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4 Housing Horror Looking for a place to live can be hard, as our editors can attest 8 Renting How do you get back your security deposit? What even is renters’ insurance? Find out here 9 Before you sign All the questions to ask the landlord before you start paying 10 On or off campus? The pros and cons of your college living options, MSU affiliated or not 11 Life in the residence halls What’s the difference between Hammons House and Freudenberger? Don’t worry, we’ve got you
16 Welcome to the Monroe Apartment living on campus — is it worth it? 18 Apartment vs. house The eternal question — which do you rent? 20 Student-athlete living Where do athletes live and why? 22 Living with pets Make sure you know all the regulations about having furry friends 23 Roommates and you How to live with another person and not end up at each other’s throats 24 Renting timeline Your timeline for finding, signing for and living in your new apartment
13 Work from home (kind of) Interested in a job at the front desk of a residence hall? Learn all about it here
Standard staff Editorial staff Bart Anders reporter Elizabeth Armbrecht copy editor Taylor Balleau copy editor Theresa Brickman copy editor
Rebecca Biundo reporter Sofia Caito reporter Maddy Cushman photographer Nicholas Deckard photo editor Callie Dunaway reporter Zachary Fletcher reporter/photographer Emily Joshu reporter Andrea Koenemann distributor Rose Marthis news editor Spencer Martin columnist Trevor Mitchell editor-in-chief Taylor Mize distributor
Nicole Roberts reporter John Robinson reporter Brittanie Schuette distributor Kayla Seabaugh copy editor Peyson Shields life editor Mike Ursery sports editor Eli Wohlenhaus digital editor Professional staff Jack Dimond faculty adviser Sandy King ad manager
Housing Guide 2015
Cover design by Brooke Partridge
Advertising staff Brandi Frye sales Holly Johnson sales Nick McConnell sales Brooke Partridge design Emily Dilley office assistant
This is a publication of Missouri State University’s student-produced newspaper, The Standard. The university has not approved and is not responsible for its content, which is produced and edited by The Standard staff. The Standard 901 S. National Ave. Springfield, MO 65897 417-836-5272 Standard@MissouriState.edu
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The Standard’s Housing Guide is here to help
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Renting 101
By Callie Dunaway The Standard @Callie_Dunaway
What’s renters’ insurance? How do I get my security deposit back? Can I make copies of my key? The first and most important rule of being a renter is to read your lease; any lawyer will tell you that. Although reading a lease may not be the easiest read, it will have all of the important information and questions you will need to know when leasing. Each lease is different and contains the terms that will be necessary to having a good rental experience. More often than not, after reading your lease, there will be parts of it that you will want to discuss or clarify with your landlord. Renters’ insurance is a necessity, according to the owner of CJG Rentals LLC, Mark Garner. “I, highly encourage renters insurance because it protects you wholeheartedly. You need it because, not only does it protect what you own, but it protects any damage you might make to the property.” Rental insurance protects from theft, damage, fire and any other unexpected issue that could come up. Garner also says you can’t technically prevent renters from making copies
of their key, but you can’t change the locks. When in doubt, always review your lease and keep it on file. The best way to ensure getting your security deposit back is to follow the lease. Most landlords will give the majority of the security deposit back if the place is left clean and there isn’t furniture or trash left for them to haul. Another precaution to take when renting is to be careful of what the lease states about being liable. Most leases, when signed with other people such as
roommates, will hold all signees liable if another roommate fails to pay. Some leases will hold special clauses that state you are not liable if a roommate or cotenant is late, but that is something to pay attention to. It will not only affect you financially, but it could damage your credit for the future. When in doubt, always review the lease. Each lease is different, and if possible, have an attorney or someone who is familiar with leases review it before you sign anything.
Housing Contract
Sign (your life away) here: ______________________________________________
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Can I have a pet? How is Is there a on-site refundable security? deposit?
When is rent due?
Things to ask before you sign
Are furnishings included?
What is the parking situation?
What is the average cost of utilities?
Is rent split between my roommates and I?
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To campus or not to campus The Standard
Weigh the options of on-campus versus off-campus living By John Robinson The Standard @SaxmanJohn
Transportation
Cost of room and board
Off campus: If you’re off campus this will be a bummer as gas seems to be raising back up again. There are other options, though, if you want to save on gas costs. Bus passes are available and a semester-long bus pass is $125. You can also see if your apartment runs a shuttle service to campus or if the Bear Line reaches your place.
This semester may have just begun, but now is the time to start thinking about housing options for next year. Do you move into a residence hall on campus or maybe try to get a house or an apartment? To help make that decision a little easier, here’s a guide to help you make an educated decision: On Campus: You’re required to have a meal plan while living on campus, but the cheapest option for a year of on-campus living is $7,216 in Freddy. The most expensive options are Hammons and Hutchens two-person suites with an unlimited meal plan, which comes out to $9,602.
Off campus: The average cost for a threebedroom apartment in Springfield comes out to $7,044 per individual/room. *Numbers derived from Numbeo.com
On Campus: Well, you’re on campus! This is one of the biggest money-savers when it comes to living on campus. Enjoy not needing to drive to school and saving some gas.
Utilities
On Campus: Once again, this is all included in the original cost. You don’t need to worry about it.
Off campus: The average cost of utilities is $136, but those numbers could change depending on how much power you use.
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Residence hall breakdown • suite style • 6-person rooms with own bathroom • laundry room on each floor • community lounge and kitchen on 1st floor • closes over breaks • 2 living-learning communities
Freddy
• community style • 2- and 3-person rooms • closes over breaks • 3 living learning communities • 720 person capacity • single-gender floors • central lounge, study rooms, kitchen, laundry room and computer lab
Kentwood • suite style • 1-, 2- and 3-person rooms • home to upperclassmen and transfer students • central lounge, study rooms, fitness center, laundry room and computer lab • open over breaks • allows alcohol if 21 • Kentwood Dining Center in basement
Shannon
Blair
Features of the on-campus options
Hammons
• suite style • 2- and 4-person suites • kitchenettes in rooms • central lounge, study rooms, laundry room and computer lab • Hammons: 580 person capacity • Hutchens: 576 person capacity • single-gender floors with 1 coed upperclassmen floor • open over breaks • aerobics room and ResNet office in basement of Hutchens • connected to Garst Dining Center on first level
Hutchens
u More residence halls on page 12
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Monroe Apts.
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• 1-, 2- and 4-bedroom units • private bathrooms • fully furnished • laundry in each room • open over breaks • alcohol allowed and no visitation policy • home to 126 upperclassmen • first floor gathering room
• suite style • private bathrooms • 4-person rooms and living rooms • open over breaks • central lounge, study • home to 115 Honor rooms, music practice College students rooms, kitchen, • upperclassmen coed laundry room and floor computer lab
Sunvilla
• suite style • 2-, 3- and 5-person rooms • home to 267 upperclassmen • central lounge, study rooms, laundry room and computer lab • open over breaks • fully furnished living rooms and kitchens • recreation area on second floor • renovated in 2014 to be ready to open in fall 2015
Wells
• community style • 2-, 3- and 4-person rooms • 2 living learning communities • central lounge, study rooms, fitness center, laundry room and computer lab • closed over breaks • home to 422 students on single-gender floors
• community style • 2-person rooms with sinks included • 2 living learning communities • central lounge, study rooms, kitchen, laundry room and computer lab • closed over breaks
Woods
Scholars
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Work where you live
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Apply to man the desk at a residence hall near you
By Zachary Fletcher The Standard @ZachSFletcher Do you ever wish that you could just roll out of bed and be at work? Would you like a job with no commute, short shifts and a schedule tailored to fit the academic year? How about a chance to make money while doing homework? If any of these appeal to you, you should look into taking a job at your residence hall’s front desk. Desk workers are student employees who live and work in the same building. They are responsible for a variety of tasks: answering questions, inspecting student IDs, taking phone calls, checking out equipment, sorting mail, managing the printer and lost and found, dealing with alarms, alerting RAs to potential problems and tidying the desk area, to name a
few. That may sound like a lot of responsibility, but the workflow tends to vary by shift. Weeknights are generally more hectic than weekends, and night shifts are usually calmer than day ones. The shifts themselves are short (3.5 hours on weeknights, four hours on weekends) and desk workers are allowed to do homework on the job as long as they don’t neglect their other duties. For those who like to socialize, it’s also a great way to make friends and become familiar with the people who share your building. Desk workers earn $7.65 per hour. Most will have two or three shifts per week and may pick up others from coworkers. Applicants must have 12 credit hours completed and a semester and cumulative GPA of at least 2.5. Desk positions are posted online as they become available at each building. To see these listings, visit http://jobs.missouristate.edu.
File photo/THE STANDARD
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Perks of the Monroe
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By Eli Wohlenhaus The Standard @eliwohlenhaus
The Monroe Apartments have a lot of perks for people who want to live on campus, but want a little bit more freedom. There are several types of apartment styles within the building, including one-person rooms, two-person rooms and four-person rooms. What do these rooms have over the residence halls or offcampus apartments? First and foremost, you pay it with your school bill. There is not a monthly payment for utilities, internet and cable. If you are a student on scholarship or on loans who doesn’t work or has a job, but still can’t afford monthly payments (like me), then this is the place to live. File photo/THE STANDARD Each apartment has a living room and kitchen that come fur- Monroe Apartments combine the life of on-campus nished. You are required to supply your own dishes and soap, and off-campus living. but with every apartment having its own washer, dryer and dishWithin each room, most apartments are fitted with an extrawasher, what is buying some styrofoam plates now and then? Each room within the apartment has its own bathroom, long, double-sized bed with a dresser, nightstand, desk and a meaning you don’t have to share with anyone else — plus you proportionally acceptable closet. So, what’s the price for this seemingly perfect living quarter? don’t have to clean up after anyone else either. The bathroom A four-bedroom apartment: $3,000 per semester, $1,200 in has cabinets under the sink, plenty of counter space, a toilet, a the summer shower and towel racks.
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A two-bedroom apartment: $3,200 per semester, $1,280 in the summer A one-bedroom apartment: $3,300 per semester, $1,320 in the summer At some point you may be wondering where the catch is for something so nice. The Monroe is not open to freshman. Other perks Computer lab/printer “Hangout” room Elevator Special parking (does cost extra) Quick access to National Avenue Alcohol if over 21 No visitation restrictions Sacrifices Further from your classes Thin walls Appliances get dirty quickly
If you are someone who likes to clean and can keep up with taking out the trash and washing dishes, this place will be great. It is the perfect place to work on being a responsible adult while still having the luxury of being a college student and not having to worry about payments and landlords.
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War of The Standard
House Rules Peyson Shields House Renter
@peysonrose
T-Swift dance parties, chasing each other up and down the stairs, sharing laughs and cookie dough until 2 a.m. — this pretty much describes the daily life of my roommates and I. We laugh, we cry, we act like fools and we don’t have to worry about a pesky neighbor banging on a shared wall to tell us to quiet down and vice versa. My roommates and I live in an adorable little house that is a 10-minute walk from campus and that is more than a place to stay during college — it’s our home. We chose to live in a house mainly so we could get more space for our dollar. Our rent is super affordable, and we get to chill in the living room, host family dinners in the dining room and get away from the craziness in the basement. A lot of people are turned off by houses because of the
assumed amount of work they require over an apartment. Truth is, though, if you’re renting a house, you’re still renting from a property management company. This means that if you have a problem like a leaky faucet or an electrical issue, the property management company will come to the rescue. Five bonuses to living in a house • You can have summer-time cookouts in your backyard with friends and dogs and corn-hole • You can do jumping-jacks in your living room • If you name it, it will become a destination and a hashtag • When you ask your neighbors for a cup of sugar, they have to give it to you because it’s some sort of neighborhood rite of passage • All of your friends will be jealous
Even though house-hunting may seem so “30-year-old married couple,” it can pay off and truly be your home away from home.
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the residences
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(a)Part(ment) of Your World Trevor Mitchell Apartment Renter For the past three years, I’ve lived in an apartment just off of campus, and it’s been great. While I know friends who live in houses and make them absolutely wonderful places to hang out, I’m always appreciative to be able to come back to good old apartment 202.
