collegiatetimes.com
October 27, 2015
COLLEGIATETIMES
COLLEGIATE LIVING
TREVOR WHITE / COLLEGIATE TIMES
From dorms to apartments to everything in between, here’s what you need to know about ...
news@collegiatetimes.com
COLLEGIATE
TIMES
NEWSROOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231-9865 Editor in Chief: Ricky LaBlue (editor@ collegiatetimes.com) Managing Editors: Gautam Rao, Samantha Hill Design Editors: Andrea Pappas, Jina Ro Multimedia Editor: Becky Shumar Copy Editor: Melissa Fairfax News Editors: Lewis Millholland, Richard Chumney Lifestyles Editors: Payton Knobeloch, Samantha Smith Sports Editors: Faizan Hasnany, Sierra Huckfeldt Opinions Editor: Carson Bartlett Photo Editor: Zack Wajsgras Assistant Photo Editor: Catie Carreras Social Media Manager: Rachel Freeburger Have a news tip? newstips@collegiatetimes.com
TREVOR WHITE / COLLEGIATE TIMES BUSINESS STAFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231-9860 Business Manager: De’Lis Marshall (business@ collegemedia.com)
collegiatetimes.com
COLLEGE MEDIA SOLUTIONS . . . . . . .231-9860 Account Executives: Hansol Kim, David Nichols, Kevin Reilly Office Operations Manager: Haley Keen Creative Director: Wayne Veldsman Creative Assistant Director: Hannah Murray Creative Staff: Casey Phillips, Richie Parks solutions.collegemedia.com advertising@collegemedia.com The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Tuesday through Friday of the academic year except during exams and vacations. The first copy of the Collegiate Times is free, any copy of the paper after that is 50 cents. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, visit reprints.collegemedia.com. The Collegiate Times is a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission to provide educational experience in business and production of mass media for Virginia Tech students.
PAGE 2 October 27, 2015
© Collegiate Times, 2015. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.
The Edge is the newest and most pristine apartment complex, but it’s also one of the most expensive. Keep that budget in mind.
Apartment hunting: a field guide PAYTON KNOBELOCH lifestyles editor
Well, freshmen, I hope three months was enough for dorm life to make an impression on you – because, naturally, now it’s time to decide whether you want to do it again another whole year. Dorms can be great: your friends can hang out whenever they want, you’re a stone’s throw from the nearest nationally ranked dining hall and — big plus here — bunk beds! It’s like summer camp, but with a guy who smells like weed and always complains about the Math Empo work he isn’t going to do anyway. Sure, it’s not the “real world,” but you didn’t come here for the real world. You came here to play human bowling in the hall with office chairs and empty soda bottles. Or, you could absolutely hate it. Your next-door neighbor wants to try his hand at dubstep, the toilet tissue is like sandpaper but less forthcoming and you spend most of your evenings in the study lounge because your roommate’s friend is on your Xbox. Too much personal experience? Oops. Anyway, if you’re of the camp that wants to take a shower without flip-flops or just wants a mattress made of mattress, an apartment may be for you. However, apartment hunting can be daunting, so here are a few things to keep in mind before grabbing the nearest application form. First off, know what you’re willing to spend.
