Tuesday, November 15, 2016

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westerngazette.ca TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016 • WESTERN UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER • VOLUME 110, ISSUE 20 ordering late night burritos since 1906

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ABIGAIL KONG

Volume 110, Issue 20 WWW.WESTERNGAZETTE.CA University Community Centre Rm. 263 Western University London, ON, CANADA N6A 3K7 Editorial 519.661.3580 Advertising 519.661.3579

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TAYLOR LASOTA GAZETTE

Bodybuilding competitions aren’t something you’d expect a fourth-year medical cell biology student to be entering. But Abigail Kong just entered her first weightlifting competition this October — and came out on top.

and by 16 she was old enough for a gym membership.

Now 21, a typical training week for Abigail consists of working out at the gym six days a week, twice a day, and she’s also on a dragon boat team at Western.

Balancing high athletic ambitions with high educational ambitions isn’t something Abigail struggles with too much.

She recently applied to some universities in Canada for optometry and is in the process of applying to a few schools in the United States (in California, New York and Texas).

She says she’s learned to balance the two endeavours and always works hard to make time for her workouts.

In the days leading up to the Scarborough Fall Qualifier, an Ontario powerlifting meet, Abigail realized that she was a few pounds too heavy and worried she wouldn’t meet the weight requirement. With a week left until the meet, she would limit her intake of carbs and only drank liquids for the two days before the meet.

On the morning of the meet she was still slightly over the weight requirements, so she packed on loads of sweaters and went for a run at 5 a.m. By the time of the meet later that day, she just barely met the requirements for her weight category and ended up winning not only her category, but the entire meet as she lifted more than any other female competitor.

“I made the cut luckily,” Abigail recalls. “Since I won the meet overall, so it would’ve been fine if I had been in a higher class.”

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In February she along with other Western students will be heading to the Seneca College University meet as members of Western Strength. At this meet Abigail plans on setting a world record: the International Powerlifting Federation junior world record at 57kg. She’s already achieved this feat and even higher in her practices, but in order to officially gain the world record it needs to be recorded at an official meet.

The journey to this high level of bodybuilding has been long for Abigail. At just 11 years old, Abigail wasn’t old enough to join a gym, but she convinced her dad to buy her a pull-up bar. By 14, her dad got her a bench press

“I’m so committed to it now, it’s not a choice to not do it now. I prioritize it,” Abigail says.

Her inspiration to enter bodybuilding came from within the family. Both of her grandfathers were bodybuilders in their youth, and although they never went pro, they inspired her to enter the sport.

Abigail adds that she never anticipated entering and winning competitions, but simply wanted to look good and gain the muscular physique of a bodybuilder.

“I know they [the media] try to hype up that being skinny is better, and that’s not always the case,” Abigail says. “I feel people should just be happy with the way they are regardless. And if they don’t like something, then they have the ability to change it.”

Abigail recalls getting negative comments about her muscular appearance. She says a close friend recently once told her she was getting “too big” and it was ugly.

Abigail simply responded, “Well I like it, I don’t really care if you like it.”

Abigail knows what she wants and has her sights set on that world record.

■■RITA RAHMATI

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016 • 3

sports

Mustangs defeated in Yates Cup final

With less than a second left on the clock, Laurier broke a 40-40 tie to secure the OUA championship.

MAAILAH BLACKWOOD GAZETTE

JENNY JAY GAZETTE

JENNY JAY GAZETTE

From left to right: Mustangs quarterback Chris Merchant takes a knee after the end of the game. The Laurier Golden Hawks celebrate their monumental comeback to win the Yates Cup with less than a second on the clock. Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall takes a moment outside of the changing room with his athletes and staff.

MIKE DEBOER SPORTS EDITOR @MIKEATGAZETTE The Mustangs were up 40-19 with eight minutes to go in the Yates Cup match against the Laurier Golden Hawks. They appeared to have it in the bag.

With the win, the Mustangs would have their 31st Yates Cup in program history, and the journey to a national championship would continue.

