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| High crime areas around campus
pg. 20 | Pet-friendly housing pg. 21
| Winterizing is coming November 2015 •Housing Issue
Housing Issue
NOV. 9, 2015
2015 – 16 STAFF Editor-in-Chief
Fernanda Crescente
Managing Editor
Renee Gooch
News Editor
Cassandra Lipp
News Editor PatrickMurphy Sports Editor
David Wysong
College Life Editor
Matthew Nichols
Arts Editor
Russell Hausfeld
Online Editor
Molly Cohen
Photo Editor
Daniel Sullivan
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Alexandra Taylor
Chief Reporter
Huy Nguyen
Opinion Editor
Maggie Heath-Bourne
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Lisa Cai
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Natalie Sehweil
Copy Editor
Steve Beynon
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NOV. 9, 2015
Housing Issue
Off-campus living expensive, cheaper than living in dorms DULCINEA RILEY | STAFF REPORTER
DAN SULLIVAN | PHOTO EDITOR
Although commuting students face long lines of backed up traffic and treacherous driving conditions due to poor weather, they are able to save money on rent and other expenses.
Opinion: Commuting pros, cons CASSIE LIPP | NEWS EDITOR
No matter where I find a parking space, it is always a long trek from campus. Sometimes I wait for the shuttle, but it always takes forever. Other times, I just start walking. Combined with the morning traffic rush and inability to find a parking space, I am always running late. By the time I get to class panting, sweating and aggravated, I am ready to start my long day of school and work. I question why I do not just move closer to campus sometimes, yet after commuting to school for nearly four years there is not a thing I would change about my college experience. Back in high school some teachers, coaches and students tried to talk me out of commuting. They said I would not be able to get “the full college experience” if I did not live in a dorm. I admit I did not experience college as much during my freshman year, as I went to Xavier University where most students lived on campus. However, my experience changed after I transferred to the University of Cincinnati. Here at UC, we seem to have our own built-in community. Even if I did not join any campus organizations right away, I felt like I was right at home, as many of my friends I knew from work and high school went here. After getting involved with The News Record and writing stories about virtually all the campus grous, I cannot think of a better college experience. I have met so many amazing students and faculty and it is inspiring to shine a spotlight on the great
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things they do. Commuting all four years has also helped me to maintain a good relationship with my family. While many students may only see their parents and siblings during the holidays, I see my parents and sister almost every day, even if it is just in between classes or on my way out the door. Aside from being able to see my family more often, the biggest benefit of commuting is avoiding the exorbitant rent prices in Clifton. The unaffordable rent is a big reason why moving closer to campus was not an option. Uptown Rentals seems to dominate all properties in the area, and their prices are not so student friendly. Rent for most onebedroom Uptown properties cost about $700900, which is unfeasible for students working for minimum wage. Another insane cost I have learned to avoid is parking. The parking pass I bought at Xavier University was $100 for the entire school year. Student parking passes at UC range from $230 to $480 for one semester. Instead, I find street parking elsewhere in Clifton and ride the shuttle the remainder of the way to school. Although the shuttle services seem understaffed lately and I end up having to wait about 15-20 minutes for it, I am still happy to avoid selling my soul for closer parking. College is expensive enough, so I should not be spending any more money than I already am. The thousands of dollars I save every month are worth the look of disgust I get from people when I tell them I still live with my parents.
Weighing the pros and cons of on-campus versus off-campus living is something most college students will consider at some point in their four or five years of college. Questions of campus involvement, independence, geographic convenience and financial cost, are all things students and their families consider. It is important to note family involvement specifically for the University of Cincinnati, because while the overall enrollment of UC amounts to over 40,000 students, 34,803 students are Ohio residents. Joseph White, a Cincinnati native and firstyear psychology student said he is currently commuting from his parent’s home because it was the “least expensive option.” White also pointed out sleeping in his own bed and home-cooked meals were major incentives for staying at home and worth not living on campus. He said he was considering getting an apartment with friends in the future, but only if “funds allow.” Leia Carter, a first-year clarinet performance student who commutes from her home in Walnut Hills, described similar pros as White, but also held focus on the cons. Carter said commuting from home makes it difficult to make friends and also noted her friends who live on campus “don’t invite me anywhere because they assume I’m home,” adding she planned on getting an apartment near UC by the next school year. The stances of White and Carter are relatable. Many commuters have to weigh the advantages of independence and
involvement versus the undeniable luxury of home security, as well as the reality of financial issues. Of those two sides of the coin, it is clear the majority of students will inevitably come to favor the cost of living over direct access to college activities. Out of 44,241 students, UC’s website shows only 5,238 of those students live on campus, most of whom do not extend beyond firstyear students from further areas of Ohio and beyond. The rest, being the bulk of UC’s students, are commuters. Many have homes mere blocks away in Corryville and Clifton Heights, but some opt to live down the hill in the Gaslight District and Over-the-Rhine. Lee Robert, a third-year cello performance major, is currently living in Kennedy Heights, a 15-minute drive from UC. Robert said while dorms on campus are expensive, the properties immediately surrounding the university are extremely costly as well, since they are priced with the expectation of roommates sharing the cost. His home in Kennedy Heights is far enough to not have the “university housing” cost, but is close enough to not be outlandishly inconvenient. He is confident the cost of convenience is worth the disadvantage of parking around campus. Campus involvement is a tremendous part of the college experience, and it is each students choice how they shall juggle cost, convenience and experience. However, the numbers show for many students, its inevitable cost will take precedence over other factors.
FILE ART | DAN SULLIVAN
As students leave campus to seek more independent housing, a whole list of pros and cons should be considered when looking for housing.
