THE STANDARD HOUSING GUIDE
Feb. 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On the North Mall near the PSU
Wicked Housing Expo with The Standard Drag Queen Bingo Bears Supporting Bear Panel
• February 24th starting at 6pm & February 26th starting at 7pm in the PSU Theater
• Experience the magic of Wicked! Sing along on Wednesday or enjoy a classic showing on Monday!
• February 25th from 11am-2pm on the PSU North Mall (ICOR: PSU Atrium)
• Explore housing options in Springfield—find your perfect home!
• February 27th from 7-10pm in the PSU Theater
• March 3rd from 7-8pm in the PSU Theater
• Join SAC & SDA for a night to discuss mental health, self-image, and eating disorders in recognition of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week!
Wednesday Night Live
• March 5th from 7-8pm in the PSU Theater
• Get ready for a night of nonstop laughs with SAC & the Improv Club!
A note from the editors
Even in the thick of Missouri winter, a cozy home can make even the coldest of days a bit more tolerable. Even as this editor’s note is being written, a looming winter storm is approaching Springfield, and MSU has already canceled Tuesday classes.
While we plan to be bundled up in blankets binge-watching comfort shows — like many of you — The Standard’s Housing Guide will provide you a different type of entertainment on a snowy day.
Looking for new ways to help you pay rent? What about those new, renovated study rooms in the library? Or Garst Dining Center’s new food stations? Maybe you’re looking to live off-campus, but the rental market is too intimidating and you don’t know where to start. Luckily, we have you covered.
Reporter Maura Curran gives tips on what to look for when moving off-campus; Ella Conklin advises students on how they can use student loans to pay their rent; and Rylie Robinson chats with Duane G. Meyer’s library public services coordinator to learn more about the newly-renovated study rooms.
Whatever your housing needs are, The Standard is here for you! Stay warm, Bears.
Sincerely, Liz and Jayden
Standard staff
Editors
Liz Garcia co-editor-in-chief
Jayden Pettus co-editor-in-chief
W. Paul Bohlen sports editor
Madison Reece assistant editor
Reporters and visual artists
Ella Conklin reporter
Elise Dust reporter
Becky Gardner reporter
Maura Curran reporter
Arden Dickson photographer
Robin Garner reporter
Matthew Huff photographer
Daisha Jackson photographer
Jude Jenkins reporter
Spencer Justice photographer
Maddux Radosevic reporter
Madison Reece reporter
Rylie Robinson reporter
THE STANDARD
HOUSING GUIDE
Cover design by Liz Garcia
On the cover: The Standard and Student Activities Council are jointly-presenting the Housing Expo, where students can meet exhibitors from local property companies and learn about their off-campus living options.
THE STANDARD
is Missouri State University’s student-produced newspaper. The university has not approved and is not responsible for its content, which is produced and edited by the students on The Standard staff.
Piper Ruebling reporter
Faith Sappington reporter
Jackson Wright reporter
Kamryn Stofer reporter
Kaylee Vaughan photographer
Aden Zuccarini reporter
Copy Editors
Isabel Gamble
Liliana Hayes
Ruby Knight
Ebony Love
Advertising staff
Cadance Ruth advertising designer
Caedran Yeidel advertising sales assistant
Professional staff
Jack Dimond faculty adviser
Elise
REPORTER
Garst Dining Center has made some recent changes to their menu. These updates include a weekly rotation of items that serve a number of menu options for every student. The dining hall now offers several new international and to-go dining options, as well.
“The transition was a dual-purpose solution for the need for a residential to-go option on campus,” said Daisy Mullen, director of MSU Dining Services. “It solved the issue of all the dining halls having similar offerings.”
In effort to accommodate all students that utilize the dining halls daily, Garst now offers four new rotating stations with a variety of international dining options.
Pom & Honey offers a Mediterranean inspired menu with options such as Lemon Oregano Chicken. Ciao Bellam offers a variety of pasta bakes served with Caesar salad and a bread stick. A few steps down, students will find Paper Lantern, which serves students’ favorite Asian cuisine options, such as Orange Chicken and Broccoli Beef. Garst also welcomed another new station, The Chaat House, which is an Indian-inspired cuisine offering items such as Biryani rice and Tandoori chicken. The station was created with the help of current international students from India.