But something happened at TD Stadium on Saturday. Maybe the Mustangs made too many mistakes and handed away the lead. Or maybe it was a miracle, an unexplained phenomenon that allowed Laurier to tie the game up with a minute and 23 seconds left in the game.

With less than a second left on the clock Laurier’s Nathan Mesher put the ball right between the uprights.

The 109th Yates Cup was over in the most dramatic way possible.

Laurier players streamed onto

the field, piled onto each other and were crowned the provincial championships in one of Canadian college football’s historic comebacks.

The cup seemed to belong to the Mustangs by the time the fourth quarter rolled around. Chris Merchant was throwing the ball effectively en route to 281 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Alex Taylor delivered a standard solid performance with 103 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Up until the eight-minute mark hit, the Mustangs defense were in their groove, shutting down everything the Golden Hawks threw at them.

But then things started to unravel.

“We just couldn’t stop them when we needed to at the end,” said Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall. “They converted on third downs and that was the football game right there.”

Marshall has won a lot of games since taking over the Mustangs

program in 2007. But out of the losses, this one might hurt the most.

“Nothing I can say in words is gonna make it better, said Marshal.

It’s one of those time things and we’re all gonna need to heal a little bit and take time and come together as a team. We win as a team and we lose as a team.”

Amidst the palpable sorrow surrounding the Mustangs locker room — Marshall was happy for Laurier head coach Michael Faulds, who played quarterback at Western under Marshall from 2007-09.

“I told Coach Faulds, as sad as I was, that I was really happy for him,” said Marshall. “He’s a person I care very much for and so when you see your friends and good people that you care about happy, it brightens it up a little bit and takes a little bit of the sting off it.”

The Mustangs will look to use this loss to strengthen their resolve, and key Mustangs will return next

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season to help redeem themselves.

Merchant had a great season and will look to build on his success. Alex Taylor was one of the nation’s best running backs. His fellow running back Cedric Joseph will also be back.

Harry McMaster was spectacular in the playoffs and will come back in 2017 as a more complete offensive threat. On defence the Mustangs will bring back key players like JeanGabriel Poulin and Philippe Dion.

A loss like this can haunt the program for years, or the team can let it motivate them all summer through workouts and training camp.

“It’s the toughest thing in the world to lose a game like that,” said Merchant on the loss. “Honestly I’m still in shock. I’ll take the blame for that. We didn’t score enough points and they played a great game and poured it all on at the end and left it all on the line, and we’re gonna take a couple of days and reload and hopefully come back next season

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stronger than ever.”

The Mustangs program will see change. Seniors will leave, hanging up their cleats and shoulder pads to finish up their degrees.

And with Laurier’s program fully rebuilt and back on the national stage, the Carleton Ravens being a legitimate provincial contender and blue bloods like McMaster and Guelph still in their path, the Mustangs’ road to a championship won’t get easier in the future.

But right now, in this moment, the Western Mustangs feel pain.

They were a minute and 23 seconds from a Yates Cup. “If there’s a lesson to be learned from this it’s that sometimes it doesn’t always work out the way you want it,” said Marshall. “You just gotta pick yourself up and tomorrow is another day and you need to learn from it and get better and move on.

It’s not easily done but it’s a life lesson these boys will need to learn.”

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housing

Being a university nomad isn’t all that bad MIKE DEBOER SPORTS EDITOR @MIKEATGAZETTE Moving around gets a bad rep.

Sure, it can be a pain to live in a different house every single year of university. But if you do it right, the pros may outweigh the cons.

The negative side of being a university nomad, of moving from place to place, is that you don’t necessarily get invested in a place. As someone who doesn’t decorate, minus a few hip-hop and Detroit Red Wings posters, I can tell you that you never really feel at ‘home.’

This nomad lifestyle could really bother those who crave the familiar and the intimate, but there are plenty of great things about moving every year.

