The Daily Illini: Housing Guide

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A TENANT’S BEST FRIEND Renters discuss benefits, challenges of having pets

Page 24-25

S A L E

LEASING LESSONS Make time to understand a lease, before you sign

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

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Now Leasing HEREchampaign.com

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Leasing Office: 202 E Green Street Champaign, IL 217-310-4373 live@HEREchampaign.com

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Chapter house living offers social haven BY CHRISTINE OLIVO STAFF WRITER

No matter where students decide to live on campus, every living situation comes with benefits and drawbacks. Those pros and cons also follow students who choose to live in their fraternity or sorority chapter house. Many Greek houses on campus, but not all, have live-in requirements, generally claiming that members must live in the chapter house for one full year prior to graduation. Michael Kolman, junior in ACES, lived in the Phi Sigma Kappa chapter house his sophomore year in order to fulfill his requirement, and found the experience enjoyable. “I loved living in the house,” Kolman said. “The pros of living-in were that there was always someone to hang out with and talk to. I got to know the guys in the house a lot better, and it was an experience that I will never get again.” Kolman said some of his favorite memories of living in the house included knocking on his neighbor’s door at night and having deep conversations for a couple of hours while eating food. He added that it created great bonding time with his brothers. Although Kolman had many positive times during his stay in Phi Sigma Kappa, he also added that living in the house also had some downfalls. “One of the cons of living in the house was that my sleep schedule was really thrown off. I was going to bed around 4 a.m. on a daily basis,” Kolman said. “Also, it was very difficult to study in the house because I was always tempted to go socialize. I would always have to go to the library if I wanted to get anything done.” Kolman also said that the house was usually noisy at night, and he felt it would have been hard to find alone time if he had not lived in a single-resident room. Currently, Kolman lives in an apartment, and said it is vastly different from his living situation in the fraternity house. “Just like living in the house, there are positives and negatives with the apartment, too,” Kolman said. “I really enjoy cooking, so having a fully equipped kitchen that I’m only sharing with three other people is very convenient. In the fraternity, we weren’t allowed to use the kitchen, only the microwave, which was shared between all the brothers. Also, I have a very spacious room, with a big closet included, and a bathroom that I’m only sharing with one other person. Still, he admits that “apartment life doesn’t have the same exciting social life that living in the frat did.” Although Kolman said he probably would not live in the chapter house again if given the choice, he advises younger members in the Greek community to live in a chapter house at least once, if given the opportunity. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to live in a house with 30 other guys,” Kolman said. “The positives outweigh the negatives, so I would definitely recommend for guys who haven’t lived in the house to live-in.” Justeeny Marszalek, junior in ACES, is cur-

rently living in her chapter’s house at Alpha Epsilon Phi. “It was my goal to live somewhere different each year on campus,” Marszalek said. “When I got the opportunity to live-in, I knew I had to take it because I would never have another opportunity as unique as this one.” After a month and a half of living in the house, Marszalek said she has also been enjoying her time there. “I love it. It’s really fun,” Marszalek said. “Some pros are having your friends around you all the time, being surrounded by people you can rely on when you need anything like cold medicine, a pair of overalls or just a helping hand. I also never have to change out of my pajamas to go downstairs to chapter. I get to study with my sisters, and so much more.” As for cons to this living arrangement, Marszalek said they are few and far between. “I know some girls feel like they didn’t choose the right roommates, which may be a con for some members,” Marszalek said. “Quiet hours are difficult to enforce too, but I live up on the third floor, which is always pretty quiet.” Unlike Kolman’s experience, Marszalek said living in Alpha Epsilon Phi has had a positive effect on her schoolwork. “We have a great study room downstairs and many girls are focused on their schoolwork, so it’s actually a great motivator, and it all falls into place once you learn to manage your time,” Marszalek said. She also agreed with Kolman’s statement that everyone should live in the chapter house if given the opportunity. “It is a great way to become really close with girls you never thought you would even talk to,” Marszalek said. “You get to know and value everyone, which is a unique experience. Believe it or not, we’re actually friends and we like being around each other.” Robert Put had an entirely different experience than both Kolman and Marszalek. A junior in Engineering and member of Fiji fraternity, he opted out of living in his chapter house. Put said that his decision to join the fraternity during his sophomore year was one main reason as to why he never decided to live-in. “If I had rushed as a freshman, I probably wouldn’t have minded living in the house,” Put said. “But since I had already signed a lease and rushed Fiji for my sophomore year, I was just used to apartment life. I didn’t think living in the house was the right decision for me.” Although Put has not had the experience of living in a chapter house, he created his own pros and cons of staying in the chapter home based on what he’s heard from other members. “I mean, I heard it’s pretty noisy a lot of the time and that it’s hard to get any schoolwork done ever,” Put said. “It can get dirty and you don’t always have a lot of space. But the pros are that most of the events happen at the house, so you don’t have to go anywhere. You always get to be around everyone all the time and have fun.”

Christine can be reached at caolivo2@ dailyillini.com.

SADIE TEPER THE DAILY ILLINI

Justeeny Marszalek chose to live in the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority house during her junior year on campus. The house is located at 904 S. 3rd St. in Champaign.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

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Take a pass on these living (un)necessities ELISEO ELIZARRARAZ Staff writer

Seven items you don’t need for your apartment Animal House Poster? Check. Sixty-inch flat-screen? Check. Plunger? Umm ... In the midst of trying to deck out your new college apartment, it’s easy to forget about the essential things you need while getting wrapped up in things you don’t. Retail stores have back-to-school sales late in the summer and early in fall in an attempt to sell you lots of these totally pointless things. That’s their job. But yours is to distinguish between the things you absolutely need and the ones that you can live without. Here’s a list to help you out:

U-verse TV or any type of expensive cable TV packages Chances are, you’ll never watch or need

that Pro-Golfing channel or any of those annoying TV-Shopping Channels. Oftentimes, there are many useless channels packaged in high-end cable TV provider packages. But, in reality, you’ll only ever have a rotation of maybe 30 channels out of the 1,000 often featured in such packages.