You’re a college student, not the pope. You don’t need a penthouse with plush chaise lounges and a crystal bidet. However, you don’t have to settle for the cheapest shack you come across, either. Keep an eye out for rent prices and see what’s in your range. Spending less on an apartment than a dorm is a great motivator, but you’re allowed to make sure it’s habitable. There’s give and take. A bigger apartment will cost more, but not with more roommates. Plus, more people to split the cost means less you’ll spend on utilities. But if you can afford to live at The Edge, go for it. Just don’t blame the rest of us when we mock you behind your back, Mr. John D. Rockefeller. Speaking of attempting to stuff five dudes in a three-bedroom-two-and-ahalf-bath, remember that friends don’t always make the best roommates. If you think you and your best bud will work fabulously together, by all means, go for it. Just don’t come crying to me when that person refuses to pay Comcast because he “didn’t use the internet very much this month.” Also, just because he’s slowly becoming besties with the D.P. Dough delivery driver doesn’t mean you’ll want to. You can go in as friends. That doesn’t promise you’ll come out as friends. If you’re thinking about rooming with friends, now’s the time to start being an awful person on the side. Keep mental notes of all their idiosyncrasies, and then decide how much they’ll bother you
little by little until it escalates to passiveaggressive warfare. How likely are they to lounge around with their shirts open when it gets warm (yes, even when you have guests over)? How likely are they to go out for a couch and return with a small animal? How likely are they to wear the same sweatpants weeks on end without a laundry day in between? Roommates are basically coworkers. You don’t have to get along amazingly; you don’t even have to like each other. Just make sure their goals mostly line up with yours. Lastly and most importantly, visit your older friends’ apartments. This is assuming you have older friends — if not, go make some, quickly. They’ve had experience with apartment life, and you should definitely use them as a resource. They’ll be much more honest than any brochure or tour guide. They’ll tell you how much utilities cost month-to-month, how bad parking is for guests, if you really need to pay the pet deposit or if you should just Anne Frank that cat — the works. Experience beats out blind guessing every time. Use that to your advantage. Speaking of experience, I’d like to apologize to every current roommate of mine I alluded to in this article, except the ones I no longer see on a daily basis. Let’s burn that bridge.
@MaybeNotPayton
Moving off campus gives you plenty to think about, but none may be as pressing as how to feed yourself. Here’s a handy guide. ANDREA PAPPAS design editor
1. Budget After living with a meal plan, it is easy to forget how expensive food actually is. I recommend creating a weekly grocery list of necessities with a target budget. When you go to the store, follow this list and only this list; don’t let cravings cause you to overspend. I also recommend getting the Kroger app. You can connect it with your Kroger member card, and they often have special sales for crucial items like toilet paper and yogurt that aren’t open to the public. They also have a free Friday item, which is always a nice surprise! 2. Food Prep During the week, you will not have time to cook. You might think you have time, you might block out time specifically for cooking, but when that time comes around, you won’t cook. It’s hard to come home late at night from classes and cook a warm, filling meal, so instead block out time for food prep on the weekend. It can be as easy as cooking a whole lot of pasta or grilling several turkey burgers to warm up again later. One of the best ways to food prep is with a crockpot. You can put all of the ingredients in before classes, turn it on for 4 to 8 hours, and by the time you come home, you will have a hot meal waiting for you.
tad pricier than other frozen meals, they offer the best range of healthy options. I would also recommend buying bags of frozen veggies. You can get you servings of vegetables by just popping it in the microwave or in a skillet without all the chopping. 4. Sharing When living in the dorms, you have already learned how to share with one roommate. But when living in an apartment, you suddenly have to share a space and a fridge among as many as five people. I have had roommates who are very relaxed about sharing food and others who have hidden food and even left post-it notes on their stuff. It is important when moving in to discuss sharing food so that you know where everyone stands on the subject. If a roommate doesn’t want to share, you have to respect that. Splitting up the kitchen is a great place to start. Have everyone get a cabinet or
shelf for just his or her stuff while also having a shelf for things that everyone can use, like spices. The fridge can be tricky since most don’t come with four separate shelves. You can try your best to split up the space evenly, but in some cases, it may just be easier to put your name on the item. Explain to your roommates that you are not labeling it to be passiveaggressive but just so you know which one is theirs so you don’t accidentally use it. It is important to show your roommates that you respect their belongings just as much as they should respect yours. The transition from home cooking to a dining service is hard, but I have found that transitioning back to home cooking can be even tougher. I hope these tips will make that switch just a smidge easier. Happy eating, Hokies! @CollegiateTimes
collegiatetimes.com
With some of the best dining halls in the country, Virginia Tech makes it easy to have what you want when you want it. It’s as easy as swiping your Hokie Passport without a second thought of how much you spent or how many calories you are about to indulge. However, when freshman year comes to a close and sophomores move off campus to make way for new freshmen, we are suddenly transported back to a reality where sirloin steaks and Qdoba burritos are not already prepped and waiting for us after our 5 p.m. class ends. Instead, we are faced with a new occurrence that many of us have never dealt with, even when living with our parents: cooking. When living on campus, even if you choose to get a meal plan, you will at some point have to cook. There won’t always be time to run on campus for a breakfast sandwich before your 8 a.m. or on Saturday nights when you have the munchies. Before you transition, here are some tips I learned the hard way on how to
alter your eating habits from dorm living to apartment living.