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Dabney Hall still a viable housing option for students
ALEXANDRA TAYLOR | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Students choose Dabney Hall for the home-like feeling, but say the oldest residence hall on campus needs improvements when compared to newer places available and renewed dormitories. JEFF O’REAR | STAFF REPORTER
Built in 1960, Dabney Hall is the oldest resident hall at the University of Cincinnati, Situated next door to Fifth Third Arena. The exterior of the building has its worn red bricks and air conditioner units hanging out every dorm room window. In the courtyard, the supporting pillars have a dated color-tie mosaic on them. Even with it being nothing special to see as one of the oldest non-renovated dorm buildings on campus, Dabney Hall is home to around 300 UC students, many of whom are freshmen.
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Despite the age of the resident hall, the students still enjoy their time living in the 55-year-old building. “I love it here,” said Katlin Hynd, a firstyear education and criminal justice student. “It’s so social. Everyone does everything together.” Dabney’s shortcomings compared to the more modern, flashier dorms on campus did not stop Hynd’s love for Dabney, who says it feels homey. Paras Arora, a first-year business student from India, agreed with Hynd. “The environment here is very good,” Arora said. “We are very social here.”
The lobby of the dorm is spacious with pool and ping-pong tables to help students socialize. Despite his love for Dabney, Arora believes upgrades could be done to make the experience more comfortable for residents. “There’s no lift, and the washrooms are kind of small,” Arora said. “It could use some up keeping and some upgrades. I don’t think girls and boys should be divided, it should be like Daniels Hall.” Even though there has been a lack of upgrades done to Dabney, UC has made strides into the 21st century through new architecture on older buildings.
Earlier this year, the school unveiled a newly renovated Morgens Hall. The dorm now features floor-to-ceiling windows as part of an eco-friendly, low-emissions building. It was named the seventh most luxurious student housing building by BestCollegeValues.com. The newer, fancier dorms on campus did not seem to faze those playing pool in the Dabney lobby. While Dabney is not making any national lists for efficiency or amenities, they say it is still home.
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NOV. 9, 2015
Housing Issue
Opinion: The Rent Is Too Damn High, poor living conditions MAGGIE HEATH-BOURNE | OPINION EDITOR
Rent in the University of Cincinnati area has gotten out of control. With just a few major realtors controlling the market, rent prices in Clifton and Clifton Heights, University Heights and Fairview (CUF) have hit an all-time high. According to a CBRE survey, average monthly rent in Cincinnati was $804 at the end of 2014, following a citywide six-year upward trend. Data collected by Rainmaker Insights, a property data collection service operating under listing website Rent Jungle, indicates this number crept up to an average of $847 per month at the end of August. In Clifton alone the average monthly rent is $819, with CUF coming in at $876. Given the proximity to UC and the shops, bars and restaurants in the area, this may not seem like a bad deal. But once you consider quality, things start looking bleak for renters. Two of the biggest names in Clifton real estate are Gaslight Property and Uptown Rental Properties. Gaslight Property rents studios, commercial
space and everything in between. Residential space is available in both houses and apartment buildings. When a search on their website is narrowed down to properties in the West Campus area, the average monthly rent is in the mid-$500 range per tenant, a pretty reasonable price for the convenience of walking to campus or a nearby shuttle stop. However, utilities make this seemingly practical rent skyrocket. I met with Gaslight Property recently to look at three apartments. When average utilities were included in the base price, I was looking at a monthly rent of over $700. While it is not unusual for rental companies to exclude utilities from the base rent, this seemed a little steep, considering the area. Still, I went forward with an open mind. Unfortunately, I was in for even more disappointment. Each of the apartments I viewed, tenant-free and supposedly ready for showing, was dirty and poorly constructed. The front door to one of these apartments did not even close all the way, leaving a good half-inch between the door and the frame at the top.
A quick online search led me to a slew of complaints about the company and its apartments. One of its properties received an average of 1.8 out of 5 stars on ApartmentRatings.com, with commenters citing bed bug infestations and shoddy security. Google reviews were not a lot more flattering, with a recent user simply describing an apartment as “gross.” For over $700 a month, I want to know I am safe and that I can expect a clean living environment. Sadly, it was not to be. Uptown Rental Properties is even pricier, with an average monthly rent in the mid-$700 range for a base rent on properties available in West Clifton. The newly-constructed Views on Vine runs upward of $1,000 per tenant. The Internet is slightly kinder to this company, as it has earned an average of three stars on both Yelp and Google. For that kind of rent, I certainly hoped they would do a better job than Gaslight. Despite slightly better, though decidedly lukewarm reviews, Uptown contributes to the steadily rising rent in Clifton and CUF. Dorms are hardly cheap, with some costing
students over $800 per month for a 12-month lease and off-campus options are only going to get costlier. Even on-campus options outside of dorms are expensive. USquare, owned by Towne Properties, runs between $867 and $1,150 per tenant. Companies like Gaslight Property and Uptown Rental Property are not making it easy to find viable off-campus housing in the area. With limited options, it is tough to find more affordable quality housing. Add in negative reviews and it is not a pretty picture. While there are options available outside of these businesses, having large companies dominate the market only drives prices further up. With more students enrolling at UC, rent has only one direction to go – up. Unfortunately, there is not much to be done about high rent other than to scour listings for reasonable prices. However, I encourage apartment-seekers to be mindful of the reputations of these companies and do plenty of research. As for me, I grew tired of the Clifton search and signed a lease in Oakley.