For starters, you really learn about London when you live in different locations across the city. I lived on Kipps Lane in first year in an apartment building with my friends.

In second year I lived all the way out in Byron. It was a long bus ride, but I discovered a part of London that most out-of-town Western

students would never experience.

This year I’m living around Oxford and Adelaide.

Moving around has given me the opportunity to explore London and get out of the Western bubble.

Maybe for a student from Toronto or another major metropolitan area it wouldn’t be as enticing, but for someone from a smaller city, it’s enjoyable to be able to bounce around the different areas of the city.

Another positive of moving around in your undergrad is the opportunity to meet new people and get out of your comfort zone. After living with my best friends from high school in first year, none of them returned to school for second year.

That forced me to find a new place in second year. Although it was a nerve-wracking endeavour, I ended up making lifelong friendships that year with my new roommates.

Another great thing about moving frequently is the ability to find shorter rental periods. I have always sought out houses that allowed for eight-month leases, which a lot of people don’t know are available. It’s

Thinking about living alone next year?

There are lots of reasons to live alone. You could be an introvert who needs alone time to recharge, or maybe you want to test your new-found independence by striking it out on your own. Whatever the reason, living alone can be an incredibly rewarding experience as long as you set yourself up for success.

MAAILAH BLACKWOOD GAZETTE

nice to avoid paying 12 months of rent when you’re back home swimming in your parent’s pool and eating home-cooked food for the four summer months.

My university experience has enhanced from living in different locations across London. I know the bus routes really well now, and I’ve seen so much of the city.

So don’t feel pressured to think

you need to stay in the same house every year. If your second-year landlord is hard to deal with, or that black mould monster in your basement isn’t being dealt with, or you’re just not getting along with your roommates, don’t be scared to move.

It might just make your time at Western that much better.

Spotlight on Western Residence

Alumni House Feels Like Home Renovations increase demand at upper-year residence

Let’s face it—adulting is hard. But living on campus can make it easier. Ask Alec Watson, a third-year student who describes the newlyupdated Alumni House as a quiet, but community atmosphere perfect for upper years.

“The friends and study groups that you form living in residence are a unique part of the Alumni House experience,” says Watson.

Know your social needs Having your own private getaway is the envy of anyone who has ever had to deal with a roommate throwing a party the day before your final exam. But be careful that you’re not isolating yourself. Consider getting involved in extra-curricular clubs on campus or booking friend dates throughout the week when your schedule allows it.

Make a plan for groceries While you’ll never come home to see that your roommate has eaten your leftovers, this isn’t the only way you may end up with an empty fridge. Make sure you have some non-perishable staples in your pantry to dig up when the only thing in your fridge is a halfmouldy bag of salad. If you have friends in the area, go grocery shopping with them; it’s a good way to make sure you actually go instead of procrastinating.

Be friends with your landlord If anything goes wrong that’s outside of your expertise, your landlord is your best resource to bail you out.

If you’re courteous to them, they’ll remember you and hopefully be more sympathetic when issues arise. But even if you can’t manage to befriend them, be sure to have their contact information on hand so you don’t end up searching for it in the middle of an emergency.

Also, the new study rooms mean Alumni House residents have their own private space and don’t have to wait around at Weldon for a spot to cram.

Just down the hall, a new workout room was installed complete with free weights and cardio machines so residents can work out from the comfort of their building.

Exchange student, Rogier Hoogeveen, noted how these additions and life in Alumni House have made his year easier.

“It’s a good combination of being independent and staying connected to campus. You can cook for yourself, but have the convenience of house keeping and utilities included,” he said.

The best part—there isn’t a lottery system. Upper-year residence applications are on a first-come, first-served basis, where you can select your suite and rooms for you and your friends.

Apply for any residence now via myhousing.uwo.ca.

Study space in Alumni House boasts over 15 study cubbies.

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Alumni House workout room provides students with a quiet and private space right downstairs.

