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Table of Contents 4
Petting outside the box: Alternative fur babies
6 up front: A guide to security deposits 8 Cash Roommate Etiquette: Staring off on the right foot
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Hunting: Keeping your eyes open 14 Apartment conflict in tense roommate situations 16 Overcome
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Kayla Thompson advertising sales director Madison Harper advertising production director Anne Roberts accounting director
Editors
Greta Cross editor-in-chief Desiree Nixon news editor Todd Dearing life editor Stephen Terrill sports editor Diana Dudenhoeffer digital editor Jaylen Early visual editor Allison Davis copy editor Kaitlynne Atchley copy editor Maquelle Huntley copy editor Shannon Noonan copy editor
Reporters
Afton Harper breaking news reporter Brayden Ash sports reporter Britney Huish academia/campus clubs reporter Jack McGee SGA reporter Jade Morrow sports reporter Nicole Walker sports reporter Noah Tucker sports reporter Reginald Lee Jr. sports reporter T.J. Scott senior sports reporter
Is there a stigma? Upperclassmen in the dorms
Voted Runner-up in Best of MSU!
gardening: Green thumb benefits 18 College
Standard staff Advertising staff
alone as a college student 12 Living
Trevor Hahn sports reporter Tinsley Merriman MSU admin. reporter
Columnists
Blake Haynes columnist Gianna Kelley critic Lillian Durr columnist Lauren Johns music critic Paige Nicewaner columnist Olivia Davis columnist
Visual Staff
Dayton Chambers photographer Katie Batliner graphic designer/illustrator Sydney Arlt graphic designer Lainey Sanders videographer Russ Bray photographer Jadie Arnett graphic designer Madison Harper graphic designer/illustrator Kaitlyn Stratman senior photographer
Distribution
Sarah Longworth distribution director Shania Wolf distributor Kara Smith distributor
Professional staff
Jack Dimond faculty adviser
SPRING HOUSING GUIDE 2021 is published by The Standard, 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 Standard staff.
Cover design by Madison Harper
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Petting outside the box: The alternative fur babies Amid the common want and need of companionship, many turn to cats and dogs, but one Missouri State University student chose a more bristly fur baby. Erin Bereyso, senior civil engineering major, lives in Rogersville with her fiance and five pet pigs. According to her, an impulsive decision three years ago spiraled into a lifelong love for domesticated swine. “I saw a post on Facebook of someone who needed to re-home their baby pig, and we decided to bring him home,” Bereyso said. “We quickly fell in love with him.” It didn’t take long after adopting their first pig Jeff, before Bereyso and her fiance adopted another named Little Pig.
However, in the Springfield area, pigs are still considered livestock, which Bereyso said was an issue with keeping Jeff and Little Pig. “My fiance and I decided to move out to Rogersville and buy a bigger house with a little bit of land to live somewhere we wouldn’t have to worry about zoning restrictions,” Bereyso said. “Since we moved, we have added three more pigs and have a total of five.” After moving to Rogersville, Bereyso said she and her fiance began accumulating more pigs. Today, they have five in total, including Jeff, Little Pig, Pancakes, Mario and Luigi. The Springfield city government, while restricting the ownership of swine as pets, does make one notable exception. In a law introduced to the city government in 1953, “In all areas which became a part of the city on Nov. 8, 1955, persons having at least five contiguous acres may keep hogs.” Bereyso did not fit into this stipulation, but in the case that someone does, they can feasibly own a pet pig in city limits.
Photo submitted by Erin Bereyso
Jeff, 3.5 years old, reps the Kansas City Chiefs. According to Bereyso, outside of zoning difficulties, pet pigs have offered some unique challenges for her and her fiance. “It’s difficult to travel and find someone to come ‘pig sit,’ especially for longer periods of time,” Bereyso said. “They can also be destructive if they get bored ... the boys have sharp tusks and they have ripped a hole in my couch-
es before. Also, potty training can be a big issue. All that being said, though, they are still great pets and they are definitely worth all the trouble they get into.” For anyone considering adopting a pig, pigplacementnetwork.org offers adoption and rescue resources in addition to key information on the care of a pig. “On the plus side, pigs are smart, clean, generally non-allergenic, odor-free, flea-free, charming and inexpensive to feed,” Pig Placement Network’s flyer on the pros and cons of pig ownership says. “Pigs can become easily bored, grumpy, depressed, sedentary and even destructive and aggressive, if not given adequate attention by a loving caregiver … While the daily cost of keeping a pig is relatively low, if a pig becomes ill, vet bills can be unmanageable for some people.” Do you have a unique pet you’d like to share? Message @TheStandard_MSU on Instagram or Twitter with a picture of your fur baby.