Athletes do not get same privileges of Bearcats under full scholarships JASON SZELEST | STAFF REPORTER
Contrary to popular belief, not all athletes have everything taken care of for them. Many are not provided free housing, as this
is only awarded to the few who receive fullride scholarships. This forces athletes to make the decision to live on or off campus. Living on campus is a popular option for
freshman athletes, as it gives them a better chance to get acclimated to the university and meet new people who share the same building. Andrew McDonald, former University
ALEXANDRA TAYLOR | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
With non-scholarship athletes having to decide between on and off campus housing, freshmen typically choose dorms and older students choose off-campus housing.
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of Cincinnati cross-country runner, was a non-scholarship athlete who chose to live in Turner Hall his freshman year. “I enjoyed the apartment-style living of Turner,” McDonald said. “It offered a lot of the freedom of being in an apartment without actually being off campus.” While first-year, non-scholarship athletes appear to prefer the option of on-campus living, many do not continue this path. Very few sophomore, junior and senior nonscholarship athletes choose to reside in oncampus dorms and opt to move off campus into their own house or apartment. McDonald was one of the many who ventured away from campus housing after his freshman year. “I just wanted the freedom to have my own place, separate from campus,” McDonald said. McDonald said another major reason for his decision is the fact off-campus housing costs less. By the time these athletes graduate, a good amount of them spent time living both on and off campus. “I think they both have benefits,” McDonald said. “Living on campus provided close proximity to friends and school. Off-campus provides me more living space and saves money. I think underclassmen will find more enjoyment on campus, while upperclassmen would rather live off campus.”
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A commuter’s guide to parking around campus
Students that do not live around campus and commute can find parking around the university difficult, but a few places around UC are more likely to have free parking than others. RUSSELL HAUSFELD | ARTS EDITOR
There are a lot of things to consider when driving to campus on a weekly basis — gas prices, car maintenance and, of course, parking. Parking can be a real challenge around Clifton to those who are unfamiliar with the area, but there are a few tips to keep in mind when attempting to find a spot for your car. 1. Parking Passes Any student who is afraid of parallel parking may want to look into a parking pass. They allow access to one of many garages around campus, but typically at a very steep price. Passes range from $198 per semester for garages further away from campus to $481 per semester for garages near CCM. Parking passes are great for first- or second-year students who may have a little extra financial help from parents at home, but become expensive compared to other options close to campus or students without family support. 1. Probasco Street and Riddle Road Most commuters will recognize the name Probasco Street. It is directly across from campus, off of Clifton Avenue. The street is full of free street-parking options and, as long as you do not mind a trek up a fairly steep hill, you can usually find a spot there. Probasco Street is a very convenient street
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for anyone trying to get to the school of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning or McMicken College of Arts and Science. If there are absolutely no parking spots down Probasco Street, always check the side streets branching off from it. Marshall Avenue is a good alternative. There is a strip of parking in front of the apartment complex between Probasco Street and Riddle Road on Marshall that never seems to be completely filled up. Which brings us to the next convenient street to park on – Riddle Road. This street starts at the intersection of Clifton Avenue and Martin Luther Kind Drive and, like Probasco Street, extends down a long hill. Riddle will almost always have a free parking spot open and it is only one block further away from campus than Probasco Street. Once again, in a pinch, check out the streets branching off of Riddle for parking. Streets around Ludlow Avenue A little bit further from campus, around Ludlow Avenue, there are a few streets typically good for free parking. Telford Street, Thrall Street and Howell Avenue are normally easy places to find parking, but definitely require a longer walk than streets like Riddle or Probasco. However, UC’s free shuttle goes back and forth from this area throughout the day. Free Parking on Weekends Commuters who are part of student groups
or come to campus on the weekends should definitely take advantage of free meterparking options from 6 p.m. Saturday until
DAN SULLIVAN | PHOTO EDITOR
8 a.m. Monday. Clifton Avenue, McMillan Street and Calhoun Street are normally free during those times.
UC PARKING GARAGE RATES RATES
LOCATION
$481.50/semester
CCM Garage or Varsity Village Garage or McMicken Drive Permit
$418.50/semester
Clifton Court Garage or Calhoun Garage or Kingsgate Garage or Victory Pkwy (Zone A)
$360/semester
Woodside Garage or Campus Green Garage or Eden Avenue Garage (levels 1-7) or Stratford Garage
$243/semester
University Garage or Corry Garage
$231.50/semester
Stratford Lot
$198/semester
Eden Top
$44/semester
Motorcycle Parking
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NOV. 9, 2015
Housing Issue
Convenience does not outweigh overpriced apartments MATT NICHOLS | COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR
For many new college students, finding a safe and comfortable apartment off campus are main priorities when considering a new place to live, and some of the newest apartment complexes around campus offer exactly that, but for a price many students might not be able to afford. Apartment complexes like Views on Vine, University Park Apartments (UPA) and VP3 have sprung up all around campus, appealing to students with fully furnished rooms and provided amenities, but for prices nearing $1,000 a month. The draw to these apartments starts with convenience. The structures are relatively new with modern aesthetics, a simple room layout and are generally at accessible locations around campus. Most of these complexes provide furniture, electricity, Wi-Fi, most major appliances and other luxuries within the complex like tanning, gaming and even workout rooms. To top it off, most complexes will combine fees onto one bill, making payments as simple as a single monthly expense. However, for the price range asked for monthly bills, some students question whether these apartments are worth the costs. One of the closest and most popular apartments for UC students is UPA, located on the southern border of campus above several local eateries and businesses. Blake Sowry, a third-year electronic media student, lived at UPA for two years before moving to a less costly house a few blocks off campus. “It felt cheap. The appliances weren’t very up to date, and the doors were paper thin,” Sowry said. “Just the quality of the place overall was not very good. I felt like I was paying for the location more than anything.” While admittedly convenient, the cheapest apartments in UPA are four person living spaces that clump students into a cozy two bedroom suite, costing $3,920 a semester, each, according to the UPA website. Considering the semester is roughly only four months, the most inexpensive UPA rooms cost around $980 a month. “I loved it when I did live there basically just because of the location, but I wanted to get off campus to get that college experience and UPA wasn’t really providing that,” Sowry said. “I don’t think I’d go back there because it was so ridiculously expensive.” Still, this can seem like a deal for students looking to find quality housing for the lowest price, as costs only increase at UPA when getting a shared room for two ($4,117/ semester) or a single room ($4,365/semester). After two years in UPA, Sowry said he left
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DAN SULLIVAN | PHOTO EDITOR
Located on Corry Street, the VP3 apartment complex offers a convenient living option for students, but students may be paying more for location than quality.