Large speaker system While blasting your music until the early morning hours may sound fun, it’s often an impractical, luxurious burden. Most apartment buildings have noise restrictions that are easily broken by any extensive speaker system. The odds are you won’t be able to play your music on your speakers full blast, and using smaller speakers may be the most practical and sensible thing to do.

Food processer or Silver Bullet: While it’d be great to pretend to be Emeril Lagasse and create the crazy concoctions often advertised on TV, food processers or Silver Bullets are devices that you will probably not be using all that much. College is a busy time, and cooking exhaustive meals really isn’t in the cards.

Not to say that those Silver Bullet commercials aren’t tempting. The opportunity to make those two-minute omelettes sounds extremely enticing. So does the fact that you can make pesto with just a few pulses of the bullet. However, it’s just a luxury piece of kitchenware that you will likely only use to crush up ice. A standard $20 blender will do just fine.

Ping pong table I’ve seen plenty of apartments with a ping pong table and all it really does is take up space. Sure, it’s cool to have a ping pong table for party games, but it often turns out to be an unnecessary, space-hoarding expense. You need more room for such activities.

Party laser lights I know, when you first pictured your new apartment you were picturing a cool hangout hub so that you can host some weekend get-togethers. However, you’ll realize your apartment will never be the most happening place on campus. Sorry. Your cool, “Avicii-esque” party lights will be demoted to your own personal EDM-pairing gizmo when you’re home alone on a Friday night.

Printer Most buildings on campus have printers you can use for a small charge per page, and in an increasingly digital world where most every assignment is submitted online, the $199 you paid for your printer to print out those six essays might not have been the smartest investment. That’s especially true when you consider the amount of money that you’ll spend on ink and toner throughout the year. When it comes to detailed printouts, there will be hundreds of better printers on campus for such jobs, deeming your regular Target printer essentially unnecessary.

Funny novelty items Sure, that mounted rubber fish on the wall that can sing Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” or those several Seinfeld joke posters will buy a few laughs when visitors first see them, but they’ll soon turn into space-hogging annoyances once their funny factors are exhausted.

Eliseo is a sophomore in FAA. He can be reached at elizarr2@ dailyillini.com.

The University of Illinois Tenant Union Presents:

LEASE LASSO Lease reviewing with experienced housing counselors, Campus and Community Student Services, and attorneys from Student Legal Services

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October 8th, 2014 | 9am - 5pm Illini Union Room 407 @TenantUnionUIUC | facebook.com/tenantunion tenantunion.illinois.edu | (217) 333-0112

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

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PHOTOS COURTESTY OF CLAIRE ROBINSON

A fun rug, soft blanket and colorful throw pillows add a cozy and unique personality to this Bromley Hall dorm room. There are easy ways to make your space feel like home.

Candles, pillows create a relaxing space Use these 7 items to ‘cozy up’ your apartment or dorm MIKAYLA OSTENDORF Staff writer

College can be a time of stress and inconsistency. But with a few touch ups to an apartment or dorm room, the place that you return to at the end of a long night out or a day full of exams can become a home of your own.

1. Candles If you want to make your dorm or apartment your home, candles are a must. Though lots of dorms don’t allow flammable candles, battery-operated lights, which can be found at a craft store, are great alternatives. I decorated mason jars with glitter,

filled them with sand, and then placed battery-operated tea light candles inside. The lights warm my room with a soft, flickering glow that transforms it into a cozy getaway for relaxing and unwinding.

2. Throw pillows These little pillows serve for both style and function. They come in all shapes and sizes and in a variety of designs, from preppy flowers to bold sentence statements. Not only do they add flavor and personality to your room, they also allow for extra cushion. Place them behind your back while reading for additional support, or toss them on the floor when watching a movie for an extra-comfy seat.

3. Storage/organization units Remember when your parents cleaned your room? In college, you actually have to take the initiative to make your own space tidy. Sometimes this gets hard when the going (studying) gets tough. An easy way to clean the clutter is to purchase stacked storage bins to hold everything — clothes, food and towels — in a set place. Hav-

ing a clean room makes a world of difference, allowing for a clear mind to study and focus.

4. Shaggy rug The floors in dorm rooms and apartments alike are simply uninviting with their whitewashed tiles or stained carpeting. Cover up the cold floor space with a fluffy rug — the kind that you may even prefer over your own bed because it is that comfy and inviting. Your floor will instantly turn from no-man’s land to an instant hangout zone.

5. Comfort food Sometimes you’re just a spoonful of peanut butter away from comfort. Whatever your guilty pleasure may be — a tub of ice cream, popcorn or micro mac and cheese — keep it close by to help you survive the late night streak before midterms. Just knowing that your comfort food is back in your dorm waiting for you can help you feel at home in your dorm. Plus, it can help you make friends. Who is going to turn down an invite for free cookies?

6. Favorite aroma

At times, all it takes is a pleasant aroma to bring us back to our childhood. Whether it is the soft, clean cotton hint of justwashed laundry, or maybe a cinnamon sugar apple mix baking to crispy perfection in the oven, that scent will bring you to a happy place if you’re feeling homesick. Find a light-misted spray with that scent, and treat your room with it to occasionally beat the blues.