news@collegiatetimes.com
The departure from on-campus dining
3. Frozen Meals
October 27, 2015 PAGE 3
COURTESY OF KROGER
After coming down from the freshman 15, sophomores think that having to buy their own food means they will make better choices and buy healthier options. While you may do this for the first couple of weeks, by the time mid-semester hits, your freezer will probably be filled with frozen meals. They are cheap, they are fast and, let’s face it, some of them are actually really good. But they aren’t always the best. When choosing frozen meals, I advise avoiding the ones with heavy sauces. “Chicken with pasta and pesto” might not sound too bad, but it’s the cream and the sugar in the pesto that will get you. I have found the best options are Healthy Choice’s Steamers. While a
news@collegiatetimes.com
Navigating the BT, one route at a time When students move off campus, deciphering the schedules and routes of the Blacksburg Transit can be one of the biggest challenges to face. SAMANTHA SMITH lifestyles editor
For most students who live off-campus, the Blacksburg Transit system is the lifeline between the various apartment complexes in town and campus. Some are lucky and can afford a parking pass, but the rest of us have to show up at the bus stop a half hour before class starts in rain, snow and everything in between. The bus schedule can be intimidating if it is your first time living off campus, so here is a breakdown of the different bus lines that connect Tech to the rest of the Blacksburg and Christiansburg area.
collegiatetimes.com
CRC/ Hospital This line provides service from the
Drillfield all the way to the Corporate Research Center. The on-campus timecheck for this line is Newman library, leaving at five minutes, 25 minutes and 45 minutes after the hour. The offcampus timecheck is at the Knollwood Apartments, with buses departing at 10 minutes, 30 minutes, and 50 minutes after the hour. This route starts at 6:45 a.m. and runs until 6:25 p.m. After 6:25 p.m., the bus only runs from Newman Library to the VCOM stop until 9:30 p.m. This line only runs during the week and when Virginia Tech classes are in session
returning to campus. The Hethwood line is split into two lines, Hethwood A and Hethwood B, each running every 10-15 minutes until 7 p.m. and providing service to Foxridge and Hethwood apartment homes. These routes combine during the week after 9:15 p.m. and during times of reduced service and weekends. The on-campus time check for the Hethwood A line is at Burruss Hall, with an off-campus timecheck at Stroubles Circle. The Hethwood B on-campus time check is at Torgersen Hall, with its off-campus time check at Tall Oaks and Foxhunt.
Hethwood/ Harding Avenue The Harding Avenue line has stops along Roanoke Street and Harding Avenue,
Hokie Express This route does a loop, connecting campus and the Oak Lane Community, and only runs during full service times. Between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., this line runs every 15 minutes, and it runs every 30 minutes on evenings and weekends. Monday through Thursday, the route will run continuously from 7 a.m. until 12:45 a.m., going until 2:45 a.m. on Fridays. Service for Saturdays will go from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. until 2:45 a.m., with Sunday hours from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. through 11:15 p.m.
