard. “She had no problem having her privates exposed. I had to tell her that she can be naked in her room, but not around the entire dorm.” Being aware of how your habits affect your roommates is also important. Noise can be a big issue. While some people enjoy playing music or watching TV on full volume, others need some quiet time. The walls in the dorms are not very thick. Some students deal with this by going to the library to study.
Alex Ng, 19, mechanical engineer major, suggests buying ear plugs. “I snore really loud at night, so I bought my roommate ear plugs,” said Ng. Of course there are times when people become more than unbearable and some students just have to get out. Torres almost had her car taken by her roommate. “She was from out of state and had her own car at first,” said Torres. “But after her fifth accident, she had to rely on me to get her to places. Whenever I would go out to Target she would come along and get the things that she needs. But I tend to buy things in bulk and did not need to go all the time. Well she told me ‘Next time you
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go to Target let me know.’ After some time she comes up and yells at me for not taking her. I understood that if I was going to go, I would take her as well, but I had no need to go to Target. What she really was saying was that she needed to go buy things, but she did not tell me directly. She would also demand to go to places, like Hollywood, like I was her chauffeur. She almost snatched my keys, but I had to make her understand that I was not her driver and couldn’t afford to take her wherever she wanted.” When it feels like things are just not going to work out, students can go to Building 6 and see if they can transfer to another room Daniella Baquing, 22, political science major, could not last for more than a few weeks with her roommate. “I had my stuff stolen by my roommate,” said Baquring. “They took my food and even took my pillow. I had to transfer out.” Being respectful of your habits and communicating well with your roommates can prevent many of these issues and prevent the need to transfer rooms.
Bacteria: Save it for class, not the kitchen Karen Gaudette
mcclatchy-tribune
When is that party pizza past its prime? The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a food-safety tip sheet for college students. Here’s a sampling of the tips. • Cold pizza for breakfast? Not if it’s been out on the desk for more than two hours, even if it’s meatless. Food-borne bacteria that may be present grow fastest at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees and can double in number every 20 minutes. • Keep perishable snacks cold during your treks around campus in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack or double-bag items to create insulation. If there’s a fridge handy, stash food as soon as possible. • When tailgating with friends for hours on end, store perishables like meat, potato salad and chicken in a cooler except when serving to reduce the risk of food-borne illness. Don’t leave food out of the cooler or off the grill for more than two hours, or one hour when the outside temperature is above 90 degrees. • The most important things to remember about food safety? Wash hands and surfaces often. Separate raw meat, poultry and egg products from cooked foods to avoid cross-contamination. Use a food thermometer to ensure cooked foods have reached a high enough temperature to kill any harmful bacteria that might be present. And refrigerate leftovers promptly.
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Add some green to your dorm or apartment Marty Hair
mcclatchy-tribune
Along with the iPod, laundry bag and laptop, take a plant to college. Why? It might humor your parents. They’re nostalgic. They remember the 1970s, the heyday of houseplants. But this is really about you. Having a plant gives you good vibes. It’s a feng shui thing. Plus, studies by NASA researchers indicate houseplants help clean indoor air. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to appreciate how important that is in a dorm room. So go green, even if you’re really going blue, or whatever school you’re attending. Here are four easy-to-grow plants that are widely available for $10 or less. Of course, to keep the plant alive, at least until midterms, it will require a little moisture once in a while. Give it water. “I wish I could recommend a plant that could live off beer, but I can’t think of one,” says Shane Pliska, design consultant for Planterra Corp. of West Bloomfield, Mich.
ZZ Plant
Pothos
The look: Exotic. It needs: Shade and neglect. The ZZ plant stores water in an underground tuber so it requires moisture only every few weeks. It can even thrive in a windowless bathroom.
The look: Lush. Shiny, heart-shaped green leaves, sometimes with cream bands or splotches. It needs: Water when soil feels dry. Can tolerate low or artificial light.
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Spiderplant The look: Timeless. Arching, grass-like leaves. Produces plantlets that can grow into new plants. It needs: Water when soil feels dry. Medium light.
