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The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide
Spring 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Spring 2014
The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide
4 Pros/Cons of Campus Living 7 Fort Sanders 8 Living in Religious Housing 10 Living at Home 11 Roommate Selection 13 Photo Essay 14
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10 Things to Know
Important questions to ask your future landlord
Are the hills worth the headache?
HOUSING GUIDE • SPRING 2014
Where will you be when the zombies attack?
Community and convenience all in one
Perks of having Mom and Dad as roommates
The many facets of roommatehood
See how students decorate on a budget
ADVERTISING MANAGER Ryan McPherson EDITOR-IN-CHIEF R.J. Vogt CHIEF COPY EDITOR Gage Arnold FRONT PAGE DESIGNER Dillon Canfield
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Katrina Roberts MEDIA SALES REPRESENTATIVES Shelby Dildine • Stefan Hatfield Victoria Williams ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Brandon White
The Daily Beacon is an editorially independent student newspaper at The University of Tennessee. The office is located at 1340 Circle Park Drive, 11 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0314. Callers with questions about advertising should call 865-974-5206. Editorial questions should be directed to 865-974-3226.
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The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide
Spring 2014
Top 10 Questions
1. 2. 3.
4. 5.
When can I move in?
If the move-in date does not work for you, try to negotiate a better time with the landlord/ old tenants.
Is the lease for 9 or 12 months? If you are not planning on staying over the summer, a 9-month lease may be more your style.
How much are rent and deposit fees, and when is rent for the first month due? These amounts are very important to know. Deposit fees are often due when you sign the lease or shortly after. You will need to know exactly how much you owe when signing the lease and how much you will need for rent before arriving on move-in day.
Is there a grace period after the monthly rental due date? Many apartment complexes let you have until the fifth of the month, but some do not. Make sure you find out when the last day to pay rent is and what the penalty charges are for late rent.
What are the terms for renewing the lease? Am I allowed to move to a new apartment on the property? Some complexes only consider it renewing if you sign the lease for the exact same location. This may affect your receiving the perks that complexes sometimes offer for renewing, such as free parking or reduced rent.
6. 7.
8. 9.
to Ask Your Future Landlord
Are pets allowed? If you want a pet, would you need to pay an extra fee every month or is it just a one-time fee? If you do not want a pet, you should decide if living around other pets is OK with you and if the grounds are kept clean.
Are any utilities included in the agreement? If they are not included, you will most likely need to contact KUB and Comcast on your own. If you have roommates, you should decide whose name will be on the account before making the calls.
Can I paint walls or make other decorative changes? Some apartment complexes allow you to paint the walls if you paint them back when you move; others do not. Also, some complexes do not like for you to use nails in the walls because of the holes they leave. While this is probably not a deal-breaker for you, it could make your decorating more difficult.
Is there an office on-site or a 24-hour phone number in case of emergency? This is extremely important. If something happens in the middle of the night, whether it be a maintenance emergency or you getting locked out, you need to know that someone will be able to help you quickly.
is waste removal handled? Is recycling available? 10. How On move-in day, you will undoubtedly have a lot of trash to throw out. You will need to know where the dumpsters are located. Also, when you get settled, you may like to know if you should drop off your recyclables at your complex’s recycling bin or if you will need to make a trip to the recycling center each time.
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The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide
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Living alone offers own sets of blessings, drawbacks next year, here’s some food for thought that might help with the decision.
hate the creepy-crawlies as much as you do, it’s nice to have the moral support.
Pro: Sweet freedom
Pro: Peace of mind
Do you want to keep the thermostat on 68 degrees? OK. Do you want to dance around in your underwear and rock out to “Old Time Rock and Roll” like Tom Cruise in “Risky Business?” OK. Don’t like the Pinterest-inspired light-up solo cup garland “decorating” your wall? Then take it down, because living alone means you have complete control over your schedule and living space. When you have roommates, you have to be respectful of their personal preferences and schedules.