PAGE 4 October 27, 2015
Main Street During normal full service weekdays, this line will run from 7 a.m. until 6:45 p.m., coming every 15 to 20 minutes. After 6:45 p.m., this line will run on an hourly basis until 12:15 a.m. Monday through Thursday, until 2:15 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 11:15 p.m. on Sundays. This route goes along Main Street from Whipple Drive off of North Main all the way down to Industrial Park Drive off of South Main. There is a time check for both of these routes at Squires East and Squires West, with an off-campus time check at Fairfax Road and Liberty Lane. Patrick Henry This route runs during the week from 7 a.m. through 6:45 p.m. and until 5:30 p.m. on Fridays, only running during full service times. Since North Main, Progress
Street and University Boulevard no longer serve the Seneca Drive, Patrick Henry Drive and Progress Street areas, this route serves as a supplement to those routes. As of Sept. 21 of this semester, this route now has a time check at Torgersen Hall, with an off-campus tome check at Patrick Henry and Seneca Westbound. Progress Street This route makes a loop from Squires Student Center, to North Main Street, to Progress Street and then to Patrick Henry Drive and Toms Creek Road. There is an on-campus time check at Squires Student Center as well as an off-campus time check at The Village on Patrick Henry. Monday through Friday, this route runs from 7 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. about every 10 to 15 minutes. Monday through Thursday after 3:15 p.m., this route will run until 9:30 p.m. for every 15 minutes. On Fridays after 3:15 p.m., this route will run until 9:15 p.m., stopping every 15 minutes until 5:45 p.m., when stops will occur every half hour. Toms Creek B The Toms Creek B route has service on Toms Creek Road, University City Boulevard where the Chasewood Downs and Shawnee apartments are located, Patrick Henry Drive and Progress Street. The route runs from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. during normal service hours during the week, coming every 10 minutes until 12:30 p.m. when it then changes to every 15 minutes and then switches again to every 30 at 5:45 p.m. However, anyone who rides this bus knows that runs are more like 15 or 17 minutes apart, and what used to be a reliable bus now is never on time since the UCB construction. The bus comes on late nights Mondays through Thursdays from 10:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. hourly and until 2:30 a.m. on Fridays. On Saturdays the bus runs from 9:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Two Town Trolley The Two Town Trolley provides service to Christiansburg, stopping at popular locations such as the New River Mall, Wal-Mart
t
US
ms To
46
0
By pa
ss
M
ee Cr
Toms Creek Park
k
N
M ain
St .
. Rd
Whipple Dr.
s Ln. Given
St.
No rth
ry Dr. k Hen Patric
ess Prog r V
eld illfi Dr
t.
nS
gto
in sh
Wa
Cassell Coliseum
First & Main Center
on St. Marlingt
Nellies Cave
R
Nellies Cave Park
@Smith992_CT
US
Research Center Dr.
ss pa By
Kraft Dr.
Pratt Dr.
0 46
US Forest Service
VT Corporate Research Center
Ell ett Rd . Professional Park Blacksburg Transit Industrial Dr. VTTI & Smart Rd.
Montgomery Regional Hospital
. St
Rd. elle Jenn
ss pa By 60 4 US
Mid-County Park
R le El
DMV
US 460 Bypass
COURTESY OF BLACKSBURG TRANSIT
October 27, 2015 PAGE 5
US Post Office
d.
Golden Hills Disc Golf Course
tt
No rth Fr an kli nS t.
New River Valley Mall
ain M
. Yellow Sulfur Rd
h ut So
Spradlin Farms Shopping Ctr.
Gables Shopping Center
Virginia Tech-Montgomery Executive Airport
Bus Stops
Walmart
n. om L Griss
r. bD Clu ry t n u Co Bburg Square Shopping Ctr
VT VT Dairy Recreation Fields Complex
After a few days of taking the bus on a regular basis, the schedules and routes will begin to make much more sense. Until then, Blacksburg Transit does have an app that you can use on your smartphone, or you can always check its website for route changes and updates. However, beware — while we do have a great overall bus system in Blacksburg, with all of the construction and changes this semester, the risk of late buses or a skipped run always lurks.
collegiatetimes.com
Dr. gate South
Points of Interest
New River Pep Community per College sF erry Rd.
Municipal Golf Course
Airport Rd.
Lane Stadium
Veterinary School
CRC-Hospital Harding Avenue Hethwood A Hethwood B Hokie Express Main Street Full Service Weekdays Main Street Full Service Night & Weekends Patrick Henry Patrick Henry Late Night Progress Street Two Town Trolley Toms Creek B University Mall Shuttle
t. t. eS eS ok Le an o t. R yS Cla Municipal Building t. rt S ea Eh . Dr er lm Pa St. in Ma uth . So Rd er ap Dr
Heather Dr .
all
M PI
Tech Center Dr.
Blacksburg
Smithfield Plantation
. St
Tu
Dr. ond kP Duc
Hethwood Blvd.
Dr. ry en kH tric Pa
r
Duck Pond
Livestock Arena
. tion Rd Planta
s ak ll O Ta
Toms Creek Rd.
Oa kL n.
