The Lantern – Feb. 6, 2020 by The Lantern

THE LANTERN the

spring

Thursday, February 6, 2020 Volume 140, Issue 7

HOUS ING 13

SUMMER SUBLEASE

17 ING

R SP ASE LE

P 529

HALL DIR EC TURNOV TOR ER

SING

LE L

11 IVING

FORBIDDEN SUBLEASE

MOVIN FURNIT G URE

MA 4 NA INTE NC E

LIV 9 IN CO G AS A UPL E

17LAN

REN 2 INSU TERS RAN CE

PAVEY SQUARE

guide

PRIME LOCATIONS ALL ACROSS CAMPUS

See our other ad on the back page!

thelantern.com

2 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 6, 2020

@TheLantern

PAVEY SQUARE Part Two:

Some students take up residence ABHIGYAAN BARARIA | MANAGING EDITOR FOR CONTENT

Residents are slowly moving into The View on Pavey Square after being told construction delayed initial move-in.

ABHI BARARIA Managing Editor for Content bararia.1@osu.edu When Emily Osborne signed the lease to her new apartment in January 2019, she did not think that more than a year later she’d still be waiting to see it, let alone live in it. In late October of this past year, Osborne, a third-year in physics, was living in a studio apartment on East 14th Avenue, according to previous Lantern reporting. The apartment she had signed a lease for — a one bedroom at The View on Pavey Square at the corner of West Northwood Avenue and High Street — was still under construction with no end in sight. As of January of this year, the second and third floors of the complex are complete and occupied by tenants — albeit not entirely — Todd Dillon, a manager at Hometeam Properties, the property management company for Pavey Square, said. Though there may be negative emotions toward Hometeam, Dillon said it was important to address a common misconception around Ohio State’s campus: Hometeam is only the property manager and not the actual developer of the apartment complex; it doesn’t have as much insight regarding the construction process as the architects or subcontractors and only knows

what it is told. When the company found out the project was not going to be completed on time around the end of summer 2019, Hometeam came up with an alternative plan to house the tenants who had signed a lease, Dillon said. First it provided units for each tenant who signed a lease to live at Pavey Square, he said. These units were furnished with items from the under-construction complex. The property management company also gave tenants an option to look for other places to live, allowing them to get out of their lease if they choose to do so, Dillon said. “It truly is our goal is to try to provide as stress-free of an atmosphere as possible for our tenants and the students,” Dillon said. The temporary unit assigned to Osborne, however, proved to be a stark contrast to the one she was promised when she signed her lease with Pavey Square, she said in an Oct. 30, 2019, Lantern article. The apartment is smaller and missing one of the main features she liked about her unit at Pavey Square, she said in the article. “The kitchen’s really small,” Osborne said. “Most of what I liked at Pavey Square was the kitchen because I cook a lot. In this space, there’s one range, very little counter space.”

thelantern.com

@TheLantern

When Hometeam learned the construction was not going to be completed in time, it stopped leasing for the 2019-20 academic year, Dillon said. “It was just so we wouldn’t be in a situation where, you know, having more people that had to deal with the same stress and displacement,” Dillon said. Hometeam asked the construction company to focus on getting the second and third floors ready so all the tenants who signed a lease could have a place to stay in the new building as soon as possible, even if it was only until their actual units were fully constructed, Dillon said. “Every person who signed the lease at Pavey now has an option to live on the second and third floor,” he said. “Some people may have signed the lease for the fifth floor and obviously they can’t move into that unit because the fifth floor is not complete. But we’re able to get them into a unit on the second or the third floor.” Dillon said there are maybe one or two tenants who are not currently living on the property, as most of the tenants chose to move into the vacant spots on the second and third floors. Osborne, who said she was of-

Thursday, February 6, 2020 | The Lantern | 3

fered a studio on the second floor almost-finished parking structure while her actual apartment was at the apartment complex, which being finished, is one of the few despite being a longer commute tenants not occupying a unit. She from her current residence, she said she preferred said it is still a step to pay the disup from her counted rent of current parking $500 at her cursituation. rent temporary “It’s an inconresidence. venient walk I feel like I’ve stuck Osborne also out to get it, but it out, and I deserve at least it’s a said moving to live there once would have place it’s free to been an inconpark,” Osborne it’s ready. So it’s venience for her said. “I haven’t like, I might renew as she would’ve found trouble my lease. It’s a nice getting a space had to do it for a third time once there yet, and apartment. her actual unit it doesn’t seem was completed. full.” EMILY OSBORNE Additionally, it Osborne Third-year in physics being a studio said that at her compared with present locathe one-bedtion, parking is room for which a struggle beshe signed a lease deterred her cause Hometeam oversold parkfrom leaving her current place. ing passes, making it hard to find “It might be a little bit bigger,” a spot since more cars had passes Osborne said. “I think it’s 30 per- than there were spots. cent bigger or something, some“They got really good about thing like that. But it’s not three towing cars, but that doesn’t actutimes bigger, so I don’t think it’s ally help if all the cars are parked worth three times the price.” there legally, and you still don’t The closest Osborne said she have a space,” she said. has gotten to living at Pavey As for the remaining two floors Square is parking her car in the at Pavey Square, Dillon said there are a lot of finishing touches going on, and the fourth floor is further along in the process than the fifth. Not knowing when the first two floors would be completed, though, did affect Osborne and her comfort level regarding her temporary apartment. She said she was forced to grow more comfortable with the place as the silence between her and Hometeam continued. “It was sort of like this back in the brain like, ‘Oh, don’t get too comfortable because you’re gonna move,’ or, ‘Don’t feel like you have to move all your stuff ’cause you’re gonna have to move it again anyway,’” Osborne said. AMAL SAEED | PHOTO EDITOR The View on Pavey Square opened floors for residents to move in after For the future, Dillon said overshooting its fall 2019 completion deadline. Hometeam will offer its tenants

“

”

the chance to settle in and have the “right of first refusal on their space.” The company will wait for the tenants to decide if they want to live in the space for the next leasing year before leasing the units out to the public. Osborne is considering re-leasing the space for her fourth year, mainly due to the time she has spent not living in it even after signing a lease a year back. “I feel like I’ve stuck it out, and I deserve to live there once it’s ready,” she said. “So it’s like, I might renew my lease. It’s a nice apartment.” Osborne said one of her main takeaways from her experience with Pavey Square is to never

lease an apartment that has not yet been built. “If you can’t tour the unit you’ll actually be living in, steer clear of it because even if it’s not that management company’s fault, Columbus is incredibly slow at construction,” she said. “It just might not happen.” Dillon said the time taken will be worth it, as the finished complex at 2259 N. High St. will have amenities such as a rooftop balcony and wellness center with popular equipment — such as Peloton bikes — and large study spaces. “We’re excited for it to be completed and for everybody to kind of see what a great place [it] will be at the end of the day,” he said.

Lantern Classifieds UNFURNISHED TWO BEDROOM 35 East Norwich Ave. 2br/1bath plus free parking located 1 block north of Lane and High. Check us out at www.35enorwich.com or call Andy at 614.402.3390

UNFURNISHED THREE BEDROOM 1535 summit st Three bedroom two full bathrooms townhouse with offstreet parking kitchen appliances washer and dryer in the basement Finished attic available for August 2020 1 month rent and deposit to sign 3000.00 Email Svek007@hotmail.com

CHANGE HEA N G EA N G E CS HO AM NCG EO NCEH' S LIFE O SE N L IEF'ES L I F E S O M ESOONMESE' O SN M L EIEF'O BECOME A SPERM BECOME A SPERM B E C O M E ABDE SO C PN O ER MM E A SPERM O DO NO RR D O N OTRO D A DONOR T O D A YY Tell me more? To learn more: TODAY TODAY Tell me more? To learn more:

Men ages 18-40 are eligible to apply Tell me more? Tell me more? Men ages 18-40 are eligible to apply Men ages 18-40 are eligible to apply and

and and Men ages 18-40 are eligible to apply

Earn $2,400 or or more per semester Earn $2,400 more per semester and once accepted! once accepted!