“They were able to collaborate with the Executive Sous Chef to create genuine recipes for that station,” said Mullen.
The Garst dining hall’s new look is now able to accommodate more students than ever before and even satisfies the needs of those with dietary restrictions and more.
“There are a variety of different dining options on campus that meet the needs or just about any dietary wants or needs on campus,” said Mullen.
House serves Indian-inspired dishes like Biryani rice and Tandori Chicken.
Photo by Elise Dust
With multiple rotating stations, Garst now serves a wide variety of food for all students.
Dust
Photo by Elise Dust
Chaat
Meyer Library study rooms debut renovated look
All study rooms
library had their previous counter spaces replaced with standard desks, which are conveniently designed with built-in charging ports. Additionally, there are two office chairs and a white board.
Rylie Robinson REPORTER Qrylie04.robs
All 19 study rooms on the second floor of the Duane G. Meyer Library recently underwent renovations to further accommodate needs.
“We tried to take into consideration the things people really appreciated and liked about the existing study rooms while incorporating updates that would diversify study options,” said Holly Kouns, the library’s public services coordinator. “We ultimately want the university community to view the library as a space that is for everyone and that means trying new ways to meet your unique needs.”
The 19 study rooms were renovated for unique uses. All rooms had their built-in desks removed, with most replaced by standard desks. These standard rooms have built-in power banks, glass whiteboards and even hangers to put up coats or bags.
The other non-standard rooms were renovated for different uses. For students who prefer comfy alternatives, these rooms were equipped with ottomans, lounging chairs and smaller tables that can be pulled up. Three of the rooms were equipped with lighting options for those who desire non-fluorescent lighting.
“We were told our study rooms need updating so we’re working on it,” Kouns said. “We can’t always move as fast as we’d like or hope, but the intent and action is there. We’re always trying to make things better and do better.”
Funding for the renovations came from carry-forward funds that the library receives annually. Often, the library uses these funds for large renovations to further upgrade services and resources.
These rooms are available for use now, as renovations were finalized Wednesday, Feb. 10. Any student may use an unoccupied room, but they may be reserved, and those with reservations ultimately get priority. To reserve a
room, students can visit the Missouri State University website and search ‘reserve a study room.’
“I know these updates aren’t groundbreaking by any means, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a big impact,” Kouns said. “I want people to feel and see proof that the library cares about them holistically. We want to support our community academically, professionally and personally.”
Students wishing to reserve a spot in the renovated rooms may do so on the Missouri State University website by using the search tab and typing ‘reserve a study room.’
Photo by Liz Garcia
in the Duane G. Meyer
Photo by Liz Garcia Hangers in the study rooms allow for easy coat storage in colder months.
Photo by Liz Garcia
Ella Conklin REPORTER
Q_ellaconklin
At Missouri State University, the average in-state tuition is $21,708. Room and board costs account for more than half of that number. Whether students have found a cheaper option or simply want to move elsewhere, students can actually use their loans to pay for living expenses off-campus.
Many students use some combination of scholarships, grants, FAFSA money and loans to pay for college. In the 2022 academic school year, MSU shared that 47% of full-time, firsttime MSU students took out some form of loans to help pay for college. Federal loans and private loans can be put into students’ personal bank accounts to pay for living expenses.
Kelly Evans, Associate Director of Student Financial Aid, breaks down the process of using aid to pay for off-campus through refunds.
“All student aid, regardless of type, must pay to a student’s account first,” she said. “Once a student’s account balance reaches zero, any additional aid will be refunded to the student or parent, depending on how the student has set it up. Students can use any aid that is refunded to them, regardless of its source, to help
pay for living expenses off-campus.”
Most forms of aid have to be paid through MSU first, regardless of what those funds are actually intended to be used for. Popular private student-loan companies such as Sallie Mae or Earnest do not send money directly to students, but instead to MSU. A student could pay for tuition in full with a scholarship and a federal loan and still take out a private loan, have it sent to MSU, and then refunded to their bank account to pay for off-campus housing and other expenses.