University Mall Shuttle/ University City Boulevard The University City Boulevard route provides service from main campus to the Sturbridge apartments and was added as a year-round route in July due to the construction on University City Boulevard. The UCB route runs from 7 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. every 15 to 20 minutes Monday through Thursday. On Friday, the UCB route runs from 7 a.m. until 3:25 p.m. every 10 to 15 minutes. The UMall route runs from 8:45 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. every 20 minutes. At 5:45, the UMall route will provide service to University Mall and Sturbridge Square apartments every 15 minutes until 9:45
. Ave ding Har
e rn
VT Golf Course
Hethwood Square
. Dr
. Rd les Gi Blacksburg Recreation Area
Burruss Hall
. k Rd
or
es F
Pric
Blvd.
University Mall
Dr. ryde McB
ity rsity C Unive
US Post Office
Glade Rd.
Dr. ce Bro
p.m. Monday through Thursday. After 9:45 p.m., the bus will stop hourly until 11:45 p.m. On Friday, the UMall bus will run from 8:45 a.m. to 9:55 p.m. every 20 minutes, serving Sturbridge Square after 3:30 p.m. The Friday late-night hours start at 10:45 and continue on until 1:45 a.m., coming every hour. On Saturdays and Sundays, the UMall route will service both Sturbridge and University Mall. On Saturday, service will go from 8:55 a.m. to 1:55 a.m., coming every hour. On Sunday, UMall service will start at 11:45 a.m. until 10:45 p.m., with a bus coming every hour.
news@collegiatetimes.com
and LewisGale Hospital Montgomery, departing from Squires East. Due to its popularity, the New River Mall serves as the off-campus time check for this route. On Monday through Friday, the bus runs from 7:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. with a gap between 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. During the day on Saturdays, the bus runs 10:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. and runs Sundays from 12:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Late-night service is offered on Friday and Saturday nights, running from 6:15 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. This route comes every hour during late-night service and does not stop at the hospital on the weekends.
d.
rR
bo
a .T
news@collegiatetimes.com
From the comforts of home to dorm life For incoming freshmen, adjusting to life in a tiny dorm room can be a big change from living at home with their parents. MCKENZIE SILK lifestyles staff wrtier
PAGE 6 October 27, 2015
collegiatetimes.com
For many college freshmen, the move from their childhood bedroom to a small dorm room can be quite an eyeopening experience. Normal routines get disrupted in the mess of unpacking, settling into a foreign place that is now called “home” and introducing yourself over 30 times a day. However, as time goes on, your small, messy dorm room begins to feel like a safe haven from the mobs of students walking across the Drillfield at all hours of the day. The shower shoes you wear every day start to feel like an extension of yourself. The numerous flights of stairs you climb on a daily basis to get to your room start to qualify as your
daily workout. Many things that seemed unnatural to do in your hometown are now a part of your newfound routine here.
“
My room at home still feels like my real bedroom, unlike my dorm room.” Bhavjot Michera Freshman
After hearing stories about what happens in dorms from older siblings, friends and parents, one can only imagine what life will be like once
settled in. “It was a very easy transition, easier than I expected,” freshman human, nutrition, foods and exercise major Lydia Petraglia said. “I don’t mind the dorm life at all.” Petraglia explained that living in a dorm has benefited her social life, as all of her friends are close by and doors are usually kept open in the halls. While living at home, to see friends she had to make plans and schedule a designated time to spend time with friends. Dorms make it easy to always be with friends, whether it’s just walking down the hall and spotting someone or hanging out in your room with people. However, some freshmen feel like there is a lack of privacy that comes with dorm living. “My room at home still feels like my real bedroom, unlike my dorm room,” said university studies freshman Bhavjot Michera. For many people, moving into their dorm room was their first move away from home, making it a little more difficult to adapt to a new environment. From personal experience, including many moves to different states and countries throughout my childhood, I can say that it was easier for me to call my dorm room “home” than perhaps it would be for people who lived in the same place all of their lives. However, there are some students who feel the same. “My room at Tech already feels like home,” said university studies freshman Maria Dewosky. Of course there are some negative aspects about dorm life, including being responsible for doing laundry, having loud students outside of DX socializing into the early hours of the morning and the occasional cold shower. After a while, if you don’t hear people yelling “Let’s go!... Hokies!” outside of your dorm on weekends, you consider that weird. You also learn to do laundry at obscure times to guarantee yourself a washer and dryer. Many aspects of dorm life that were once considered an inconvenience or an annoyance have just