to enjoy the convenience of an off-campus student house. “The tradeoff is there, but living at my own house had a lot to do with it,” Sowry said. “Having to swipe my card to get in and taking three flights of stairs to let my friends in was kind of annoying, so having a house is definitely easier on that end.” Sowry’s current rent of $425 per month, plus utilities, averages at around $550 a month. While the walk to his current apartment is eight minutes longer than before, Sowry is still saving over $300 a month on rent. Another newly constructed housing complex, Views on Vine, is located just off the east side of campus above Fifth-Third Bank and Taste of Belgium, with costs starting at $710 a month for a three bedroom apartment, according to the UpTown Rental Properties
website. George Kulka, a fourth-year engineering student, lived in the Views on Vine apartment complex for a year and was disappointed with his overall experience, especially for the cost. “We had paper thin walls and the utilities were definitely not as nice as advertised,” Kulka said. “I expected to have a brand new quality apartment, and instead I got a semidecent college dorm room that I was paying way too much to live in.” These costs only increase for more spacious rooms, topping at nearly $1050 a month for a single bedroom suite. Still, UpTown Rental Properties has found success in these new apartment structures and is adding an entirely new complex adjacent to the deconstructed Kroger just off UC’s campus.
The new complex, called VP3, went under construction in 2014 and is currently unavailable for rent, but listings for the new complex are already displayed on the UpTown Rental website. The new structure’s prices range from $815-$2,999 a month for a unit, according to UpTown Rental Properties’ website. While the difference in these costs is unspecified by the website, these are comparably equal if not greater than the starting asking price for the Views on Vine apartments. “Obviously most college students need a place to live and these places have everything provided, so it’s the simple decision if you have the money,” Kulka said. “I’m paying under $500 for rent now and I’m saving money month, so I’ll walk a little further to have some extra cash.”
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Housing Issue
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXANDRA TAYLOR | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Coupons make it easier for students to save money on food and household items during their trips to the grocery store, but students should be mindful of couponing rules and expensive brands.
Six great ways to make saving money a breeze CASSIE LIPP | NEWS EDITOR
Although the phenomenon known as “extreme couponing” has seemed to slow down after grocery stores caught on to crazy coupon users and updated their coupon policies, it is still an easy way to save money. Without careful planning, however, coupons are also an easy way to spend more money. Here are a few tips to make your next trip to the grocery easier: 1. Buy the newspaper. On second thought, buy two The nest source for coupons is the Sunday paper. It typically costs about $2, but pays for itself once you use a few coupons. After seeing people on the TLC show “Extreme Couponing” run around their neighborhoods stealing everyone else’s newspapers to obtain more coupons, I opted to just buy another newspaper so I had twice as many coupons. This helps for coupons that require you to buy multiple products in order to save money. If you do not want to drop the extra cash on a second newspaper, get together with a friend who clips coupons and exchange the ones you do not plan on using. There are also coupon books in newsstands you can find on the sidewalks around campus with deals on food and haircuts.
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2. Pay attention to the prices of generic brands Sometimes with a coupon, name brand products are still more expensive than generic brands. This is how some shoppers actually end up spending more money with coupons. Use coupons on products you never opt to buy cheaper brands, such as toothpaste. 3. Ask yourself if you really want to buy a product Clip coupons for products you normally buy or new products you want to try. Buying a product simply because you have a coupon is another trick making shoppers spend more money. 4. Read the fine print at the bottom Reading the fine print helps you find loopholes and saves you embarrassment when the store clerk says you can’t use a coupon. For example, buying the smallest size of a product allowed by the fine print is one way to maximize your savings. When a coupon indicates you must buy two or more products in order to save, shoppers can usually use more than one of the same coupon — unless otherwise stated in the fine print. Also check the store’s coupon policy, which should be available online. 5. Look for free coupon websites
Kroger’s official website allows you to clip coupons online and load them onto your Kroger Plus card. You can also find hundreds of websites offering free printable coupons by simply searching Google. Keep in mind many of these sites may have the same coupons available if you check them around the same time. There are also websites that will keep you updated on sales and specials throughout the U.S., such as “Hey It’s Free!” and “The Krazy Coupon Lady.” 6. Do not forget to sign up for those free newsletters. Sign up for email updates from businesses you frequently shop at or your favorite brands. Avoid overloading your personal email account by making a “coupons-only” email account. This also gives you the opportunity to sign up for an email reward program multiple times if they offer a birthday gift of prize for joining. Keep in mind searching for good coupons and deals is a time commitment; some students opt to just buy cheaper brands or shop at discount stores. However, with careful organization and planning you can save money. It can also be helpful to separate coupons by product category and keep them separated in an accordion folder to make finding them at the checkout easier.