Evans said, however, “Not all students will receive a refund, so it’s important that students are aware of how much their charges are and how much aid they will be receiving.”
Federal loans and MSU provided loans can operate in a similar fashion. These funds will go directly to MSU first, but the remaining funds can be refunded to students’ bank accounts.
“Traditionally, refunds begin to be processed the third week of school each semester,” Evans said. “So, it’s important that students sign up for direct deposit through the Financial Services Office.”
The timing of refunds is an important aspect to be aware of when managing a budget. Students need to take into account how much it
How you can use student loans to pay off-campus rent
costs to live off campus and how many months of rent there are between each refund. Evans advises to think carefully about these variables.
“If your desired location and budget don’t match, rethink the location or consider supplementing your budget by getting a job or splitting expenses with a roommate,” she said.
Additionally, Evans urges students to be conscientious of their personal budgets when living with roommates.
“These are your loans that you are responsible for, not your friends,” she said. “Resist peer pressure to live outside your budget.”
Budgeting also ensures you are not over-borrowing.
“Only take out as much in loans as you need, not want,” Evans said. While loans are a normal way to pay for expenses, they must be repaid. Evans explains and suggests doing lots of research on the payment rules for different apartments.
“Ask questions when you’re looking at apartments,” she said. “Are utilities included? Is internet included? Do you pay once per month or once a semester? Is there a separate charge for parking? If you’re going to have a pet, will the rent be higher?”
Many apartment complexes around MSU offer support to help students meet ends as well. For example, Beacon Springfield Apartments offer different pre-leasing specials to bring down the price of rent for new residents. Current residents enjoy a three-day rent grace period, giveaways, grocery bingo and apartment-hosted meals to show appreciation and support to student-residents. During Beacon’s Super Bowl party, the apartment complex gave away a free month of rent to a lucky resident, according to Bailey Banks, resident and leasing specialist for Beacon Springfield.
Gerry Caywood, general manager at The Vue on Walnut Apartments, shares other forms of support apartment complexes offer students. Residents of The Vue can enroll in a program to split their rent payment into two installments over the month. For new residents, The Vue offers student-guarantor waivers in certain situations. A guarantor signer is someone, usually a parent, that agrees to pay rent if the student/ resident fails to do so. These student-guarantor waivers can ensure students who may not have adult support to fall back on can still secure housing.
There are various types of off-campus housing around MSU and in the greater Springfield area. Students should take the time to research, tour, and talk to staff members of different hous-
ing options to learn what best suits their needs. Many apartment complexes run events to showcase what they offer to new residents and answer questions.
While loans are a very common way students pay for college and off-campus housing, many other forms of aid exist.
“Apply to as many scholarships as possible through the MSU Foundation Scholarship Application and other outside sources,” Evans said. “Scholarships, as well as loans, can be used to pay for off-campus expenses.”
To learn more about what type of aid is available, how to pay for off-campus housing or for any other financial information regarding college, students can make an appointment to meet with an advisor from MSU’s Financial Aid Office.
The Vue on Walnut is located in downtown Springfield at 430 E. Walnut St. Like other student-living properties, they offer discounts that can reduce costs of rent and other fees.
Photo by Liz Garcia
Many off-campus living buildings, like Beacon Springfield, are close to campus.
Photo by Liz Garcia
Navigating the rental landscape after living on campus
Maura Curran REPORTER Qmauracwrites
Although the rental landscape can seem intimidating, many students find that securing their first apartment is a rewarding step to take.
Having lived in student housing for all four years of college, it’s no understatement that it takes all the worries of living on your own and wraps them up with a big bow and a price tag of half a thousand dollars. Looking back, something that I always took for granted was the luxury of having everything extra provided and paid for. But as someone finishing up college, nothing felt better than feeling like I could tackle the rental landscape in the real world and secure my dream place.
Here are some guidelines to help make your transition a little bit smoother.