Earn $2,400 or more per semester once accepted!

Visit our website becomingadonor.com To learn To learn more: Visitmore: our website becomingadonor.com

or or Visit our website becomingadonor.com Visit our website becomingadonor.com call at: 614.451.4375 GiveGive us a us callaat: 614.451.4375 or or

Give us a call at: 614.451.4375

To advertise go to thelantern.com

thelantern.com

4 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 6, 2020

MAINTENANCE MESSES

APARTMENT FLOOD

DIRTY CABINET

UNEVEN VENT COVER

MOLDY SINK

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DANA WARD

@TheLantern

Maintenance menagerie: GABRIELA OKHUYSEN Lantern reporter okhuysen.1 @osu.edu Animals in the walls, exploding pipes, water drainage for more than 12 hours and a pig are just some of the things tenants and off-campus property managers might have shared experiences with. Off-campus housing maintenance is typically the responsibility of the property owner — not the renter — but sometimes with maintenance requests comes not easily resolved situations. Greg Martin, manager at Eventide Inc., said he has seen the damage students can have on their properties, especially those who don’t file service requests soon enough. One notable situation was a student hoarding so many belongings that they needed to rent out a second property from Eventide, Martin said. He also said there was a student who asked to have a service animal but would not reveal the breed. The animal was later found to be a 200-pound pig. The pig was fed out of a kiddie pool in the house. It would rub up against the walls, staining them black, and its hooves damaged the hardwood floors, Martin said. Martin said students should make sure to point out their issues to their landlords as soon as possible. “It’s a plus if we are getting a call because tenants are taking care of the property,” Martin said. From the student perspective, Russell Morrison, a third-year in chemical engineering, lived in a NorthSteppe Realty property on Frambes Avenue this past year and initially had an issue with a dripping noise behind the kitchen sink. “The realty company that I rented from that year was very

laissez-faire,” Morrison said. said she recently experienced a “They only dealt with major is- plumbing issue as a Hometeam sues and checked once a year on Properties tenant. the tenants.” One morning, Matiscik began After putting in a request, the running water in her tub and nomaintenance team showed up a ticed a piece of the handle had week later to assess the dripping, broken off, preventing her from creating a hole in the drywall to changing the temperature of the investigate the source of the is- water or turning the water off. sue. Morrison said maintenance With the nonstop rush of water couldn’t figure out what was coming from her bathtub faucet, causing the dripping and didn’t Matiscik called the emergency repair the hole. maintenance line. Since the water Morrison said that a few days wasn’t overflowing the tub, mainlater, he and his roommates woke tenance told Matiscik it wasn’t up to a pipe shooting water into an emergency case and would be their kitchen from the hole. dealt with in the next business “It originally was just annoying day, she said. because we did not “It wasn’t know how to stop life-threatthe noise behind ening. It was our walls,” Morjust uncomrison said. “But it fortable that Don’t be afraid became a concern they didn’t to put in a million once water was fillthink it was service requests ing up in our kitchthat big of a en.” deal,” Mabecause they do When they contiscik said. have responsibility tacted the NorthAfter 12 to make sure the Steppe maintehours of wanance team, they ter running, house is livable. were told assisMatiscik tance would be said a mainDANA WARD there in roughly tenance perThird-year in operations management and Spanish two hours, which son came to Morrison said was her properconcerning bety and they cause he and his said, “Oh, roommates were using a single my God. How long has it been bucket to catch only one-fourth doing this?” and “Somebody of the water that was coming out should’ve been here earlier.” from the wall. “They don’t really have any ur“We were left to deal with a gency,” she said. “They have an relatively fast flowing amount of emergency line, but, like, I don’t water filling our kitchen,” Mor- know what they consider emerrison said. “All we wanted was gencies.” breakfast.” Although the issue was reNorthSteppe declined to com- solved immediately after maintement on its general maintenance nance came to help, Matiscik said policies and said the specific re- she thought the maintenance team quest could only be discussed would come when she initially with the tenants. called and that communication Molly Matiscik, a third-year with her realty company has been in early childhood education, discouraging.

“

”

thelantern.com

@TheLantern

Thursday, February 6, 2020 | The Lantern | 5

Pigs, plumbing problems and more

GABRIELA OKHUYSEN | LANTERN REPORTER

Russell Morrison stands outside of his NorthSteppe Realty property on Frambes Avenue, where an attempted maintenance request was left unattended and resulted in a kitchen flood.

“They sort of care about you, but you are just on their list of houses they take care of,” Matiscik said. “I probably wouldn’t re-sign again.” Hometeam did not provide comment to The Lantern. Ariel Taylor, a first-year in the veterinary medicine graduate program, said she also had an issue of water not shutting off in her apartment bathroom. When water wouldn’t stop running, Taylor called the emergency maintenance line, which said maintenance was three hours away. “If you’re a doctor at a hospital and you’re on call, you’re not allowed to be more than 30 minutes away from where you work,” Taylor said. Taylor said the maintenance person then connected her with the receptionist at her apartment complex, who supposedly had the pliers and wrench needed for the repair. The receptionist came up to

Taylor’s apartment, but didn’t shut the building’s water off before trying to unscrew the shower knob with pliers. As she was trying to unscrew, a pipe burst and spewed water into the bathroom, flooding the room. “It was like the Titanic,” Taylor said. Taylor said she was hysterically crying, and the receptionist was screaming while the water overflowed into the rest of the studio apartment. “I grabbed the things that were important to me and fled,” Taylor said. “I was horrified.”

STAY CONNECTED WITH

THE LANTERN University Village did not respond to requests for comment. Aside from plumbing, students have also experienced issues with rowdy and unwanted guests.

Dana Ward, a third-year in operations management and Spanish, said that throughout the past two months, she has had unidentified animals living in her walls that made loud pounding and scratching noises. “You can hear it in the walls. It was like burrowing into the walls,” Ward said. When the issue first arose, Ward said she filed a maintenance request with her realtor Peak Property Group that was fulfilled by boarding up some holes on the outside of the house, without an exterminator or any assurance that the animals were gone. Ward said the animals were then trapped in the walls and were constantly running around and scratching at the walls. Since they first boarded up the holes, Ward said she and her roommates have seen squirrels get into their home from a new hole on the outside and have filed two more service requests. Both were canceled by maintenance. “[The realtors] seem to not care that we care,” Ward said. “That’s the frustrating part.” Ward said that in general, their house is in shambles. “Our house is gross in general, and they did not try to make this livable before we first moved in,” Ward said. Ward said that when she and her roommates first moved in, the back door and windows did not lock, there was mold in the bathroom and their showers didn’t work. Ward said that after complaining to Peak Property Group multiple times about their situation, they received some compensation for how unpleasant their house was. “I don’t think it had been cleaned before we walked in,” Ward said. There was also flooding from

a bathroom into a first-floor bedroom that wasn’t resolved for more than 24 hours, Ward said. Peak Property refused to clean or pay to get the carpets cleaned in that bedroom. “Don’t be afraid to put in a million service requests because they do have responsibility to make sure the house is livable,” Ward said. Peak Property Group did not respond to requests for comment. For issues that go long enough without a maintenance request, risk of being evicted or losing a security deposit can escalate

quickly. Molly Philipps, chief counsel at Student Legal Services at Ohio State, said that under Ohio law, section 5321.07 states that landlords have 30 days to resolve maintenance issues expressed by tenants. If landlords fail to resolve an issue, tenants have the right to take other action, either through a rent escrow action — when students take rent money to clerk of courts and the clerk decides whether or not they will give it to landlord — or consultation through SLS to terminate their rental agreement.