@TJM613
There’s quite a few positives to houses that I won’t debate — I’ve certainly had a few people complain about noise to me over the years, something that people in houses don’t get as often — but I’ve always thought apartments have a few advantages as well. For one thing, with less space to heat or cool, your utilities bill, if you pay utilities, will almost always be lower with an apartment than a house. Of course, depending on how many people you have living in the house, splitting the utility bill five ways might negate that, but money is money. There’s also the entertainment factor to consider. You simply do not get the same opportunities to people-watch with a house that you do with an apartment. One summer,
I awoke at 2 a.m. to get some water, only to discover that my upstairs neighbors were apparently having a party with their door open, featuring enchiladas and the song “Come On Eileen” playing at full volume. You’re also assured of your own space. I know a lot of people who rent houses, and without fail, one or more of the occupants is always either sharing a room with someone else, using a closet or hallways as a room or pretending that some sort of curtain/clothesline combination serves as an acceptable substitute for a wall. Apartments? Two bed-
Nic Deckard/THE STANDARD
rooms, two occupants. Done. When it comes down to it, there’s not really an easy answer for whether you should rent an apartment or a house in college — it’s really up to your individual needs and tastes. But just keep in mind that if you play your cards right, 2 a.m. enchiladas could be yours, and all you have to do is walk upstairs.
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Athletes living together
Convenience, familiarity and necessity make it easier on student-athletes at Missouri State University By Sofia Caito The Standard @SofiaCaito
Whether it be an apartment or a house, many Missouri State University student-athletes tend to live close to campus because of the convenience of being just minutes away from practice facilities, game fields or complexes. Collin Dimitroff, a junior marketing major, has been a manager for the basketball team for three years and currently lives in an apartment with another manager, Dominic Tiemann — a junior construction management major — whom he has known since high school. Dimitroff says that quite a few of the people that he hangs out with are other basketball managers or athletes. “Since most of my friends are from the basketball team, it just made sense for me to live with somebody that has similar interests and hobbies,” Dimitroff said. Dimitroff and Tiemann’s apartment is just off campus, so it doesn’t take long
for them to get to the gym for practices and games. While many athletes live in apartments such as Bear Village or Deep Elm, houses almost seem to be more popular. Kelsey Bellew, a Sugar Bear and junior speech pathology major, lives in a house off campus with teammate and best friend Liz Rodgers, a junior public relations major. Their freshman year, Bellew lived in Wells and Rodgers lived in Freddy. She says that athletes aren’t required to live in a specific residence hall, but that it was suggested they live in Hammons so that they could stay if they needed to over break. She says that the other Sugar Bears, besides the freshmen who live in the residence halls, live in the same apartment complex. Last year, the majority of Sugar Bears, Bellew and Rodgers included, lived in Kensington Park, but Bellew says she likes living in a house better because it’s closer to campus. Currently, Bellew and Rodgers live in a four-bedroom house with two other girls. The house is close to campus and
the location makes it easy to walk to class, Sugar Bear events and games. “We love where we live and are staying here next year,” says Rodgers. Bellew and Rodgers will be living together for the third year in August. Bellew says that the two instantly clicked at Sugar Bears tryouts their senior year of high school. “She makes sure I’m wearing the right practice and game gear, which is nice,” says Bellew. “I think it’s hard for a lot of people to live with their best friend and teammate, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!” Molly Huber, a senior member of the soccer team and hospitality and restaurant administration and club management major, currently lives in a house off campus with two other members of the soccer team. She says that they have lived together for about a year and a half. “We like how we can wake up and be at class in less than 10 minutes. We like not having to drive and deal with the stress of parking and weather conditions,” Huber said. The
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Rooming with Fido 22 | Housing Guide 2015
Nic Deckard Pet Owner
@DicNeckard
Having a furry friend in your apartment can really make you feel at home when you’re away from home. Whether you're a dog or a cat person (personally, I’m both) there’s a good chance that you’re going to want a pet in college so badly you can’t stand it. Try your best to keep your finger off the trigger. Getting a pet on impulse can be one of the worst first mistakes you can make as a young adult. First thing’s first: Does your apartment allow pets? Many Springfield rentals don’t
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even allow you to have any pets, except for, perhaps, a fish. If you’re looking at an apartment that is furnished, that rule is pretty ironclad. Renters want to be able to re-use the furniture as much as possible, and pets can shorten the life of a couch or carpet, by years. Please do not break your apartments rules and try to hide a pet. You aren’t sneaky enough, you will get caught and you will have to pay your landlord some serious cash or get kicked to the curb. Second: Can you afford it? If your rental does allow you to have cats and/or dogs, you are going to have to pay a pet deposit or fee. This varies wildly and can be as low as a $50 deposit that you can get back if your cat doesn’t ralf all over the carpet. But be forewarned, landlords will do anything in their power to keep your deposits. These fees can be much higher though. When I moved into my apartment, I paid a hefty $200 fee that I’ll never see again. For me, the fee was worth it.