7. Signature blanket You know, it is the one you’ve had since birth that is now shrunk to the size of a small washcloth. Or maybe it’s the homemade blanket with a peace sign that got you through your high school breakups. Whatever the case, you are going to want something to snuggle up in, either for a movie marathon or an all-nighter. Suggested complement: Cozy up with a pumpkin-flavored coffee or pastry and instantly create the most pleasant spot on campus.

Mikayla is a sophomore in Media. She can be reached at ostndrfd@ dailyillini.com.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

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New apartment buildings welcome tenants Brand-new campustown buildings are now leasing for spring, fall BY ABRAR AL-HEETI STAFF WRITER

N

ew apartment buildings frequently rise up across the University’s campus. This year was no exception, and new constructions from high rises to luxury apartments began welcoming their first tenants in August. Now, they are leasing for next year. Each student looks for something different in their apartment search. “There’s a product for everybody,” said Kevin Roberts,

MHM 314 E. Clark St., Champaign Two bedrooms, two bathrooms From $780.00 a person Three bedrooms, two bathrooms From $735.00 a person

The building has three bedrooms, 2-level lofts with cathedral ceilings, as well as two and three-bedroom flats. The amenities include a washer and dryer in each unit, internet, a sofa, coffee table, end table and television, stainless steel appliances and bedroom furniture including a bed, desk and drawers. Parking is $45 a month.

who works with MHM Properties. “This is a diverse campus when it comes to not only student body population, but the accommodations available as well.” Below is a guide to some of campus town’s newest apartment locations, with information provided by the respective leasing office: Abrar can be reached at aalheet2@dailyillini.com.

Roland Realty 112 E. Green St., Champaign Four bedrooms, two bathrooms $695 per person Two bedrooms, one bathroom $695 to $745 per person The amenities include internet, a sofa, barstools, a washer and dryer in each unit, stainless steel appliances, televisions in bedrooms, television in the living room, an entertainment system and an end table.

The bedrooms come with a desk, desk chair and bed. Four bedroom apartments come with 2 refrigerators. Higher-priced apartments come with a bigger refrigerator, more closet space and more square footage. There is an elevator in the building. A convenient store and restaurant are in the works on the first floor of the building and should be completed by next year. Covered parking is $70 a month and uncovered parking is $60 a month.

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

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Bankier Apartments 519 E. Green St., Champaign

Lancaster Apartments 112 E. Chalmers St., Champaign

Two bedrooms, two bathrooms $950 per person

Three bedrooms, one bathroom with triple sinks $795 per person

Three bedrooms, three bathrooms $950 per person

Four bedrooms, two bathrooms with double sinks $825 per person

The amenities include internet, stainless steel appliances, a washer and dryer in each unit, television, couches, table, end table, entertainment center and bar stools. Bedrooms come with furniture, including a bed and desk. A gym is currently being created in the building. The building has garage parking for $80 a month.

Rent includes cable, power, water, and internet, and the apartment comes furnished, including bedroom furniture of a desk, dresser and bed. There is a washer and dryer in the unit, a television in the living room and a refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher. Secured basement parking is $75 a month and upper-level parking is $55 a month.

Campus Property Management 309 E. John St., Champaign – available for rent Spring 2014

Roland Realty 307 E. Daniel St., Champaign

Two bedrooms, two bathrooms $1,599

Four bedrooms, four bathrooms $875 per person

Four bedrooms, four bathrooms $2,999 The amenities include a washer and dryer in each unit, stainless steel appliances, television, water, electricity, internet and bedroom furniture. Parking is $720 a year.

Rent covers all utilities except for cable. The apartment comes with a table, end table, sofa, washer and dryer in each unit, stainless steel appliances, bedroom furniture and television. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. There is an elevator in the building. Covered parking is $70 a month and uncovered parking is $60 a month.

PHOTOS BY ABRAR AL-HEETI THE DAILY ILLINI

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

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To share or not to share? A question for hungry roommates Roommates discuss how they share and budget for food BY CHRISTEN MCGLYNN STAFF WRITER

THERE’S NO REASON TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE

STUDIOS THROUGH 5 BEDROOMS AVAILABLE

STUDENT HOUSING SINCE 1922 FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED PROVIDE ON & OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING

Sharing a house or apartment with multiple people can be difficult especially without throwing in other factors — particularly food. Living on campus for the first time can pose a variety of issues for roommates living with small refrigerator space. For all those Illini struggling with meal discrepancies, here are some tips from upperclassmen veterans: Meredith Blanford, junior in LAS, is currently living with three other roommates. They share food on a regular basis, which she said she believes works best for the apartment’s dynamic. Blanford said it is easiest to buy items together that aren’t used very often such as oil, sugar and salt. Occasionally, she said, the roommates will take turns buying other food for meals, but that it is also extremely important to always ask a roommate before assuming they will allow you to eat some their food if a roommate is buying seperately. People can get territorial over food, Blanford said. So “don’t sacrifice your