9 7 4

4 6 2 1

8 5

2 5

4 1

3 6 3

5 9 7 6 3 5 1 2 4 8

3 4 2 8 7 9 5 1 6

1 5 8 4 2 6 7 9 3

Across 1. Avas 5. Dang 9. Sash 13. Doll 14. Ever 15. Aptto 16. Viva 17. cove 18. lotus

6 2 1 5 9 7 3 8 4

8 9

7 8 3 5 2 1 4 6 7 9

4 9 7 6 3 8 1 5 2

2 1 4 7 8 3 9 6 5

5 6 9 1 4 2 8 3 7

19. Dacron 21. Erskine 23. Key 24. Ite 25. Acts 26. Bates 29. Hasten 31. Assn 32. Mom 33. Agents 37. Lea

7 8 3 9 6 5 4 2 1

Answers for 1/30 38. Fig 39. Rig 40. Iou 41. Martin 43. Len 44. Atoz 45. Orchid 47. Pesky 48. Cmdr 51. Eel 52. Grr 53. Lioness 55. Drools 58. Asian 59. Tara 61. Boor 63. Rends 64. Oped 65. Idly 66. Ergo 67. Nows 68. Cede

Down 1. Adv 2. Void 3. Alva 4. Slacken 5. Decoy 6. Avon 7. Nev 8. Greets 9. Spokane 10. Attic 11. Stunt 12. Hoses 15. Als 20. Res 22. Retain 24. Iam 26. Balm 27. Asea 28. Tsar 29. Hog 30. Egg

32. Minces 34. Nits 35. Took 36. Suzy 38. Fir 39. Red 42. Tornado 43. Lil 44. Aerobic 46. Heston 47. Pro 48. Clare 49. Miser 50. Doing 52. Grads 54. Ens 55. Drew 56. Lode 57. Sold 60. Apo 62. Rye

PRIME LOCATIONS ALL ACROSS CAMPUS

See our other ad on the back page!

THE VIEW ON PAVEY SQUARE

WILSON PLACE

86 ON LANE

@HometeamOSU

NOW LEASING FOR FALL 2020 THE POINT ON LANE

THE KING

Call today to schedule a tour and ask about our specials!

THE VIEW ON HIGH

LANTERN SQUARE

614-291-2600

HometeamProperties.net

thelantern.com

@TheLantern

Naming your house, turning it into a home LILY MASLIA Outreach & Engagement Editor maslia.2@osu.edu Leaving campus housing marks a big change in one’s college experience. Gone are the days of sharing a box-sized room and living among strangers. Moving off campus provides students with a sense of autonomy — choosing where and with whom they live. One way to give your house more character is to give it a name, Hayleigh Coppenger, a fourth-year in city and regional planning, said. “The Igloo was our house of eight girls,” Coppenger said. “We had a painting on the wall that had an igloo on it, and we decorate for Christmas year-round.” Though she no longer lives in the Igloo, Coppenger and her roommates continued the trend of naming houses — their current house on Waldeck Avenue is the Dock. “It’s called the Dock because no one could decide on a name,” Coppenger said. “We couldn’t agree on one that was better than Igloo because, in my eyes, that was legendary.” One perk of having a house name is convenience, Corinne Esposito, a fourth-year in communication and resident of the Dock, said. “Once people know where you live, instead of having to state your address, you can just say, ‘Come to the Igloo,’” Esposito said. “The Igloo is just one entity, and it’s everyone’s house.” While some of the fun in moving is picking out a creative name for your house, many times, house names are inherited and passed down. Vivi Raab, a fourth-year in international studies, is living in a house named White Castle for the

second year — a house that has been passed down in her sorority for more than 10 years. JOIN THE CONVERSATION

thelantern.com

The name comes from the house being white and palacelike, not from the fast-food chain, Raab said. “I think the reason I value the name is because it adds character to our space, and it makes it special to call home because it’s been within our friend group for many years,” Raab said. 1

17 19

25 31

70 73

Across

1. Dawdle

4. Sir’s counterpart 8. Fundamentals 12. TV forensic cop show 13. Actor Andy

15. Laughter sounds (2 wds.)

23. Enlisted men, informally

24. Mimic 24. One who plants

52 56

60 66

16. Unearth 17. Martians, e.g. 18. Neighbor of Wyo. (2 wds., abbr.) 19. ____ aid kit 21. Platter

only thing that fit was Clubhaus,” Grosklos said. “A lot of my roommates love club music and when we’re all there together, whether it’s on a game day or just as a pregame, that’s what’s going on.” Grosklos said that after their lease ends, the new tenants plan to carry on the tradition and keep the name. “It makes it homey for us, and we love our Clubhaus,” Grosklos said. “Other people love our Clubhaus, and it just kind of stands for something with us and all of our friends.”

24 28

Though older members of White Castle graduated years before she joined her sorority, Raab said she is still close with them because they all share a common bond. Sometimes a name has been passed down for more than a decade, but Maddie Grosklos, a fourth-year in biomedical engineering, started the tradition. Grosklos said she and her roommates decided to keep the name of their house its previous renters coined. “We tried a few different things, but for some reason, the

57 61

62 68

63 69

72 74

26. One who plants 28. Float on air 31. Slump 33. CEO’s neckwear 34. Feel fluish 35. Wiggly dessert (hyph.) 37. Factions 41. Potato-exporting state 43. ____ nose 44. Food fish 45. Houston’s locale 46. Cook’s flavorings 48. Advanced business deg.

49. Actress Foster 51. Sunday lecture (abbr.) 52. Sunrise locale

53. Woodland creatures in mythology 56. Proverbs 58. Slapstick missile

59. Laugh sounds (2 wds.)

61. Lawrence of “Carol Burnett” 64. Warm 66. Luxurious furs 68. Had a bite 70. Beige 71. Three-bagger 72. Great longing 73. Exited 74. ____-bitsy (tiny) 75. Texter’s “wow!”

Down 1. Calculator display (abbr.) 2. “In your dreams!” (2 wds.) 3. 1958 Leslie Caron film 4. “The ____ Falcon” 5. Onassis, informally 6. Got an “A” on a test 7. Very short skirts 8. Contented sounds 9. Sheriff’s star 10. Seat 11. Fifth Avenue clothing store 13. Shocked sound 14. Plus 20. Mouse’s kin 22. Burglaries 25. Consumer advocate Nader 27. Doe 28. Stand in line 29. Military assistant 30. Source of linen 32. Attaches, in a way 35. Biblical coat-wearer 36. Hideous monsters 38. Robin Cook book 39. Vats 40. RBI, e.g. 42. Soccer star Mia 47. With courage 50. Apparition 52. Computer key 53. Caroline, to Ted Kennedy 54. Desire strongly 55. Harry Belafonte’s daughter 57. Learned 58. Exclamation of relief 60. RIP notice, for short 62. Final blow, in the ring 63. Gossiper’s scoop 65. Egyptian boy-king 67. Vinyl records, briefly 69. Manchester’s locale (abbr.)

Thursday, February 6, 2020 | The Lantern | 7

THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

The Lantern is a student publication that is part of the School of Communication at The Ohio State University. It publishes issues Tuesday and Thursday, and online editions every day. The Lantern’s daily operations are funded through advertising and its academic pursuits are supported by the School of Communication. The School of Communication is committed to the highest professional standards for the newspaper in order to guarantee the fullest educational benefits from The Lantern experience.