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Unexpected campus expenses empties pockets RUSSEL HAUSFELD | ARTS EDITOR
Many crave the opportunity to intimately get to know their school and its surrounding area, but it is hard not to shutter at the thought of shelling out the money to experience living in an on-campus dorm. The average undergraduate student at the University of Cincinnati pays around $11,000 a year just to attend the university. This number doubles once dorm and meal plan expenses are added. According to UC’s 2015-16 housing and meal plan rates, housing and meal packages range anywhere from $10,716 to $13,050 a year, depending on how many people students live with and where they plan to stay. Meal plans are not required with a room. Without a meal plan, rooms range from between $6,000 to $8,000.
A Gallup Poll found that in 2012 found that the average American spends $151 on food each week, which is the equivalent of $604 a month. This is a pretty scary chunk of money to think about by itself. But what are some other expenses people might not initially take into account when thinking about oncampus housing? Laundry Every residence hall at UC is equipped with a laundry room — Daniels Hall even has two. Although the university is charging thousands of dollars to live on campus, it does not provide free laundry services. A load of laundry costs $3.25. These prices decrease by about 25 cents when using a Bearcat Card. Transportation While it might be great to be on campus, eventually students need to get away from it
and go somewhere else. Assuming a student owns a car, they can fork over somewhere between $400 and $800 a year for a parking pass to keep their car in a garage on campus. Another method of getting around is to utilize public transportation. A 30-day bus pass will run students anywhere from $70 to $170, depending on where they need to go. An average UC student could buy $70 pass, as those include buses traveling within Cincinnati. Using the bus sparingly, however, is fairly affordable. A day pass with unlimited rides around Cincinnati is only $4.50. Another fun way to get around is by bike, whether it is your own or one of the Red Bikes around the city. Red Bike is a bike sharing system that is affordable and convenient. The day-pass rate for the bikes is a little
high at $8, but an annual pass is only $80. A 120-day semester rate is offered at $30. Books and Supplies What list about college expenses would be complete without mentioning books? In 2014, the College Board estimated the average college student spends around $1,200 on books and supplies, with single textbooks costing up to $200. This is not taking into account special cases, like any student within UC’s school of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning who has to consistently restock extremely expensive supplies just to be able to complete coursework. When thinking about living on campus and stressing yourself out planning a budget, be sure to consider the extra things you will be spending money on besides just housing.
DAN SULLIVAN | PHOTO EDITOR
Many students do not consider costs beyond the thousands of dollars charged upfront when living in a dorm, but necessary spending goes up when taking into account food costs, laundry, transportation and school supplies.
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NOV. 9, 2015
Top 20: Easy steps to saving money living as a student JUSTIN REUTTER | STAFF REPORTER
Due to the crushing weight of college loans, rent and general costs of going to college and having a social life, college students are always looking for ways to save money. The News Record has compiled a list of 20 tips for students to save more money on utilities, books and general costs. 1. Take short showers and turn the lights off when not using them. Don’t blast the heat or air conditioning if you don’t need to. In other words, try not to waste electricity, as it can be costly. 2. Pay your utility bills before they are due each month to avoid large late fees. 3. You save 3 percent on your heat bill for every degree you lower the thermostat. 4. Use a free checking card if possible. For example, US Bank offers a student plan, in which no fees are assessed on your checking account every month. 5. Make sure to keep an eye on your checking account. Your card will sometimes still be accepted even with insufficient funds and your bank will charge overdraft fees. 6. Try to get used books where possible. Students who are selling are trying to make a profit, but will usually sell for less than the bookstores. 7. If you bought books from the bookstore, sell them to other students at the end of the semester. The bookstore will not pay a lot for used books, so this type of arrangement will benefit both students. 8. Borrow books from the school library. 9. If you must buy a book, try to buy or rent the e-book whenever possible. They are often much cheaper than buying physical texts. 10. Use coupons whenever and wherever possible.
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11. Don’t grocery shop while hungry – you will spend more than you need. 12. Use student discounts. Some restaurants will offer discounted rates as well as some services. For instance, Spotify offers a 50 percent discount with a premium subscription. 13. Shop at stores like Goodwill. You can sometimes find nice clothes much cheaper than you would fresh off the line. 14. Find out where your bank’s ATMs are. UC has a partnership with PNC, so more PNC ATMs are found around campus than anything else. But if you are a Fifth Third or US Bank customer, there are ATMs inside TUC for you. This means you can avoid ATM withdrawal fees. 15. Take out federal loans before private loans. They are generally subsidized and have interest that compounds at a much lower rate. 16. If you commute, consider using public transportation or carpooling instead of driving yourself. You will save money on parking passes and gas. 17. If moving somewhere off campus, try to find a place that already has appliances. If this is not possible, find out if you can borrow appliances from relatives or friends. Anything you don’t have to buy is one less thing to worry about. 18. If living on campus, find a meal plan that suits you. You don’t necessarily need to get unlimited meals if you don’t think you will use it. However, if you do, you get as many meals as you want and spend the $150 on your Bearcat Card — this may save you money in the long run. 19. Take advantage of free events, many of which offer free meals. A free meal is the best kind of meal. 20. Find a job on campus. They will work with you on reasonable times and often pay above minimum wage.
DAN SULLIVAN | PHOTO EDITOR
As the university seeks to provide a safer learning and living environments, students are reminded that they need to check in guests and that all residence halls require ID cards to enter.