TREVOR WHITE / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Slusher Tower has 12 stories, making it the tallest building in Blacksburg. become accepted parts of life. I guess you could say that living with your peers in cramped quarters teaches patience and problem-solving skills. Going home to my other room during fall break was a weird experience because that room had not been lived in for roughly two months. All of the aspects that make it feel like home, for example my clothes, decorations and friends were picked up and now in Blacksburg. Living in a dorm is a completely different experience compared to living in your house. Dorm life helps you grow into a more independent and responsible person. You have only yourself to rely on for doing laundry, taking out the trash and making sure you eat three meals a day. Living in a dorm is an essential part of the freshman college experience, despite being an easier transition for some students over others. @kenzsilk
news@collegiatetimes.com
collegiatetimes.com
October 27, 2015 PAGE 7
news@collegiatetimes.com
collegiatetimes.com PAGE 8 October 27, 2015
Dorm to apartment: the huge transition SAMANTHA SMITH lifestyles editor
Like most freshmen, I fantasized about moving off-campus for my second year of college. I found a great group of friends early on who lived on the same hall as I did and who I would eventually sign a lease with at The Village. My Pinterest board was filled with loads of pins of cute bed spreads and shower curtains. In my mind, I was completely ready for off-campus life. I moved into my apartment and thought I had absolutely everything I needed. Over the summer I drafted list after list, making sure that there were no kitchen supplies or other necessities left behind. However, after my third trip to Walmart with my parents on the day I moved in, I realized how wrong I was. A can opener, extension cords and tupperware — all essential components of my apartment that I had completely overlooked because there was simply no need for them in my tiny dorm room. Aside from the small things that had gone unnoticed, I felt like I needed more of everything. More towels, more food, more furniture. The list of things I needed seemed like a never-ending abyss. After my parents had left, I was relieved that I could just relax in my brand new space. At first, the quiet of my apartment was calming. There were no people obnoxiously screaming right outside of my room or jokingly knocking on my door; it was just silent, and I loved it. However, after a while I began to miss the hustle and bustle that came with living on a hall with about 30 other girls who were all in the same situation. I missed walking down the hallway full of open doors, the study lounges stuffed to capacity with people who were cramming for a Monday morning exam on a Sunday night and the group trips to the dining hall with anyone who just happened to be hungry around the same time I was. I think I can speak for most people who move off-campus when I say not having a meal plan was the biggest transition from dorm life to apartment living. Nothing beats rolling out of your bed on a Saturday morning (even if it is lofted), throwing on sweats, rolling into Owens Food Court and grabbing the most delicious waffle you have ever tasted. Now, my breakfast choices usually consist of scrambled eggs or pizza rolls. Since making scrambled eggs requires washing dishes, you can probably guess which of the two I usually choose. Eventually, I learned to embrace the quiet and
privacy my apartment offers. I made a point of creating my room into a peaceful space perfect for studying, and I really came to appreciate it as the weeks passed. At the end of a long day of classes, I truly look forward to coming home to a spot that is mine and mine alone. From the decor to the fact that I don’t have a roommate who I have to share my bedroom with, having that personal space makes long days of studying a bit more bearable. Aside from the big advantages like not having an RA and having my own room, moving into an apartment was the next step towards becoming fully independent that I think every college student should experience. Now that I have fully adjusted to my apartment, I couldn’t imagine moving back into the dorms. Dorm life works for some people, but I’m just not one of them. There are small things here and there that I miss on occasion, but the biggest difference is this: I was never able to consider my dorm room home, and having a place that I can call home is worth every inconvenience that may come with moving into an apartment. @Smith992_CT
TREVOR WHITE / COLLEGIATE TIMES
When transitioning from a dorm (PeddrewYates, right) to an apartment (Sundance apartments, above), there can be many unforeseen obstacles that make settling in to your new space difficult.
As students go through college, many break away from campus to live in apartments. What about the upperclassmen who stay? KATIE RICE lifestyles staff writer
All three students look favorably upon the aspect of community, the convenience of classes and downtown, and the studying environment in the residence halls. Simpson, Pironis and Shingala have enjoyed their years living on campus but can only speak for themselves as to why campus living is or is not the best choice. To underclassmen debating whether it would be wise to leave the dorms,
Shingala advised, “Try to get as much information as you can before making a decision because going into a room without any information is like walking the plank without knowing why you’re going overboard.”