It’s great knowing that after 12 hours of being at school and at work, I didn’t have to come home to a bored roommate who wanted to chat or has brought all her friends back for a night of drunken tomfoolery. My stuff is always in the same place as I left it and my bottle of shampoo is never mysteriously empty. Living alone gives you the extra peace of mind and control of your space, whether you have friends over or spend the evening with Netflix.
someone in person. Pro: More bang for your buck
Samantha Smoak Online Editor
Do I risk another random roommate nightmare, live with a friend and risk hating each other by the end of the year, or move off campus and live alone? After two years, two residence halls and two roommates, I decided roommate No. 3 would be a purple betta fish. Royale never leaves the dirty dishes in the sink for weeks on end, never keeps me up all night writing a paper and I never have to worry about pernicious behavior damaging our relationship. Living alone was one of the best decisions I’ve made since making the move from home sweet Nashville to UT, but the solo lifestyle isn’t for everyone. If you are considering going roommate-less
Con: One is the loneliest number Con: Things that go bump in the night So maybe watching “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” before bed and spending the night trying to convince my imagination that millions of gigantic ants are not coming to eat me alive wasn’t the best idea. Speaking of ants, what might be worse than facing a masked villain might be facing the army of (normal-sized) ants stampeding in the window. Though your roommate might
Sometimes after a long and hard day, someone to listen and talk your problems out with can be nice. Living alone means sometimes you’re deprived of that friendly ear to vent to. It also means you’ll have to seek out socialization since you won’t be able to trot down the hall in your bunny slippers to chat with your friend. Sure, you can whip out your phone and give someone a call or FaceTime them, but sometimes it just isn’t the same as talking to
I have almost the exact amount of space I was paying to share with another person for close to the same price, even a little less with more amenities. And much to the relief of my parents, at the end of the year there is no hauling all my stuff down 10-plus flights of stairs in the early summer heat in the middle of finals with everyone else moving out. Con: Campus disconnect It’s harder to stay connected and attend campus events when you’re required to commute. My connection to The Daily Beacon has kept me involved in campus life and provides a tight-knit group of friends to make up for not living with a whole floor of friends. At UT, living alone also probably means living off-campus, so you have to put forth the effort to seek out activities since they won’t be just down the hall or across the street anymore. Samantha Smoak is a junior in communication studies. She can be reached at ssmoak@utk.edu.
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The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide
Spring 2014
Living in the Fort provides serenity, zombie protection
R.J. Vogt Editor-in-Chief Though Fort Sanders has a reputation for seedy behavior and risky business, it may just be the safest neighborhood in town – if zombies attacked. Before you go watch that episode of Walking Dead idling in your Netflix queue, consider the events of a battle that turned 150 years old this past fall. As the Civil War began to turn against the Confederacy, 780 rebel soldiers reportedly died in the 1863 assault on Fort Sanders. Rumor (read: Wikipedia) has it that the boys in blue only suffered 13 casualties, and even the National Park Service estimates that the North suffered only 100 casualties. The lopsided affair lasted 20 minutes. First, Confederate soldiers tumbled over telegraph wires tied between tree stumps. Then the attacking brigades tried to cross a 12-foot wide, 10-foot deep trench dug by the North. Hundreds of men never managed to climb out, decimated by Union forces firing from the higher ground that is now the area around Laurel Residence Hall. Forget shooting fish in a barrel; this was shooting rebels in a hole. The massacre secured East Tennessee for the United States, and ole’ Honest Abe had Fort Sanders to thank for protecting these hills. If Barack ever has a World War Z on his hands, he should remember this historic military victory; Fort Sanders would be an equally strategic defense from a zombie attack. As students, we take for granted the absurdly steep hills in our beloved Fort. Over the years, countless sorority women have bemoaned the heinous hike up Laurel Hill after a long day down on Rocky Top. Their moans are justified; Fort Sanders Hospital stands nearly 700 feet higher than the Tennessee River side, and much of the steep incline begins just north of Cumberland Avenue.