Residence halls take measures to improve safety, combat stealing DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
Tailgating is a term commonly used to express parking-lot parties before sporting events, but the University of Cincinnati is shining a new light on the term by referring to it as a safety concern. According to Trent Pinto, UC’s director of Resident Education and Development, tailgating is when student residents in dormitories welcome others into the halls by leaving their doors, although they may not know who these people are or where they live. “That’s obviously a safety concern and something we try to talk to people about on a regular basis,” Pinto said. Living with many different people in a resident hall opens the opportunity for a plethora of safety issues, but UC workers have established initiatives to help keep students safe. Every resident hall on campus is accessed by a swipe of the Bearcat ID. Despite this safety method being used across campus, it does not always keep unwanted visitors out of the building. During the weekends, visitors must show a worker their student ID and must be signed in by the resident. “All guests are required to be registered with a resident so that we know who is in our facility when an emergency happens,” Pinto said. Pinto said each resident hall has resident advisors, hall directors and community coordinators who work together to keep students safe.
“If any issues were to arise these folks have had extensive training to know how to handle crisis and are keenly aware of resources in the community to get further assistance from,” Pinto said. “All of our major campus partners know our staff and know how to reach them particularly in an emergency situation.” In 2014, Daniels Hall had issues with students not locking their doors to their rooms were having valuable objects stolen like computers. Maria Diersing, a fourth-year biology student, was a RA in Daniels Hall during that time. “When the stuff got stolen the RAs all sent out emails letting students know and telling them to check their own rooms, the importance of locking their doors and not allowing people they didn’t know into the building,” Diersing said. “I think one RA did a program on teaching residents to lock their doors.” It is not solely resident hall workers who are combatting these safety issues, as other are involved as well. “We also have a very strong working relationship with UCPD, the dean of students and university judicial affairs,” Pinto said. “Not much goes on in our residence halls without many people being involved so that we are able to ensure safety and security of everyone on our campus.” There will be safety issues wherever anyone lives, but at UC there are many people working together to combat these issues for the safety of the students.
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Housing Issue
NOV. 9, 2015
Criminal activity around campus still a major concern JUSTIN REUTTER | STAFF REPORTER
One of the most common concerns University of Cincinnati students face while searching for off-campus housing is crime rates and neighborhood safety. After examining the six central Cincinnati police districts within a half-hour drive to campus, police reports have shown some of the more affordable neighborhoods in the Cincinnati area also have some of the highest crime rates. UC’s surrounding neighborhoods are located mainly in Districts 4 and 5, which are known to be relatively safer districts within Cincinnati. District 4, an 11.7 square mile area encompassing Corryville as well as Mt. Auburn, Walnut Hills, Avondale and several other central Cincinnati neighborhoods had a total of 633 crimes in the past two months, 94 of them being violent crimes, according to Cincinnati police Strategic and Tactical Analytic Review for Solutions (STARS) report, dated from Sept. 6 to Oct. 24. Also neighboring the university is District 5, an 18-square mile area including Clifton, Clifton heights, University Heights and Fairview (CUF), Camp Washington, Mt. Adams and
other northwestern neighborhoods, had 490 crimes over the past two months— 77 of them violent, according to STARS. Clifton has a population of 8,304 people, while CUF stands at 16,989 and Mount Washington at 11,711, making the district a heavily populated region. Much like Corryville, these neighborhoods are relatively safe, but crime does occasionally happen. For instance, Oliver Mullikin, a secondyear architecture student, had his car broken into on Riddle Road. Farther out, District 1 appears to have the lowest crime than other districts.
It is a 4.5 mile area that encompasses the West End, Over-The-Rhine, Mt. Adams and Queensgate, with a total of 350 crimes in the past two months, 62 of them violent, according to STARS. However, this district is only a quarter of the size of the larger districts and proportionally had more than twice as many crimes due to larger population concentration in West End and OTR, with about 6,500 residents each. Mt. Adams, Queensgate and Pendleton have much smaller populations of 1,481, 900 and 142, respectively. Over-The-Rhine was once ranked as one
of the most dangerous neighborhoods in America by neighborhoodscout.com, although it has become increasingly “gentrified” in recent years and crime is dropping. In the west, the 20 square-mile District 3 forms the largest of the six districts, including East and West Price Hill, Westwood and a number of smaller neighborhoods. The district had 998 crimes committed in the last two months, with 119 of them violent. This area holds the highest crime rate per district, but also has the largest population. District 2, on the east side of Cincinnati, stretches 24 square miles and is the largest patrol area in Cincinnati. In the past two months, District 2 had 502 reported crimes, 31 of them violent, according to STARS. As one of the largest areas with minimal crime, District 2 shines as one of the safest areas in Cincinnati The last of the districts is Central Business District, an area containing mostly industry and large businesses. Crime in the area is limited.