@Ar3Y0uMyMummy
collegiatetimes.com TREVOR WHITE / COLLEGIATE TIMES
New Residence Hall East is only 17 years old and houses 220 co-ed students, including transfer students.
October 27, 2015 PAGE 9
It seems the push to move off campus as an upperclassman is strong. However, there are some valiant souls who have refused to stick to the status quo and continue to live on campus. Contradictory to common knowledge, there are a number of juniors and seniors perfectly content with having lived only on campus throughout their college careers. One such student, Morgan Simpson, a senior biochemistry major, talked favorably about her four years of residence hall living. As a freshman, Simpson resided in Lee Hall, where she stayed through her sophomore year. W hen her jun ior yea r was approaching, Simpson had made plans with a friend to live in an apartment, but she chose to live in West Ambler Johnston instead when that fell through. Looking back, Simpson said she would have liked to see what living off campus would have been like, but she probably would have still ended up on campus where she is currently, in New Hall West, because it proves to be much cheaper. “You’re going to be living in an apartment on your own for a long time. That’s going to be your whole 20s. You don’t have to rush into that,” Simpson said. For Simpson, the benefits of residence hall living far outweigh those of apartment living. Some students might find it strange to be an upperclassman living in a building surrounded by underclassmen. Concerning this, Simpson recognizes the stigma attached to remaining on campus, but it doesn’t phase her. “There’s no rush to move off campus if you don’t want to,” Simpson said. “Don’t feel that just because everyone is doing that, because not everyone is, or that it’s the cool thing to do or it’s what your college experience should be.” Another senior, Lauren Pironis, majoring in chemical engineering, is also content with her choice to remain on campus for her four years. For her first year, Pironis lived in East Campbell Hall but, seeking more community, decided to live in West Ambler Johnston the following
year. According to Pironis, there are numerous benefits to living on campus, such as not having to buy furniture or pay for utilities. Pironis is extremely studious and especially enjoys the policy for quiet hours so that it is easier to focus on her studies. “People are way more understanding on campus of wanting to study than they are off campus,” Pironis said. One of the most positive aspects for Pironis is that the residence hall has many areas to study in, which makes it a great place to meet with groups. An environment promoting efficient studying space is especially important, considering that the workload for an engineer such as herself grows increasingly more difficult each year. Another exciting part of living in the dorm for Pironis is the decorating. “You can’t hang Christmas lights from your bed off campus because your bed is probably a mattress on the ground!” Pironis said. Pironis said the lights provide an ambiance that one simply cannot achieve in an apartment. Despite the abundance of benefits to living in a residence hall, Pironis recognizes that it is not numerically possible for every student to choose to live on campus. However, if it were possible, she would recommend doing so. Fairly early on in the year, students must consider whether or not they want to move off campus. Junior Kishan Shingala, pursuing a BIT and finance dual degree, is currently debating whether he wants to leave West Ambler Johnston in exchange for apartment life. Originally, during his freshman year, Shingala lived in East Ambler Johnston, but he made the switch to West the following year due to the appeal of the family aspect. He has enjoyed the convenience of living close to classes and activities, which Simpson and Pironis also enjoy, as well as the meal plan that eliminates the need to worry about cooking. “I do plan on moving off campus next semester because I want a bit more space and I want to get that sense of independence before I go out in the real world,” Shingala said. Shingala notes that it will be hard to leave the community that he has grown to love in the dorm.
news@collegiatetimes.com
Dorms: To stay or not to stay?
news@collegiatetimes.com
Weighing your off-campus options With all of the apartments available, hunting for the ideal location can be daunting. Here are some quick facts to make your search easier. AMANDA TINKLEMAN lifestyles staff writer
collegiatetimes.com
Fall leaves students of all years searching for a place to live the next year. All freshmen are required to live on campus their first year, so many opt out of continuing on-campus living. Tara Laughlin, a freshman studio art major, is planning to live off-campus next year. “I’ve only lived in the dorms two months, and I already miss the privacy of my own room and my own bathroom,” Laughlin said. “Living offcampus just seems like the natural resolution to all of these problems.” The housing search itself can be difficult, especially as a freshman.