friendship over it.” “When there’s enough food around Sharing food isn’t for everyone though, nobody really misses it, but label your and sometimes it is best to just keep to stuff,” he said. oneself. If a roommate is concerned about Anthony Sarros, senior in LAS, said keeping his food, his, Lawrence said he he and his roommates avoid the issue of advises placing a label on it, which can help immensely to ensure no one will touch it. sharing food altogether. Living with three other guys can be Dan Zehe, senior in LAS, finds himself difficult, especially when some roommates in the middle of both worlds. are unwilling to share anything. But Due to the fact that he lives with 22 Sarros said he believes it’s important to roommates, Zehe said trying to coordinate be nice without letting people walk all over meals together is extremely difficult with you when it comes to food. everyone’s schedules. However, there are A long w ith his roommates, Zehe devised those whom it does not seem to bother. a rule that each roommate Sam Lawrence, senior is in charge of buying in L AS, says taking for himself, but the plan turns cooking helps the doesn’t always work out situation entirely. Also, how they would like it to, Lawrence said the fact Zehe said. Living among so many that he and his eight people, he said, makes life other roommates own three refrigerators helps a lot easier if everyone SAM LAWRENCE brings a miniature fridge considerably. SENIOR IN LAS L awrence said he to ensure space. He and his roommates try to make enjoys switching off dinners together on some making meals with his roommates, as well as taking turns buying rare occasions. a variety of snacks and bread. Zehe said he believes this is vital to the These are items everyone can enjoy, living situation dynamic because if meals but only for a limited time, he said, so it together are not sporadic then “they won’t decreases the food bill when they all divide be special anymore.” the cost. Lawrence said he lives among rather laid-back people and said many Christen can be reached at cmcglyn2 things don’t concern them regarding food. @dailyillini.com.

“When there’s enough food around nobody really misses it, but label your stuff.

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

11

Fall DIY: Inexpensive crafts for the season BY FRANCES WELCH STAFF WRITER

When the leaves begin to fall, the outside temperature drops 20 degrees in a night, and stores fill with pumpkins and Halloween costumes, there’s no question that fall has arrived. But aside from all the madness of costume shopping and scavenger hunts, one of the best parts of fall is being able to decorate your home for the season. Whether in a dorm or an apartment, a festive living space can be made easily and cheaply, even for the most frugal and creatively inept.

What you’ll need:

Candleholders

1. Pumpkins 2. Glitter 3. Adhesive of some kind (spray adhesive or glue stick) 4. Newspaper

Another easy project with small pumpkins or gourds is making candleholders. This creative and easy decor trick is messfree and easy on the wallet. It can also turn any space into a festive, “gourd”eous house.

Step 1:

What you’ll need:

Get the pumpkin sticky. Adhesive spray works best, but a glue stick or any type of glue also works.

Step 2: Glitter pumpkins When it comes to pumpkins, especially in the Midwest, the possibilities are endless. From the grocery store to the surrounding farms to your neighbor’s front step, pumpkins are everywhere. If you want to spice things up a bit but don’t want the gooey mess that comes along with pulling out the inside of a pumpkin, glitter pumpkins may be the next best option.

Pull out the glitter. If you cover the entire pumpkin in glue, you can sprinkle the glitter all over (don’t forget to put newspaper down to capture the glittery mess!). You can also design a special glue patterns, sprinkle glitter on newspaper and roll the pumpkin over the trail of glitter to create a sparkly design.

Step 3: Let the pumpkin dry.

1. Variety of little pumpkins and gourds 2. Sharp knife 3. Spoon 4. Tea lights

Step 1: Trace the area of the tea light along the center, upright portion of the pumpkin and cut along the traced line with the knife.

Step 2: Scoop out the piece that has been cut, place tea light in the opening.

Cinnamon stick candles Another easy and aesthetically pleasing

fall decor trick is a DIY fall candle with cinnamon sticks.

What you’ll need: 1. A plain candle 2. 20 to 30 cinnamon sticks (will differ depending on candle size) 3. Glue gun 4. Twine

Step 1: Fire up your glue gun and spread the glue down the cinnamon stick and stick it on the candle. Do this all around the candle.

Step 2: Let the glue cool down then tie your twine in a bow around the candle and voila! You have a new cinnamon stick candle to lighten the smell of any college living space.

Frances can be reached at features@ dailyillini.com.

Gourd candleholders and glitter pumpkins (pictured here) are two relatively inexpensive fall-themed crafts that can add some seasonal flair to your home decor.

FRANCES WELCH THE DAILY ILLINI

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

12

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Learning about leases BY STEPHANIE KIM STAFF WRITER

Like any textbook, reading a lease requires a set of skills to understand its technical language. But all hope is not lost for the lease-illiterate — the University’s Tenant Union provides free services to students who need help understanding their lease. “It is very difficult for someone who has no training to read a lease,” said Brittany Glenn, program manager at the Tenant Union and 2012 University alumna in AHS. “We have lots of training in leases, so we know where to look and what to look for. And once students come here, they can eventually do it themselves. It’s about showing them those life transferable skills so that they can do them on their own.” First, before even reading a lease, it is important to understand the two types.

Individual vs. joint Leases can exist as either individual or joint contracts, said housing counselor Sharonpreet Singh, senior in LAS. With individual leases, a student is only responsible for his or her own apartment. On the other hand, joint leases hold an individual and his or her roommates responsible and liable for rent and damages. This often causes problems in negotiation of rent costs, she added. With a joint lease, “Students can sign a lease and the other roommates won’t come to sign it, and they’re stuck with a rent with way more of what they want to pay,” Singh said. Once this is settled, students should follow three important steps:

Do sufficient research The first suggestion Glenn gives students is to check the Tenant Union’s Landlord Complaint Records to know what kind of landlord they will potentially be renting from. The records, which cover landlords in both Champaign and Urbana, are derived from past student experiences and can be found online or accessed at the Tenant Union, located in room 326 at the Illini Union.

View the actual unit Once a potential apartment is selected, view the exact apartment – not the model unit. Pictures online and model units may vary from the actual unit because no one has lived in those apartments before, Glenn said. Thus, is it crucial to set up an appointment with the landlord and to specify the unit you are interested in renting.