Editor in Chief Kaylee Harter Managing Editor for Content Abhigyaan Bararia Managing Editor for Design Kelly Meaden Managing Editor for Multimedia Casey Cascaldo Copy Chief Anna Ripken Campus Editor Sam Raudins Assistant Campus Editor Lydia Weyrich LTV Campus Director Akayla Gardner Sports Editor Griffin Strom Assistant Sports Editor Andy Anders LTV Sports Director Brian Nelson Assistant Sports Director Khalid Hashi Arts & Life Editor Nicholas Youngblood Assistant Arts & Life Editor Ashley Kimmel LTV Arts & Life Director Oliver Boch Photo Editor Amal Saeed Assistant Photo Editor Cori Wade Design Editor Victoria Grayson Assistant Design Editor Richard Giang Social Media Editor Shelby Metzger Engagement Editor Lily Maslia LTV Special Projects Director Jack Long Oller Reporter Jasmine Hilton Miller Reporter Emma Scott Moran Director of Student Media General Sales Manager Lantern TV Production

Spencer Hunt Marie Pierce Tao Wang

Business Office 614-292-2031 Newsroom 614-292-5721 Advertising advertising@thelantern.com Classifieds classifieds@thelantern.com Corrections The Lantern corrects any significant error brought to the attention of the staff. If you think a correction is needed, please email lantern@osu.edu Letters to the Editor To submit a letter to the editor, mail or email your letter. Please put your name, address, phone number and email address on the letter. If the editor decides to publish it, she will contact you to confirm your identity. Email letters to: harter.830@osu.edu Mail letters to: The Lantern Letter to the Editor Journalism Building 242 W. 18th Ave. Columbus, OH 43210

thelantern.com

8 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 6, 2020

@TheLantern

Looking to sublease? Look out for scams

BEN BLAVAT For the Lantern blavat.1@osu.edu

very summer, many Ohio State students leave Columbus to study abroad, work or simply head back home. Most might wish to return to the same apartment the following year, but sometimes it is not economically feasible to pay rent for an empty room in the meantime. Enter: the sublease. A sublease allows a tenant to rent out their room on a temporary basis to a third party, keeping the space occupied so they can return to the same place the next fall. Though this might seem like the perfect solution, there are scams from outside parties and legal intricacies in formal agreements that tenants should watch out for. David Limbert, a fourth-year in economics, was looking to sublease his apartment

from January to July this year. After posting his listing on the company’s website, Facebook and Craigslist, he encountered a deluge of emails that were either spam or had malicious intent. One scammer even tried asking for his mother’s banking details. “It was very odd,” Limbert said. “We’re like, ‘You don’t need that information.’” However, many scams are less overt and there are a few ways to spot them, Molly Philipps, chief counsel at Student Legal Services at Ohio State, said. It is common for someone to reach out who isn’t able to view the property in person. “Ultimately, the biggest red flag is they send more money than what you’ve asked for, and they ask you to deposit the check, which looks very legitimate, and then send them the remainder,” Philipps said. Aside from scams, there are details in the fine print that tenants should look out for in their sublease agreements, Philipps

said. Every landlord has different policies, and renters should read the entirety of what they sign and avoid making any assumptions. Not all landlords allow subletting, some only offer it during certain months and some claim to permit it but are actually referring to an arrangement called an assignment, Philipps said. Assignment is similar to subleasing in that the current lessee finds someone to take over the apartment, but they do not return to the apartment once the assignment lease is up. Limbert said he did not check his landlord’s subleasing policy before leasing his apartment and was fortunate to have chosen one that allowed it. Not all tenants are so lucky. “Don’t rely upon text message communications or communications via social media to really memorialize the agreement that you have with the other party,”

Philipps said. “We have forms, sublease agreements on our website. But we also strongly encourage students if they’re entering into a sublease to come into our office so that we can give them some good advice and ways to protect themselves if they’re planning to actually sign a sublease agreement with another party.” Limbert said courtesy and a solid form of communication are key to a successful lessee/sublessee relationship. Philipps also said students should understand what their lease agreement says. “Students need to pay more careful attention to the terms of their lease agreements to figure out whether or not their landlord will work with them on subleasing,” Philipps said. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make sure you know what you’re getting into.” JOIN THE CONVERSATION

thelantern.com

CE Investments • Best Price • Update/Immaculate • Talk w/Current Residents! (614) 361-3590 CEInvestments77@gmail.com

LYDIA WEYRICH | ASSISTANT CAMPUS EDITOR

Student Legal Services at Ohio State recommends students go through their lease with an attorney at SLS before entering a sublease agreement.

thelantern.com

@TheLantern

Thursday, February 6, 2020 | The Lantern | 9

PERSPECTIVE

Romantic roommates: How to live with a partner NICHOLAS YOUNGBLOOD Arts&Life Editor youngblood.27@osu.edu

ollege is the first time I got to make up my own rules — do what I want, date how I want, live where I want. One of the most tempting choices for a lifelong romantic like myself was to move in with my significant other, and it turned out brilliantly. After six months of living together, we are stronger than ever. Getting here wasn’t easy, though. The intersection of a romantic and roommate relationship presents challenges that neither situation presents alone — not harder to overcome, but different. As a former resident adviser, I told my residents all the time that you don’t have to like your roommates; just live with them. That is clearly no longer the case with a significant other. Luckily, if you’ve come far enough to consider moving in together, you and your partner are probably pretty compatible. But there will be differences — in your cleaning habits, how you stock the fridge, what you want to watch on TV and a million other things. What would just be sources of mild friction with a regular roommate highlight a key difference when it’s with your partner. Although platonic roommates have rooms

“

of their own linked by a communal no man’s land, you and your partner will live in a truly shared space, where every room belongs to both of you completely. The best way I’ve found to mitigate this bind is through open and honest conversation. And I mean a lot of it. Discussions between my girlfriend and me started months before signing a lease and continue to this day. These proceedings will look different for everyone. The important thing to remember is that the results matter. While we might have been happy to leave well enough alone in past disagreements, my girlfriend and I now have to advocate for ourselves constantly and find a compromise. This might seem like basic relationship advice, but it becomes crucial once you move in together. And these conversations, when done right, are extremely beneficial to your relationship. To this day, one of our most intimate dates was the first grocery trip my girlfriend and I took together. Now that we’ve tackled the emotional end, there’s plenty of more pragmatic advice I can give, although none of it is one size fits all. Despite sharing a bed, my girlfriend and I chose to get a two-bedroom apartment, and it was one of the best decisions we

While we might have been happy to leave well enough alone in past disagreements, my girlfriend and I now have to advocate for ourselves constantly and find a compromise. NICHOLAS YOUNGBLOOD Arts&Life Editor

”

made. After converting the second bedroom into an office, we now have separate spaces dedicated to studying, sleeping and leisure. My partner’s late-night study sessions won’t keep me up, and my movie marathons won’t interrupt her while she does homework. It also means we have two closets, eliminating potential conflict about storage. Before moving in, make finances extremely explicit. Not just bills, but groceries, gas and nights out. Who pays for what, when and how? This can be a sensitive topic, but you’re doing your loved one no favors by avoiding the awkward. And it needn’t be a 50-50 split. My girlfriend’s parents support her financially, while I work for every cent I spend, meaning we are at very different levels of financial stability. It’s something we have accepted without shame. Bear in mind, while finances have to be explicit, your relationship should never be transactional. Like finances, lay out your chore expectations early. If your partner currently spends a lot of time at your place, you might think you practically live together

already, but they don’t have to sweep your body hair off the bathroom floor. It’s best to do the chores you’re most picky about, because then they’ll always be done right. Regardless, clean up your own messes and do your own laundry.

“

ROMANTIC ROOMMATE CONTINUES ON 10

Every discussion I have with Natalie about whose turn it is to do the dishes is an affirmation that we are strong enough to be here. Every grocery run is an “I love you.”

”

NICHOLAS YOUNGBLOOD Arts&Life Editor

love

fall in

with the griff

February 1st - 15th ALL floor plans are $100 off per month PLUS WAIVED ADMIN FEE! A TOTAL SAVINGS OF $1,500

Tour & che ck in on so cial media to receive a Starbuck s gift card !

www.thegriffosu.com

614.826.7600

thelantern.com

@TheLantern

Thursday, February 6, 2020 | The Lantern | 11

ROMANTIC ROOMMATE FROM 10

Finally, there is perhaps the hardest conversation you will have to have before moving in with a significant other, but it is one of the most important: What happens if you break up? It’s a possibility that can’t be ignored, and if you don’t think your relationship can handle that acknowledgment, it’s probably too soon to consider moving in together. In case of a breakup, we know who would move out, where they would go and who owns what. Signing a joint lease means signing a

contract that you’ll be staying together for another year or more, which could put a lot of pressure on the relationship. My solution was simple: I didn’t. The lease is in my girlfriend’s name, and I Venmo her my share of rent (I plead the fifth on the viability of this arrangement in the landlord’s eyes). It might seem like a risky strategy, and it is. I could be kicked out with no recourse if things go south. The idea is to have faith in your significant other as a person, not just a partner.