But when we inevitably need protection from a zombie apocalypse – as pop culture so desperately and profitably manifests – we must remember the dreadful ascent we face daily would be deadly against the dead’s invasion. Laurel Residence Hall sits on the ideal location for a fortified defense, a benefit Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside successfully used a century and a half ago against real live soldiers. Those hills would be even harder to manage for the drooling undead – imagine one of those stiff-legged creeps struggling up 16th Street. Today, the Fort has gained an ironically dangerous reputation. The recent history of hold-ups and drug trafficking has tarnished its once-victorious status, and generations of college students have turned it into a veritable graveyard of beer cans and bad decisions. The neighborhood even experiences its own sort of zombie invasion every Saturday, when tens of thousands of drunken college football fans descend to frenzy and grill hot dogs. Despite its own brand of madness, however, Fort Sanders is an excellent location to prepare for the end of the world. With plenty of houses to hide in and alleyways to dart through, evading zombies would be easy; Walmart and Publix will be finished soon, providing storehouses of supplies just a few minutes away; two major interstates – escape routes – are immediately available. The Fort has even gained another tactical defense in the years since Gen. Burnside’s victory over the South: college parties. While some survivors could take turns firing shots into the encroaching zombies, the rest of the Fort Sanders’ alliance could enjoy themselves taking shots of a different sort. So, if the current zombie zeitgeist concerns you and you need a place to live, consider making your stand in the Fort. It’s where America took a stand and where countless college students have taken keg stands before you. At the very least, Fort Sanders is only a short, downhill walk to class. When you’re feeling like a zombie yourself on Monday morning’s hungover commute to school, that journey may very well make you feel alive again. R.J. Vogt is a junior in College Scholars. He can be reached at rvogt@utk.edu.
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The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide
Spring 2014
Religious housing offers mix of accoutability, community
Claire Dodson Arts & Culture Editor
When I stepped into the UTK Wesley Foundation my freshman year, I had no idea the building would be a landmark of my time at UT. A stage where I would make some of my best memories, where I would grow intellectually and spiritually and where I would build a community of people that loved and supported me just as I did them. When it came time last spring for me to choose where to live, Wesley seemed the natural choice. After an application and interview process, I joined seven of my best friends in the downstairs apartments.
During my freshman year, I lived in South Carrick; my sophomore year, I moved off campus to The Orchard — a condo off of Cherokee Trail where I lived with three other girls. So far, Wesley has been entirely different from both of these experiences. In Carrick, my roommate and suitemates were awesome, but we were largely isolated from our floor and hall; I met few of the other residents. In the Orchard, we were even more isolated and never actually met any neighbors, although we had a high degree of freedom. Both years, I was involved at Wesley very heavily, and I viewed it as a second home, a place where I could escape the stress of school and feel like I belonged in the middle of a large campus. Now, my home and my second home have been combined. The experience has been paradoxical. On one hand, I am constantly surrounded by a vibrant community that encourages me. On the other, I do not always have a place to be alone. It’s a tradeoff I have learned to accept
and appreciate, and it has forced me to purposefully plan times to be alone, go to the gym and get away for short periods of time. Wesley operates much like a home, and the residential community is like a family. We have chores and guidelines that encourage us to be role models for the Wesley community. We cannot have alcohol or pets in the building, and we come to the group to discuss issues and problems that arise, whether that’s noise or too many dirty dishes. At Wesley, along with other types of campus ministry housing, there is a higher degree of accountability and usually a lower cost for rent than UT student housing. Accountability can be a good thing. This semester, I have learned that in communities, you have to think of the group to a certain degree. Your choices do not just affect yourself. If I listen to music or watch TV really loudly in my room, I have not kept a stranger in my hall awake
at night and received a warning. Rather, I have kept Alex from focusing on studying for his organic chemistry test or interrupted Christie’s phone call with her family in Memphis. My actions have consequences that are personal instead of vague. There are other perks – the close proximity to classes (I can roll out of bed at 7:50 for my 8 a.m. in HSS), the short walk to the Strip, the parking where I never have to worry about finding a space. Mostly though, living in religious housing forces you to be self-aware and considerate. You get to experience the fun and satisfaction of an awesomely-supportive community all the time, and it is a community that is sometimes challenging and difficult. In the end, though, it is a place to be fed and to serve, a place to study and to sleep, a place to know and be known. It’s home. Claire Dodson is a junior in English. She can be reached at pdodson@utk.edu.
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The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide
Living at home possesses perks of coziness, family
Melodi Erdogan
alert and away from alcoholic beverages. No one wants a DUI on his or her record when applying for internships, and don’t let peer pressure make you give in. I get hype off a can of soda, so it’s not a terribly big deal for me. True commuters: if you do drink, sleep at a friends place and avoid your car in general. Water, heat, electricity
Managing Editor
When my family moved to Knoxville, I didn’t have much of a choice of where I went to school. But I really couldn’t complain. The University of Tennessee is in a beautiful location, has a nice campus and a student newspaper, which is what I was most excited about. So I really came to embrace UT and all it had to offer, but attending this school would mean living at home with Mom and Dad. Home, for me, is exactly 30 minutes away in West Knoxville. Every day I travel a total of 60 minutes. One. Whole. Hour. By now, in my second year, I’m quite used to the drive. I bet I could drive it with my eyes closed (Disclaimer: I won’t do that). But living at home has taught me these things, which you may want to consider if you’re planning on moving back home and becoming a true commuter, as I like to call people like myself. You will never go hungry Even though living with your parents during college seems like a bummer, consider the food. There is nothing I enjoy more than coming home to a warm, homecooked meal after a day of constant class, work and meetings. Plus, Mom always knows what you like, and you’re almost guaranteed to never get food poisoning, something The Strip cannot ensure. Responsibility is key Just because I live at home doesn’t mean I don’t have fun. I find myself staying on campus on weekends to hang out with friends downtown or in The Fort. Although, because of that 30-minute drive home, it is important to stay sober and
There’s nothing more comforting than knowing there will be water, heat and electricity at home. I have heard so many stories about my friends ending up having to pay their bills last minute since they know their electricity is going to go out the next day. And the hot water complaints in dorms? Ain’t nobody got time for that. Having a home with its own heating and cooling system is extremely convenient. The Mom-soon and the Dad-ster Mom and Dad can get on everyone’s nerves every once in a while. This is even more annoying when you’re a college student. But it’s important to remember that all the aforementioned reasons on the great things about living at home are because of your parents. Your home will always be your home; even though it’s where your siblings are and where your childhood teddy bears may live, it’s also where the heart is. The importance of the playlist Driving an hour every day can seem like a dull chore. That is, until you turn your car into a major Broadway stage. Through the likes of Spotify Premium and Pandora, my small blue car becomes the Bijou Theatre and I am the top name on the Playbill. From “Chicago” to “West Side Story,” I’m Broadway’s latest “It Girl” in the morning and at night, and especially on those encore nights when I go downtown for dinner. The car ride is a perfect way to practice your singing skills and stretch your pipes, whether you’re jamming to some rap or the latest pop jams. Just make sure you’re not texting and driving. Melodi Erdogan is a second-year student in journalism and electronic media. She can be reached at merdogan@utk.edu.
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Spring 2014
Important
NUMBERStoKnow • UT Police Department
Emergency: 865-974-3111 Main Phone: 865-974-3114 • Knoxville Police Department 865-215-7000 • Knoxville Fire Department
865-595-4480
• UT Student Health Clinic
865-974-3648
• Knox Co. Health Department
865-215-5000
• KUB
865-524-2911
• Comcast
1-800-266-2278
• DirecTV
1-877-772-1528
• Dish Network
1-877-497-0036
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The roommate: your friend, neighbor, sibling and pet
R.J. Vogt Editor-in-Chief
A roommate plays many roles: that of a friend, a neighbor, a sibling and a pet. As friends, roommates will see you more than most others in your life. They will see you when you roll out of bed in the morning, eye-boogers hanging from your eyelashes and the smell of last night’s liquor pitcher wrapped around your breath. They will see your visitors, romantic trysts and study buddies. All that time together will teach them things about you, like how often you brush your teeth and what TV shows you watch
when you’re sad. Sharing space inevitably leads to sharing your soul. Be sure your roommate can bear it. As neighbors, roommates have to maintain a habitat alongside you. They have to sit on the same couch cushions that you spill hummus on and share cupboards with your frosted mini wheats addiction. Your yard is their yard, and the responsibility to mow through the weekend sludge of solo cups and cigarette butts encompasses them as much as you. Living together demands a form of together-living. You cannot walk around your house naked – unless they’re into it. As siblings, your roommates will hate you. They will tease you for your weird habits and argue with you if you try to shirk cleaning the bathroom. Sure, they will love you and support you, but only if you love and support them right back. Fellas – expect wrestling matches and braggadocio. Ladies – expect the same, but more passively. There is no tattling to Mom and Dad
in college, so be prepared to duke it out in person. Consider boxing gloves, or at least respectful discourse, as a means of conflict resolution. As pets, roommates are unique from most other relationships in that you get to pick them and that hygiene is especially important. Pick ones that clean up their own messes and don’t shed everywhere. Slobberers and messy eaters can be loved, but only intentionally. Episodes of uncontrollable excrement will happen; invest some time in setting ground rules and some money in Oxy Clean. When selecting a roommate, also remember that you’ll be locked into a lease for a year. If things go sour – which they probably will at some point – you’ll have to decide between reconciliation and the headache of moving out. The conventional wisdom suggests that best friends may not be the best idea because the close proximity can destroy even the best of friendships. Though that advice may often hold true, it only happens when you and your friend
are not used to reconciling differences. If your friend and potential roommate seem to have everything in common with you, consider someone else. Chances are, the differences you discover in one another will strain too tightly the bonds of friendship you thought would hold you together. You’re not looking for a best friend or a friendly neighbor, not seeking a big brother or lovable dog. You’re looking for someone who can be each of those to you, someone who will share the stories of their day and communicate the problems of the house. You’re seeking someone who can respect your independence; you need someone who has, at the very least, good hygiene. And when you find your roommate and sign that lease, remember that you need to be that unique combination of friend, neighbor, sibling and pet to them too. R.J. Vogt is a junior in College Scholars. He can be reached at rvogt@utk.edu.
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Spring 2014
(Below) Rosborough and his roommate Alex Kane, undecided freshman, have a projector as a medium for entertainment. “We barely use our real T.V.,” Rosoborough said.
The Fort
Personalizing a space on a college budget and schedule can be a challenge. These students share how they did it. All photos courtesy of Hayley Brundige and Janie Prathammavong.
Posters of pop culture adorn the walls of this room. “I enjoy decorating the walls with different posters of different shapes and sizes because it gives the room a different atmosphere,” the resident said.
(Above) Cruz Rosborough, freshman in animal science, decorates his room and bunk bed in orange. “I have to have a desk because I needed the desk to do homework,” Rosoborough said. “I decorated my room in orange because I’m a die hard fan and have been my entire life. I love the color.”
Hess Hall (Men’s Side)
Decorative Dwellings
(Above)Abby Durick, freshman in classical archaeology, uses photos and lantern lights to brighten up her small space. “My desk is filled with quotes, photos, and memorabilia from both places I have traveled and plan to go,” Durick said. “I keep adding quote cards each time I go to the bookstore and it adds a positive vibe to the room. It’s simple, bright and positive.”
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(Below) Carolyn Vo, freshman in biology, has a shelf where she stores her necessary elements. “I have a drawer for our plates, utensils and dry, storebought food. It’s convenient and easy” She even has room for her fish named Humuhumunukunukuapua’a.
Hess Hall (Women’s Side)
Macy Harrison, sophomore in sociology, and Liz Wood, sophomore in political science and journalism, decorated the walls of their living room with mirrors bought from local thrift stores and twinkling Christmas lights. “We’re really thrifty; most of the decorations in our apartment are from garage sales,” Harrison said.
The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide
Volunteer Hall
Highland Terrace Apartments
Spring 2014
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The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide
Spring 2014