Photos submitted by Erin Bereyso
Above: From left to right, Lugi and Jeff lay together outside, soaking up the sun. Left: Pancakes poses for a photo before going in for a meal. After adopting their second pig, Bereyso and her fiance decided to move to Rogersville, 30 minutes from MSU’s campus, as pigs, classified as swine, are not allowed in Springfield city limits.
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Roommate etiquette:
How to build a strong relationship from the start
Illustration by Jadie Arnett/THE STANDARD Follow Jadie on Instagram @jd_rnet
A common concern among incoming college students is how they will get along with a new roommate, especially if it is a random assignment. There are some roommate horror stories out there, but there are also some great stories. However, with some effort and know-how, starting off on the right foot with a roommate can be easy. Emily Peña, former Missouri State University resident assistant of two years, said communication between roommates is key to a good, working relationship. It is important to be clear and upfront with expectations.
“Communicating schedules, expectations for company and shared space ... can help your roommate relationship get off on a great foot.” -Emily Peña, former MSU resident assistant “At the beginning of the semester, RAs advise the students on their floor to come up with a roommate agreement,” Peña said. “While making the agreement, roommates will discuss
boundaries and expectations for themselves and for each other.” An RA can provide a paper copy of a roommate agreement to fill out and keep on record for later reference and accountability. Peña said it is never too late to have a conversation about boundaries and expectations. “I would recommend waiting about two weeks before having the roommate agreement conversation,” Peña said. “Living together for a couple of weeks can give you an idea of what things need to be addressed in the roommate agreement.” If issues do arise that cannot be resolved by the roommates themselves, RAs are trained and practiced in roommate mediation. In that situation, a RA will meet with the roommates in a neutral space to discuss the problem with “I” statements, according to Peña. “I” statements are ways to avoid feelings of blame. An example is, “I feel worried when you are out late and don’t let me know when you will be home.” Deciding who will provide what for the living space is also an important part of the initial discussion. If one roommate agrees to provide toilet paper while the other says they will provide hand soap and paper towels, then both roommates need to be held accountable for that agreement. These tips are effective for off-campus living as well. Although there are no RAs to mediate, communicating expectations early can avoid awkward and unnecessary conflict. “The best advice to roommates I could give is to communicate early and often,” Peña said. “Communicating schedules, expectations for company and shared space and other potential problem areas can help your roommate relationship get off on a great foot.”
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While a majority of students bunk with parents during college lets students avoid paying rent, sometimes Mom and Dad want the house to themselves. When considering suitable housing, students must provide a bit of compensation up front. This comes in the form of a security deposit. A security deposit is a fee that renters pay to their landlords promising repairs for damages that may occur while they live there. This fee usually is returned at the end of a tenant’s lease if the tenant doesn’t have any outstanding damages to their living space. If a landlord finds severe damages, renters will not get the deposit back. Instead, it will go toward repairs for said damages. According to Missouri Landlord law, damages considered severe include holes in the walls or missing furniture — for living spaces that come furnished. Normal wear and tear from the tenant’s day to day, such as paint chipping or small stains, are usually considered not severe. All Missouri State University on-campus housing requires students to pay a $100 deposit to the university before moving in, according to the terms and conditions set forth by Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services. A student’s security deposit they paid for their on-campus housing covers a full year. The university returns the student’s deposit at the end of the year if the inspection finds no damages. A variety of student living options, including apartments and houses, cater to student renters. Ashley Golden, assistant general manager at Aspen Heights — located at 1028 E. St. Louis St, said the apartment’s rental process is determined by credit scores. She said Aspen Heights encourages students to use their parents as cosigners since student credit may not be developed or be “very good.” A cosigner is a third party who agrees to pay the rent owed if the tenant of a property cannot afford to do so. There are three levels of credit score a tenant at Aspen Heights may fall into. For reference, Credit Karma reports an average 18- to 25-yearold’s credit score as 630. If the credit score is over 550, tenants do not have to pay a security deposit. For scores between 500-549, a security deposit worth one month’s
rent is required. Finally, anything under 500 requires two months worth of rent for a security deposit. If the tenant makes three times the monthly rent, ranging from $599 to $750, and has a higher credit score, they do not require a cosigner or deposit. Golden said last year, while a majority of Aspen Heights tenants had cosigners, 20 had security deposits, with only five not getting their deposit back due to major damages. Deep Elm Accounts Associate Diana Foley said if a tenant is behind on their rent and is facing eviction, they can use the security deposit to provide rent money. This means they will not get their deposit back. Foley said Deep Elm is accommodating with damages. If the student contacts maintenance before moving out they will not be charged or lose their security deposit. Peyton Kiesling, freshman business administration major at Ozarks Technical Community College, lives at Talia Apartments, near Ewing Sports Complex. Kiesling said his security deposit was $450 but feels it was justified as his apartment came with a washer and dryer. Kiesling’s deposit also covers amenities such as garbage and water. Tyler Cederblom, junior corporate finance investment major at MSU, said he thinks his $375 security deposit for his Oakwood Townhomes unit, just off Grand Street, is justified. Cederblom said “the few ruined it for the many,” referring to tenants who caused damages to their apartments resulting in high security deposits. Security deposit pricing depends on the price of rental per property. Legally, a landlord cannot charge more than two months worth of rent for a security deposit in the state of Missouri, according to the Missouri attorney general’s website. The landlord also must give the tenant notice when they plan to inspect the dwelling and can only keep the deposit if “actual damages” have occurred . If a landlord is found to violate these legal terms, they can be brought to court. Full information about landlord obligations as well as security deposits can be found on the Missouri Attorney General’s website.
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The unique advantages of living by yourself College students typically live with a roommate freshman year in the campus residence halls. One of the challenging aspects moving off-campus is where to live and with whom. Students may choose Greek housing, apartments or houses with a group of friends. But what does living alone while in school look like? Typically, living with other people means cheaper rent and shared cleaning duties around the living space. Living alone means all of the responsibilities are on you. Living alone can mean more freedom. All the decorations can be the way you want, and you don’t have to worry about whose clothes are in the washing machine. There are positives and negatives of living alone and with others, yet ultimately it’s about what a student is looking for. “Personally, living in the dorms was hard for me because I didn’t have my own space,”
Jodi Kampschroeder, junior nursing major, said. “I don’t think one can compare dorm life and sharing an apartment. Living alone, I get to control everything that happens in the whole apartment like visitors, thermostat, cleanliness, etc., which wasn’t the case with roommates.”
“Without my time living alone, I may not have ever realized that I need those night to myself to just recharge.” -Devin Hawkins Living alone can be a big transition from living in the residence halls. Being on your own provides new life experiences, like prioritizing Illustration by Katie Batliner/THE STANDARD mental health and self care. Follow Katie on Instagram @batlinerart “Without my time living alone, I may not have ever realized that I need those nights to Hawkins, senior organizational communication myself to just recharge, or that I like my kitch- major. “I used to be the type of person who en and bathroom in a certain way,” said Devin hated being alone, and now it is something that
I can look forward to.” One reason that may hinder students who desire to live alone is the cost of rent. Typically, living alone is more expensive than living with others. Balancing the increased cost can be challenging for students, especially if they’re working a minimum wage or not getting enough hours. “Budgeting and time management has been extremely helpful for me,” Hawkins said. “I made sure that my main job would be able to cover my rent, groceries and a few extras.” When thinking about living alone or with a group of friends, consider finances. This also has a lot to do with whether to move off-campus. “I would encourage everyone to live alone before they start the more complicated stages of life,” Kampschroeder said. “It is definitely an adjustment, but I think it teaches so many life lessons and fosters a special kind of selfgrowth and confidence.” Living on your own versus with roommates while in college is ultimately a personal choice. Living with roommates teaches students how to healthily cohabitate with people, while living alone allows for independence and self-accountability.
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Renting and buying tips for college students Morris said it is important to read the entire lease off campus, Morris said she doesn’t regret it. carefully before signing to be aware of the renter’s “I love not living on campus,” Morris said. “I and landlord’s rights. sometimes miss the convenience of living on camTenants are expected to pay a security deposit for first and last month’s rent. Morris said she had to save for months in order to pay the deposit for the apartment and her pet. Many students start the search for off-campus “Once we were approved, we had to fork over housing after living in residence halls their first a $900 deposit and had to start making payments year. In order to make the process as smooth as on a $500 pet deposit,” Morris said. possible, students should give themselves time to research and save money for the essentials. Payton Morris, senior elementary education major at Missouri State University, said it can be difficult to find an apartment in Springfield. She and her roommate looked at four different apartments to find one that fit their budget and needs. Morris said she wishes she’d known about the apartment-hunting process before actually looking Illustration by Madison Harper Follow Madison on Instagram @madiharpart for her own. Once they found an apartment they liked, Morris and her roommate applied for housing in Febpus, but having my own space with my pup is so ruary 2019 and were notified of their approval in much better than living in a cramped dorm. I apMorris said she has lived in the same apartment preciate the privacy and comfortableness more April 2019. “It was kind of nerve-racking,” Morris said. for two years and made a one-time deposit for her since I lived in the dorm for two years and didn’t The stress doesn’t end at getting approved. dog, which she will get back when she moves out have much of either.” Renters are required to sign a lease, which is a if there are no damages caused by her dog. Renting apartments aren’t the only student oplegal agreement between a tenant and a landlord. Despite all the time and effort it takes to move tions for housing in Springfield.
“I sometimes miss the convenience of living on campus, but having my own space with my pup is so much better than living in a cramped dorm.” -Payton Morris
Sabrina Wright, senior exercise and movement science and Spanish major, lived in Woods House and Hutchens House her first year at MSU. After coming back from a semester in Spain, Wright decided to put a 20% down payment on a two-tothree-bedroom house to rent out since she planned on attending graduate school in Springfield. By renting the extra bedrooms, Wright said she offset the monthly costs of the house and treats the house as an investment. “I was lucky enough to get enough scholarships to be able to use my college fund as the down payment,” Wright said. According to Wright, Springfield is a relatively cheap place to live compared to California, where she previously lived, so it is a lot more realistic for students to buy a place to live. Morris said she used apartments.com to find the apartment she currently lives in. Users enter their desired location along with their preferred number of bedrooms, bathrooms and cost, and the site will generate a list of apartments that fit the criteria. Facebook Marketplace and Zillow may also have property listings for potential renters or buyers. Wright said she had a real estate agent help her shop for houses on Zillow.
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Dudenhoeffer: Stretch your conflict-resolution muscles in tense roommate situations Living with a roommate comes with a vast expanse of uncharted territory that’s often challenging to navigate. Even when tensions are at an all-time high and you’re ready to rip your hair out because of an inconsiderate roommate, remember there’s something to learn from it. It may not seem like it when a roommate never does their dishes or when they play loud music into the wee hours of the morning, but living with another person is one of the best ways to learn valuable, adult skills such as conflict resolution, communication and task management. Think of it this way: If your abdominal muscles get stronger every time you do a situp, the same goes for your communication muscles. Each time you confront a sticky situation with a roommate, you’re unlocking more skills and becoming a more well-rounded person. Ericka Peppers, director of operations for Bryan Properties — which operates student housing and apartments, multiplexes, shopping centers, and office buildings in and around Springfield — said living with a roommate helps young people grow and learn selfless behaviors. She said roommates need to work together for the common ground of their shared home.
This problem always makes me laugh because all my partner needs to do is bring his grievances to his roommate. He hasn’t tried just asking him to not buy, like, 30 onions at once. Seriously though, why does he have a drawer chocked full of yellow onions? Peppers said the best advice for someone going through a tense situation with a roommate is to have good communication. Students are often too afraid to bring up a conflict with the other person, she said. Kelly Baker, senior graphic design major, said living with roommates helped her learn to accept when she is wrong.
“It’s mostly my fault,” Baker said with a laugh. “I am a very messy person, and I’ve lived with two different clean people.” Baker lives alone now, but when she lived with others, she said she’d always give her roommates space during tense situations. “If your roommate is mad at you and you can tell, step out for an hour or so,” Baker recommended. “Then, try to have a calm conversation when everyone’s calmed down. Listen to them. Apologize and be open to the fact that you might have been wrong.” Peppers gave the same advice. “Take a breather,” Peppers said. “Remove
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yourself from a stressful environment.” Talking with a roommate takes a lot of courage, but Peppers recommended students try to take pride in confronting the intimidating situation. Next time your roommate buys 30 onions, endure the discomfort of confrontation and take pride in your ability to resolve problems. After all, the discomfort is much greater when you stay quiet about something that’s bothering you.
“Take a breather. Remove yourself from a stressful environment.” -Ericka Peppers, Bryan Properties director of operations What comes to my mind on the subject of shared spaces is my partner’s refrigerator. He shares his apartment with one other person, and his roommate does not do a good job of divvying-up the fridge space. My partner thinks the fridge should be split straight down the center, so each person has their own side. But his roommate buys so many groceries that he takes up around three-quarters of the fridge and freezer, leaving very little space for my partner.
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SPRING HOUSING GUIDE | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021 | • 17
Should upperclassman live on campus? Whether a student chooses to live on campus or not, one stereotype remains constant: Students can only live on campus their freshman year of college. Unless a student has an obligation to live on campus past freshman year, such as being a resident assistant, why live on campus when you don’t “have” to? There are several benefits to continuing life on campus, such as the proximity to academic halls. Despite the convenience of living close to food and resources, a majority of students opt for off-campus living, which can run them over $600 a month. In order to accommodate older students looking for looser restrictions, Missouri State offers two on-campus apartments: Monroe Apartments and Sunvilla Tower. Monroe Apartments mimics student luxury apartments near MSU and offers private bathrooms. Students get their own bedroom when living with roommates but also have the option
not have a car. “I do feel like there’s a stigma to some degree in that people who want to live on campus usually only want to live in Monroe (Apartments),” Colabianchi said. Colabianchi said while she does not anticipate living on campus in the future, she feels Monroe is a nice place to live and is worth it. If students don’t want to live in the apartments on campus, there are no restrictions to living in the residence halls as upperclassmen. Dayton Chambers/The Standard Follow Dayton on Instagram @dayton_thedean
Monroe Apartments is located across the street from Magers Health and Wellness Center.
to live alone in a one-bedroom apartment, which runs $3,444 a semester, or $861 a month. Sunvilla has options for a private bedroom, but residents are required to share a bathroom with a roommate. Students save around $500 a semester by living in Sunvilla compared to Monroe Apartments with Sunvilla costing between $2,690-$2,945. Bri Colabianchi, sophomore family and consumer sciences major, lives in Monroe Apartments. She said she chose to live there because it was the most convenient, as she does
Aubree Young, sophomore english major, lived in Freudenberger “Freddy” House her freshman year and chose to live there again her sophomore year because of her positive experience with the residence hall. “I chose to live in Freddy because I don’t have to worry as much living on campus as I do off,” Young said. Young said she enjoys not having to pay monthly rent, having a way to eat given the proximity to the Blair-Shannon Dining Hall and the Plaster Student Union. She said she feels more connected to campus life. Young said she thinks there is a stigma when it comes to upperclassmen living in the residence halls. But, she said it is not as apparent for those living in the campus apartments. “Absolutely there’s a stigma—it’s ‘lame’ or ‘uncool’ to live in the dorms as an upperclassman, and I’ve definitely heard my fair share of that,” Young said. Young said despite this she still enjoys living in Freudenberger House and her experience Dayton Chambers/The Standard this year has been decent, despite COVID-19 Follow Dayton on Instagram @dayton_thedean restrictions. She said she is glad she chose to Sunvilla Tower is on the corner of Elm live there and plans to in the future. For more information about on-campus Street and South John Q. Hammons apartments, visit Missouri State’s Residence Parkway. Life, Housing and Dining Services webpage.
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A pot of dirt or hole in the ground can benefit any living space Jalen Lee/THE STANDARD Follow Jalen on Instagram @_groovyog
Wickman’s Garden Village, located at 1345 S, Fort Ave. in Springfield offers an array of seeds, plants and other gardening products.
Whether living in a house or an apartment, opportunities to grow harvestable produce are plentiful for students looking to deploy the benefits of gardening. Mike Schaffitzel, owner of Schaffitzel’s Flowers and Greenhouses, a Springfield nursery at 1771 E. Atlantic St., said mental health advantages are among the services gardening has to offer. “There’s something gratifying in being able to grow your own thing,” Schaffitzel said. Schaffitzel said while the needs of plants vary depending on the outdoor space, plants such as carrots, cucumbers, hot peppers and
tomatoes are all easy options that can grow either in-ground or potted with limited time and resources. Additionally, herbs take up minimal space and grow easily. Basil, rosemary, oregano and mint can complement anything from a plate of food to a glass of water. “It’s just something that’s refreshing mentally and for your taste buds,” Schaffitzel said. “The thing about gardening is it does take your mind off of whatever else you’re dealing with, and it’s rewarding to be able to grow something and enjoy the harvest.” Schaffitzel’s Flowers and Greenhouses offers a variety of gardening products including seeds, plants and pottery. For students looking to focus more on the germination of seeds rather than beginning with an already rooted plant, Baker Creek Heirloom
Seed Co. in Mansfield, Mo., offers a diverse selection of flowers and vegetables from around the globe. Jere Gettle, founder of Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company, developed a passion for gardening early in his childhood, he said. Gettle grew up looking at seed catalogs with an interest in diversity, variety and the cultures from which they came . “Some of my favorites for beauty and flavor are nasturtiums,” Gettle said. “They make a great cut flower and are delicious in salads. Basils, especially Thai and Persian basil, are great for Asian foods — super easy to grow and ornamental. Beets are also a good beginner. All of these are super easy to grow but obviously need proper watering.” One of Gettle’s compact preferences is the sugar baby bush watermelon. They are easy to
grow in Missouri and take up a small amount of space, whether a student has it in a planter on a balcony or in a raised bed. A tip Gettle recommended students keep in mind when using pots and planters for their gardening needs is to ensure the plant receives more water and nutrients than if it was in the ground, due to its inability to send out roots in search of more. While COVID-19 has forced Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company to temporarily close, their website provides the ability to shop from their wide collection of heirloom seeds. While college students often have to maintain a work-school-life balance, making the time to add green to a house or apartment, from the fruits of their own labor, can bring a positive impact to a living space and its inhabitant’s life.
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There has never been a better time to major in Communication!
COM
A 2020 study conducted by Georgetown University titled “Workplace Basics: The Competencies Employers Want” identified “communication” as the single most sought after job skill across ALL occupations.
Moreover, the next four most sought after skills—teamwork, persuasion, leadership, and problem solving—are all central to the study of communication. Similarly, The Princeton Review recently ranked all majors on college campuses based on three criteria: 1. Availability of jobs for graduates with that degree 2. Competitiveness of salaries in that industry 3. Enjoyment of major while in college Based on those criteria, Communication ranked as the second best major on college campuses.
Given the importance of communication in a global networked world, our graduates work in a remarkably diverse array of fields, including business and finance, media and entertainment, health care and social work, science and technology, art and education, and government and politics among others.
COME FIND OUT WHAT A DEGREE IN COMMUNICATION CAN DO FOR YOU! – Brian Ott, Department Head, Communication, 374 Craig Hall
communication.missouristate.edu
Craig Hall 375/417-836-4423
20 • | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021 | SPRING HOUSING GUIDE
THE STANDARD
THE-STANDARD.ORG
417.242.4489
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