If you don’t trust them completely to treat you with fairness and compassion, even in the case of a falling out, you aren’t ready to live together. And that’s OK. Relationships develop at different rates. Most college students are a pain to live with, and it doesn’t bode poorly for their potential to find love. Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do for a budding romance is decide not to take the next step. While the logistics are important, the

most crucial consideration when thinking about moving in together is whether you’re ready. That’s the hardest part to determine, but once you do, the rest of the decisions aren’t tedious or daunting; they’re exhilarating. Every discussion I have with Natalie about whose turn it is to do the dishes is an affirmation that we are strong enough to be here. Every grocery run is an “I love you.”

Living alone or together: Students talk residence halls

MACKENZIE SHANKLIN Lantern reporter shanklin.32@osu.edu

hile most students are sound asleep, Ryan Tobin, a second-year in military history, starts his morning early with the ROTC. Tobin said he chose to live in a single his second year to avoid disturbing roommates. “Having my own room means I can wake up without bothering anyone,” Tobin said. Ohio State’s main campus has 42 residence halls, and each building offers different types of rooms for students, according to University Housing’s website. Living accommodations range from singles, doubles and triples to quads and suites for six to eight people. Singles offer students a place to call their own opposed to multiperson residence hall rooms, in which students live in one space together, learning how to manage and collaborate in a shared space. John Wilson, a second-year in psychology, lived in a double his first year in Bowen House, but for his second year, he moved into a single in Raney House. Wilson said he enjoyed having a roommate his first year because it meant he always had someone with whom to talk and hang out. “It was always comforting to know that I can come back to the room and talk to him about what’s going on in my life,” Wilson said. “Or just have him there to hear me if I wanted someone to talk to.”

However, Wilson said he enjoys living in a single this year because he has more personal time to himself and does not have to worry about inconveniencing anyone else, but misses having a roommate. “We wouldn’t even plan to do stuff sometimes,” Wilson said. “We would have fun at night just doing random stuff, just spur of the moment. It was irreplaceable.” Single living is not for everyone. Arianna Contestable, a second-year in psychology, has lived with roommates for two years now. Contestable is currently in a double in Park-Stradley Hall, but during her first year, she lived in a quad in Drackett Tower. Contestable said she enjoys living in a double with her friend from high school since they know each other well and they know how to give each other individual space while living in close quarters. “I didn’t like Drackett much because it was such a small space,” Contestable said. “It’s hard to be alone when there’s like three other people living with you sometimes, but if there’s only one, it’s easy to be alone for a bit.” Caroline Goergen, a second-year in special education, lives in an eight-person suite in Houston House. In the suite, Goergen and her roommates have a common room attached to four doubles. “There’s people there immediately that

MACKENZIE SHANKLIN | LANTERN REPORTER

An example of a single room in Jones Tower.

MACKENZIE SHANKLIN | LANTERN REPORTER

Julia Gerard, a second-year in finance, enjoys living in a double with a roommate because it means there is always someone there to talk to when she comes back from classes.

you ask if they want to do stuff with you and make plans,” Goergen said. “If I were alone, I would feel pretty isolated.” However, living with multiple roommates increases the chances of disagreement or miscommunication. Goergen said that at the beginning of the year, the suite had good communication

among all roommates, but then there was a shift in the space. “We started to have issues with communication,” Goergen said. “We isolated both of the sides.”

@thelantern

thelantern.com

12 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 6, 2020

The low-down on residence hall renters insurance

JACK LONG Special Projects Director long.1684@osu.edu

CASEY CASCALDO | MANAGING EDITOR FOR MULTIMEDIA

Ohio State recommends students purchase renters insurance if they live in residence halls.

LEASE

NOW for

FALL 2020

@TheLantern

right

et’s see. You’re all packed for your first semester of college. Sheets and pillows — check. Clothes — yep. Enough Febreze to choke the planet — you bet. Renters insurance — um, what? In your excitement to be an independent adult, chances are you’ve forgotten to purchase insurance that would protect you if your belongings were destroyed by water or fire damage or stolen. And you’re not alone. In 2018, only 46 percent of renters nationwide had purchased renters insurance, according to the Insurance Information Insti-

tute, a nonprofit association of insurance providers. Renters insurance can help pay to replace clothes, books and other personal items in the event that your roommate sets the room on fire after heating up a tin-foiled empanada. And under some circumstances, renters insurance will even pay out if something is stolen, Frank Kremer, a civil staff attorney at Student Legal Services at Ohio State, said. Renters insurance can also apply when a student is responsible for damage done to their own property. “Let’s say you cause a fire,” he said. “Certain types of renters insurance can apply to those sorts of things to then cover your responsibility for the damage that

you cause.” Ohio State recommends that students in residence halls purchase insurance to protect personal items against damage from “flood, fire, theft or other unexpected events that may occur in or around university housing,” the university housing website states. The university doesn’t provide coverage for students’ belongings, so it’s up to them and their parents to purchase insurance, according to the website. In December 2019, a water pipe burst on the 12th floor of Drackett Tower, flooding 23 student rooms. A student-led housekeeping staff dried the carpets and cleaned the rooms, but university spokesperson Dave Isaacs said any damage INSURANCE CONTINUES ON 13

where you want to be. OSUSTUDENTLIVING.COM

High-speed internet & premium TV channels* Fully furnished* Private baths for each BR On-site management & maintenance

SOLD OUT!

ALMOST FULL!

NOW LEASING!

ALMOST FULL!

Washer/dryer in each unit Best quality & locations Exciting resident events Superb on-site amenities Individual leases

11 E 17TH AVE

150 W LANE AVE

250 W NORWICH AVE

WELLINGTONOSU.COM

THEDORICONLANE.COM

LIVENORWICHFLATS.COM

FISHERCOMMONS.COM

Directly across from The Wex!

Adjacent to North Campus!

Steps from North Campus!

Studio, 1, 2, 3 & 4 bedroom apartments

1, 2, 3 & 4 bedroom apartments

Quiet community at the corner of Lane & Kenny!

2nd floor courtyard with grill and seating

Patio with grill and seating

614-654-4284

Stunning clubhouse with 2nd floor lounge

614-767-5342

614-470-5606

900 NETTLE DR

614-487-9008

1 & 2 bedroom unfinished units for graduate students Located on the CABS route

1494 N HIGH ST | 614-973-6139 | THEHIGHLINEATNINE.COM

Steps from campus! Heated pool with sundeck State-of-the-art fitness center Spectacular clubhouse with 2nd floor lounge

thelantern.com

“

@TheLantern

INSURANCE FROM 12

to students’ personal items would not be replaced by the university. Isaacs said the university encourages students to purchase renters insurance. Renters insurance also can protect a student from being responsible for medical fees or legal fees if someone is injured in their room and it’s the policyholder’s fault, Kremer said. Students should talk with their insurance agent and explain their living situation and mention how many roommates with whom they’ll be living, he said. Renters insurance can be as low as $10 per month, Kremer said. But it will get more expensive depending on the type of coverage included in the policy.

Thursday, February 6, 2020 | The Lantern | 13

Let’s say you cause a fire. Certain types of renters insurance can apply to those sorts of things to then cover your responsibility for the damage that you cause. FRANK KREMER Civil staff attorney

”

Kremer said that after students purchase a policy, they should take inventory of personal items so it’s easier to make an insurance claim if something is stolen or damaged. Students should also update their coverage when they move or when the total value of their belongings exceeds their coverage amount. Kremer said SLS can review insurance policies and answer any specific questions students have about their coverage. “I know college students are on limited budgets, but we always strongly recommend to students to have good insurance coverage,” Kremer said. “Things are expensive. There’s lots of situations where liability can arise so it’s always good to have it.”

AMAL SAEED | PHOTO EDITOR

Students are responsible for their personal items if destroyed by water or fire in a residence hall.

