Longhorn Life Housing Fair Edition

February 18, 2015

A special edition of The Daily Texan

HOUSING FAIR E D I T I O N

MOVING IN

R O O M M AT E S

Pages 8 amd 9

Pages 14 and 22

T R A N S P O RTAT I O N Page 18

LONGHORN LIFE

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Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

EDITOR’S NOTE

M

aking the transition to college life is a major step for most, which serves as the most valid reason

to do plenty of research before, as most people learn soon after their big move.

Austin was my first and major venture into independency, and I was more than sure that it was time. Whether you’re 18 and fresh out of high school or a 21-yearold incoming graduate student or in your 30s and moving out of your parents’ house – moving into your own place is kind of a big deal (at the moment).

Yes, you can sign short leases, but in some instances, six months or a year can seem like an eternal nightmare.

Even when you do all the preparation, your first

CONTENTS Home sweet ATX

pg.6

We give you a few pointers on how to make ATX just as sweet as home.

Packing for the move

pg.8

Learn how to decide what to leave out of the suitcase for your next move.

Bevo terminology

pg.11

Find out if you can pass the test on Longhorn vocabulary.

Rommie matching

pg.14

STAFF

experience may not go as planned, but then again, does anything?

I can clearly recall looking up [what felt like] every apartment complex located in Austin and organized them into an Excel spreadsheet with addresses, phone numbers, distances from campus, reviews and [most importantly] rates – little did I know, not even all of that was enough.

You know how you live and you learn? Well, after my first year living in Austin, I did just that.

Although my apartment itself was nice, my random-selective roommate experience was a different story. And now in my second year, my room-

mates are my Austin family, but we live in a cave with no cell service and upstairs neighbors on a different level 24/7 – how about that for a round of “Would you rather?”

Lesson number one: you can’t have it all. But you can still try. Even though there always seems to be something in the way of your happy life, I’ve learned to take it all with stride. Make the best of bad situations and move on.

Yes, moving for the first time is a big one, but remember it’s not permanent and will probably be the first of many – start leaning how to put together and take that furniture apart now.

The most important thing is to view each new experience as a fresh start, so take your memories and hang them in each new place and make new ones, see what works for you and what certainly doesn’t. Live with people who compliment your personality but are not a complete replica of you or live on your own and get a pet.

Where your family is will always be your home, but find the balance in making somewhere else the next best thing.

Gayle Bustamante Special Editions Editor

Name: 3393/The Ridge Apartment Homes; Width: 29p6; Depth: 5 in; Color: Black, 3393/The Ridge Apartment Homes; Ad Number: 3393

Special Editions Editor Gayle Bustamante Associate Editor Jennifer Townzen Designers Daniel Hublein, Jannice Truong, Jessica Lin Writers Jasmine Barnes, Kelly Coles, Victoria Garabedian, Emma Ledford, Jenna Million, Hayden Pigott, Ashika Sethi, Anshuman Singhal Photographers Jasmine Barnes, Victoria Garabedian, Taylor Harton, Jessica Lin, Jenna Million

TSM ADVERTISING & CREATIVE SERVICES Director Gerald Johnson Operations Manager Frank Serpas Advertising Manager Denise Twellmann Broadcast & Events Manager Carter Goss Advertising Sales Rep Robert Meute Advertising Assistant Shukree Shabazz Student Manager Rohan Needel Student Account Executives Andrea Avalos, Keegan Bradley, Danielle Lotz, Destanie Nieto, Xiaowen Zhang

Special Editions & Production Coordinator Stephen Salisbury Senior Graphic Designer Daniel Hublein Cover Designer Janice Truong

Find your perfect (roommie) match with a few of our tips.

Campus secrets

pg.16

Learn about seven campus services you may not have heard of before.

Bus tips

pg.18

Master taking the bus with our helpful tips and routes.

Longhorn Life is an advertising special edition of The Daily Texan produced by students in Texas Student Media’s special editions office. Reach us at txlonghornlife@gmail.com. Copyright 2014 Texas Student Media. All articles, photographs and graphics are the property of Texas Student Media and may not be reproduced or republished in part or in whole without written permission.

CONTACT TSM: We are located in the Hearst Student Media building (HSM).

For advertising, call 512-471-1865.

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

LONGHORN LIFE

Name: 3395/2400 Nueces Apartment; Width: 60p0; Depth: 10 in; Color: Process color, 3395/2400 Nueces Apartment; Ad Number: 3395

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LONGHORN LIFE

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Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

TEXAS UNION THEATRE All free film screenings are shown in the Texas Union Theatre, UNB 2.228, unless otherwise specified.

02/19 02/25 03/05 03/11 03/12

John Wick @ 6 & 9 p.m.

Hot Fuzz @ 9 p.m.

Horns @ 6 & 9 p.m.

