Home away from home - Kent Stater 10/22

Home Away From Home

Inside: Living on or off campus, picking the right pet, cooking in the dorm and more.

INSIDE: Fun things, Another fun thing, One more thing, Whoa

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More campus news at:

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BYE

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BEST OFF-CAMPUS

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HOUSING

BEST RESIDENCE HALL

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ON THE COVER: Illustration by Katherine Herring LOGO DESIGN: Katie Barnes-Evans, Maddy Haberberger

Kent Stater The

EDITOR

Emma Andrus eandrus3@kent.edu

MANAGING EDITOR

Alexandra Golden agolde10@kent.edu

PHOTO EDITOR

Matthew Brown

Asha Blake

SPORTS EDITOR

Isabella Schreck ischreck@kent.edu

DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER

Kaitlyn Finchler kfinchle@kent.edu

CAMPUS EDITORS

Jenna Bal

Ty Kohler

COPY EDITORS

Ashley McCormick

Welcome!

For many Kent State students, the city of Kent is home.

Inside the 2022 “Home Away From Home” edition of The Kent Stater, you’ll find stories to help you transform our college-town into your home, including features comparing your living options on and off campus.

We hope you enjoy this special edition of the Stater. As you read, we hope you’ll feel empowered to be an informed tenant and resident — all while enjoying the opportunities and amenities Kent has to offer.

Thank you for reading!

-The Kent Stater / KentWired Staff

KENT STATE STUDENT MEDIA • 330-672-2586

ads@ksustudentmedia.com

DIRECTOR Kevin Dilley 330-672-0887 kdilley@kent.edu

OFFICE MANAGER Lorie Bednar 330-672-2572 lbednar@kent.edu

STATER ADVISER Sue Zake 330-672-2616 szake@kent.edu

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Katherine Masko kmasko@kent.edu

Paige Besmen GENERAL ASSIGNMENT EDITOR

Troy Pierson rpierso4@kent.edu

CLIENT LIAISONS

Rafael Bonacin

Rachel Spayd

Ashley Caudill

DESIGNERS

Katherine Herring

Anna Yantek

DISTRIBUTION

Edwin Madrigal

MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS

Kiara Rodriguez

Aliyah Mitchell

Ally Smith

Lydia McSwain

Madeleine Majikas

STUDENT MEDIA SERVICES

Rylee Crowley

Micah Beck

Mychelle Oliver

On or off campus? Here’s how to decide where to live

Catie Pusateri Reporter

To live on or off campus? That is the question. This semester marks the first time sophomore fashion merchandising major Jacqueline Quinn is living off campus, and she shares a house near the architecture building with five roommates. Quinn lived on campus in Tri-Towers last year, but wanted her own space that was closer to her classes in Rockwell Hall.

Choosing whether to live on campus or off campus is an important decision for college students like Quinn, especially when each living situation offers different benefits and drawbacks. While living in the dorms provides an opportunity to form a close community, it does not afford as much independence as off-campus housing does. However, living off campus can mean more monthly expenses such as rent, utilities and groceries.

“I feel like in the dorms, you don’t really have to worry about money too much,” Quinn said. “All you have to really worry about is like shampoo and just stuff like that. You don’t have to worry about food and the money for housing, because it’s paid in full in the beginning.”

Since moving off campus, budgeting has been one of Quinn’s main struggles. Knowing how to budget is an important skill, and Quinn said she did not understand budgeting as much as she needed to before leaving the dorms. For those living off campus, many have to keep basic expenses in mind as well as unforeseen costs such as car troubles, repair costs, pest control or higher monthly bills.

Shopping for groceries was particularly surprising for Quinn as she said everything was more expensive than she expected it to be. Prices have risen within the past year as many industries recover from the pandemic, and food prices have risen 11.4% compared to last year, according to the Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“I will go to the grocery store and drop $200, and I’m like, ‘how the hell did that just happen?’” Quinn said.

One of the benefits of living on campus is easy access to dining halls and other food options in the Student Center. Although on-campus students do not need to worry about groceries and cooking their own food, nearby food options fall flat for some students like sophomore fashion merchandising major Allie Mark.

“We’ll go in the dining hall and the food’s just like not good, so we end up leaving so hungry, and we’ll go to Rosie’s after,” Mark said.

Mark lived in Olson Hall her freshman

year with a randomly-assigned roommate and now lives in Centennial Court B with a friend. The dining hall food is Mark’s least favorite thing about living on campus, while one of her favorite things is the convenience of being close to many places on campus. Within a 10-minute walk, she can attend her classes, get some food or meet up with friends.

Next school year, Mark plans to move into an off-campus apartment to have more control over her own food as well as her own private bathroom. For freshmen living in the dorms, Mark encourages them to meet other students in their dorm building and to not be afraid to eat alone.

“Going to the dining hall alone does not mean you have no friends or you’re a weirdo,” Mark said. “You can sit there and eat alone, it’s still normal. So many people do it.”

Freshman architecture major Annabelle Montgomery lives in Allyn Hall. Montgomery’s favorite thing about living on campus is the sense of community within the dorms. She spends a lot of time with her new friends from the dorm whether they are exploring campus, eating at the Metropolitan Deli in Eastway Hub or relaxing in her dorm room together.

“It’s like having your best friends as your neighbors,” Montgomery said. Looking ahead to her sophomore year, Montgomery is considering moving off campus with her current roommate to save money on housing costs. Kent State estimates that year-long on-campus housing

for a double room costs about $7,700 based on 2021 cohort prices, which does not include the additional cost for a meal plan.

While a switch to off-campus housing often means acquiring more living space, Raquel Penrose swapped a roommatefree dorm room in Centennial Court A for a shared room with two sorority sisters. Penrose, a sophomore fashion merchandising major, now lives off campus in the Delta Gamma sorority house with about 30 sorority sisters. One of the main experiences Penrose misses about living in the dorms is feeling connected to on-campus life.