Step 3: Bring an unsigned lease copy

If the apartment meets a student’s expectation, the next step is to bring a copy of the lease to the Tenant Union for review — unsigned. Because a lease is a legal document, nothing can be changed once it is signed, Glenn cautioned. Students often forget to follow this crucial step, which results in a lot of issues because of the lack of careful reading and understanding of lease clauses and specific landlord regulations, she said. “We are seeing a lot of issues, recently, where students aren’t paying attention to move-out times, so they are charged a fee per day for staying in the unit longer for what their lease states,” Glenn said. These charges can be as high as $100 a day, she said. Other common problems involve conflicts with rules regarding pets, smoking, rent costs, rent due dates and the duration of the lease period. In addition, students need to make sure that they receive promises of furniture and other requests in written form, not verbal communication. If it is not written, landlords are not liable to provide the promised objects or services, Glenn said.

Precautionary measures One lease component that is not mandatory but highly recommended is renter’s insurance. Students should thoughtfully consider purchasing renter’s insurance because the landlord is not responsible for replacing items if something were to happen in the unit, Glenn said. Unfortunately, Mike Yoo, junior in Engineering, experienced this firsthand. A frozen pipe burst on the second floor and flooded his apartment. Yoo and his roommates were not liable for the water damage; however, they did not receive reimbursement for his damaged belongings because he did not have renter’s insurance. “They weren’t able to give reimbursement because under the lease we were responsible for our own belongings,” Yoo said. “The landlord recommended renter’s insurance, but we didn’t think it’d be a big of a deal because we thought we were pretty responsible.” While this incident was unfortunate and costly, Yoo said that he now makes sure to read the lease carefully, and even plans on buying renter’s insurance for his apartment this year. The Tenant Union is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition to lease reviews, the Tenant Union offers free services involving apartment, landlord and tenant troubles.

Stephanie can be reached at skim108 @dailyillini.com.

PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE KIM THE DAILY ILLINI

The Illinois Tenant Union, which is located on the third floor of the Illini Union, offers a variety of services to students who are living in apartments on or off-campus.

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

21

What to keep in mind before you sign BY ELIZABETH DYE STAFF WRITER

For many students, apartment hunting is an unbelievably daunting task, especially when added to the host of obligations they may already be struggling to complete, such as homework assignments, daily quizzes and devoting the near impossible free time to study for important exams. All of this alone can be extremely overwhelming, and may cause a desperate apartment-searching student to overlook important aspects of their potential new home. But choosing an apartment is so much more than just a decision of where and whom to live with. Every aspect of an apartment can affect a student’s school and private life in more ways than he or she could imagine, which is why so much importance should be placed on the decision of which building to live in. Thankfully, (albeit a bit unfortunately), apartment-searching students can learn from those before them and avoid blindly signing a lease by paying attention to aspects beyond just the price and proximity of the building to campus. Below are the sometimes overlooked aspects of apartment living. Take these into consideration when looking for an apartment:

Will you be living in your apartment for the duration of the lease? If a student plans on spending a good percentage of their lease residing somewhere other than their apartment due to an internship, study abroad opportunity or just to go home for the summer, it is crucial that the student makes sure subleasing is allowed. Additionally, be aware of the costs of subletting through the apartment’s leasing agency. Subleasing fees can vary greatly depending on the leasing agency. Ryan Jepson, junior in LAS, made his apartment decision after learning that the apartment he was looking to rent had steep subleasing fees. “I don’t plan on living in my apartment during most breaks and especially during the summer,” Jepson said. “If I subleased the apartment I almost decided to lease this year, I would have lost money even if I subleased my place to someone.”

Where is the majority of your time spent?

How much money will be spent every month?

Where a student spends his or her time during the school year impacts one’s wallet more than it does almost any aspect of apartment living. If students plan on spending most of their nights at their significant other’s or friends’ apartments, it makes little sense to rent one of the most expensive apartments on campus while having to pay for utilities they’re not even there to use.

Budgeting for monthly rent may be fairly simple, but the real work is determining how much money will be spent on other costs, such as food, clothes, social gatherings, etc. Going out to eat every other day can add up, and push an expected budget over the edge. Students should prepare for the cost of all living expenses when determining monthly costs. An expensive lifestyle may translate to having to rent a cheaper apartment.

Who are the neighbors? Before signing the lease to a seemingly awesome apartment, check out the residents who are already living in the apartment, and ask their opinions on how they enjoy living there. Students may be able to find out more about the apartment through a resident’s perspective than through any research online. Students can also get a feel for how their potential neighbors may affect their living environment.

What’s included in the rent? Close attention should be paid to what is included in monthly rental costs. Some apartments include utilities in the rent, but many apartments let their lessor pay for utilities on their own. Additionally, some apartments include extra costs in monthly fees for amenities available for residents, like access to tanning beds and gym services in the apartment building.

Who else will live in the apartment?

What’s the location and layout of the bedroom? While choosing a roommate may

seem like the easiest part of the process, what to consider in a potential roommate may not be a simple task. Before choosing someone to live with, students should consider what they want in the person they are living with. Students should look for someone who is responsible, reliable and honest to prevent mistrust, late utility payments and stolen items. If living with a good friend is a top priority, then students may end up sacrificing a living arrangement with someone who is more compatible, but less fun to spend time with. Additionally, students must weigh how many people they plan to live with in order to calculate how the utilities and other amenities will be split. Zach Lee, junior in Engineering, said he roomed with friends and did not think about how living with them would cause him to actually lose money and trust in them just by becoming their roommate. “My roommates are constantly using my things and eating my food,” Lee said. “It’s the fact that they’re my friends that I don’t push them to replace my things.”