The Grand Budapest Hotel @ 9 p.m.

Interstellar @ 6 & 9 p.m.

03/25

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory @ 9 p.m.

03/26

Big Hero 6 @ 6 & 9 p.m.

Sun.

Mon.

EVENT CALENDAR

FILM SCREENINGS

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Tue.

FEBRUARY / MARCH

CAMPUS EVENTS 02/24

Once, Bass Concert Hall (through March 1)

03/06

MOVE!, 7:30 p.m., Oscar G. Brockett Theatre

03/11

Kevin James, 7 p.m., Bass Concert Hall

OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS 02/27 03/13

Fantasy in February, 8 p.m., The Long Center

03/13

SXSW, Through March 22, Downtown Austin

Jane Lynch, 8 p.m., Paramount Theatre

STUDENT ORGANIZATION EVENTS 03/07

Explore UT, 11 a.m., Campus-wide

Wed.

Thur.

Fri.

Sat.

2/18

2/19

2/20

2/21

Marcus Rios Duo

Clint Manning Trio

Taking Back Sunday

Jagged Luck

7 p.m. @ Bat Bar

8:30 p.m. @ The Nook

6:30 p.m. @ Emo’s

8 p.m. @ Amped Austin

2/22

2/23

2/24

2/25

2/26

2/27

2/28

Mike Valliere

The Nightowls

Stanley Smith

Treble Soul

Desert Noises

Glen Collins

Fred Spence Duo

3/1

3/2

3/3

3/4

3/5

3/6

3/7

Fleetwood Mac

Peterson Brothers Band

Ryan Bingham

Chingy w/ Big Reeno

Journey and Steve MillerBand

The Swingsters

Cold War Kids

3/8

3/9

3/10

3/11

3/12

3/13

3/14

John Mellencamp

Walt Wilkins

Austin Poetry Slam

The Accidentals

Havilah

McAlister Drive

Willie Nelson

3/15

3/16

3/17

3/18

3/19

3/20

3/21

Open Mic

Eli Young Band

Sonny Wolfe

Treble Soul

Shoulders

Denny Freeman

Fred Spence Duo

5 p.m. @ Chuggin’ Monkey

7:30 p.m. @ Frank Erwin Center

7:30 p.m. @ Bass Concert Hall

7 p.m. @ Baker St. Pub & Grill

9 p.m. @ The Highball

6 p.m. @ The Continental Club

6 p.m. @ River Road Icehouse (New Braunfels)

7 p.m. @ Travis County Expo Center

6 p.m. @ Elephant Room

7:30 p.m. @ Gruene Hall

8 p.m. @ Spiderhouse Ballroom

9 p.m. @ Chuggin’ Monkey

9 p.m. @ Amped Austin

8 p.m. @ Stubb’s

Noon, @ SXSW Festival

9 p.m. @ Amped Austin

8 p.m. @ Stubb’s

6:45 p.m. @ Austin360 Amphitheater

8 p.m. @ Strange Brew

6:30 p.m. @ Continental Club

8 p.m. @ Buddy’s Place

11:30 p.m. @ East Side Showroom

4 p.m. @ Friends Bar

6 p.m. @ Saxon Pub

10 p.m. @ CU-29

7 p.m. @ Stubb’s

7 p.m. @ Travis County Expo

10 p.m. @ CU-29

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

LONGHORN LIFE

Name: 3401/The Edge at East End; Width: 29p6; Depth: 10 in; Color: Black, 3401/The Edge at East End; Ad Number: 3401

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FEATURE

LONGHORN LIFE

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

Your ATX home away from home

BY VICTORIA GARABEDIAN STAFF WRITER

I

t’s hard to compare the cloned and cramped space of a dorm room or apartment to the comfort of your childhood home, but these simple ideas will help make college life a little sweeter.

Photos on photos The best way to personalize any area is by adding visual snapshots of your life. Select your favorite photos from your smartphone or camera and upload them to your computer in order to display them in a variety of ways.

Ordering standard-sized prints to create a photo wall is an effective way to illustrate your favorite moments, while filling up the blank space of drearily colored walls. Fill an entire wall or create an interesting arrangement with the photos. Some image publishing companies, like Shutterfly, offer free prints for new members or different sales specials that make a photo wall an

inexpensive way to make your room feel more like home.

Another creative way of displaying photos is making your own photo strips.

Collect several photos and upload them onto an editing website, like PicMonkey. Select the collage feature and find a layout that looks like a photo booth strip. Then, simply arrange your photos into the collage. Make several of these and print them out on photo paper.

Placing these around various parts of your dorm room or apartment, like on bulletin boards or on the edges of mirrors, creates small visual reminders of wonderful memories that will surely spark a comforting atmosphere.