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Housing Issue
NOV. 9, 2015
Clifton landlords discuss pet-friendly housing, extra charges KAILEY SCHNEIDER | STAFF REPORTER
University of Cincinnati students with furry, four-legged friends have the added stress of finding rentable space that allows their pets when house hunting in Clifton. While dorms obviously do not allow students to have pets, UC offers a plethora of off-campus housing for students looking to keep their pets by their side. There is no secret recipe to finding pro-pet housing, according to Joseph Vagades, a third-year computer engineering student. “I have a Yorkie-Pomeranian named Ratatouille, or Rugrat for short,”Vagades said. Vagades has had Rugrat for nearly two years and went through an extensive search for the perfect home. “I searched specifically for housing that stated they allowed pets,” he said. “I confirmed over the phone that my specific type of pet would be allowed. While viewing the apartment, I also verified that the size of the pet would be allowed.” Johnna Mullikin, vice president property manager at Uptown Rentals, has been in the business for 14 years. Uptown has been a presence in the Clifton housing market for 30 years. “Uptown owns and manages approximately 1,600 apartments around UC’s Campus,” Mullikin said. “All our communities are pet friendly. Cats are permitted in all. Dogs are permitted in many of our properties.” She added there are several factors influencing the ability to own a dog in an apartment, such as the availability of green space. Mullikin said Uptown allows pets in their communities because a large percentage of residents own pets. Mike Heekin, who has been a broker, owner, developer and manager of offcampus housing for 8 years, rents out 7 locations to UC students. Heekin has a policy of no pets in any of his homes. “I am a pet lover, but I’ve seen the damages they can cause and I’ve been in buildings that their smell cannot be alleviated from without paint or change of carpet,” Heekin said. “It really comes down to the pet owner, but when you’re renting yearly to new groups, it’s hard to decipher who are good and bad pet owners. So, to mitigate risk, you decide ‘no pets’.” Heekin went on to say it is impossible to control what types of pets are brought in or to know how well trained they are. Although a deposit is typically collected when renting to pet owners, Heekin said,
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damages can often cost more than the original deposit. Vagades pays an extra $25 a month in order to keep Rugrat by his side “for any damage or nuisance they could cause while living in an apartment.” “I don’t believe a price change is fair,” Vagades said. “You should only pay extra at the end of your lease if it is proven that your animal has caused damage. “ An additional $35 monthly fee is charged
to Uptown Rentals residents who own a pet. Heekin agrees “there should be a higher deposit and potentially higher rent, or at the very least, a higher deposit for possible damages.” Despite the extra cost of keeping Rugrat, Vagades believes it is worth it. “Being able to come home to a playful animal after a long day of school is amazing,”Vagades said. Mullikin’s advice to UC students is to
do research on communities that are pet friendly. She warned students to be upfront and not attempt to sneak pets into apartments, because it can result in forced removal of the pet, fines and potential eviction. “If you wish to have a pet during college, do it”Vagades said. “It may be extra work, but it is one of the better choices I’ve made in college.”
RUSSEL HAUSFELD | ARTS EDITOR
For many students, finding housing that allows pets is a must. Luckily, plenty of housing options around the Clifton area allow for residents’ furry friends for an extra fee.
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Housing Issue
NOV. 9, 2015
Winter is coming: Saving money on your heating bill HUY NGUYEN | CHIEF REPORTER
Winter is always a bad time of the year for apartment living, especially with the number of older, outdated properties around the University of Cincinnati area. Freezing winds and snow seem to cause all sorts of problems, from dry skin to broken water pipes. Most of these problems are pretty easy to take care of with some simple November preparations before the intense Ohio cold comes in. Always swap out your old sheets and bedding for down comforters and some wool blankets to keep yourself warm at night — sooner rather than later is best before erratic Cincinnati weather kicks in. It might be about time to change the sheets anyway, considering how often students wash their sheets. Adding some throw pillows around the house can help add warmth as well. While changing the bedding, it can be advantageous to switch out the summer wardrobe for more long johns and leggings, cabin socks, sweaters, boots and other winter wear. For external care and large maintenance issues, always make sure to talk to your landlord about taking care of certain handy work around the apartment. Cleaning your gutters of leaf and debris blockages should be a priority, as debris can cause water to build up and damage the apartment siding, causing leaks. This is a job for the landlord or a contractor, but any outgoing tenant can also help out. A landlord or a technician should come to tune up the apartment heating system and make sure it is in good repair. The last thing a tenant needs is to suddenly not have heat in the middle of December or January.
Drain all the water hoses and outdoor faucets — leaving undrained water in the pipes can cause them to freeze and break. No
water means no hot baths. To do this, simply turn off the apartment water with the shut-off valve and leave the faucets on until all the water drains. Again, make sure you have a landlord’s permission before you break anything you do not have to. If bathrooms are located close to the outside of the apartment, make sure to let the showers and sinks drip
throughout the day to maintain flowing water and keep even more pipes from breaking. Close and seal any gaps in windows to keep the cold air out — use a caulk gun if necessary, but masking tape also works well to fill up those gaps. Oftentimes there are also gaps underneath doors, but buying a draft guard or putting an old blanket along the bottom of all internal doors can fix that pretty easily. Even with properly sealed doors and windows, outside cold temperatures can still make it into apartments through the walls and insulation. Putting up heavy blankets around windows and walls to create an insulation barrier and keep more cold air out — quilts work very well and also look very decorative for the Christmas season. If possible, reverse all ceiling fans in a clockwise rotation to create an updraft to force warm air back down, since heat rises. Make sure all vents and radiators are not blocked by large furniture that will block heat coming out. It may take some heavy lifting, but the warmth is well worth it. A good amount of heat is lost through bare floorboards, especially in older buildings — use rugs to keep your floors warm and fuzzy. Investing in a humidifier is one of the best choices a tenant can make for any living situation. Using a humidifier will raise the humidity in the apartment and make warm air travel more quickly due to the moisture. Humidifiers will also help with dry skin, chapped lips and winter nosebleeds, saving on moisturizer and tissue costs. There are a lot of other options and life hacks that can make winter living a lot more comfortable, but these few tips and tricks are just some basics ways to make sure you stay safe and warm.