Facebook makes subleasing easier, but be smart OLIVIA ALBERT Lantern reporter albert.228@osu.edu

arter Grimes, a fifth-year in electrical and computer engineering, needed a place to stay while taking classes in summer 2017. He turned to Facebook to find a sublease. Social media sites offer students platforms for finding a sublease, allowing people to post a listing of their room and wait for someone to jump at the chance. Subleasing can be a great option for students going home for the summer, studying abroad or needing a place for a shorter amount of time than a normal lease, including Facebook groups such as Ohio State University (OSU) Housing, Sublets & Roommates and Ohio State University Off-Campus Housing. Grimes said he felt comfortable looking in a Facebook group because he knew some of the members. Luckily for Ohio State students, there are plenty of groups specifically for students looking to sublease. Some groups require

Students use Facebook to find and rent out apartments for subleases.

approval from the group administrators, while others are free for anyone to post or view. Grimes said he and his roommates have all used Facebook to find their subleasers. “It really is a mixed bag,” Grimes said. “Some of them were good while others were terrible.

One put a hole in our wall. Another was here from Spain and fit in surprisingly well.” Grimes said he regrets not looking into the landlords before making subleasing decisions. “Stories of things going wrong are everywhere, but not equally distributed amongst the various

OLIVIA ALBERT | LANTERN REPORTER

landlords,” Grimes said. Grimes also said it is important to find places that have a renewed lease so students can move in as soon as the previous lease is up. Most leases run until July 31 and start Aug. 14, leaving renters with a two-week period in which they cannot remain in their

home or move in to their new one. However, if the lease is renewed for the next year, this issue is resolved, Grimes said. Hailey Donatelli, a third-year in architecture and theatre, said she opted to sublease from a friend out of convenience, rather than look at other options. “It was such an easy find for me, and it was so convenient that I just said yes without looking around and ended up spending way more on rent than I wanted to,” Donatelli said. Students typically post a summary of their space with pictures, the dates available and the cost. Aside from steep prices, Donatelli said she was alone in her subleased home most of the summer, but then one of the roommates — with whom she never spoke — returned and moved out weeks later without telling her, taking furniture and dishes with him. “Don’t rush into something because it’s convenient,” Donatelli said. “Look around before making any fast decisions.”

thelantern.com

14 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 6, 2020

Saving the sectional

SARAH SZILAGY | LANTERN REPORTER

Goodwill Columbus collects donations from on-campus residence halls and off-campus houses. It accepts furniture, clothing and other household items.

SARAH SZILAGY Lantern reporter szilagy.3@osu.edu Students staring down the barrel of a lightly used couch or rarely vacuumed rug need not condemn their unwanted furniture to rot in a landfill — no matter if they live in a residence hall or off campus. Since 2018, the Office of Student Life has partnered with Goodwill Columbus to salvage furniture left by students at the end of the spring semester, and they look to save as many couches, bed frames and other home staples from the garbage as possible, Tom Reeves, director of energy management and sustainability for the office, said. “It was a great opportunity for them. They loved the idea of working with Ohio State students and kind of teaching the larger

community, the Ohio State community, about reusing because that’s really what their stores are all about,” Reeves said. However, the effort to recycle students’ furniture started long before Goodwill Columbus began setting up collection bins in the residence halls. Hailey Hayes, a fourth-year in environmental science and president of Students for Recycling, an organization on campus that promotes recycling awareness and other sustainability measures, said the organization has been collecting furniture abandoned by students since 2004. During what they call the “Dump and Run,” club members go around campus and collect furniture, clothes and food left behind by students. Hayes said they then sort through the haul and sell things back to other students at a discounted rate on the first Friday of

the following fall semester. Reeves said that for years, the university helped Students For Recycling transport donations and find storage space, but the amount of things left behind quickly began to outpace the manpower of club members on their own. The opening of new residence halls on North Campus over the past several years has added 3,200 additional beds — and a lot more trash, Reeves said. “We noticed that this is a bigger problem that we didn’t anticipate,” he said. The Office of Student Life reached out to Students For Recycling in spring 2017 to develop a program by which students would collect unwanted items and local agencies would pick them up from the residence halls. “The first year wasn’t very good,” Reeves said. “We only had one agency that wanted to

@TheLantern

The evolution of Ohio State’s furniture recycling program participate. And it didn’t go — it can go for an internship, it makes didn’t go very well because the planning that stuff a little more challenge is that when we move difficult,” Reeves said. what is 14,000-some students out He said that after realizing only of our residence halls all during one major community agency that three-to-four day window, it’s picked up donations directly from a logistical nightmare.” houses and apartments, Goodwill In 2018, Goodwill Columbus Columbus began offering pickup stepped in and focused on collect- services as well. ing donations from North Cam“Last year, we did some compus while Students for Recycling municating in the off-campus handled South Campus. Goodwill area trying to push students to Columbus also helped sort items Goodwill,” Reeves said. for the annual sell-back to stuGoodwill Columbus is currentdents and provided storage during ly working on developing an app the summer, Reeves said. on which students can directly After some finetuning, Reeves request donation pickup, Reeves said the collaboration between said Students for Recycling and Hayes said it’s important to Goodwill Columbus was very remember that there are many successful its agencies in second time Columbus around: In looking for spring 2019, donations. they divert- It was a great “Gooded 39 tons will does not of clothing opportunity for them. take everyand furniture They loved the idea thing,” she and 1 ton of of working with Ohio said. “They food from don’t take the landfill, State students and kind box springs, which they of teaching the larger mattresses or donated to community, the Ohio bedding in Buckeye general.” Food Al- State community, about Hayes said liance on reusing because that’s the FurniOhio State’s really what their stores ture Bank campus. of Central L o o k i n g are all about. Ohio accepts forward, those items, both Reeves TOM REEVES and homeand Hayes Office of Student Life director of energy less shelters management and sustainability said the bigare looking gest chalfor all kinds lenge they of donations. face is collecting unwanted items Bins for donations are available from off-campus areas. on campus, and while Goodwill “I think where the problem works on its app, off-campus stucomes in is that either students dents can file a request for pickup aren’t able to plan — again, if online at www.goodwillcolumyou’re taking finals and doing all bus.org/donate/goodwill-at-yourthat stuff and you’re moving out door. at the end of April so that you

“

”