Showing your roots Especially helpful for outof-state or international students, displaying a flag to reflect your culture and family background can serve as a wonderful reminder of home. It is not only an easy way to fill up a large amount of blank

Photos by Victoria Garabedian

wall space, but also makes a powerful statement in the room that won’t be missed. Hang the flag with Command damagefree hooks and your flag will be flying high, showing the pride of your home and heritage, without caused-costly damage to the walls.

Little touches of home One thing that many students realize after moving into college housing is the vast amount of objects that a home actually contains. Dorm rooms and apartments have very little that come with them and that is not often no-

ticed until students find themselves without simple items that they once took for granted, such as mom’s home décor or simple kitchen appliances and utensils. Adding a few of these missing objects will make a room look and feel more like home. A rug or curtains

will do wonders to the atmosphere of your room while adding a touch of individuality. Even a few decorative throw pillows will surely do the trick.

Having these small homey details helps one realize that it’s the little things that can make the biggest difference.

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LONGHORN LIFE

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Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

STYLE

Bring it or leave it: How to decide if it should make the move with or without you

BY JENNA MILLION STAFF WRITER

W

hen leaving for college or moving out of your parents’ house, you may stress over what closet staples to stuff into your suitcase in an attempt to bring all of your favorite outfits and then some.

For students traveling from out-of-state or driving several hours from another city, you’re most likely going to be limited to one or two suitcases full of clothes to bring on move-in day.

Now, for those of you who live in or around Austin, you might be tempted to bring four suitcases of clothes and another one just for shoes. I’ve got news for you: if you’re living in a dorm (or in certain cases in an apartment), that’s not practical.

There are ways to prioritize what you need to bring so that you don’t end up taking five suitcases of clothes home at the end of the semester.

Think about it this way: if you didn’t wear it that often at home, you’re not going to wear it at school.

Remember the basics.

It’s always convenient to have pieces that can be mixed and matched for unlimited numbers of outfits. A good rule to stick to is to never take more than three pairs of any one item that can be

Graphic by Jessica Lin

interchanged. That goes for jeans, shorts, dresses and jackets.

Since most of your time will be spent walking across campus, it is most important to dress for the weather. No matter what season it is, your body will always generate heat walking around campus.

With that being said, usually less is more, even in the winter. On days when you think you need a coat, you could probably get away with a light jacket.

Since Texas winters are fairly mild, leave the heavy coats at home.

They take up more space

in a suitcase and in your closet. Instead, use longsleeve shirts, sweaters and jackets to layer. This method also works better for walking across campus, so you can easily take off one layer when it gets warmer later in the day.

Shoes are another entity entirely. Comfortable walking shoes are something to keep in mind. They don’t have to be tennis shoes, but you don’t want to be rushing to class in a pair of shoes that are giving you a blister the whole time. Keep the shoes to a minimum because they can be bulky

and take up more space.

If you just can’t live without them, the best way to store them is in a hanging shoe rack. This will allow you to stack them vertically and hang easily in your closet.

If you have a lot of tops, there is a simple way to organize them efficiently to utilize the most drawer space (because hanging space will be minimal). Instead of stacking shirts into vertical piles, you should make horizontal rows. Start by folding the shirts in half length-wise and tucking in the sleeves as you do so. Then vertically fold it in half twice. This makes a nice rectangle that allows you to still see the design of the shirt when placed in horizontal rows in your drawer.

While your closet may suffice for your summer clothes, when winter comes around you’ll be desperate to find more space. My tip is to use storage bins to store unneeded summer clothes and keep them under your bed. That way your closet is cleared out to make room for winter clothes, and you don’t have to send all of your summer clothes back home. And since the winters are so mild, you may find yourself digging through your summer clothes to find something suitable for the warmer days.

Photos by Taylor Harton

LONGHORN LIFE

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Move-in do’s and don’ts

BY ASHIKA SETHI STAFF WRITER

M

aking your college living area feel like home can sometimes be trickier than your calculus midterm. Find out what works and what doesn’t work before move-in day with these helpful tips!

What TO Bring: We get it. You don’t have a lot of room for stuff in your dorm or apartment.

Here are some easy ways to save on space and look great!

Apartments 1. A mini-fridge: Those apar tment-provided fridges usually won’t be large enough to accommodate more than two people.

2. Curtains: Everyone needs privacy. Check the dimensions of your windows before purchasing, and buy curtain rods if necessary.

3. Splurge on the heavyduty wall hangers and sticks. Nobody likes a painting that’s going to fall every time you close your bedroom door.

4. Succulents are a great way to spruce up your room on the cheap and add a little greenery.

5. If you have a balcony, make sure to bring an outdoor chair and small table. You never know when you’ll want to take your studying outside and bask in that Texas sunshine.