“I love the feeling of walking around campus, which I can still do, but I just have nowhere to go now unless I’m going to the library, but it’s pretty close to here,” Penrose said. “So I do just miss walking to my friends’ dorms and walking to Eastway, even though Eastway food is like not delicious. I miss that experience of walking places.”

Although Penrose has felt detached from campus since moving into the sorority house, she has enjoyed being in charge of her own food instead of relying on the dining halls. As a vegetarian, Penrose said on-campus food options were limited and

Freshman architecture major Annabelle Montgomery (left) and her roommate, Olivia McClelland, in their dorm room in Kent State’s Allyn Hall. The Kent Stater / Catie Pusateri

‘‘

You’ll learn how to share. You learn how to have an argument with someone productively. You learn how to be courteous to people, all of those things.

– Leah Shaw

Kent State director of residence life

Although living off campus can lead to more of the independence many young adults crave, incoming freshmen must live on campus because the university deems living in residence halls “part of the educational experience,” said David Taylor, senior director of University Housing.

“It’s a time where you can be exposed for the first time to different values, different ideas, meet folks of different identities or demographic,” Taylor said. “Maybe you grew up in a location where everyone looked the same or everyone worshiped the same way or maybe didn’t worship at all, or whatever that might be, but it’s a time to be exposed to a lot of differences.”

All Kent State students taking more than nine credit hours must live on campus unless they are over 20 years old, accumulated more than 60 credit hours or have an exemption. Students can be exempt from this housing requirement if they commute to Kent State within 50 miles, live in fraternity or sorority housing or have a medical condition or financial struggles.

Taylor oversees on-campus housing which he refers to as “a little city.”

When it comes to enforcing this housing requirement, Taylor said that several reminders are sent to students regarding completing exemption forms if they do not live on campus. In the rare case that a student does not live on campus or have an approved exemption form, the university can place a registration hold on the student’s account.

Within this “little city,” approximately 5,165 students live in on-campus housing, said Leah Shaw, director of Residence Life. Shaw oversees different programs offered to students living on campus to get them involved and make on-campus housing as beneficial as possible.

“Living on campus kind of takes you back to the basics,” Shaw said. “You’ll learn how to share. You learn how to have an argument with someone productively. You learn how to be courteous to people, all of those things. You learn how to create a community.”

In Shaw’s perspective, living off campus offers a sense of freedom as well as a chance to learn different lessons than the ones that on-campus living may teach students. These lessons include greater responsibility, budgeting and time management as living off campus helps students grow into adulthood since “the safety net gets pulled out a little bit,” Shaw said.

“We just want to provide space for people to find their community on campus, however they define that to be,” Shaw said.

Contact

Protect yourself, your stuff with renters’ insurance

Anthony Zacharyasz Staff Reporter

Renters’ insurance is one way for college students to protect their personal property and belongings while living in an apartment throughout their college years.

Renters’ insurance is a policy that anyone who is renting a home, condo or apartment can have to protect their possessions under circumstances including fire, flood or theft. Landlords do not offer renters’ insurance to their renters, which puts the responsibility of insuring one’s own items into the hands of the tenant.

Chris Sestak, a managing attorney for Kent State University’s Student Legal Services, said renters’ insurance not only covers one’s belongings, but also can provide protection of personal liability. Personal liability refers to the cause of someone else’s injury or damage on the rented property by renter. There can be coverage to whatever extent the renters’ insurance plan may cover.

“A lot of the times, if the student doesn’t have insurance, the apartment’s insurance may pay for damages but that insurance company will go after whoever caused the damage,” Sestak said. “[The apartment’s insurance company] want to make sure there’s some source of liability that actually has money and drag in another insurance policy.”

Spencer Appell, a sophmore computer engineering major, lives in the Kent area at a nearby, off-campus apartment complex where he insured his personal belongings with renters’ insurance.

Appell said he called his insurance company after consulting with trusted adults on the best insurance company and policy to go with.

Insurance companies like Progressive, American Family and Nationwide all provide renters’ insurance. On Student Legal Services’ “Tips for Tenants” web page, it said college students should first check with their parents’ insurance provider.

A parents’ insurance provider may provide coverage for children who are temporarily living away from home. For Appell, that was the case for him, where he was able to fall under his parents’ policy to be covered for his belongings in his apartment.

“The more policies you have with one company, the cheaper your rates are,” Sestak said. “A good policy is through an existing policy that you have with someone you trust.”

Once Appell was given approval for his renters’ insurance policy, he filed proper documentation with the apartment complex to prove he had insurance.

“I wanted to be covered for any damages on the property that I am living at,” Appell said.

When students are looking to live at an offcampus apartment complex, like University

Edge or Paloma, formerly known as Latitude, their websites provide information on obtaining renters’ insurance. Their websites also state a renter should obtain renters’ insurance in the case of a flood or water damage, fire or theft, because if not, their personal possessions will not be insured.

Renters should look in advance to see what will be included within a lease agreement and if the place one is renting from will or will not include insurance within their agreements, Sestak said.

“Coverage for your personal belongings is not included as part of your lease agreement,” University Edge’s website stated. “Renters’ insurance is not required but highly recommended.”

On Paloma’s website, there is a brochure for residents interested in purchasing renters’ insurance through PeakMade Real Estate where it provides a feature to file a claim now, along with giving general monetary and coverage information.

Student Legal

policies may give a renter the cash value of an item at the time it was destroyed.

Student Legal Services is not permitted to pick out or provide a plan for students, Sestak said.

“We can tell them what it is, why it’s important and the ramifications for having it in your lease,” he said.

NerdWallet is a personal finance company that stated the average national monthly cost of renters’ insurance in 2022 is $15, according to their website The monthly average cost for the state of Ohio in 2022 is $17, the website stated.