A bedroom may look nice at first glance, but overlooked factors such as window location, bedroom location, closet space and accessibility could be detrimental to the living environment. A bedroom located right behind the living room, for example, may wreak havoc on someone who likes to have a quiet environment. Catherine Zhou, sophomore in Engineering, cannot stress this enough. She said she regrets not taking this factor into consideration, since a fraternity is positioned just outside her bedroom window. “I wish I had thought of the vicinity to fraternities and their noise levels,” Zhou said. “Now I’m stuck listening to the screams of frat bros on a daily, if not hourly, basis.”

What’s the age and condition of the apartment? New apartments and older apartments have varying degrees of rules and regulations that potential renters should take into consideration. Many new apartments have strict rules on smoking within the

Renter Rights Evictions: “A landlord must file a lawsuit in order to evict you.” — Illinois Attorney General “Remember, only a sheriff can physically evict you. It is illegal for a landlord to evict you by locking you out.” — Illinois Attorney General

Entering an Apartment or Dorm: “Depending on the terms of a lease, if a landlord wants to enter a tenant’s house or apartment for any reason other than an emergency, the tenant must be informed in advance and must have provided permission.” — Illinois State Bar Association

Use your Fourth Amendment right when someone comes knocking: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” — U.S. Constitution “School officials will sometimes request that the police accompany them on an inspection for ‘safety purposes.’ Unless they have a search warrant, the police need to wait outside the opened door. The police will usually ask the student if they can enter, but you are free to refuse, and the fact that you refused cannot be held against you in court.” — Criminal Defense Lawyer Steve Graham

Compiled by Claire Hettinger

building, no-pet policies and higher fines to replace appliances or furniture. In contrast, many older apartments may be cheaper to rent, but may have worn and torn furniture and older appliances.

Elizabeth can be reached at edye2@ dailyillini.com.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

22

The Daily Illini | www.DailyIllini.com

Q&A: The life, advice of a resident adviser Ryan Kenji Kuramitsu explains his duties, responsibilities as an RA BY REEMA ABI-AKAR STAFF WRITER

Whether working for University Housing or Private Certified Housing, resident advisers are meant to serve as an authority figure on a floor. But more so than that, they become a community organizer, event planner or simply a person to talk to. Ryan Kenji Kuramitsu, senior in Social Work, knows these responsibilities all too well. He’s served as an RA in both Private Certified Housing and University Housing for three years. Currently an RA at ISR for approximately 55 students, Kuramitsu sat down with The Daily Illini to share his typical schedule, what he enjoys most about his job and some recommendations to any future RAs. DAILY ILLINI: How long have you been an RA? RYAN KENJI KURAMITSU: Technically, this is my third year of being an RA, although I had worked for private housing for a half a year and then got an apartment, so if you’re doing it in general time, it’s really two and a half years, but really like … three years. DI: Why did you choose to be an RA in the first place? RKK: I think part of it is definitely motivated by the financial benefit — free housing, free room and board — especially because I didn’t receive a lot of scholarships to come to college and I wanted to be able to help my parents financially by not being as big as a drain … I also feel like I’ve always had an affinity for working with students who are younger than me at the residence halls in general, so it really is a good thing.

DI: What’s your favorite or most interesting part of your job? RKK: I think it would have to be when residents let you into their lives; it’s really

“I’ve always had an affinity for working with students who are younger than me at the residence halls.” RYAN KENJI KURAMITSU SENIOR IN SOCIAL WORK

unique in the way that they live with you and share their life stories. … That could be through having a conversation with them when they need it, (or helping them in similar ways). ... It can become hard in a variety of things, but that’s probably my favorite part. DI: Could you take me through a typical week as an RA at ISR? RKK: We have all sorts of responsibilities. Every 10 days we have to be on duty for a whole night, which is generally not fun, especially if it’s on a weekend. We have to be indoors all night. But generally throughout the week we just have to be in and around our community and create ... bulletin boards, (fliers) and all sorts of programming. DI: Was being an RA in private certified housing different from University Housing? RKK: I feel like (private certified housing) was a lot different. I feel like there’s less social cohesion in a lot of ways. There is not nearly that much emphasis at all, either with your training as a paraprofessional or programs for the residents, in multiculturalism and diversity or issues

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RYAN KENJI KURAMITSU

The Daily Illini | www.DailyIllini.com

with social justice. I found that to be almost nonexistent living in private housing and working as an RA in private housing. Whereas the University has a very strong inclusive and diverse ‌ identity, I guess. That’s one main difference.

the University has to try to make sure less people ‘fall through the cracks,’ and you really have to care about people, and you really have to like to be around your residents ‌ and just have a passion for kind of being a role model almost to them.

DI: Do you have any advice to give for anyone hoping to apply for an RA position? RKK: Defi nitely make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. You also have to be able to be confident enough to lead a floor and enforce policies, and you have to have

DI: What do you appreciate about being an RA? RKK: It’s a great experience for me personally as a social work student because I’m more able to practice what I’m learning in my courses by talking with residents on the floor and try and advocate for them, which fits really nicely with my personal (goals). There are RAs who are engineers, who are anthropology majors, and I think we all bring something good to the table. So that’s what I really appreciate about working with University Housing too, is the diversity of our staff.

“We’re often painted in a negative light, I think, but really we’re doing this job because we care about people.� RYAN KENJI KURAMITSU SENIOR IN SOCIAL WORK

discussions about things that you might not otherwise have the ability to have those discussions about. I think an RA position is like the fallback, (meaning that)

DI: Is there anything else that you would like to share about serving as an RA? RKK: One last thing I would say is that I see the RA as not an authoritarian figure that needs to be respected and feared on the floor, but serve as an advocate for students and help them with resources as I mentioned and stick up for them. We’re often painted in a negative light, I think, but really we’re doing this job because we care about people.