thelantern.com

“

@TheLantern

Thursday, February 6, 2020 | The Lantern | 15

second-year project, according quiet hours in conjunction with to previous Lantern reporting. the studying times. “We want to make sure that Each bedroom in a fraternity or students who are living in Greek sorority house is required to have We want to make housing have the same access at least one desk for residents to sure that students and the same support for their use to complete schoolwork, acacademics that a student would cording to the report. One desk who are living in have living on campus in one of must be present for every three Greek housing the residence halls,” Isaacs said. students assigned to the bedroom. have the same Twenty second-years were The houses must also provide moved from the Ohio State Zeta a reliable internet connection of access and the Chapter of the Phi Delta Theta adequate bandwidth that covers same support for house into residence halls folbedrooms and living spaces, actheir academics lowing the fraternity’s Nov. 8, cording to the housing standard. 2019, suspension, Isaacs said. Each chapter must employ a that a student Phi Delt was one of three Ohio live-in adviser who is approved would have living State fraternities to have its regand hired by the university. Isaacs on campus in one istration revoked in November; said the advisers are essentially however, it was the only one hall directors for the fraternity or of the residence whose second-years moved back sorority house and cannot be imhalls. into the residence halls. mediately graduated students. DAVE ISAACS Isaacs said instances like Phi “It is recommended that this University spokesperson individual be at least one year reMAX GARRISON | LANTERN REPORTER Delt’s suspension follows uniSecond-year students had to move out of the Ohio Zeta chapter of Phi Delta Theta versity housing protocol. according to the university’s moved from their undergraduate back into residence halls after the fraternity’s registration was revoked in November The other two fraternities sus- Greek Housing Standard. They experience,” the housing standard 2019. pended in November, Sigma Pi also must publish and maintain states. and Zeta Beta Tau, Property Features: were not Property Features: allowed to Property Features Updated Kitchens & house secBaths ond-years to Updated Kitchens & Baths ──── Offering Quality Homes & begin with Updated Kitchens & because they Apartments in the Campus Area New Energy Saving Baths Windows did not meet New Energy Saving FOR OVER 50 YEARS STEP reOffering Quality Homes & Apartments in the ──── Windows ──── quirements. Campus Area FOR OVER 50 YEARS Off Street Parking housing should first check if their STEP ap1 BEDROOM 2 BEDROOM 3 BEDROOM ──── chapter house is the right STEP proval is a Off Street Parking New Energy Saving for them. “purely volWindows 2425 N. N. High High St. St. 28 W. W. Maynard Maynard Ave. Ave. 20-22 W. W. Maynard Maynard Ave. Ave. 2425 28 20-22 Onsite Laundry 63 W. W. Maynard Maynard Ave. Ave. 186 E. E. Norwich Norwich Ave. Ave. 133 W. W. Oakland Oakland Ave. Ave. 63 186 133 Ohio State requires all full-time untary pro66 E. E. Norwich Norwich Ave. Ave. 214 E. E. Norwich Norwich Ave. Ave. 190-192 190-192 E. E. Norwich Norwich Ave. Ave. 66 214 ────Onsite Laundry 220 33 198 students to live in university-ap- gram” for 220 E. E. Lane Lane Ave. Ave. 33 E. E. 13th 13th Ave. Ave. 198 E. E. Norwich Norwich Ave. Ave. ──── 51 E. E. 17th 17th Ave. Ave. 1540 Neil Neil Ave. Ave. 220 E. E. Lane Lane Ave. Ave. 51 1540 220 proved housing for two years fol- frater nities 54 E. E. 13th 13th Ave. Ave. 118 King King Ave. Ave. 34 E. E. 13th 13th Ave. Ave. 54 Online Payments 118 34 96-98 W. W. 8th 8th Ave. Ave. 410 King King Ave. Ave. 130 W. W. 9th 9th Ave. Ave. 96-98 410 130 Accepted lowing their high school gradua- and sorori118 Off Street Parking 102 118 King King Ave. Ave. 102 W. W. 8th 8th Ave. Ave. Online Payments Accepted 406 King Ave. 112-114 King Ave. 406 King Ave. tion unless certain exemptions are ties, Isaacs 112-114 King Ave. 127 E. E. Tompkins Tompkins St. St. 400 King King Ave. Ave. 127 400 met. Some but not all fraternity said. 410 King King Ave. Ave. G.A.S. PROPERTIES 410 1 BEDROOM 2 109 BEDROOM 3 BEDROOM ──── G.A.S. PROPERTIES E. Tompkins Tompkins St. St. 109 E. and sorority houses meet requireFraternity 2425 N. High St. 2425 N. High St. 4 BEDROOM 5 BEDROOM ments for approved housing under and sorority 2425 N. High St. 28 W. Maynard Ave. 6–7 BEDROOM 20-22 W. Maynard Ave. Columbus, Ohio Ohio 43202 2425 N.Onsite High St. Laundry Columbus, 43202 the Second-year Transformation- houses must 186 E. Norwich2390 63 Ave. W. Maynard Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43202 Ave. 2390 Neil Ave. Ave. 133 W. 87 E. E.Oakland Lane Ave. Ave. Ave. 235 235 E. E. Lane Lane Ave. Neil 87 Lane Phone: (614) 263-2665 398 King King Ave. Ave. 221 E. Ave. 221E. E. Lane Lane Ave. Ave. 66 E. NorwichPhone: Ave. (614) 263-2665 Ave. 190-192 Norwich al Experience Program, Dave have com- 214 E. Norwich398 404 King King Ave. Ave. 65 404 65 W. W. Maynard Maynard Ave. Ave. ──── Email: 220 E. Lane Ave. 33 E. 13th Ave. 198 E. Norwich Ave. 21 W. Patterson Ave. Email: 21 W. Patterson Ave. Isaacs, university spokesperson, mon spaces (614) 263-2665 2403-2405 East Ave. 2403-2405 East Ave. info@gasproperties.com info@gasproperties.com 51 E. 17th Ave. 220 E.Norwich Lane Ave. MAX GARRISON said. dedicated to 1540 Neil Ave. 120 120 E. E. Norwich Ave. Ave. 54 E. 13th Ave. Online Payments 2173 Indianola Ave. 118 King Ave. 34 E. 13th Ave. 2173 Indianola Ave. Website: Website: Lantern reporter Throughout the course of studying for 2184 Indianola Ave. 2184W. Indianola Ave. info@gasproperties.com 96-98 W. 8th Ave. www.gasproperties.com 410 King Ave. 130 9th Ave. www.gasproperties.com Accepted 51 Ave. 51 ½ ½ E. E. 17 17thth Ave. garrison.237@osu.edu STEP, students work with their at least three 118 King Ave. 102 W. 8th Ave. peers and an adviser, where they hours per 406 King Ave. www.gasproperties.com 112-114 King Ave. Between fraternity suspensions are given up to $2,000 in funds day, includ127 E. Tompkins St. Us Today! NOW LEASING 400 KingFOR Ave. FALL 2019! Visit NOW LEASING FALL 2020! and housing exemptions, first- from the university to embark ing during PROPERTIES 410 King FOR Ave. VisitG.A.S. Us Today! years who want to live in Greek upon or complete a culminating the evening, 109 E. Tompkins St.

STEP and suspensions

STEP requirements keep some students out of Greek housing

”

Offering Quality Homes & Apartments in the Campus Area FOR OVER 50 YEARS

4 BEDROOM

5 BEDROOM

6–7 BEDROOM

2425 N. High St. Columbus, Ohio 43202

16 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 6, 2020

Seasons pass, hall directors will roll JESSICA LANGER For The Lantern langer.42@osu.edu

AMAL SAEED | PHOTO EDITOR

University residence halls, such as Park-Stradley, haven’t seen an abnormal turnover in residence hall directors.

This year, Ohio State has seen some turnover within the hall director community, but from the university’s perspective, it’s nothing out of the ordinary. University residence halls Park-Stradley Hall, Jones Tower, Canfield Hall, Nosker and Barrett House and Blackburn House have received new hall directors since

ANYTHING BUT

Common!

Sign a lease for Fal l 2020 and

save $200

with a waived service fee!

Amenities Individual Leasing | Pool & Hot Tub | 24-Hour Fitness Center Water, Trash, WiFi, Cable, HBO Included | Free Tanning | Free Coffee

COMMONSOSU.COM

1150 KINNEAR RD. | COLUMBUS, OH 43212 | 614.335.4357 Restrictions apply, offer subject to change.

the beginning of the 2019-20 academic year. This turnover rate is a bit higher but not abnormal from what the university experiences each year, Dave Isaacs, university spokesperson, said in an email. The hall director position is attractive to many early on in their professional careers because of the opportunities and skills it provides, Isaacs said. Hall directors take part in many aspects of student life and affairs that prepare them as good candidates for posi-

thelantern.com

@TheLantern

tions in other departments. Alex Smith, Park-Stradley hall director, said hall directors have a wide range of responsibilities, such as programming, out-ofclassroom education, supervision of the resident advisers, crisis response, committee attendance and manning the front desk. Isaacs said that on average, hall directors typically keep the position for two to three years. Ohio State has about 50 hall directors and assistant hall directors, with one to two hall directors assigned to each residence hall. “As a hall director professionally develops, then they naturally move on to higher positions, maybe in house or residence life or maybe in an entirely different field,” he said. Isaacs said the recent increase in turnover has to do with specific hall directors and the opportunities available to them, such as

HALL DIRECTOR CONTINUES ON 18

thelantern.com

@TheLantern

Thursday, February 6, 2020 | The Lantern | 17

529 plan prepares for housing payments

Fall offcampus housing not out of reach MARY KIDWELL For The Lantern kidwell.118@osu.edu Although most students look for off-campus housing for the following year during the fall prior, spring is not entirely too late to enter the game. Of the many realty companies and landlords with rentals in Ohio State’s off-campus areas, there are several prominent companies with units left in the spring to rent for the following fall. OSU Properties by George Kanellopoulos has about 10 or 11 remaining units available for rent out of its 180, owner George Kanellopoulos said. The available properties are a little farther away from campus compared with those that were available in the fall, including units on Oakland Avenue. Prices for the properties vary depending on the number of bedrooms, Kanellopoulos said. Pella Company has about 170 units still available, an employee at the company said. The pricing and quality of the units left differ depending on the number of bedrooms. However, all remaining units are within walking distance of campus. Buckeye Real Estate has about 120 units still available, and an employee of the company said the quality of the remaining units vary, as the more popular units were mostly rented out in the fall. For the units left, the prices vary depending on quality, location and convenience to campus SPRING LEASE CONTINUES ON 18

SCREENSHOT OF COLLEGE ADVANTAGE

The 529 plan is a financial savings plan that allows adults to invest money to pay for future educational costs.