The more valuable one’s possessions are, the more expensive of a plan one may get, Sestak said

Avoid “shady” coverage options for renters’ insurance and find a plan from a company that is “legit,” he said.

“Renters’ insurance is generally reasonable in price and can provide coverage to renters’ items and valuables,” Sestak said.

Illustration by Anna Yantek

Why it’s getting harder to keep a roof over your head

Housing shortage, rising rental prices linked to higher interest rates

Anna Bahney CNN Business

(CNN) -- Americans looking to buy or rent a home have had a rough year.

Rents are up by double-digit percentages in some cities. Meanwhile, buying a home is the most unaffordable it has been since the mid-1980s. Mortgage rates have surpassed 6% and home prices remain just off the record highs hit in recent months, pricing many prospective homebuyers out of the market.

And while there are some signs of cooling in the market, it doesn’t look like there will be much relief in sight for home buyers.

A year ago, a buyer who put 20% down on a median priced $363,800 single family home and financed the rest with a mortgage rate of 2.88% -- the average at the time -had a monthly payment of $1,208.

Today, a homeowner buying the median priced home, which is now $396,300, with a mortgage at the current average of 6.29% would pay $1,960 a month in principal and interest. That’s $752 more every month.

With inflation pushing most household expenses higher, few prospective home buyers can afford those pricier monthly payments.

Over the past five years, the average home price has gone up by 60% while the average income has risen by less than 15%, said Andy Walden, vice president of enterprise research at Black Knight, a mortgage database company.

“Home prices are significantly out of whack with income levels,” said Walden.

Americans are now spending more than 35% of their median income on monthly principal and interest payments for that newly purchased median-priced home. Historically, Americans spent closer to 25% of median income on payments.

To get back to that level, Walden said, some combination of these things would need to happen: a person’s income would need to grow by 40%, mortgage rates would need to be cut in half or there would need to be a 30% drop in the median price of a house.

But none of those things are likely to happen any time soon.

How did we get here?

Part of the reason housing has become so expensive is that the record low mortgage rates seen during the Covid-19 pandemic increased demand for homes, which in

turn pushed prices higher. With multiple buyers competing for a limited pool of homes for sale, bidding wars and all-cash offers became common, driving prices up to record highs.

Now buyers are grappling with a combination of high home prices and rising mortgage rates.

“The pain point came when rates returned to their 6% level,” Walden said.

The other side of the issue is supply. Eager buyers were met with a national shortage of homes that has been a long time in the making, creating a supply and demand mismatch that has pushed home prices higher.

The US has fallen behind by about 5.5 million housing units over the past 20 years as builders failed to keep up with historical building trends, according to the National Association of Realtors. If you add in property destruction due to demolition or natural disasters among other things, the total shortfall could be closer to 6.8 million during that time.

The shortfall of units is so deep that it would take more than a decade to catch up, according to NAR.

But even if more homes and apartments are built, it won’t matter unless people can afford them.

In April 2021, a household had to earn about $80,000 a year to afford payments

on the median-priced home with a modest down payment of 3.5%. A year later, the income requirement was $108,000. This cost increase means that about 4 million renter households who could have bought the median priced home last year could no longer do so twelve months later, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

Without a home to buy, renters are staying put, pushing rents up even further in an already tight market.

As tenants reach the limit of what they can afford to pay each month, homeownership gets further out of reach as they struggle to save for a down payment. This widens the wealth gap and locks in place inequities between those who benefit financially from homeownership and those who don’t. It also widens the racial home ownership gap, in which 72% of white Americans are homeowners while only 43% of Black Americans own a home, according to NAR.

So what happens next?

There are clear signs of cooling in the housing market. Home sales have been dropping for seven months in a row as the rising cost to buy and finance a home pushes more people out of the housing market. Typically, as demand dries up, prices will come down and eventually mortgage rates will settle.

For the time being, however, mortgage

rates are likely to rise even more as the Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates in its battle to fight inflation.

The Fed doesn’t set the rate borrowers pay on mortgages directly. Instead, mortgage rates tend to track the yield on the 10-year US Treasury. As investors anticipate the Fed’s rate hikes, they often sell government bonds, which sends the yield higher and, with it, mortgage rates.

Most housing policy experts say that building a steady supply of new, moderately priced homes is needed to fix the affordability crisis. But because those homes are not as profitable for builders as larger, higher-priced homes, it will take a concerted effort by both public and private sectors.

In May, the Biden administration announced a Housing Supply Action Plan to close the affordability gap and ease housing costs. The plan aims to boost the supply of affordable housing by enhancing existing federal financing and incentivizing areas to reform zoning and land use policies to build more lower cost housing. It also calls for homebuilders to adopt more efficient construction methods.

The-CNN-Wire

The Province is a popular option for students seeking to live off campus, but rising rents across the country are making housing choices more difficult. The Kent Stater files

With roommates, communication goes a long way

Alton Northup Staff Reporter

More than 6,500 students live on Kent State main campus, according to the university website, and often these students are sharing their living space with a roommate for the very first time.

Knowing where to begin with the roommate process can be daunting, especially for first-year students. Many people know what they look for in a friend, but those qualities might not always transfer to a healthy living situation. When it comes to choosing a roommate, it is best to check other boxes before looking at things like career paths and music tastes, said Briley Rhinock, the Undergraduate Student Government senator for residence halls.

“I know what they think people like to look for is if people will have similar majors and things, but for me, I don’t think that that’s as important as seeing what type of boundaries you expect from your roommate,” he said. “If you expect the room to be very clean, if you expect to do chores every weekend, if you guys want to have people over or you don’t like to have people over, if you are okay with people spending the night or not, sleep schedules I think are very important.”