Dorms 1. Microwave & minifridge: For all of those last-minute mac and cheese meals 2. Full-length mirror: When those communal bathroom mirrors just won’t cut it 3. Small TV 4. Body pillow: instant cuddle buddy for your Netflix binges 5. Laundry detergent

What NOT to Bring: If tight on space (which most of us are), stray away from duplicate items.

Plan ahead!

Coordinate with your roommates to only bring one coffee maker, utensil set, printer, TV and other items for the living area.

A great way to save some cash is to pass on a wooden bed frame. Buy a basic metal frame from any mattress store for way cheaper, and use bedstoppers to help keep it from sliding around in your room. Of course, many apartments and almost all dorm rooms already come furnished (you lucky ducks!), so

make sure to doublecheck before purchasing.

Comforters are better than duvet covers; they’re easier to wash.

Home Décor: IKEA is a great place to get all the basics. Start there, and if you can’t check off all the items on your list, head to other great stores, such as Target, Wal-Mart and Macy’s. To personalize your space, head over to art websites, such as Society6.com to decorate on the cheap.

Got a blank wall and don’t know what to do?

Don’t sweat! Urban Outfitters has great tapestries to cover up that white space. Added bonus: endless compliments.

Bring memories from home with pictures! Websites like http://printstagr.am/ are a cheap way to print out photos from your Instagram profile.

Helpful Tip: Mason jars make great, inexpensive pencil and makeup holders. Spruce them up by spray-painting the outside of the jar.

Photo by Taylor Harton

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Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

The college experience: Lessons learned living on my own

BY VICTORIA GARABEDIAN STAFF WRITER

A

few useful skills college taught me that made me a stronger individual: 1. How to handle a crisis by yourself College brings a tsunami of studying, work, socializing and lack of sleep.

Consequently, a mental breakdown is bound to happen at some point throughout the semester. Usually parents are there to help their children work through issues and find a solution,

so their absence in college is heavily felt when a complete meltdown occurs. The reality, though, is that I’m an adult now.

The problems I face are the ones that I must solve alone. My parents will always be a phone call away for support, but when a crisis happens, sometimes a phone call will not suffice. It’s my time now to apply the advice that my parents have given me for years to my life.

2. How to appreciate home-cooked meals In high school, I would often groan whenever my

mom told me to eat dinner with the family instead of going out to eat with friends. But now that the dining halls and the Drag are my main sources of nutrition, I regret those many instances that I wished my mom wouldn’t cook. Now when I visit home, I ask her to cook every night and savor every bite. Thank you for cooking, Mom! And thank you for continuing to do so even years after I took it for granted.

3. How to manage my time Living on my own with-

Name: 3397/JLB Partners; Width: 29p6; Depth: 5 in; Color: Process color, 3397/JLB Partners; Ad Number: 3397

Photos by Jessica Lin

out curfews and parents checking in also taught me the immense value of time management (and sleep). I never realized the truth of the saying – “There aren’t enough hours in the day,” until I had to balance school, studying, organizations, sleep and finding time to eat. I quickly learned that I couldn’t be involved in every club that interests me or attend every social event that I am invited to. College is definitely a taste of the real world as it is not completely the student’s responsibility to accomplish personal and education tasks. Keeping a planner is one of the most effective ways to begin smart-time management.

4. How to budget your money Financial independence is directly correlated to gaining in-

dependence in college as the realization soon hits that I cannot live off of my parents’ money my entire life. Even with an allowance and savings, money management is still a vital skill to develop since every student will have to pay for their own housing, food, bills and basic necessities eventually. At some point every college student will discover that his or her bank account is empty. This is an experience that marks a rite of passage as one learns

that money is a product that must be earned and monitored.

5. How to do laundry One of the most difficult things that I had to learn since coming to college — and I still do not completely understand it – laundry. Seeing the mountain of unwashed clothes in my laundry basket and having to schedule an entire afternoon to cleaning my clothes have opened my eyes to the beauty of having loving parents. It also reminds me to always thank them for these grueling tasks that they do for me.

Not only have I learned how to do laundry, but I also learned that the more I visit home, the more chances I will have to get all of my laundry done.

Photo by Jessica Lin

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Name: 3403/The Zone at East End; Width: 29p6; Depth: 10 in; Color: Black, 3403/The Zone at East End; Ad Number: 3403

Bevocabulary: 10 terms every Longhorn should know

M

oving to a new town can be exciting, but also intimidating. If you’re new to UT Austin, better study up on Austin’s local lingo.

1. The Drag The section of Guadalupe Street that borders the western edge of the UT-Austin campus. An option for easily accest sible shopping and great deats.