The good and bad sides of independence If you’re the kind of person who leaves your dishes in the sink and hopes a roommate does them in a fit of passive-aggression, you may be in a lot of trouble living alone; they’re just going to sit there. The buck stops with you.

Before striking out on your own, do some soul-searching to make sure you’re ready to take on all the elements of living alone.

On the other hand, there’s no pressure from roommates.

There’s no judgement for eating McDonalds for the fifth time in one week, and you can bring home whoever you want without the peanut gallery chiming in.

Decorate the way you want, have dance parties at 3 a.m. (as long as your neighbours can’t hear) — the world is your oyster.

■■KATIE LEAR

Solution to puzzle on page 14

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016 • 5

housing

TO LIVE AT HOME, OR NOT TO LIVE AT HOME?

MAAILAH BLACKWOOD GAZETTE

Editors Hala Ghonaim and Moses Monterroza debate the vices and virtues of living at home with your parents Hala At Your Girl

Living at home comes with its own costs

Moses Supposes

HALA GHONAIM OPINIONS EDITOR @HALA_GHONAIM

for extras. Working on a personalized diet is almost impossible living at home.

MOSES MONTERROZA NEWS EDITOR @MOSEZMONTZ

Authentic Middle-Eastern cuisine, fresh laundry, spotless floors, and lots of kisses from my mama — my family’s unconditional love has been a privilege over the last four years of my undergrad.

However, my sheltered humble abode has come at a cost.

THE TEDIOUS COMMUTE

Ah yes, the “stay-at-home student,” known for their delicious home cooked meals, lack of financial responsibility and, of course, their long and arduous journeys to campus.

I happen to be one of those students and let me tell you, it’s not that bad. Granted, I happen to come from a chill and loving immigrant family, so I’ve had the luxury of enjoying exotic foods and strange television.

People always ask me why I decided to stay in little ol’ London and go to Western. I mean, I did initially get a scholarship to go to Brock and I had the opportunity to live in a residence for almost nothing but I decided against it.

It seemed strange to me to suddenly pack up, leave and live with strangers for the next four years. It seemed unnecessary to be honest. That’s something that you can do later in life and with a lot more money. I will admit though, it takes a lot of courage to suddenly move to a new city all on your own.

I’m just not that kind of guy.

THE UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE – WHAT’S THAT?

Figuring out your meals everyday, learning to budget your nights out and dealing with roommates: It’s what many students in my year talked about and I automatically felt disconnected me from much of my first year cohort. People ultimately think I’m less of an adult because independence is considered as linked to family separation. And maybe they were right — opting out of the university experience has brought a halt to my self-reliance. Don’t get me wrong, I can make a mean microwaved dinner, but adapting to the real world is going to be a struggle.

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD

Although my dad’s famous Palestinian shakshuka, an egg and tomato dish, trumps any scrambled egg, my dietary needs have been inseparable from my parents’. I’ve had a long-standing desire to cut certain food products from my diet, but rejecting a homecooked meal is like rejecting grandma’s offer

If you live off-campus, you’ll already have to commute to university everyday. But if you live at home — you’ll likely be further from campus than the average student. You think inconsistent LTC buses are bad? Try having to change two buses and spend 50 minutes in commute to school every morning because your parents live on the other side of the city.

GOODBYE MY LOVER, GOODBYE MY FRIEND

After day full of long commutes and lectures, I long for a night in with my girls. But unless they want to be greeted by my family of seven, the ‘girls night in’ gets shifted to another host.

Although I enjoy soaking in my family’s comfort, the lack of privacy in living at home has taken a toll on my friendships and social relationships.

THEIR HOUSE, THEIR RULES

Living under your parents’ roof means living with their rules and conditions. Having to constantly take someone else into account can get mentally draining. It’s difficult to enjoy a night out knowing my mama is waiting for me to come home safely, and ignoring family like you could with a roommate isn’t an option.

That being said, blood is thicker than water and living at home has its upsides, so I probably wouldn’t end up altering my university experience if I could.