Before Rhinock arrived on campus his first year—he was able to find his future roommate through a school-sponsored app that matched students to potential roommates through interests, expectations,

hobbies and sleep schedules. The university now partners with an app called ZeeMee which matches students through a survey.

Social media is another way to meet a potential roommate or communicate with an assigned roommate, but it is important to ensure the relationship leaves the virtual world before move-in day comes.

“Before you do a deep dive into your roommate’s social media account, call or zoom or otherwise connect so that you and your roommate can start talking with each other,” said Daniel Shonk, the associate director of housing assignments for university housing.

“We see more roommate concerns come from students that looked up their roommate’s online presence

or started texting with each other before actually taking the time to talk with one another.”

Arriving on campus is when the real task of building a positive relationship with your roommate begins. You do not have to be best friends, Shonk said, but having a connection is important. Having one-on-one time with your roommate outside of the room can help build a strong relationship, Rhinock said.

“Just trying each other’s interests, like if someone likes to go on hikes maybe the two of you can go on a hike just to get to know each other,” he said. “And then I feel like once you guys are comfortable with each other, I think that’s a good point to start going out and hanging out with other people and

seeing how your roommate works with being in large crowds.”

Communication also goes a long way, such as filling out the roommate agreement so boundaries are made clear and discussing what both students want to get out of the experience.

Those who met their future roommate already or want to room with their current one again can request a roommate on their housing application by putting their potential roommate’s last name and Kent State email address in the required fields. Roommate requests must be approved by both students in order to be paired together.

Contact Alton Northup at anorthu1@kent.edu.

Surviving College Living

HOW TO MASTER LIVING ALONE

1. Be accountable for yourself

When living by yourself, you have to realize you no longer have someone checking if you’re keeping your room clean, finishing your homework or going to bed at a decent time - it’s all up to you. The thought of independence can be very exciting, but don’t go too crazy. Start by making some rules or mental check points to stay accountable to yourself. Plan a schedule around your classes or work and decide when is a good time to do homework or when you’ll have time to hang out with friends. Stay consistent with it. Deciding when you’ll go to sleep or deciding when you’ll wake up to make sure you’re on time for your classes is very important as well. If you start out your semester by missing classes or not getting enough sleep, you could hurt yourself in the long run.

2. Buy in bulk

Living by yourself means you can buy whatever you want! Splurge on foamy hand soap or 2-ply toilet paper because you don’t have to check in with roommates to make sure they’re ok with what you’re filling the home with. But also keep in mind that because you’re not splitting the bill, finding a way to save some extra money will be beneficial to your bank account. Buying in bulk is a great way to do this. Sam’s club, Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Club are your best friends.

3. Get to know your neighbors

Neighbors can be tricky sometimes but if all goes well you could end up with a great work-out or homework buddy. A great way to introduce yourself without awkwardly knocking on the door would be if you see them moving in at the same time as you or carrying in a lot of grocery bags. Rarely ever will someone turn down a helping hand so take the opportunity to make a nice impression while introducing yourself.

4. Don’t get behind on cleaning

Cleaning as you go is a must when you live alone. Letting dishes pile up or laundry go unfolded will be your worst nightmare, especially because you have no one to bug you about getting it done. Make time to clean your dishes after you use them or fold clothes while watching your favorite TV show. Keeping cleaning supplies easily accessible will help motivate you to keep your apartment tidy. Don’t store your vacuum behind a bunch of boxes or in a messy storage room. Instead, keep it in your closet or somewhere close so it won’t be as much of a hassle to do the chore. Keeping a dust rag in your bedroom is also a great way to ensure you’ll dust every few days.

Cleaning the bathroom is everyone’s least favorite chore but there are a few tricks to making it easier. If you spray your shower down with Clorox, let it sit while you’re getting ready in the morning, and rinse it out when you’re about to leave, it will greatly delay those deepcleaning days. Also, wiping your sink down with a Clorox wipe after you brush your teeth will keep your counters looking clean and keep the bathroom smelling fresh.

5. Just because you live alone, doesn’t mean you are alone Don’t forget to make time to socialize! Keep in contact with friends and family, and enjoy time with company. Living with roommates can provide you with a memorable college experience that includes fun adventures, great memories, and maybe even a few horror stories you’ll reminisce and laugh about in 10 years. Who knows, you may even end up living with your life-time best friends.

HOW TO NAVIGATE LIVING WITH ROOMMATES

1. Go over the DO’s and DONT’s fairly soon after you move in

Having a roommate contract is something that will be beneficial to everyone. Setting boundaries and making sure everyone is doing their part to live happily in the apartment is very important. Some people may be strict about one thing but flexible with another Learning more about your roommates will help each of you successfully navigate through the year together.

2. Decide how you’re going to split up paying for essentials like toilet paper and hand soap

Taking turns, splitting costs or buying your own are all possibilities. Determining how it will be fair for you and your roommates is different for everybody. Going over this in the beginning will help make it easy so when you’re down to one roll of toilet paper, you don’t have to fight over who’s getting the next one.

3. Check in on each other

A big benefit of having roommates is having someone to check in on you and ask you how your day is going. Make sure to get to know your roommates and provide support when they need it. Having a night to bond with each other - whether it’s watching movies or challenging each other in beer pong these types of activities will make your connection with your roommates even stronger.

4. Decide how you’re going to split up cleaning

This is hard. Most tension with roommates comes from one thinking they do more than the other. Including a cleaning schedule in your roommate contract will help decide the easiest way to keep your apartment clean with everyone’s contribution. If you clean up the messes you make as you go, this process will be a lot easier when the time comes.

5. Dedicate time to yourself

Living in an apartment with multiple people can be stressful. Make sure to dedicate time to yourself so you can focus on your needs and accomplish things you want to get done. Keeping a healthy mind will keep your relationships healthy!

“Just because you live alone, doesn’t mean you are alone.”