2. Guadalupe Street Despite the street’s prop-er pronunciation, “Guadoa-loop-eh,” many people -in Austin prefer to call it t“Guad-a-loop.” d e3. San Jac Pronounced “San Jack,” d this is a common shortyening of a street that runs ofrom campus to down-town Austin. It’s also a ynickname for UT Austin’s ySan Jacinto Residence -Hall located southwest of oDKR. s e4. DKR Stadium t Darrell K. Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium. Com. fortably seating more ethan 100,000 fans, DKR is wthe seventh-largest colle-giate stadium in the counItry. Hook ’em! d e5. The Malls The four “malls” on t ethe UT campus are each -named according to their eposition relative to the Main Building (comy monly referred to as the Tower).

The Main Mall is the open area directly under

the Main Building, and the South Mall is the lawn to its south.

The East Mall is the grassy area east of the Main Building, and the West Mall is the area directly east of The Drag that students commonly use to rally and advertise their organizations.

6. The Six Pack Another name for the South Mall, the term “Six Pack” derives from the six buildings that border the area. Parlin, Calhoun and Homer Rainey Halls are on the west side, and Batts, Mezes and Benedict Halls are on the east.

7. Manchaca Road Pronounced by many as “Man-chack,” this is another South Austin road that goes by the local mispronunciation instead of its original name.

monly used (and congested) highways in Austin. Don’t be surprised when your GPS inevitably struggles with its pronunciation. Expect “Mop-ick,” “M-O-P-A-C,” or its less common but technically correct name “Loop 1.”

9. SoCo Short for South Congress Avenue. Home to a great variety of unique local shops, restaurants and other attractions like the “bat bridge.” NOT home to good parking options.

Bring family and friends here when they’re in town. They’re sure to have a great time.

10. Town Lake A downtown reservoir and recreation area, Town Lake was renamed Lady Bird Lake in 2007. A good amount of locals still insist on calling it by its original name.

8. Mopac One of the most com-

Photo by Jasmine Barnes

BY EMMA LEDFORD STAFF WRITER Originally Published: Aug. 22,

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Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

FEATURE

Roommate revolution: Building relationships

BY JASMINE BARNES STAFF WRITER

R

oommatehorror stories aren’t just urban legend. Many students find themselves going home to a real-life horror movie when they have a bad relationship with their roommate.

Roommates widely influence your ability to feel safe, comfortable and at peace in your living space.

Photos by Jessica Lin

It’s important to look at methods to find a good roommate, address sensitive issues and evaluate the kind of roommate you are.

Choosing roommates When looking to pick a good candidate for your roommate, these are all important factors to consider.

1. Living habits The most characteristic of a cohabitant is identifying someone whose

lifestyle matches up with yours. If it’s 10 p.m. on a Tuesday and you’re trying to go to sleep, but your roommate just invited five friends over to hangout, then they may not be the best match for you.

Similarly, if you’re sharing a bathroom or have a kitchen, make sure your roommate has the same standard of cleanliness.

How often do they clean the bathroom and keep dirty dishes in the sink?

Address these topics before moving in together in order to make sure there isn’t resentment because

one person is doing all the cleaning.

2. Friendship (optional) While it’s obviously desirable to have a roommate who is also your friend, it’s not necessary.

Don’t put friendship as the highest priority on your list of good roommate factors.

Often, old friendships can be strained when living in tight quarters. It’s difficult to bring up issues regarding money or cleanliness with someone you may feel overly comfortable with. Friendship can grow between roommates, but

it’s most important that there’s mutual respect when living with another person.

3. The initiation When asking someone to be your roommate, always think about a person who is likely in need of a roommate for the next semester/school year and who will want to live in a similar apartment or dorm as you. Also think about someone you know socially, whose lifestyle is similar to yours. Don’t be afraid to just ask them if they’re looking for a roommate next year and

tell them to take a few days and think about it. If they turn you down, don’t take it personally. It’s likely a conflict in lifestyle. As the saying goes, there are plenty of fish in the sea.

Addressing difficult issues and setting boundaries Conflicts will arise with you and your roommate. They may be small like someone forgetting to lock the door behind them or more serious like refusing to clean the bathroom. Approach the problem as soon as you notice it and always have

an open line of communication. Make sure to clearly state your concerns to your roommate without making it sound like an accusation or an ultimatum.

They will most likely be open to listen and make a change, but if not, talk to your resident assistant or other roommates you have who may be able to bring in an outside perspective. Worst-case scenario: you may have to leave and find a new living arrangement to feel safe and at peace. Whatever you do, don’t hold in your concerns. That will

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swith your present and future roommates only let the problem fester and grow.

Being a good roommate As corny as it may be, the golden rule applies perfectly here: Treat others as you would want to be treated. Respect and empathy are key factors in a good roommate. Even if you and your roommate are completely different people, always be willing to compromise and respect each other’s life decisions. Remember that your living situation is in many ways just a method to cut down the cost of liv-

ing for both parties.