“It was a lot of work to look up apartments,” Laughlin said. “I did not want to wait for the off-campus housing fair.” Others find the search for off-campus housing easier. Genevieve Gural, a junior mechanical engineering major, is living in Foxridge this year after spending two years in Hypatia, the engineering living-learning community for women. She found Foxridge through her roommates and is planning on staying there for her senior year. “Foxridge is pretty inexpensive, fairly quiet, and the commute isn’t difficult because I have a car,” Gural said. “The apartment is nice and decently sized. Everyone (at Foxridge) seems really responsive — if you have a question or a maintenance request,
they’re on top of it.” Another popular living choice is The Edge. Known for its close proximity to campus, The Edge offers amenities including a heated swimming pool, a fitness center and a student center. “I like that it’s so close to campus,” said Patrick Brew, a junior mechanical engineering major. “One time we were working on a project, and I was hungry, so I went home for about 25 minutes to eat and came back.” Only a little farther away lies The Village. Alex Strathdee, a sophomore double majoring in economics and finance, was drawn to The Village by its “good amenities, large living space and convenient bus routes.” Each housing opt ion offers
Terrace View Location: less than a mile away, on Hunt Club Road Layout & Rate: one-, two-, three- or four-bedroom apartments and townhomes, ranges from $385 - 919 Washer/Dryer: option to have included, most buildings have a laundry facility Pet Policy: pet friendly community
PAGE 10 October 27, 2015
Utilities: includes DIRECTV, water, sewer, trash with an option to include heat and hot water Internet: high-speed Internet include
something unique. Many popular offcampus housing options are a quick bus ride away from campus, making it easy to get home and back. The housing search may be overwhelming, but with a little research the right place can be found. The off-campus living search may be daunting, but here are some key facts about popular housing complexes near campus:
Foxridge Location: 2 miles from campus, off of Prices Fork Road Layout & Rate: one-, two-, three- or four-bedroom apartments with or withouts dens, about $400 per person Washer/Dryer: offers on-site laundry facilities in each building Pet Policy: pet friendly community Roommate Search: offers roommate matching services in office or online Utilities: rent includes gas heat, gas to heat water and trash removal Internet: high-speed Internet connections are included in all apartments @mandatink
The Village
Roommate Search: roommate matching avaliable Utilities: Water/sewer (Village West), trash removal included Internet: super high-speed Internet included with bandwidth up to one gigabit
Layout & Rate: four-bedroom $430, two-bedroom $480, one-bedroom suite $590
Layout & Rate: four-bedroom, two-bath from $975
Location: about 2 miles from campus Layout & Rate: two-bedroom - luxury $400, deluxe $480, premier $495, three-bedroom - luxury $440, premier $470, four-bedroom - luxury $465, premier $475
Washer/Dryer: included
Washer/Dryer: included in unit
Washer/Dryer: included
Pet Policy: not allowed
Pet Policy: permitted
Pet Policy: not allowed
Utilities: electic central heat, A/C
Utilities: sewer, trash and water
Internet: not included
Internet: not included
The Edge
Roommate Search: not offered Utilities: trash removal Internet: not included
Location: about 0.2 miles from campus
Location: about 1.5 miles from campus
Layout & Rate: two-, three-, four-bedroom apartments from $719, four-bedroom townhomes $770
Layout & Rate: four bedrooms, from $1600
Washer/Dryer: included in unit
Washer/Dryer: included in unit
Pet Policy: not allowed
Pheasant Run
Location: about 1 mile from campus, off of Progress Street
Maple Ridge
collegiatetimes.com
Location: less than a mile from campus, on Patrick Henry Drive Layout & Rate: four-bedroom, two-bath $545, two-bedroom, one-bath $590 Washer/Dryer: in unit Pet Policy: no pets community, excpet fish in small tanks approved by management
Location: about 1.5 miles from campus
University Terrace
news@collegiatetimes.com
Collegiate Suites
Pet Policy: permitted
Internet: Ethernet connections
October 27, 2015 PAGE 11
Utilities: varies per property
PAGE 12 October 27, 2015
collegiatetimes.com
news@collegiatetimes.com