Finding your budget
My biggest struggle was finding my budget and fitting into it. As a college student, recognizing your budget when looking for a new place to live can be very overwhelming, as you’re now looking at several different costs rather than that golden number with the big bow. With most college students working minimum wage part-time jobs, dealing with these costs can almost feel impossible. Take into consideration every single thing you would have to pay for and build a maximum budget for yourself.
A lot of apartments don’t estimate the average utility costs for their renters, so it’s crucial that you save and plan accordingly. Something that helped me was learning the average price for utilities and internet in Springfield. Since these things are calculated on a usage basis, you generally aren’t able to know these costs until the first bill comes around. I added the Springfield averages to the maximum rent I was willing to pay to find my budget. This helped me tremendously when I was apartment searching, as sites almost always only disclose the base rent. Luckily, they will usually disclose the security deposit and application fee, either on the listing or when you go to tour or apply, so make sure you also take those extra costs into consideration when budgeting.
Doing your research
Do not be afraid to do some real digging. Sites like Apartments.com have a lot of options, but I found that many of those were way over my price range, or they were in my price range but they just weren’t the right fit for me. There
can be a balance though. If you’re struggling to find something you like that also fits your budget, keep looking!
Sites like Apartments.com pull listings from real estate companies all over Springfield, so there may only be one listing on there from a real estate company that’s too expensive for you, but that company actually has lots of other listings on their own website, some that may fit your budget. There are plenty of independent real estate companies that post their own listings, where most of their properties are within a general price range. I was able to find a specific company that offered a wide variety of units all in my price range. Do your research, and become familiar with local real estate companies that fit what you’re looking for.
Furnishing your new space
Don’t forget about furniture! Something that slipped my mind at first was the reality that a lot of residential apartments are not furnished. Almost all of them will come with basic appliances such as a kitchen with a fridge, stove and sink, and a bathroom with a shower, toilet and sink. Some might have a dishwasher or microwave depending on the company, and there will usually be an option for either a communal laundry room in the complex or laundry hookups in the apartment. There is furnished property on the market, which includes pretty much all of these things, plus furniture and sometimes even decor. But you’ll probably find that the rent is a bit higher for the convenience of already having furniture. For most, it’s up to you to acquire a bed, couch, chairs, tables and any other furniture you might need.
This once again depends on what you’re willing to spend, but if you’re like me and the thought of paying $500 for a couch makes you sick to your stomach, here’s my advice: Thrift, thrift, thrift! Whether it’s thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, secondhand items from family or friends or even off the street, my rule of thumb is functionality. Sure, my couch isn’t the biggest, trendiest or most expensive, but it was less than $100, it functions great and I like it! Whether your couch is the sectional at Ashley Furniture, the love seat from Salvation Army, or the chair you found on the street in front of the neighbor’s house, find what works for you.
Be prepared
Navigating real estate after student living can feel like taking a test without the cheat sheet you always get to use. Research, prepare, and do your best! Stick to what’s true to you and you can find what fits you and your budget.
Some residential apartments may not have in-unit washer and dryers, but rather a separate, on-site laundry facility for all residents to use. Though, most residential spaces will at least have laundry hookups.
Photo by Maura Curran
Furniture can easily be found on a budget by buying second-hand from friends, family, thrift stores and reseller markets like Facebook Marketplace.
Photo by Maura Curran
MANAGING THE BIG GAME
A look inside MSU’s Entertainment Management Association’s Super Bowl trip
Maddux Radosevic REPORTER
DRadosevicMaddux
Few stages, if any, are as big as the Super Bowl.
For many fans, the big game is about enjoying football, watching commercials and eating chicken wings. But, for one Missouri State student organization, this year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, meant much more.
That group is MSU’s Entertainment Management Association (EMA), an organization consisting of students from a diverse selection of majors — entertainment management, hospitality, marketing and even finance — who aspire to learn more about the entertainment industry.
One of the main attractions that EMA sponsors is travel to big events all across the country. Over the years, EMA has taken trips to the NCAA Final Four, music conferences in Nashville, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and, most notably, the Super Bowl.
Now a longstanding tradition for the organization, going to the Super Bowl has become one of the defining trips the group takes every year.
EMA determines which of its members get to go to the Super Bowl based on a raffle-type system. Members can get more entries in the
raffle by completing various service events through EMA or finding other ways to earn “points,” which can then translate to higher chances of being selected.
One individual who certainly earned her way to New Orleans is Missouri State senior and entertainment management major Grace Schad.
As EMA’s sports representative, Schad was the group’s lead planner of this year’s Super Bowl trip. Part of the responsibility that came with that role for Schad involved educating less experienced EMA members about what they could expect to encounter on the voyage upon the group’s arrival at The Big Easy on the Wednesday before the Feb. 9 game.
Schad mentioned that some of her peers anticipated they would be working predominantly with higher-ups and other important organizers to prepare items at the stadium, the field, or other locations in close proximity to the game. However, Schad had to inform her fellow EMA members they would be contributing in a different way.
“We are working for the fans,” she said to her fellow peers.
Schad explained that the majority of the group’s work involved making sure everything ran smoothly during the Super Bowl Experience. This meant facilitating lots of big events with games, celebrity/player appearances and more at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Cen-
ter in downtown New Orleans.
For this event, EMA contributed by helping with activations, waiver signings, registrations, directions, signage and other tasks that required their assistance. Although the workload was demanding, the group still found time for more relaxing activities amid the tasks, including playing flag football with kids at the event.
For Schad, this reality made the entire experience even better than the vision some of her peers had about working more on the logistical side of the affair.
“You get to have more personal interactions,” she said. “You get to make more connections that way.”
In the days leading up to the main event, Schad said the anticipation was palpable.
“Energy is the best way to put it,” she said. “The city buzzes.”
However, she said the environment felt even more intense on game day.
“I would say Sunday was definitely our favorite day to work,” she said. “There was something special about that Sunday, experiencing once in a lifetime something that you can’t even put into words of how the atmosphere changes.”
Sunday’s escalated vibe was not the only different feeling the group experienced that day, though. Schad added that this year’s EMA cohort received a special surprise on the day of the Super Bowl.
In the past, the group has served in roles related to exterior fan services on the day of the game, but, this year, the students got the opportunity to work at a private party at the Smoothie King Center adjacent to the site of the contest at the Caesars Superdome.
At the private party, Schad encountered another amazing surprise.
“I got to meet Shane Gillis,” she said. “I got to, you know, give him a good fist bump, tell him I’m a big fan.”
Once the group was released from their obligations at the party, the students shifted their attention to the game itself. Many of the EMA members hoped they would get the opportunity to enter the Caesar’s Superdome and work at the actual event, but, sadly, this time, that dream was not in the cards.
“We want to be able to get to the point where every year — because we’re so experienced, because we’re so well-rounded, because we’re so professional — we get to go into the stadium and actually work the game,” she said.
For Schad, this dream remains an achievable objective.
“I definitely think this year was a huge step to getting us inside the game on a regular basis,” she said.
Despite the disappointment of not getting
Members of MSU Entertainment Management outside Caesars Superdome, home of Super Bowl LIX.
into the stadium, the crew still had the game to look forward to. But, for many of the members, the hope of watching their favorite team win its third consecutive Super Bowl resulted in disappointment.
“It was so frustrating at first,” Schad said. “It definitely was a little heartbreaking to put in all that work and to experience all that.”
However, Schad still looks back upon her experience fondly.
“We were a part of something that made the Chiefs get to where they are,” she said.
After their eventful weekend, Schad and the other EMA members stuck around for one more full day in New Orleans to cap off the trip with a bang. The group spent the majority of their final 24 hours in New Orleans by exploring the city and enjoying what it had to offer.
“Monday was so fun,” Schad said. “It was all super fun and super enriching, and it definitely makes me want to go back to New Orleans.”
After the group traveled back to Springfield on Tuesday, Feb.11, Schad reflected on her overall experience.
“I would say the most valuable lesson I learned from this year specifically is to find time to balance out all that work,” she said. “There are parts of it that are fun, but it’s also draining.”
On top of that, Schad looks forward to next year’s trip to the Super Bowl and encourages prospective members to do the same.
“We want to be able to open this up to everybody,” she said. “It’s a once in a lifetime experience. If you want to be a part of it, come be a part of it.”
Photos submitted by Grace Schad
EMA’s annual trip to the Super Bowl has become a staple for the group. Members must complete service events to earn entries to a raffle to be selected for the trip.
Down
Residence Hall
Crossword
Puzzle
Across
1. A two-tower building that houses the second-largest population on campus.
3. A three-story residence hall that accommodates 115 students in suite-style rooms located on Cherry Street.
4. MSU’s first residence hall, a five-story building that accommodates more than 475 residents in room- and suite-style living.
6. Residents of this building can live in 1, 2 or 4-person suites complete with a living room, private washer and dryer, kitchen and more.
7. Newest residence hall, This seven-story building has four stories of covered parking with three stories of living space on top.
8. Closer to downtown than campus, a historic six-story building that houses upperclass, transfer and graduate students.
11. an 18-story high-rise that accommodates residents in 2-, 3- and 4-person apartments with nice views of Springfield.
2. An eight-story residence hall that offers two-person and four-person suite-style rooms. The western twin.
5. A five-story U-shaped residence hall designed with 2- and 3-person rooms. Commonly known as a 6-letter shortening of the name.
9. A 10-story residence hall that houses more than 300 students in room-style communities.
10. an eight-story residence hall that offers two-person and four-person suite-style rooms. The eastern twin.
SAC cancels annual Spring Concert, urges students to express opinions for future events
Jude Jenkins REPORTER Q_judejenkins
Student Activities Council announced last week that it will be canceling the annual Spring Concert due to “issues beyond their control.”
“One of the major things was the wildfires in Los Angeles that caused issues with communication with the offices we use for scheduling and booking,” said Ryan Santoni, coordinator of programs at the SAC office. “(The LA legal team) had other things on their plate, and rightfully so, but this slowed things down for us.” Santoni also said that this issue caused SAC to not secure a performance contract in time, and with too little of a time frame to send it back to the legal team in Los Angeles, California, SAC had to cancel the event.
Despite the cancellation of the concert, SAC encourages students to direct their attention to one of the many upcoming live entertainment events they still have planned for the spring semester. With at least two to three events per week, there are plenty of ways for students to participate in SAC-re-
lated events for the rest of the semester.
“One of the big events we have planned is to bring an actor on campus for Behind the Screen,” said Hannah Butts, SAC’s live entertainment co-chair. “We have not released publicly who it is, but once we get marketing details secured, we will announce the event in its entirety.” Students can expect the event to occur in mid-April.
The fall 2024 semester’s BandFest, run by SAC, will also be making a return. The event features performances by three local bands, and the Activities Council is planning to host the event in the fall 2025 semester. SAC will also host the MO State fair on April 24, May Day on the last day of April and numerous other events that are designed to bring the student body together.
“One of the main goals is to try to reach as many students as possible with the events we have on campus,” said Santoni. “We are also doing heritage month speakers each month, and other educational events. One of them is on Friday, in partnership with the Counseling Center to give out roses with information about safe relationships.”
Adam Comer, assistant director of Student Engagement for Programming, urged stu-
dents to reach out using the surveys provided by SAC. “When students reach out with things they would like to see, our student board wants to bring events, but when we reach out for feedback, we aren’t hearing it,” he said. Students can find the survey by visiting the SAC Instagram account, or by scanning the QR codes on any of the SAC flyers, and can enter to win prizes after filling it out.
“We are always asking for feedback for events, and when students say ‘We are tired of seeing movies’, well, what do you want
to see?” said Desmond Dunklin, Director of Student Engagement. “We plan these things with student activities fees, so when (students) don’t tell us things, we rely on the voices from our students that we do have for support of these events.”
Students can contact SAC by visiting them in their office at PSU 127, emailing them at studentengagement@missouristate.edu, or by visiting one of their many social media accounts.
Photo by Allison Harvey Waka Flocka Flame performed at Juanita K. Hammons Hall on May 3, 2023, for the Spring Concert.