Being respectful also means paying rent on time, doing your share of the chores and following through on the promises you make about having guests over or buying groceries. Do these simple things and your roommate is bound to love you.

The roommate experience doesn’t have to be something out of a horror movie. If you’re selective and respectful, the person you’re sharing a home with could become a great friend.

Photos by Jessica Lin

Name: 3408/Rio West; Width: 29p6; Depth: 5 in; Color: Process color, 3408/Rio West; Ad Number: 3408

Name: 3413/Crest at Pearl; Width: 29p6; Depth: 5 in; Color: Process color, 3413/Crest at Pearl; Ad Number: 3413

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EXPLORE

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Seven on-campus services you don’t know about, but should

BY JASMINE BARNES STAFF WRITER

D

o you feel like you’re always out of the loop? Is there something you feel is missing from campus?

Here are some hidden gems UT Austin offers that will radically improve your college experience.

1. Eco-to-Go Ever notice people carrying around green, plas-

tic boxes and wondered what they were for? Ecoto-Go is a relatively new feature at Jester City Limits, Cypress Bend and Littlefield Patio Café. To get one of those nice carryout boxes, you have to first purchase an Eco coin. You then show these coins to the person serving food and he or she will put your meal in one of the green to-go boxes. When you check out, hand the

eco coin to the cashier and they’ll give you a discount on your meal. After you’ve finished eating, go to any of the three previously mentioned cafeterias to return your box in exchange for your coin.

This system gives you the luxury to eat where you want, reduce the use of paper plates and get a discountd meal. Even people who don’t have a meal plan can purchase an Eco

coin and get all of these benefits. Eco-to-Go may be one of the best investments you make at UT Austin (not including the investment in your education, of course).

2. Multi-Cultural Engagement Center The MEC is located in the Student Activity Center and provides a space for minority students to socialize and hold meetings for culture-specific events. Whether you’re Hispanic, Asian or African-American, the MEC is an essential place where you can feel at home.

3. Blanton Museum of Art You can no longer say that you’re bored on a Saturday. The Blanton Museum is full of gorgeous photography, paintings and sculptures and open to students for free with your student ID. It’s located right next to the Brazos parking garage and is open everyday except Monday. Check the museum’s website, www. blantonmuseum.org to find out more information about interesting events and speakers. Instead of watching Netflix all day, go feed your spirit and mind with beautiful art.

Photo by Jasmine Barnes Find out about the latest news on campus by visiting designated flyer-sections promoting exclusive events.

4. Gender and Sexuality Center Also located in the Student Activity Center on the second floor, the GSC is a small community that works to include people of different genders and

Photo by Jasmine Barnes

sexualities. Whether you attend Feminist Fridays, where members of the Austin community gather to discuss issues of gender, or show up for an ABC (Awesome Bisexual Club) meeting, you’re bound to feel welcome and enlightened.

5. Student Services Building It’s impossible not to hear about Student Services during your time at UT Austin, but so few people actually take advantage of the many services the SSB provides.

Perhaps the building’s location on Dean Keeton deters people from stopping by. SSB was created specifically to meet your needs, whether that be attaining medical assistance for an ear infection or helping with a problem in your housing contract.

6. Littlefield Patio Café This is the most underrated on-campus cafete-

ria, hands down. Littlefield Café is located pretty far from the center of campus, but it has some of the best food on the 40 Acres.

The café is open everyday except Saturdays and they take Dine-In Dollars after 2 p.m. While this may seem like a lot to consider before buying a meal, it’s also important to mention that their pizza is to-die-for. It will literally change your life.

7. Harry Ransom Center Take a group of friends and go explore the exciting exhibits and events happening at the Harry Ransom Center. This month the Alice in Wonderland Exhibit is opening. There’s so much to see, including the world’s first photograph. To learn more go to www.hrc.utexas.edu.

You are officially in the know. Now go make your UT Austin experience even better!

5Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

MAKING CENTS

LONGHORN LIFE

Page 17

Five money-saving apps to keep money in your wallet

BY VICTORIA GARABEDIAN STAFF WRITER

C

ollege students understand the struggle of budgeting their money, but smartphones appease their stress with a vast selection of money-saving mobile applications.

Try any of these free apps to enjoy the luxuries of shopping and eating out while stretching your wallet farther than ever.

1. Hooked If you’re indecisive about where to eat, use the Hooked app to make up your mind while saving money. Hooked has

short-term deals at various restaurants on campus, on the Drag and throughout the surrounding area.

Simply scroll through the available deals, pick a place, tap the “Get Hooked” icon and show your smartphone to the cashier to claim your deal.

A few of the many participating nearby restaurants include Fuzzy’s, Austin’s Pizza, Potbelly, Oishi, Jamba Juice and Starbucks.