Going to college comes with many opportunities to explore your freedom and find your true self. Living alone is a great way to accomplish this.

Staying Healthy in Your Home Away from Home

Moving into your new home at college is fun, exciting, and sometimes scary. Between all the craziness, it’s important to look after yourself and your space. Keep your college home healthy by following these tips and tricks.

How to Build Your First Aid Kit

Basic first aid kits are a great purchase when living in your new space, but they don’t include all of the necessities. Here are some great additions you'll be thanking yourself for getting:

Burn Gel

Whether it’s a curling iron or the pot that you were making dinner in, burns are bound to happen. A soothing burn gel will heal those mishaps with ease.

New Skin

Cut on your hand? No waterproof bandages? No problem! New skin is a clear liquid resembling clear nail polish that allows you to paint over wounds. It dries on and creates a completely waterproof bandage. Unlike fabric bandages, new skin stays in perfect shape until you are fully healed.

Ginger Pills / Antacid Tablets

These two are absolutely essential for stomach aches and heartburn. Ginger pills are a natural solution to an upset stomach perhaps resulting from a questionable dining hall experience. Antacids are great to have on standby for a day filled with too many cups of coffee.

Emergency Phone Numbers

It’s a great idea to let your roommate or trusted friend know you wrote down contact information for your family, local emergency services, emergency road service providers, and the poison help line in your trusty first aid kit. It takes five seconds, and it can and will save lives in the event of an emergency.

Printed Copy of Medical History, Allergies, and Insurance Provider Info

These are awesome to have on hand in the case of an emergency, especially if Kent State is far away from your hometown. Put these papers in an envelope and tell your roommate or a trusted friend where it is in case of an emergency.

Keeping your college living spaces clean is essential to your health, but it can be difficult. These cleaning supplies can help you accomplish a clean space and make the process a breeze!

Small Vacuum

Disinfecting Wipes

All Purpose Cleaner

Reusable Sponges

Air Freshener Spray

Air Freshener Plug-In

Fabric Freshener Spray

Toilet Plunger and Brush

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Shoe Deodorizer

Cleaning Cloths

Pro-Tip: The Don’t Mix List

Bleach + Vinegar = Chlorine Gas

Bleach + Ammonia (Lysol Products) = Chloramine (Avoid mixing different brands of drain cleaners and toilet bowl cleaners!)

Bleach + Rubbing Alcohol = Chloroform

Hydrogen Peroxide + Vinegar = Peracetic / Peroxyacetic acid

What You’re Missing When You Clean

You might be surprised with how dirty your living space can be even if you’re a tidy person. Here are some spots in your living space that need a deep -cleaning- dive.

Light Switches / All Handles

As you know, commonly touched surfaces harbor tons of bacteria. These are commonly overlooked so make sure to give them a good wipe down a few times a week.

Inside of your Toothbrush Holder

These can be easily scrubbed with some all purpose cleaner and a spare toothbrush, or placed in the top rack of a dishwasher once a month. Having this holder clean will help prevent you from becoming sick or reinfection.

Your Keurig

Your Keurig is bound to be covered in all sorts of coffee splatters and spills. Wiping down the outside is a great way to freshen it up, but the best way to disinfect the inside is by running diluted white vinegar through the machine. White vinegar is safe to eat when diluted and a great natural cleaner. This makes it the perfect disinfectant to use every two months. Make sure to run regular water through the machine after cleaning so your coffee doesn't taste like vinegar!

Your Washing Machine / Dishwasher

These machines can become breeding grounds for mold and bacteria without proper maintenance. Look up your machine’s model online and find the filters in them. Take these out and give them a good scrub about 4 times a year. If you have trouble or share these machines with others, send out a maintenance request.

SmallBigTownVariety

HELPFUL WEBSITES TO MAKE YOUR APARTMENT SEARCH EASIER.

hud.gov/renting

Find out what you need to know about renting, including your responsibilities.

apartments.com

Define your own search areas on a map and search listings based on your commute to campus.

rent.com

Search for available apartments and houses by city and move-in date.

Coming Soon: KentCribs.com

kent.edu/coso

Serves as an active voice and an advocate for the commuter population.

roommates.com

Look for roommates or find a room for yourself.

rentcollegepads.com

Find off campus apartments and houses for rent, post your sublease or find a roommate.

4 beds starting at: $659

3 beds starting at: $679

2 beds starting at: $775

Kent’s premier apartment-finding website.

COMPARING KENT APARTMENTS

PRICING PER PERSON FURNISHED PETS UTILITIES AMENITIES

PALOMA KENT

1450 E. Summit St, Kent, OH 44240

CAMPUS POINTE

1841 Ashton Ln, Kent, OH 44240

UNIVERSITY TOWNHOMES

1532 Libra Ct, Kent, OH 44240

EAGLES LANDING

936 Morris Rd, Kent, OH 44240

345 FLATS

345 S Depeyster St, Kent, OH 44240

PROVINCE

609 S Lincoln St, Kent, OH 44240

UNIVERSITY EDGE

5694 Rhodes Rd, Kent, OH 44240

Wi-Fi, cable, water, sewer, and trash (not electric)

Gym, pool, hot tub, coffee bar, game room, printing, study lounges, fire pit

$50 utility fee but includes all utilities

Pool, gym, fitness on demand, volleyball/basketball court, coffee bar, tanning, media lounge, pool tables, free parking, free printing, in-unit washer dryer

Electric, gas, water, sewer, trash, cable and high speed internet

In-unit washer dryer, volleyball court, community pavilion, private patios, pet-friendly green spaces

Everything included besides electric and water

Gym, pet play area, pool, laundry facilities on property, computer lab, basketball/volleyball court

Everything included besides electric

Gym, study lounge, business center with free printing, pool table

Water, sewer, trash, cable (not electric)

Pool, gym, two study rooms, theater

Everything included besides electric

Gym, game room, coffee bar, outdoor fireplace, hot tub, outdoor gaming courtyard, free printing, in-unit washer dryer

Best Off-Campus Housing

FIRST University Edge

When searching for ideal off-campus living, why not try the No. 1 option voted on this list?

University Edge, named appropriately for its accessible location, can be found on Rhodes Road, within walking distance from campus.

According to the website, the apartment complex is the “Student Housing Sponsor of Kent State Athletics,” and the list of amenities is rather lengthy.

Among the features of the apartment complex are a “state-of-the-art fitness center, outdoor firepit and hot tub that is open year round,” said manager Weslee Smith in email.

University Edge stands out compared to other apartment complexes in the Kent area partly because of their partnership with the “Hi, How are You Project that provides training for our team on peer-to-peer support and resident programs for mental

health and wellness,” Smith said.

For those who are unsure of who they want to live with, University Edge can match individuals with roommates through a service known as RoomSync.

Apartments also come with fully furnished living spaces, so there’s no need to worry about renting a truck and hauling couches, beds, etc. to the area.

University Edge is also constantly offering new specials including an option last spring to win a $500 Uber gift card for those who choose to tour the apartments.

“Our residents love where they live at University Edge because it’s a community that feels like home,” Smith added, via email.

Stop in to University Edge today to see luxurious off-campus living at an honest, affordable price.

The Province SECOND

Located just off campus on South Lincoln Street sits The Province apartment complex.

“I would say the location, for sure, is something that helps us to stand out, [because] we’re right across from campus,” said Mackenzie Gillis, the leasing and marketing manager.

The personalized service is another reason why people choose Province, according to Gillis.

“We like to go above and beyond for our residents, as well as all applicants and

345 Flats

Ranking in third place for best offcampus housing is 345 Flats on South Depeyster Street.

This local living spot is located right across from downtown Kent, allowing for walkability to both the campus and the city itself.

345 Flats offers amenities like a

prospects here,” she said.

The Province boasts a unique list of amenities including a movie theater and swimming pool.

“I mean, I don’t think any of our competitors have a movie theater around here,” Gillis said. “We definitely have a really big resort-style pool as well.”

Other amenities at Province include a business center, study rooms, a fitness area and clubhouse, according to the website. It offers studio apartaments along with two, three and four bedroom living spaces.

roommate matching service, a 24/7 fitness center and free bike storage.

“We also offer all of our amenities indoors,” said Deanna Iannone, a desk experience associate and leasing consultant at 345 Flats. “Our gym is indoors, our mailing is indoors, so you never have to leave.”

– Morgan McGrath

University Edge is an off-campus housing complex located at 1150 Rhodes Road in Kent, Ohio. Savannah Monks / The Kent Stater

Editor’s note: This content is reprised from the spring 2022 edition of Best of Kent.

Best Residence Hall

Centennial Courts FIRST

Centennial Courts has been housing students for 20 years now, so it is only fitting that the dorm won first place during its anniversary year.

There are six dorms in the Centennial Courts, courts A-F.

The halls are a short walk from the Student Center, library and Rosie’s, making it a prime spot for easy access to some of the more popular locations on campus.

Centennial Court C is also one of the few housing halls that allow students over the age of 21 to have alcohol. The dorms come with plenty of space, and the main attraction is a private bathroom.

The dorms have lounge areas for students to hang out, as well as a kitchen for students to make their own food.

“The dorms are the nicest on campus in my experience,” said Nathaniel Kaduk, a junior computer science major. “The people have been nice and the building feels secure. I would definitely recommend living here if you have the chance.”

Tri-Towers

With a diner, fitness center, laundromat and many other benefits just a stairwell away, it is easy to see why Tri Towers is a favorite residence hall.

“I love the fact that it has so many things in one area,” said Amanda Bogus, a freshman exploratory major. “I can go do my laundry, eat and work out all without having to leave. It is especially useful in the winter; you can stay in comfy clothes the whole time.”

Tri Towers is made up of four halls: Korb, Leebrick, Koonce and Wright. It is one of the largest housing complexes on campus, with roughly 1,535 students. The halls also contain four Living-Learning Communities: the LGBTQ+, aeronautics and engineering, College of Arts and Sciences and computer science.

Each dorm has up to 12 floors and the top floor of some have a large lounge complete with a kitchen.

SECOND THIRD

Olson Hall

Located next to the MAC Center, Olson Hall has been at the center of the campus since 1961. Easy walking distance to the student center, library, DI Hub and many other places helps solidify Olson as the third best hall, voted by students.

The hall is part of the Quad, along with Lake, Stopher and Johnson, and it is home to roughly 235 students, most of whom are part of the College of Communication and Information Living-Learning Community.

“Honestly it just feels like we got a little community,” said Oscar Zvomuya, a freshman exploratory major. “We got a group chat that people can say when they need something and we try and help each other out. We look out for each other.”

Ty Kohler

Centennial Court B. Matthew Brown / The Kent Stater

Olson Hall is located between the MAC Center and the Design Innovation Hub. Lillie Leasure / The Kent Stater

Sophomore housing requirement leads to financial stress

Hannah Keil Reporter

At Kent State, all freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus. The only exemptions for underclassmen – under 60 credits – include medical reasons, financial hardships, commuters and fraternity or sorority housing.

Housing on campus is expensive. While currently living in the Honors dorms on campus, I pay $4,198 per semester for housing. That comes to just under $1,000 per month in rent, essentially. This is especially true since you get kicked out of your room over winter break, unless you pay the $25 per day to stay in the dorms.

If I were to live off campus in a 2-bedroom apartment, splitting the rent with one other person, I could be spending as little as under $500 a month. That is easily half of what I am paying to live in the dorms. While most of the cheapest apartments are unfurnished, even furnished ones start at $589 per month plus electricity.

College is expensive, that is a known fact. As an out of state student living in the dorms, I am paying around $20,000 a semester before scholarships. For students paying that much to go here, they should not be required to spend twice as much on rent to live in the dorms.

I have savings and I have a job. Instead of being able to enjoy any of that money, almost all of it goes to paying Kent State for my ridiculously expensive out of state tuition,

which is a whole other issue, and my entirely overpriced room and board costs.

Now I’m not saying that first year students are included in my thoughts. I can see why they should be required to live in a dorm as a way to introduce themselves to the campus and adjust to the new college lifestyle. Past that, however, it should be the student’s choice.

In reality, there is no major fundamental difference between a sophomore and a junior. They are all for the most part taking major-specific classes, still have semesters left until graduation and have basically the same maturity level. Sophomores and juniors, for all intents and purposes, are essentially the same and should be treated equally. This is especially true since class standing does not equal age. Some students come into Kent as a first year student with 50-plus credit hours, which according to Kent, makes them sophomores or juniors when they come in. In their case, they should technically be a freshman but are actually upperclassmen. What about them? Why do they get the privilege of living off campus just because they took more classes in high school?

I, like many other students, am trying my best to graduate from Kent with as little debt as possible. I can’t do that while living in the dorms. My solution? Taking 12-15 credits over the summer, just so I can have the automatic exemption required for me to live in the apartment that I already signed a lease for next year.

While summer classes are typically more expensive than normal classes are, the money I will be saving from living off campus next year will make it more than worth it. Regardless, I should not have to sacrifice my entire summer and sanity just to save thousands of dollars in rent a semester.

Kent State needs to recognize the financial stress that campus housing places on students. To do this, there are two possible solutions.

First, although I feel as though this should be done regardless, Kent should lower the prices of living in the dorms. The price tag increases every year for new students, which increases the financial burden on new students each year.

Second, Kent should allow students of sophomore standing to live off campus. Once they orient themselves to the campus freshman year, students should be able to spread their wings and figure things out on their own.

By doing these things, Kent would provide students with more chances and opportunities to succeed. Instead of burying students in unreasonable amounts of student debt, Kent should allow students to pick their battles and choose more financially conscious decisions.

Fast and tasty food

The key to fast cooking is prep. Set out all ingredients and utensils that you’ll need for your meal and read the instructions all the way through before you start.

Mexican four cheese and chicken quesadilla: Save money and time with your favorite mexican restaurant meal right at home! bit.ly/KWmexican

Shrimp stir-fry with peppers and summer squash: bit.ly/KWshrimp

Tuscan tortellini soup: The perfect soup to keep you warm this winter. bit.ly/KWtuscansoup

Quesadilla burger: Honestly this just sounds amazing. bit.ly/KWburger

bye bye ramen hello kitchen

20 hot ideas for college life cooking

It’s a new year, the weather is colder than ever, and you need every excuse to stay inside this winter. There are so many off-campus apartments that offer beautiful fully equipped kitchens so this is the perfect time for you to put them to use!

Story written by Madison Baughman

Healthy and mouthwatering

Don’t let the word healthy scare you away from these delicious meals!

10 tools you need

Not sure what you need in your kitchen?

Here are the top 10 utensils for cooking.

•Saute pan/Frying pan

•Cooking pot

•Measuring cups

•Oven mitts

•Strainer

•Spatula

•Wooden spoon

•Sheet pan

•Cutting boards

•Blender

Lazy tricks you should know

Plan ahead. Find a day where you have time to make meals that you can stick in the fridge for you to grab on the go throughout the week. Do the same with snacks!

Know when to splurge.

You’re young, have some fun! Just know you don’t have to break the bank to do so. Go to $5 monday movie nights instead of movies on the weekends. Going to a theme party?

Go to Gabe’s or a thrift store. Have your friends over for dinner and make one of the meals to the left instead of going out to a restaurant!

Get a refillable water bottle. Instead of buying plastic water bottles over and over, save some money. Make your food last. Put your bread and bagels in the fridge so they don’t expire as fast. Cut up your fruits and vegetables as soon as you can so you will be more likely to eat them before they go bad.

Gourmet and delicious

These meals take a little extra time but they are so worth it and make you feel like a master chef!

Baked garlic chicken and potatoes: bit.ly/KWbakedchicken

One pot sausage and veggies: Basically throw all the good stuff into a pot. Easy and tastes amazing. bit.ly/KWonepot

Greek veggie burgers with cucumber feta sauce: Don’t knock veggie burgers till you try them! And cucumber feta sauce.. Oh my gosh, YUM! bit.ly/KWgreekburger

Honey Dijon chicken and veggie foil packs: One of the best parts about this recipe is that there isn’t a lot of clean up. Put all your ingredients on the foil and you can use it as a plate! bit.ly/KWfoilchicken

Oven-baked four cheese rigatoni rosa: Who needs Olive Garden when you can make this amazing dish in your own kitchen! bit.ly/KWrigatoni

Teriyaki steak stir-fry with peppers: The perfect excuse to splurge on steak. bit.ly/KWstirfry

Chicken and potatoes with garlic parmesan spinach cream sauce: Keep saying the name over and over and try to help your mouth from watering. bit.ly/KWchickenpotato

Grilled honey chili lime cilantro chicken: These skewers are perfect for bringing back that summer feeling. bit.ly/KWgrillchicken

Make a list and put it on your fridge. It is a lot easier to grocery shop when you know exactly what you need. When you run out of something just write it down on the list and keep it on your fridge so you won’t lose it!

Buy the off brand. You’ll be able to save a few bucks and if you close your eyes, you won’t be able to tell the difference!

Spray butter is easy. Toast is a good, quick meal for you to make in the morning and spray butter is great because you don’t have to dirty any utensils!

Side Hustles in College

College is stressful, but your finances don’t have to be. Maybe you can’t make rent this month, or you really want to see that artist in concert. Whatever the reason, we’re here to help by sharing our tips to make a few more bucks in tough times.

DONATE PLASMA

Donating plasma is such a great and easy way to make money in a pinch. Oftentimes plasma donation centers will give their donors $100 to $120 dollars in their first series of donations per donation.

Donating plasma is the same process as donating blood, but they separate the plasma from the blood in a centrifuge. Make sure to look up a center near you, and bring all the necessary paperwork to your initial donation. This includes your ID, Social Security Card, and mail as proof of your current address.

Make sure you follow the health guidelines they provide online closely. Drinking lots of water and eating a meal before your donation is essential.

SELL YOUR OLD CLOTHES ON A RESALE SITE

Selling your clothes is so much better for the environment than your clothes ending up in a landfill, and it helps you too!

Selling your clothes online through an app makes sure it’s going to someone who loves it and it helps you make a little profit.

PAPER AND RESUME EDITING

Are you relatively good with grammar and catching typos? Offer your services to others by proofreading their papers and resumes. This can even be done virtually allowing for lots of schedule flexibility.

Offering $15.00 - $20.00 per hour or $3 a page is a great way to make a little money in a small amount of time.

FLIPPING FURNITURE

Flipping furniture is a great way to make some extra money if you have a little bit of space and time. People will often give away furniture and decorations for free on Facebook Marketplace or you could buy it at a thrift store for cheap.

Make sure you buy furniture that is sturdy and of good quality, invest in a neutral paint, sandpaper and some woodstain. Oftentimes with a little paint and perseverance, you can make a $5 furniture stand into a $50 one!

SELL YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY TALENTS

If you are majoring in photography or it’s simply a hobby of yours, you can sell your photos to paid stock photo websites or you can charge for photoshoots.

Even if you are just starting out, doing 30 minute $50 photoshoots for couples on campus would be a great date for them and an awesome way for you to make money.

This will give you great experience and potentially portfolio content while also giving you a little extra cash.

SIGN UP ON AN APP TO DELIVER FOOD OR GIVE OTHERS A RIDE

Apps like Uber, Lyft, GrubHub, DoorDash, InstaCart, and so many others provide pay while also allowing you to work whenever and wherever you want. This flexibility is great for students by allowing you freedom to have fun while also getting a paycheck.

~ Story by Rylee Crowley / Illustrations by Anna Yantek

What Pet is Right For You?

Does your apartment/dorm allow pets?

A. Sure does!

B. Only little ones!

C. No, but they turn a blind eye if it’s not disruptive.

D. Definitely not

How much time are you willing to spend with your pet?

A. Most of my day.

B. A few hours a day.

C. About an hour a day.

D. My schedule is crazy busy so something low maintenance!

Are you thinking about getting a furry friend?

Pets can be excellent roommates, or the subject of a cautionary tale when it comes to college living. Follow the quiz below and see what pet is right for you!

~ Story by Rylee Crowley / Illustrations by Anna Yantek

Do you or your roommates have bad pet hair allergies?

A. A little, but certain pet fur is okay.

B. Nope!

C. I’m not sure.

D. Either my roommate or I have horrible allergies.

How much money can you spend on your pet?

A. $500-$1000 first-time cost and roughly $150 per month

B. $300-$400 first-time cost and roughly $100 per month

C. $185-$250 first-time cost and roughly $15 per month

D. $50-$100 first-time cost and roughly $5 per month

How much can you set aside and save for unforeseen expenses/emergency visits?

A. $1,000 - $2,000

B. $800 - $1,500

C. $100 - $300

D. $50

How knowledgeable are you about pet training?

A. I’m knowledgeable and willing to learn!

B. I know the basics!

C. I’ll figure it out.

D. Literally nothing.

Are you a patient person?

A. I am the most patient person you’ll ever meet!

B. For the most part, but I have limits.

C. I do, but I lose it quickly.

D. Not really.

Do you like going on walks? Do you have time to do them?

A. Love them, yes!

B. Every now and then.

C. Rarely.

D. Walking with no destination is pointless!

Now add up how many of each letter you chose! Your most-selected letter determines your pet:

Mostly A’s: The best pet for you is a dog! You have all the necessities to care for this high maintenance friend. Your pup needs lots of walks, potty breaks, attention, and love. These friends are so rewarding, but lots of responsibility!

Mostly B’s: The best pet for you is a cat! You require something slightly less expensive and low maintenance. These purring partners will be great for cuddles at night, but you won’t have to worry about them being home alone for big parts of the day. Just make sure you’re not allergic!

Mostly C’s: The best pet for you is a small fuzzy pet like a bunny, guinea pig, or hamster! These guys can be cuddly, but they require a lot less maintenance and surprise expenses than cats & dogs. Just make sure you’re cleaning their bedding often!

Mostly D’s: The best pet for you is a fish! Fish light up your room and are so much fun to watch. You can decorate their tank to match your room aesthetic, and give them fun names! Fish require low levels of maintenance and time, but allow you to have a pet to call your own!

Play These Medieval Games

Created by Anna Yantek

MOAT ARMOR DRAWBRIDGE

KING PALACE LEGEND

SWORD TROLL JESTER

CASTLE RATS JOUSTING

PEASANT MAGIC QUEEN

PRINCESS WITCH ROYAL

HOVEL GOBLIN DRAGON

WIZARD KNIGHT COBBLESTONE

Who was the roundest knight at King Arthur’s table? Sir Cumference!

What does a condiment wizard perform? Saucery!

Why didn’t the sun ever shine on the castle? It was full of knights!

Solve the Maze!

Help the dragon eat the ice cream.

Spot the Di erences!

Crack the Code!

What do you call two witches who share a haunted house?