Include pet food and litter, if you have a cat, and your monthly budget just went up by $15. If you are adopting — and you 10,000 percent should adopt if you’re getting a pet — expect to pay another $50 for shots and the spay/neuter procedure. If you have a dumpster kitten or got your pet off of Craigslist, get the necessary shots and spay/neuter it. Just do it. The Springfield Animal Advocacy Foundation House does overnight neutering for about $30 for cats and a little more for dogs. Bottom line: If you want a pet, expect to set aside at least $150 just to get past all the red tape. Do you have time? Don’t get a puppy. Don’t. I don’t care how responsible you think you are. There is a three- or six-year-old dog/cat that will never get adopted because all people want are puppies and kittens. Besides, if you’re a full-time student, you don’t have time for a puppy or a kitten. Even if you have an adult pet and you are going to
be gone from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., you aren’t giving your pet the time they need. Even adult cats need attention and affection from their owners for their mental health. If you leave your dog in your house all day with no one to take care of it every six to eight hours, that’s no good. Cut that time in half for a puppy. Unless your roommate explicitly says that s/he wants a pet and is willing to help out, don’t pass off the responsibilities on them because you’re too busy. None of this should be construed to mean that you absolutely shouldn’t get a pet in college. Speaking from experience, I think that if it’s something you can afford and something you can commit yourself to, having a cat or a dog can be awesome. I love my cats and having them around feels like having a tiny family. Pets can be a serious hassle and you’ll hate having them sometimes, but it’s totally worth it.
Roommate woes the-standard.org
By Nicole Roberts The Standard @NReneeRoberts
Whether you live in a residence hall or an apartment, you have most likely dealt with a roommate at some point in your life. Sometimes, roommates struggle to get along with one another. Usually roommates can solve their problems by following three simple roommate rules: 1. Treat your roommate with respect “Respect your roommate as a person with valuable life experience and unique thoughts,” Jessica Ball, a resident assistant and seniors computer animations major, said. Carissa Ford, a resident assistant and junior psychology major, gave examples of roommates not respecting each other, such as a roommate displaying too much PDA in the room while the other roommate is trying to sleep. Avoid these types of situations by respecting your roommate’s living space, personal belongings and perspective, even if the perspective is different than your own. 2. Communicate with your roommate According to Ball, communication is extremely important between roommates. She and Ford both said roommates should communicate their thoughts in an appropriate manner. “Don’t be passive aggressive about an issue. If there is a problem, either person should communicate the
issue in a mature, adult fashion,” Ford said. Ball described a situation when there was a lack of communication between four roommates, which led to one of the roommates feeling left out and uncomfortable. Problems arose, such as personal belongings disappearing, but none of the roommates communicated their concerns. Eventually the situation escalated, and a Hall Director and an RA had to start conversations between roommates. 3. Do not be disruptive when your roommate is studying or sleeping
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Being too loud can cause tension between roommates, especially if one is trying to study or sleep. Turn the TV down or completely off if you see your roommate working on homework or sleeping. Use headphones when listening to anything on your laptop, phone or music player, too. If you think you are still going to disrupt your roommate, go to a different room or building. If problems keep arising, roommates can speak with an RA to get advice on how to handle the situation.
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February
March
It’s time to go house, or apartment, huntDecide whether it’s better to stay in the same place or if moving is the way to go. ing. Drive around and make appointments to Browse through The Standard’s 2015 Hous- view the listings that stand out. ing Guide to get a better idea of the different places to live.
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By Rebecca Biundo The Standard @rebeccabiundo
April
If you haven’t already, it’s time to sign the lease to your new home.
May
This school year is coming to an end and that means it’s time to move out of your current place.
June/July
Use the summer months to pack and get organized. Shop for fun decorations and furnishings to make your place your own.
August
Move-in day is finally here. Take a deep breath and settle into your new home. With school right around the corner, just relax, you’re all moved in.
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