Be on the lookout for free food with no strings attached.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert— Hooked helps students

dine out with some spare change in their pockets.

2. RetailMeNot Couponing may seem old school to some, but RetailMeNot brings it back in style by offering users thousands of coupons right at their fingertips.

Search for stores and browse categories to find specialized coupons. The “Today’s Hot Deals” feature shows the newest discounts that stores offer.

There’s no need to print out the coupons. Claiming a deal and showing your cashier instantly saves you money. You can even bookmark your fa-

vorite stores to save time browsing in the future.

RetailMeNot sends frequent emails when you sign up and highlights the best deals near you. This nation-wide app has great offers that can benefit any student.

3. Shopkick It’s one thing for an app to provide great deals; it’s another for one to give rewards. Shopkick users can earn gift cards to stores like Target, Starbucks, Best Buy and Macy’s by earning points for each of their purchases.

Users can also earn points by walking into stores featured on the app, as well

as scanning certain products in-store. Then they can redeem the points later for gift cards.

4. UT-COOP Although this app is not exclusive to moneysaving deals, the “Offers” page features in-store and online coupons that every UT student can use to get discounts on books, school supplies, room decorations and Longhorn apparel.

The store’s products can be pricey, so this app is a great way to avoid overpaying. Nearly every student at The University utilizes The University

CO-OP, so downloading this app will save everyone a few bucks.

5. Campus Special Another app designed exclusively for college students is Campus Special, which shows the nearest deals for food, clothes, home accessories and much more.

It even provides directions to stores for firsttime visitors. The app offers a variety of deals and allows users to earn loyalty rewards that enhance the app’s already great discounts. Anyone who uses this app definitely won’t break the bank.

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EXPLORE

LONGHORN LIFE

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

Metro moves: Need a ride? Get the bus!

BY HAYDEN PIGOTT STAFF WRITER

S

o you do not have a car, and you have to get somewhere. What do you do? Get a Lyft? No! Go get on a CapMetro bus, it is free!

Riding a public bus in a big city can be frightening, but if you know what you are doing and you are confident, you will make it to where you need to be.

Follow these simple steps and you can be a CapMetro expert in no time.

Before you leave your apartment/dorm make sure to either download the CapMetro app, or, if you do not have any phone storage, bookmark

the CapMetro mobile site (capmetro.org).

Then make sure to look up your route before you leave. Go to the “Plan Your Trip” tab and type in your starting location (example: Jester Dormitory) and where you need to go (example: Home Slice).

Screenshot that so you have it and know what bus you need to go on in case your Internet stops working. Do not forget to also route your way back; this is extremely important! You can basically get anywhere as long as you know how to route yourself.

From there, walk to the bus stop (listed on your route map); some bus

stops are on Guadalupe, some are on San Jacinto.

When you get to the bus stop, go to capmetro.org/ stopid & find the “stop id” on the bus stop sign. Type it into the bar and then you can see how long until the bus you want will be at the stop. Make sure to have your UT Austin ID out before getting on the bus, that way you can swipe and get seated quickly.

Once on the bus, do not sit in the front – that is reserved for the elderly and handicapped. If you are nervous about riding on the bus alone, bring headphones and listen to music or a podcast while you ride. Make sure to pay at-

tention at all times when on the bus so you do not miss your stop.

To get off either hit a “stop” button on one of the poles or pull one of the yellow cords on the windows. Disembark the bus through the back doors and say “thank you” to the bus driver.

When it is time to go home pull up your screenshot of the way to get back and follow the same rules as before.

Now here are some protips: The “801” & “803” are your friends; they are rapid and have free Wi-Fi. Do not get northbound and southbound con-

fused. If you do get lost on the bus do not panic, it only makes it worse.

Do not be afraid to consult a bus driver, they know the system better than anyone.

Make sure to consult a route map when going out at night, you do not want to be stuck somewhere because the bus stopped running (they run longer on the weekend).

The “3” bus stops every couple of feet, so watch out, if you get routed to The Domain that way, take the “803” instead.

Try to have a bus buddy, especially at night.

Make sure to charge your phone before going on the bus.

And here are certain bus routes to know: The airport bus (100) stops right across from San Jacinto.

To get to HEB take the “10” bus: it stops right across from San Jacinto.

The “801” goes to SoCo, not the “803.”

The “803” goes to The Domain.

The UT Austin “663” bus drops you off right in front of Mozart’s.

The “5” will take you through South Austin.

You may not nail it the first time, but you get better with practice. Knowing the bus system can be beneficial, you just have to be prepared and you will be good at it.

Graphic by Jessica Lin

5Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

s

LONGHORN LIFE

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Page 20

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

OURCampus COMPILED BY HAYDEN PIGOTT STAFF WRITER

J

ester, San Jacinto, Roberts – all of these names can evoke a sense of camaraderie, or maybe they make you cringe. Either way living on campus can be an essential part of a student’s life.