I HAVE SAVED ENOUGH MONEY TO LIVE DAN BILZERIAN’S LIFE TWICE.

Okay, that is an exaggeration, but the amount of money I’ve managed to save living with my parents is a godsend. I mean, I’m still pretty strapped for cash, but add things like rent and groceries to my expenses and I’d be Bow Wow broke.

The blessings of living with your folks I understand that transitioning into full-on adulthood with budgeting and money managing will be challenging. When I eventually save up enough to live comfortably on my own, it’s going to be tough for the first few months.

However, like pretty much everyone else, I’ll get used to it, I think.

HOME COOKED MEALS = THE ULTIMATE REASON

I can understand wanting to move away if your parents are average or awful cooks, but it just so happens that my mom possesses chef powers that I believe will be analyzed by historians one day.

I’m talking straight up El Salvadorian, Mexican and occasionally Asian food every single day. I feel like I have to work out eight times a day just to keep my pudgy figure intact.

EVERYTHING IS CLEAN

Many students are clean and tidy with their stuff, but every now and then you’ll walk into a crime scene of a house. The kind of house with garbage bags laying around, faint smells of food and pee in the air and stains spotted all over the floor.

On the other hand, I usually come home to either the smell of freshly baked chicken or pine-scented air freshener.

No doubt there are pros and cons to living at home, but so far in my many years at university, I’ve got nothing but nice things to say about being a stay-at-home student.

How has your experience been living at home during university?

Let us know by tweeting with #homeRez

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6 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016

housing

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Having the “talk” with your roomies-to-be AMY SKODAK CULTURE EDITOR @AMYSKODAK So you’ve finally found a group of people to live with. Maybe they’re friends from your residence floor or maybe they’re complete strangers you met on one of the various roommate finder Facebook pages.

Either way, know this now: your friendship or acquaintance-ship is in danger if you don’t have the “talk” before signing your lease.

From party habits to one-night stands, it’s important to know your future roommates’ living and social habits to ensure you’re compatible.

“So where’s the pre?”

Knowing where your roomies stand on house parties and hosting a pre is important. Unless you don’t mind waking up to a kitchen littered with shot glasses, greasy pizza boxes and coffee tables pushed together from beer pong games, you may want to agree upon taking your inebriated shenanigans elsewhere. Better to leave the mess for some other unfortunate household to deal with.

If, however, you are all in agreement on being the go-to party place, there are a few things to consider. Will you ensure there is extra toilet paper or risk the cleanliness of your hand towels and shower curtains? Are certain areas of your home off-limits? And how long will you be willing to live with the morning-after mess until one of you recover from your hangover fast enough to clean that vomit off the carpet?

“Let’s talk about sex, baby” If you’re moving out of a shared dorm, you may think sex will no longer be an issue with separate rooms in a new house or apartment. But walls can be thin and there’s nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable or unable to fall asleep in your own living space. It’s best to have an open conversation with your roommates about what is and is not okay.

Maybe you or your roommate are already in relationships and it’s just a matter of courteously letting one another know when you’re having a sleepover. Or maybe you

feel uneasy about your roommate’s casual Tinder hookups and don’t like the idea of sharing your space with a different stranger every week.

Either way, make sure to have an open conversation about each other’s habits and be honest about what you would and would not be comfortable with. The conversation may be awkward at first, but it’s better to voice opinions now than when you’re stuck with a 12 month lease.

Sharing is caring. Sometimes.

While sharing food, cleaning supplies and even clothes could help with expenses and broaden your wardrobe sans expense, it could also become a minefield for arguments.

Decide which staple food items you all use — like condiments, sugar or butter — and make a schedule to keep track of whose turn it is to refill them.

If your schedules allow it, it may be nice to make a few meals together too because, well, bonding. But keep in mind that everyone has their own budgets and eating habits, so it might be best to keep sharing to minimum.

Sharing clothes can be another touchy subject. What happens if you spill sangria on your roommate’s favourite crop top or accidentally shrink their sweater in the wash? