Housing Guide Spring/Summer 2019 - The News Record at University of Cincinnati

ARE YOU A BAD ROOMMATE? PAGE 4

THREE GREAT SMART PRODUCTS FOR YOUR PLACE PAGE 6

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SPRING/SUMMER 2019 | NEWSRECORD.ORG

NEW UC RESIDENCE HALL BEARS THE NAME OF CIVIL RIGHTS PIONEER

BY INNA RISMA

T

he University of Cincinnati’s newest dorm is Marian Spencer Hall, a $47.7 million project that opened for students in Fall 2018. The high-rise building, located on Campus Green, houses 328 residents in suite-style rooms. Highly energy efficient, Marian Spencer Hall is LEED certified, a certification that is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement.

The building honors civil rights pioneer Marian Spencer, a 1942 graduate of UC. She was the first female president of the Cincinnati NAACP and the first AfricanAmerican woman on Cincinnati Council. She led the fight to desegregate public schools and integrate Cincinnati’s Coney Island.

As a UC student Spencer was not allowed to live on campus.

UC President Neville Pinto said during the building’s dedication in March that it is “both fitting and powerfully symbolic” that a UC residence hall now bears her name.

The room and board rate at Marian Spencer for the 201920 academic year (multiple occupancy bedroom in a junior suite) is $8,004. Definitely not the least expensive option on campus, but each floor features spacious study rooms with windows that overlook the Sigma Sigma Commons, a popular gathering place for students and a site for many campus events, so you may find it worth the cost.

The residence hall’s first year has not gone without flaws.

There have been reports of multiple power outages in rooms, so maintenance crews have continued to work on the building’s wiring. Residents also have been frustrated by the access rules. All residents must enter through the main entrance of adjacent Scioto Hall, then cross

Marian Spencer Hall honors civil rights pioneer Marian Spencer, a 1942 graduate of UC who was the first female president of the Cincinnati NAACP and the first African-American woman on Cincinnati Council. (Photo by Esther George) a bridge to Marian Spencer. This is an established procedure for security measures.

On the ground floor, Marian Spencer hosts UC’s newest dining hall, On The Green (OTG), as well as a Tim Hortons, a Canadianbased fast food restaurant known for its coffee and donuts.

UC is the first U.S. educational institution to have a Tim Hortons.

OTG offers nutritious and vegan/ vegetarian options, as well as an international station that changes weekly with dishes like burrito bowls and Chinese crepes.

OTG seats 275, and as the main dining hall on the east side of campus, some students have complained that it is too small to accommodate the demand.

During peak hours, there can be long lines for food and finding a seat can be difficult. In addition, OTG does not open until 10:30 a.m. on weekdays and is closed on Saturday and Sunday, forcing students to find another dining option on weekends.

Incoming freshmen also should consider their major before choosing Marian Spencer as their

residence hall. For example, DAAP and CCM students would have a long walk from Marian Spencer to their instructional buildings, while business majors would have the brand-new Lindner College of Business building right in front of their dorm.

Overall, Marian Spencer Hall has a few flaws that come with a new building, but it still offers a beautiful place to live on campus.

ABOUT THE GUIDE Stories and photos in the spring/ summer News Record Housing Guide were produced by students in UCommunicate, a communication services firm housed in the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Communications.

Writers: Sarah Dieterich, Raegan Ely, Jason Greenberg, Savannah Mroczka, Inna Risma and Chris Schaefer Photographer: Esther George Designer: Jared Thornton Adviser: Autumn Miller

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STEP UP YOUR LIVING AT THE VERGE

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Enjoy newer apartments, sleek and stylish furniture, and convenient all-inclusive amenities perfect for students, like our fabulous coffee bar to get you going before class, clubhouse with gaming tables, cyber cafe, fitness center with a yoga room, and group study rooms.

For more information go to: http://www.liveattheverge.com

165 W McMillan St Cincinnati, OH 45219 (513) 221-3026

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If you’re repeatedly being asked to wash your dishes, you might have a problem that needs to be addressed. (Photo by Esther George).

ASKING THESE QUESTIONS? YOU MAY BE A BAD ROOMMATE

BY RAEGAN ELY iving situations in college can Lhome, be tough. You’re away from trying to make new friends,

and you’re in a place that you suspect hasn’t been deep-cleaned in years.

On top of all this, you may find that you have roommate problems. Sharing a place should be an enjoyable experience.

How do you navigate issues with people you’re likely to see every day? One way is to make sure you’re not the bad roommate.

If you’re asking the following questions, you just might be.

"Can I borrow this again?"

Borrowing items is tricky. Sure, you probably keep meaning to buy your own paper towels, dish soap and utensils, but why would you when you can keep using your roommate’s? If you don’t take care of your roommate’s possessions or you don’t share your own belongings, you may be the bad roommate.

"Another key change?"

People lose or misplace keys. It happens. But if it has happened to you multiple times, maybe you should invest in a lanyard.

Having to constantly leave your door unlocked or wake up your roommate every time you come home are both unappealing plans.

"Do you care if someone sleeps on our couch?"

Everyone cares, especially if that someone is passed out on the communal couch while your roommates are trying to cook breakfast. Ask the visitor to leave before he or she weirds out your roommates.

"Why can’t my friends come over to our place?"

Respect that you share a living space. If your roommates need some quiet time to focus, go hang out with your friends somewhere else. And make sure you ask before having a lot of people over.

Gatherings are a lot less fun if your roommate constantly tells you to keep the noise down.

"Do you think this Chipotle from two weeks ago is good?"

If that mysterious smell is coming from your Styrofoam containers in the fridge, you’re probably not helping your roommate situation.

Throw out your old food. And don’t eat those chips in the cabinet if you didn’t buy them.

"Why do I have to clean that?"

If you’re repeatedly being asked to wash your dishes, take out old pizza boxes, switch your laundry out of the washer, or run a vacuum, you might have some bad habits that need to be addressed.

"I don’t mind the mess.

Why should you?"

Yes, you should have some say in the maintenance of the place. But if the mold on your dishes grows anymore, it needs to start paying rent.

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LIVE LOCAL LIVE BETTER THE BEST UC OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING Schedule a tour today & take advantage of our exclusive Student Discounts StetsonSquareApts.com | 513 961 2609

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An Amazon Echo Dot is a great piece of technology that can be added to any dorm room. (Photo by Jared Thornton)

THREE GREAT SMART PRODUCTS FOR YOUR COLLEGE HOME

BY CHRISTOPHER SCHAEFER Less-than-ideal living spaces, sketchy neighborhoods, bad roommates. College isn’t easy.

Get peace of mind about your place with these investments in smart technology: 1.Three-Pack of WiFi Routers

by Google If you and your roommates are living in a large home full of multiple devices that require reliable WiFi access, these routers are for you. One is a primary ‘Wi-Fi point’ (the one you hook up to the modem or gateway) and the other two are secondary WiFi points. The routers can handle continuous streaming from multiple devices and eliminate signal drops through simple mesh networking technology. Joe Osborne, reviewer for the technology news and review site TechRadar, calls Google WiFi “the easiest and most manageable router that we’ve ever set up, period.” The routers are considered “smart” because they automatically

connect devices to the clearest channels and strongest bands.

Don’t miss the deadline for that paper you’ve procrastinated on all semester because of unreliable WiFi. $249 2.Voice Assistants and Hubs Once you’ve begun to upgrade to a smart home, you’ll want convenient control of your devices. The best way to do this is to buy a hub, like Wink or SmartThings, or a voice assistant like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant/Google Home Hub. The Google Home Hub allows users to compile and control all of their smart devices into and from one device, hands-free. It allows users to voice-control their TV, lights, cameras, doorbells, appliances, temperature, and other smart products from one place. Add Google Mini, sold separately, to extend voice control throughout the home. You’ll have easy access to calendars, news, travel time, weather, reminders and much more. “Hey Google, how much is a Google Home Hub?” $99

3. Hello Smart Video Doorbell Make sure the care package from your parents isn’t stolen off the front porch with the Hello Smart Video Doorbell by Nest. With Hello, you can keep an eye on your front door from anywhere and at anytime. Its built-in HD camera with night vision lets you see people from your smartphone or computer. You can receive push alerts and emails when the camera detects motion, sees a person or hears a loud sound. And you can review three hours of saved images for free.

Subscribe to Nest Aware - an additional expense - and Hello can tell you who is at your front door from images of friends and family members you ID in the app. Hello requires you to have a pre-existing wired doorbell and chime, Wi-Fi, a compatible phone or tablet, the free Nest app and Bluetooth. Link Hello with your other smart home products. “If you want the smartest smart doorbell around, the Editors' Choice award-winning Nest Hello is an easy decision,” wrote CNet reviewer Megan Wollerton. $229

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TEN THINGS YOU DON’T ACTUALLY NEED TO BRING TO COLLEGE

BY SAVANNAH MROCZKA

D

ownsizing into a college dorm room can be difficult. It’s always best to ask yourself, “Will I actually use this?” before packing the item into your vehicle for the trip to campus. Here are 10 items that you may want to leave at home or refrain from buying.

1. High school apparel Moving on from high school means leaving behind your T-shirts, hats and sweatshirts. In college, you will accumulate many T-shirts. There’s no need to bring clothing from the past.

2. iPad or tablet You may think you’ll use your iPad for Netflix, for reading, or for taking notes, but you’ll likely use your laptop/PC and phone for those purposes.

3. Futon Having a futon for others to sleep on may be nice, but futons take up

a lot of space and can be costly.