We have compiled a list of what students have learned about living on the 40 Acres. See what dorm-specific insights these students have about the many residence halls at UT Austin.

Ashley Ephraim, Roberts

1. They aren’t completely honest with dorm descriptions.

2. Asking loud neighbors to be quiet doesn’t work.

3. Keeping up with laundry is hard.

4. Trying to study while lying down will get nothing done.

5. Being a hermit in your room for a whole semester will not make you friends.

Amanda Booth, Whitis Court

Photo courtesy of UT Austin

Five Things I learned: about living on campus

1. Living close to 8 a.m. classes makes them a lot more bearable.

2. Home-cooked meals are not to be taken for granted.

3. Stay on your roommate’s good side.

4. Make friends with people who live in your hall.

5. Living on campus makes naps between classes much more do-able.

Photo by Mikhaela Locklear

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Gaby Hernandez, Kinsolving

1. Anything that is not fast food is a blessing.

2. Living with someone can be harder than anticipated, however it can also be fun.

3. Always set alarms; it is easy to loose track of time then realize you have to run across campus in five minutes.

4. Taking the bus isn’t as bad as expected.

5.I guess just taking advantage of the opportunities on campus, whether they are organizations, events, etc.

Anything free is good.

Photo by Savannah Williams

LONGHORN LIFE

5Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

Lauryn Canella, Jester West

1. Good walking shoes and finding shortcuts are a must.

2. Wendy’s in Jester, the SAC and Union only take Bevo bucks, so you need to be conscientious about not spending them all.

3. Everyone does laundry on Sundays, so do it some other time.

4. Cleaning is not an option.

5. It is imperative to have a good mattress pad so you aren’t sleeping on stone.

Photo by Savannah Williams

Emma Mosser, San Jacinto

1. The buses are life-savers for going from one end to campus to the other.

2. It’s not about what dorm you live in; it’s about your roommate.

3. Don’t eat the meat in the dining hall.

4. The Texas Exes shortcut is wonderful.

5. The cats that live on campus are very cute.

Photo by Mikhaela Locklear

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LONGHORN LIFE

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Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

FEATURE

Roommate myths: How moving in with friends can work

BY KELLY COLES STAFF WRITER

E

veryone has heard the rumor that living with a close friend will ruin a friendship, but that doesn’t have to be the case. It may take effort, but it is worth the work.

Junior Victoria Bellamy lived with a close friend last year whom she met freshman year. Bellamy was positive going into her roommate situation,

knowing that she would be willing to talk through any problems they might have, and excited to spend more time with her friend. She enjoyed living with her friend because she got to know her better and meet more friends through her.

Bellamy and her friend were able to maintain a good relationship by keeping in contact and asking each other if they were OK with what the

other person was doing. Bellamy said that the only thing they needed to improve on was to clean more because they kept it pretty cluttered. “That maybe made us more annoyed,” Belamy said.

Freshman roommates Brodi Amos and Maxwell Newton have known each other since the seventh grade. When they decided to live together in college, both worried that their friendship would

Photo by Jessica Lin Show your roommate you care by leaving surprise words of inspiration to help her get through that tough exam coming up or after a bad day at work.

be negatively impacted.

“Throughout high school we didn’t always see eyeto-eye,” said Newton.

“Although I didn’t expect us to have a bad experience, I was ready for the worst,” said Amos.

After an entire semester sharing a room in Jester, both have found their living experience to be a positive one. They both expressed that they have become better friends with one another. They have maintained a good relationship by giving each other space when necessary, talking often and joking with one another.

“In a situation where other roommates might escalate a silly argument into something much more serious, we definitely just try to remember that most of the time if we have a problem it’s over something that isn’t really that big of a deal,” Amos said.

When asked to give advice to those who are deciding to live with a close friend, each person responded in a different way. Bellamy’s advice was to compare living styles before deciding to live together. “Talk to each other beforehand to make sure you’re on the same page with all the things you have to do to be a roommate,” Bellamy said.

Newton said to choose someone who you are

good

Photo by Jessica Lin Little things like celebrating each others’ birthdays can really make a difference when friends room together.

friends with, but you can still get to know better instead of your best friend.

“Choosing someone you know and may have not fully developed a friendship with is important because it allows you to expand past your comfort zone.” Newton said. “You discover common interests that you may not have realized you had prior to your experience.”

Amos said to remember

in moments of frustration why you decided to live with that person in the first place. “Always try to remember that your friendship with this person is so much more important than whether or not they forget to pick up that dirty sock off of the floor,” Amos said.

Though living with a friend requires effort, it is not impossible, and it may even lead to a stronger friendships.

5Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015

o n y r r p e

a t t -

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