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Reema can be reached at abiakar2 @dailyillini.com.

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

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24

Fluffy pals add comfort to hectic student lives

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARTA ORTIZ

Despite the time commitment, some students opt to own pets while balancing school, homework

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

BY ANNABETH CARLSON STAFF WRITER

When looking at the typical college student’s shopping list, one will probably find school supplies and dorm or apartment furniture. Pet food and toys are usually not on the list. Three student pet owners shared their experience of living with a pet at school, explaining the challenges and benefits of owning one as a student.

Deepak Alagnav and Turbo Deepak Alagnav, a senior in LAS, has a black and white tuxedo cat named Turbo. Alagnav bought him two summers ago, splitting the cost with his roommate. Despite the challenges of keeping a pet while remaining a full-time student, Alegnav said he loves having a pet in college. “He really does help me manage my stress, and I have a cat friend to watch TV with,” he joked. At first, Alegnav said Turbo lived with him and his roommate in the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house. However, the biggest struggle since they moved out was finding a pet-friendly apartment complex. Currently, Alegnav and Turbo live in an apartment complex that is not pet-friendly. However, Alegnav said they were able to get around the rules because he has a doctor’s note saying that his pet helps handle his

“After having a long day of school and work, it’s the best having someone so genuinely happy to see you when you get home.” MARTA ORTIZ

SENIOR IN LAS, DOG OWNER

stress. He also said his neighbors did the same with their dog.

Matt Christopher, Zelda and Navi Another cat owner on campus is Matt Christopher, a senior in LAS. Christopher owns two cats named Zelda and Navi, halfBengal and half-Russian Siberian cats who are currently 11 months old. Unlike Alegnav, Christopher said he was able to find a pet-friendly apartment complex on campus. He said that the apartment, located at 605 S. Fourth St., simply has a few guidelines for pets,

including a rule that states a resident can only have a maximum of two pets within a certain weight limit. The resident must also pay an additional fee for the ability to own a pet. Christopher said the most challenging part of owning a pet in college is making time to take care of them, with one of the biggest hassles revolving around time management. He said it can be a hassle to go back to his apartment between classes to feed them. Despite this challenge, Christopher said he enjoys being a pet owner. “They (the cats) are just so adorable and fun to play with. I’m an animal person,” he said.

Marta Ortiz and Chyna Felines are not the only friends to Illini. Marta Ortiz, senior in LAS, adopted a threeyear-old pit bull terrier named Chyna. Ortiz, who lives at Castle on Locust, said that her apartment allows pets if the tenant pays a $25 monthly fee. She said Chyna has to be taken out to use the bathroom every couple of hours, including sometimes as early as 6 a.m. There are also expensive vet bills to consider. Despite this, Ortiz said she thinks it is completely worth it to have a dog. “After having a long day of school and work, it’s the best having someone so genuinely happy to see you when you get home. And she’s always so happy and loving, I can’t help but be in a good when she’s around.”

Annabeth can be reached at aecarls2 @dailyillini.com.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MATT CHRISTOPHER

Matt Christopher, right, shown with his brother, Mitch, owns two cats named Zelda and Navi. He says it’s difficult to find time to take care of the cats while being a student.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

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26

Who makes the perfect roommate? Living habits, hobbies, interests all play a part BY SAHER KHAN STAFF WRITER

2014

Searching for the right roommate can be a stressful and nerve-wracking task that requires a lot of time in order to find a perfect match. And while a roommate does not have to be a best friend, they do have to be someone who is tolerable to live with. To provide these types of mates, many housing options on campus provide a roommate questionnaire for students to fill out in order to ensure they agree on basic living arrangements. Hendrick House, a private residential dorm on campus, is one such housing option. The dorm uses a questionnaire to help determine potential compatibility among students, and use it to help assign people to roommates who will be compatible with them, according to Joe Lamberson, office manager at Hendrick House. Lamberson, who works on roommate assignments, said that Hendrick House has a section on its application where applicants can talk about their hobbies, habits and interests.

“Each student can use this section to give us a picture of how they see themselves using the room, for example, as a quiet study haven versus as a relaxing hangout spot,” he said. Using this information as a starting point, Hendrick House staff then will compare the information provided by the students to look for common interests and shared experience. Another big factor in matching roommates is what year and major a student is. While roommates do not always have to be the same age or have the same major, these general similarities are something a lot of campus housing takes into account when putting people together, said LaDarius DuPree, senior in LAS and former residential adviser at Allen Hall and Illini Tower. “People with the same major tend to have similar personalities and have similar schedules so that always makes for a good roommate,” said DuPree. He also said he thinks that roommates who are in the same year will be able to better relate to each other. “Freshmen will understand what a freshman is going through, and upperclassmen can relate to upperclassmen,” he said. “A junior will be stressed searching

for an internship and their fellow juniors can relate while a freshman would want someone to explore campus or go to sporting events with.” Both Lamberson and DuPree said they recommend students to look for others with a similar major and strongly shared interests because those can make for the best roommate pairings. “Being able to relate on an academic level, even if it’s just so the two of you have a basic understanding of your collective course load, can work wonders in a roommate situation,” Lamberson said. “Adding in shared interests and activities can yield a stable living situation that can even become a lifelong friendship.” Shazia Siddiqi, senior in LAS, had the task of pairing roommates who contacted her through her RSO, the Muslim Student Association. She said that when pairing people, she often asked them things that she deemed were the best judge of compatibility. Some of these things included their daily routine, sleeping habits, cleanliness, study habits, social life and any hobbies or interests. “This doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get along, but it’s helpful to have some common ground. You don’t have to be best

friends, but as long as you can respect one another and your living arrangement, it will be okay,’ Siddiqi said. She also recommended that people set their own set of rules once they move in. “Though it may be awkward at first, having a frank conversation with your roommate in the first few days will prove to be helpful long term. Finally, it’s essential to compromise. Communicate and try to come up with reasonable compromises that you’re both comfortable with,” added Siddiqi. “People looking for the right roommate should definitely take these things into consideration.” Similarities are not always a necessity, though. DuPree expressed caution in having roommates with personalities that are too similar. “A lot of roommate conflicts I had to deal with when I was an RA were between people who were very similar,” he said. “It can help to live with someone who is a little different because that also allows you to learn how to compromise and adjust and you can also find yourself exposed to different people and make you have a more of an open mind about things.”

Saher can be reached at smkhan3 @dailyillini.com.

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

27 YOUR VOICE

Q: Do you communicate effectively with your roommates? If so, how? COMPILED BY HANADI ABUNAIM STAFF WRITER

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“We barely speak to each other. It’s great that we don’t argue, but we don’t talk either. We haven’t really seen what we do or don’t have in common to see if a friendship can be built.� '$6+21 5,9(56 GSFTINBO ")4

“My roommate and I have good talks every now and then, but outside of the dorm room I don’t see him much. Partly, that is due to me being a sophomore and him being a freshman. Also, I decided to live at the dorm with my other friends so I am usually hanging out with them.� (/2< /23(= -5 TPQIPNPSF %(4

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“Yes, from the first day that we met we made up rules as to what was appropriate to make us comfortable in our dorm. Her personality and mine resemble in a way where we get along and clicked. We always text each other, and let each other know when we have guests over.� &/$8',$ $558(/$ KVOJPS -"4

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Making the trip Senior makes a 45-minute commute from Decatur to Urbana for classes BY JOSH CAIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

For many students, making the decision to live in a house or apartment can be challenging. Even more intimidating is the prospect of having to commute to campus every day. But just as on-campus living does, living offcampus has both its pros and cons. Jared Roberts, senior in LAS, has lived off-campus all four years of college, after starting out as a freshman at Parkland College and then transferring to the University. He is an experienced off-campus resident, having lived with and without roommates, in places both close and far from campus. “I’ve never lived on campus, so I’ve always had to commute,” he said. “Whether it be a couple miles to 50 miles.” Rober ts currently lives i n Decatur, Illinois, a 45-minute drive from campus. In order to avoid making the commute every day, Roberts said he has spaced out his schedule to take days off during the week. “Generally, the classes I have to take are Monday, Wednesday, Friday, so those are the times that I will schedule all of my classes,” he said. A lthough he appropr i ately schedules his classes to avoid the commute as much as he can, Roberts said he has been restricted in taking more than the minimum required credit hours because of the commute.

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Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Roberts makes the 50-mile drive from Decatur to attend classes at the University of Illinois.

Despite this, he said he prefers everyone, he believes it is a great being away from the noise and option for people who prefer to commotion of campustown because keep their school and home lives it allows him to escape from the separate. hustle and bustle and have a more Kirsten Ruby, associate director isolated living situation, which he of Housing for communications and marketing, has another take. prefers. “I think campus is very loud, and She said iving off-campus is a there’s not really a lot of space to “very personal decision,” but just study and be by also stressed yourself,” he said. the importance But perhaps of responsibility when choosing to one of the biggest factors of on-campus live off-campus. housing is sustaining O vera l l , she a mont h ly rent, b e l i e ve s that living on-campus and, according to unti l junior Roberts, l iv i ng year is vital for o f f- c a m p u s can students to learn m a ke t h at even c er t a i n sk i l l s more d i fficu lt. JARED ROBERTS before they are He said a key to SENIOR IN LAS ready to live on living off- campus their own. is mai ntai ni ng a source of income, in On top of addition to making time to keep up maintaining schoolwork, living with schoolwork. in proximity to campus offers Another difficulty with living privileges such as the community, off- c a mpu s i s m a i nt a i n i ng campus security, dining halls and friendships while living so far access to other facilities. ” away from school, he said. Ruby recommended off-campus Roberts said he did live in students should especially pay Champaign for his sophomore attention to their spending when year solely to make friends, before dining out. Food prices fluctuate, moving back to Decatur. and keeping that in mind while “Once you already have those m a i nt a i n i ng a budget a nd relationships, or you have people schoolwork can be difficult. that can help you network, you But among things to keep in mind don’t really need to be on campus when deciding to leave or stay on as much,” he said. campus, is how to gauge whether While Roberts said that living moving off-campus is a viable away from campus is not for option or not.

“I think campus is very loud, and there’s not really a lot of space to just study and be by yourself.”

Br it t a ny Glen n , pr og ra m manager for the Tenant Union, profiled many of the reasons that students prefer to live offcampus. These reasons included having private bedrooms and bathrooms and having a place to cook. However, one of the benefits of living closer to campus, Glenn explained, is the parking situation. Glenn said that having an apartment closer to campus can be beneficial in that students will not need to drive to class, therefore eliminating the need to buy a temporary parking space. However, livi ng outside of the school’s vicinity does mean establishing a parking situation, which Roberts said he is no stranger to. “I have to buy a parking spot every semester,” he said. “And those are really expensive.” He said has spent up to $300 for a yearlong parking space. Roberts said that organization is another crucial element to living off- campus. He recommends students only move off-campus once they are ready to take on additional responsibilities, such as managing both their time and finances. “Make sure you get everything done on time,” he said. “Make sure you can wake up two hours before your classes start. That’s really the only thing that I think is the hardest.”

Josh can be reached at features@dailyillini.com.

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