Resident advisers play key leadership role for students living in dormitories CLAUDE THOMPSON | SPORTS EDITOR
Few employment opportunities at the University of Cincinnati have the impact of resident advisers. Being under the tutelage of the UC Office of Resident Education and Development, RAs act as mentors for UC students living in the various halls across campus. Every hall has a RA who works to make sure students have someone they can go to when they need help, need to talk or get guidance on what their next move should be. In fact, the help a RA provides to another student could inadvertently develop a future RA. “Our RAs are crucial to the development of students on campus,” said Michelle Sujka, the assistant director of Resident Education and Development. “They live with the students 24/7, they help provide resources
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and opportunities for our students to grow fast approaching on Dec. 4. The rigorous and develop as leaders. They are there for screening process begins to ensure the best happy moments, sad moments, the crisiscandidates are selected. management moments Grades and judicial and the opportunities status are scrutinized to help develop more because RAs are held to They are there for happy student leaders on a high standard, as they moments, sad moments, campus.” are supposed to set an RAs gain valuable example for the rest of the crisis-management experience with the student body. moments and the leadership opportunities, It is a job described as opportunities to help as they serve as a a 15-hour commitment resource to peers and every week, but it is develop more student possibly have a lifelong possible to get called on leaders on campus. impact on fellow at any time when their students. They are also skills are needed. MICHELLE SUJKA generously compensated The RAs are also with a housing scholarship to reward their expected to attend training at the start of the efforts. academic year and others at the beginning The deadline for RA applications is of each semester.
“One of our expectations is that our RAs are attending that training because they receive all kinds of great information about their role and policies and procedures of the department,” Sujka said. Many students are eligible to apply and be hired, including graduate students, commuter students, transfer students, students on co-op, international students and even students involved with athletics or other programs. The UC Office of Resident Education and Development requires some form of residential experience, which can range from a camp counselor, military dorm life or boarding school. Applications are still being accepted through Campus Link at Residence Education and Development’s page under the ‘Forms’ section.
newsrecord.org/housing
Housing Issue
NOV. 9, 2015
Easy, cheap college recipes for lazy students MOLLY COHEN | ONLINE EDITOR
The freshman 15 is possibly the most overused phrase when it comes to anxieties about college, however, eating in the campus dining halls can make it difficult to stay healthy — especially when pizza is staring you in the face. The alternative is to take the initiative to start cooking. A few main things lightening the cooking load are meal prep, grocery lists and cooking with friends. For second-year English student Kayla Moore, cooking is all about finding time and motivation to cook. Moore said Pinterest is a hot spot for recipe ideas and help give you a plan going into grocery shopping. “I’ve made a granola out of spent grain from brewing beer and I
love that! I’m planning on making a few different holiday candies and some crock pot recipes,” Moore said.“My crock pot is a life saver when I’m busy. I just put meat and seasoning in before class and have dinner when I get home.” Meanwhile, third-year marketing student Mansi Jain relies on YouTube videos and Skype calls with her family to create meals resembling her home in India. She suggests experimenting with new spices and buying pre-chopped vegetables. “Now, I can cook almost everything and sustain myself,” Jain said.“I believe cooking is an art, you keep becoming better at it with practice.” Many Indian dishes, including a street food in India called Kathi
rolls, can be time consuming to cook. “There is nothing really hard about cooking in the U.S.,” Jain said.“Its just that we usually cook our food for a long time which generates a lot of steam — making the fire alarm go off several times.” Abhishek Kapur, a third-year computer science student, suggests stocking up on basics such as olive oil, ham, cheese, eggs
and bread. According to Kapur, the hardest part about cooking as a college student is laziness. “We tend to order food from outside, as no one feels like cooking at home,” Kapur said. “Chicken breast gently fried in olive oil with salt, pepper and hot sauce is very easy to cook and tastes delicious.” Below are two easy recipes for the college student budget:
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INGREDIENTS Sweet potatoes Olive oil Salt and pepper. INSTRUCTIONS To begin, prepare a cooking sheet with aluminum foil and preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Using a cutting board, slice your sweet potatoes into thin fry-like strips. Place the sweet potato strips onto the aluminum foil. Drizzle olive oil over your sweet potatoes and add some salt and pepper. Place your tray into the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes until your potatoes look golden. Place a fork into the potatoes – when cooked fully, the fork will slide easily through.
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INGREDIENTS Rice Two limes Cilantro Meat or tofu Veggies such as green peppers and onions Optional toppings like beans (black or pinto), tomatoes (mild or spicy) Guacamole Sour cream Any cooking oil. INSTRUCTIONS First, prepare your rice as directed on the package. Let the rice cook while you prepare the toppings. In a frying pan, add some cooking oil and set the stovetop burner to medium. Cook your meat or tofu for 10 minutes, then toss in your veggies and let fry for 10 to 15 minutes until veggies start to turn golden brown and meat or tofu is fully cooked. Put your cooked rice into a mixing bowl and squeeze lime juice overtop. Chop up your cilantro and stir the rice to make sure the cilantro and lime are evenly distributed. Then, pour the rice and topping mixture into a bowl, add your cooked veggies, protein, beans, and tomatoes. As an optional, serve with guacamole or sour cream.
3255 Dixie Highway, Hamilton/ 513-892-3156/ cslplasma.com PART-TIME SERVING OPPORTUNITY! Andy’s Mediterranean Grille is now hiring part-time servers! Andy’s is less than 2 miles from campus at 906 Nassau St. 45206. Andy’s is an equal-opportunity employer who offers flexible scheduling and a great working environment. For more information and to request an interview call 513-604-6686.
HOUSING SUBLET NEEDED 345 Warner Street in Clifton 1/16 – 8/16 (7 mos) House is very nice, shared 4 bedrooms, on the bus line, and very well kept. Full kitchen and dining room, large outdoor deck with deck furniture. Shared bath. Full basement. Parking. Residents will take turns with grass and snow removal if needed. Right on the bus line to UC!! Rent is $535 per month, which includes utilities (water, heat). WIFI extra $26 per month if renter wants it. There is a 24 hr. security camera right across the street for safety. To sublet the house on 345 Warner Street call Sean Nichols at (513) 967-5138.
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