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Das Bauhaus Apartments
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5 ways to spend and save money Tamera Muniz
mcclatchy-tribune
Among the many wonderful things you may learn in college, there’s one thing you may learn the hard way: money management. As a recent college graduate, there are many money saving tips I wish I’d known before heading to college. College students have enough to worry about: Studying for tests, paying for tuition, making it to class on time and, of course, having fun. How and where you spend your money is probably the last thing on your mind. College is an expensive investment. There isn’t much you can do to control those expenses, but there are ways to control your personal spending. Check out these five tips to help reduce those costs and help you avoid eating Ramen noodles every day of the week.
1. Track your spending
The best thing you can do is track exactly where your money goes. Make a list of all mandatory expenses, such as rent, utilities, school supplies and groceries. Once you know where your money is going, it’s easier to establish a budget. Make sure you budget a bit for fun or you’ll fall off your budget as easily as you’d fall off a diet. Just stick to your plan and form good spending habits early.
students. They may seem like free and easy money to a poor college kid, but the money you borrow must be paid back with a steep interest rate and hidden fees. Fortunately, recent federal legislation makes it far more difficult for students to obtain credit cards without an adult co-signer, but it’s still possible to get into trouble. If you must get a card, make sure to sign up for one with a low interest rate that won’t balloon after the introductory period. And make sure you pay the balance off every month.
3. Save, save, save! Then splurge
If you’re really itching to buy that brand new iPod but just don’t have the funds, be smart and save up your pennies. Charging such extras to a credit card provides instant gratification, but then you’ll pay extra in interest every month. Why not save that extra money, wait, and get the iPod a month or two from now?
4. Eat cheap and smart
Eating out may seem like less work than cooking at home, but you’ll have to work
much harder to pay restaurant prices than for groceries. If you plan meals before you go to the store, you won’t buy things you don’t need. Doesn’t a $4 plate of spaghetti sound much tastier than a $10 plate from a restaurant, not to mention the price of a drink and tip.
5. Borrow or buy used textbooks
This is one tip almost every college student has probably heard. We’ve all heard horror stories about the dreadful cost of books. If you can’t borrow text books, buy used from websites like Amazon.com, Half. com or CampusBooks.com. You also might consider buying the international edition. One of the best-kept secrets is that the international edition of a textbook will usually be significantly cheaper than the U.S. edition. When you’re done, sell them back online to other college bargain shoppers and get back much more than you would from the bookstore. This way, everyone wins.
2. Avoid credit cards
Although having a credit card may sound like a good idea, don’t be fooled. Credit cards are one of the biggest problem areas for college
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Daily Sundial Housing Guide Map 118
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Topanga Cyn. Blvd.
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1. All Aboard Mini Storage (p.7) 18500 Eddy St. Northridge 91324
6. Das Bauhaus Apartments (p.9) 8819 Etiwanda Ave. Northridge 91325
10. Mission Hills Self Storage (p.9) 15241 Rinaldi St. Mission Hills 91345
2. Alpine Terrace Apartments (p.3) 8726 Independence Ave. Canoga Park 91304
7. Golden State Storage (p.2) 18832 Rayen St. Northridge 91324
11. Northpoint Apartments (p.12) 9850 Zelzah Ave. Northridge 91325
3. Best Western Plus Carriage Inn (p.3) 5525 Sepulveda Blvd. Sherman Oaks 91411 4. CORT Furniture Rental (p.5) 14140 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks 91423 339 N. Central Ave. Glendale 91203 5. CSUN Student Housing (p.4) 17950 Lassen St. Northridge 91325
8516 Sepulveda Blvd. North Hills 91343 15655 Roscoe Blvd. North Hills 91243 8. Maravilla (p.12) 18418 Dearborn St. Northridge 91325 9. Meridian Pointe Apartments (p.7) 9500 Zelzah Ave. Northridge 91325
12. Staybridge Suites 21902 Lassen St. Chatsworth 91311 13. Windward Sea (p.12) 18414 Vincennes St. Northridge 91325 14. Windward Sun (p.12) 9151 Darby Ave. Northridge 91325
Vineland Ave.
White Oak Ave.
(see inset)
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