Guests can always sleep on the floor or on an air mattress.

doing enough reading as a college student. Reading for fun may not be all that “fun.”

4. Microwave or toaster Most college dorms come with a microwave, and toasters are often not allowed because of the fire hazard. Leave them home.

8. A printer A printer can take up a lot of space, and printer paper/ink can be costly as well. Your most costefficient and space-saving option may be to use the printers on campus.

5. Iron/ironing board Ironing boards also take up a lot of space, and you’re not likely to have to iron clothes often. A steamer works just as well and is more cost/space efficient.

6. Out-of-season clothes College dorms and closets have limited space. Switch out your seasonal clothes the next time you visit home and avoid the clutter.

7. Loads of books One or two books are fine to bring along with you, but it may be hard to find room for a stack of books on an already crammed desk. Keep in mind that you’ll be

9. An abundance of extremely nice shoes and outfits As much as you’d like to think you’ll dress nice for class every day, it’s not likely for most students. College is probably the last time it’s acceptable to look like you just rolled out of bed.

Take advantage of it.

10. Pots and pans Although the idea of home-cooked food is nice, finding the time to cook yourself an actual meal is hard. Eating at the dining hall or purchasing instant foods is the most suitable option for dorm life, even if it isn’t the most appealing.

SUDOKU

BY THE MEPHAM GROUP

S

udoku is played on a grid of 9x9 spaces. Within the rows and columns are 9 squares made up of 3x3 spaces.

Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1 through 9 without repeating any numbers within the row, column or square.

Each Sudoku grid comes with a few spaces already filled in. The more spaces filled in, the easier the game. The more difficult Sudoku puzzles have very few spaces that are already filled in.

Solution on Page 10

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SWITCHING DORMS: FIVE TIPS FOR AN EFFICIENT EXPERIENCE

BY SARAH DIETERICH

Y

ou’ve settled into your cramped dorm room, classes have started, you’re in a routine, but something is not quite right.

You feel you need to change dorms.

There’s nothing wrong with realizing that you need a different situation to be more productive and healthier as a student. Here are five tips to follow when you’re about to make a room swap: 1. Set aside 36 to 48 hours to move and settle in.

Just because you were able to unpack and set everything up in your first dorm room in an afternoon doesn’t mean you can do the same thing when

you switch dorms. Always give yourself extra time. Moving can be exhausting, and you don’t want to spend evenings stressed about unpacking when you should be doing homework.

2. Unpack boxes as you go.

Break up the unpacking process in chunks. Every time you bring a box into your room, empty it and try to find a place for the items in it before grabbing more boxes.

You’ll feel less overwhelmed.

3. Make your bed.

Making your bed is a great first step to keeping things tidy. It resets your mentality, and it will help motivate you to organize your new space. A part of your room will feel complete even if you don’t get around to unpacking everything in one day.

4. Create a list of anything new you might need.

This is more pertinent if you’re moving from a residence hall into an apartment. Make sure you know whether you’ll need things like a lamp, dishes and silverware, pots and pans, or basic cooking supplies. Putting together a list will prevent you from scrambling to find things at the last minute.

5. Keep little details the same no matter where you go.

Take time to personalize your room. For example, you can set aside a part of a wall to post photos of friends and family. Bring a little piece of home with you.

Switching dorms can be scary, but these five tips should make the process less stressful, less work and more efficient.

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FOOD-DELIVERY UPGRADE: THERE ARE APPS FOR THAT

BY JASON GREENBERG

Y

ou’ve just moved into an off-campus apartment. Your parents have left. You walk into your kitchen, you're hungry, and suddenly realize you don’t know how to cook anything besides ramen and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Have no fear. You can conquer those hunger pains without getting off your couch. Just download the UberEats, Postmates or DoorDash app.

These apps will help bring your favorite restaurant food right to your doorstep via a convenience carrier for a small fee.

With real-time tracking, you’ll never have to guess when your food will arrive. All have a map-style tracking system like the Uber and Lyft mobile taxi apps. You’ll know where you driver is until he rings your doorbell.

The apps can even send text-message updates throughout the

DELIVERY APP FEES UberEATS: Range from $1.99 to $5.99, depending on how busy the delivery area is.

DoorDash: Typically $1.99. With the DashPass option, you’ll receive unlimited deliveries from some restaurants for $10 a month.

Postmates: Average fee is $3.99. Postmates works with many of the same restaurants as UberEATS and DoorDash.

process and when your convenience carrier arrives at the door.

Each app has a variety of food options, from fast food like Wendy’s and McDonald’s, to favorites like Mac Shack and other restaurants in Uptown.

You can pick and choose from a variety of restaurants. Many won’t break the bank.

Hungry and you don’t want to miss a moment of the big game? Food delivery is convenient.

There are apps for that.

Many restaurants partner with companies like UberEATS to deliver food directly to students’ doorsteps. (Photo by Esther George) Sudoku Solution

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