OWEN MILNES Lantern reporter milnes.12@osu.edu Owen Milnes.12 Instead of banking on full-ride scholarships, financial planners recommend tuition-payers invest in 529 plans to pay for college and educational expenses — including the cost of housing which can exceed $6,000 in a school year. The 529 plan is a financial savings plan by which adults — the students themselves or their parents — invest money to pay for future educational costs, David Bowman, founder and lead virtual planner of Outsourced Plan-

ning, LLC, said. The costs must be qualified, and on-campus and off-campus housing and tuition are just some expenses that meet the criteria. Payments from 529 plans amount to about 9 percent of overall tuition payment types, Tony Newland, university bursar at Ohio State, said. This is the second-most common method of paying the university, with the most common being online check payments. Accounts differ from state to state, Newland said, but the university gets the most 529 plans from Ohio. “We apply it to the tuition account, then it can pay whatev-

er is on the tuition account and $4,000, so $8,000 total per benthen anything in excess can get eficiary [child] is a $16,000 derefunded back to the student,” duction.” Newland said. “It can go towards Bowman said there is a concern your instructional fee, your gen- with overfunding because there is eral fee, program fees, housing, uncertainty as to how much monanything like that.” ey will be needed for the fund. If The plan allows for someone all the money is not used for qualto invest ified educaafter-tax tion expensmoney es, there is a without penalty and having to normal tax pay a cap- We apply it to the tuition on the capital gains account, then it can ital gain. tax — a pay whatever is on the Newland tax paid said the on any tuition account and then lead time g r o w t h anything in excess can is another an invest- get refunded back to the potential ment has con of a 529 — Bow- student. It can go towards plan. Lead man said. time is the your instructional fee, B o w - your general fee, program time it takes man said from the that in fees, housing, anything request for Ohio, in- like that. the mondividuals ey being get a tax made until TONY NEWLAND deduction University Bursar at Ohio State the check is of up to sent, and at $4,000 a Ohio State, year on the lead state tax returns for having 529 time is four to six weeks. plans. There is also the potential that “Let’s say you and your wife the intended beneficiary might have two kids,” Bowman said. not need the fund, but Bow“Kid No. 1 is beneficiary of the man said the beneficiary can be first one. Kid No. 2 is beneficia- changed at any time to anyone, so ry of the other one. Combined, the cons are outweighed by the you and your wife can each take potential benefits.

“

”

thelantern.com

18 | The Lantern | Thursday, February 6, 2020

HALL DIRECTOR FROM 16

people just really want certain positions within the university’s opportunities that are out there student conand so duct, advising they’ll and student life apply departments. w h e n Smith has t h e y been the o m e I get to work with students cup,” Park-Stradley he hall director on a whole lot of different said. for more than levels that I would really Ohio two years and State miss if and when I’m ready does not said the timing of the job to move on. require openings is hall didifferent, but ALEX SMITH rectors the number of Park-Stradley hall director to stay losses does not for a stray from what certain the university period typically expeof time, riences. and there is no single residence “Some people only want to do hall that undergoes this change two years because it can be quite more than others, Isaacs said. emotionally taxing. It could be After a hall director leaves, a hard job sometimes. Or some depending on the number of hall

“

AMAL SAEED | PHOTO EDITOR

Dave Isaacs, university spokesperson said the recent increase in turnover has to do with specific hall directors and the opportunities available to them.

www.osulive.com FREE Online Applications

”

@TheLantern

directors assigned to the building, an interim hall director is put in place, Smith said. If there are two hall directors or an assistant hall director, others will have to carry more responsibility until the university decides to hire or finds a new hall director. To meet the university’s standards, Isaacs said hall directors must be earning a master’s or doctorate degree from a higher education and student affairs program. Smith said that in the process of getting their degree, hall directors typically get classroom or practical experience working with students, contributing to a range of skills they may later use in higher positions. “I get to work with students on a whole lot of different levels that I would really miss if and when I’m ready to move on,” he said.

SPRING LEASE FROM 17

LiveHere YOUR PLACE ON CAMPUS LEASING APARTMENTS IN THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY AREA FOR OVER 25 YEARS. FIND APARTMENTS

Online appointments or stop by our office

70 W Northwood Ave #1E • 614-294-7067

AMAL SAEED | PHOTO EDITOR

George Kanellopoulos with OSU Properties has about 10 remaining units available to rent for fall 2020.

and the number of bedrooms. University Village is still waiting for the 2019-20 school year’s renewals to be completed by its Feb. 17 deadline, but Andrea Welsh, an employee of University Village, said in an email they have newly renovated one-bedroom units available. Prices range from $660 to $1,175 for an entire apartment, and all units are located

1.5 miles from campus on Olentangy River Road. A shuttle service runs seven days a week with seven stops on Ohio State’s campus, except during scheduled breaks, when it runs five days a week. To get more information about available off-campus housing, students can go to the Off-campus and Commuter Student Services website and search its database.

thelantern.com

@TheLantern

Off-campus tales from The Lantern staff

“ “ A week after I moved into my old apartment, I got a notice that they would be spraying for bugs. I was required to take everything out of my cabinets and put it back into boxes and move all furniture away from the wall. If I refused to do this, I would be fined $100. This happened three more times. -SHELBY METZGER Social Media Editor

“

”

The water meter was broken in my house for the first three months I lived there, and now my landlord is trying to charge us an average amount of what they thought we used in water for those months, which happens to be way more than the amount we’ve actually spent on water during any other month. -CORI WADE Assistant Photo Editor

”

The maintenance man came to my apartment to check on a request I filed about a leak in the ceiling. When I was walking him out, he said, ‘Make sure to lock your door. You don’t want guys like me coming in here.’ -ANNA RIPKEN Copy Chief

”

“

I have to physically hand in my rent and water bill via checks to my realty company’s office. I might be the only 21-year-old who regularly fills out checks, but it’s a good skill to have.

“

-SAM RAUDINS Campus Editor

“

Thursday, February 6, 2020 | The Lantern | 19

”

On my future apartment lease, it says my fiance and I can’t get out of our lease even if we die. Therefore, we still have to pay rent from the grave. -AMAL SAEED Photo Editor

” ”

My house’s maintenance man came to fix something in our laundry room, and he came back upstairs to where we were all sitting totally pale in the face and was like, ‘Uh, ladies, there is, um, a brassiere down there.’ And we all lost it. -LILY MASLIA Outreach & Engagement Editor

LIVE. RELAX.

ENJOY. STUDIO, 1, 2, AND 3 BEDROOM APARTMENTS Five minutes from OSU, Wexner, and Nationwide, two swimming pools, two clubhouses, two fitness centers, two bark parks for your furry friends, basketball and volleyball courts. 2550 QUARRY LAKE DRIVE COLUMBUS, OH 43204

QUARRYCOLUMBUS.COM

614-486-7600

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER AD INSIDE!

LUXURY STUDIOS TO 10+ BEDROOMS AVAILABLE Amenities and finishes vary by building and may include: Washer and Dryer in-unit, Internet included, Pet-Friendly, Hardwood Floors, Off-street parking available, Central Heating and Air, Balcony or Patio, Electronic Locks and more. View a complete list of our properties online at HometeamProperties.net

CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE A TOUR AND ASK ABOUT OUR SPECIALS!

614-291-2600

HometeamProperties.net

@HometeamOSU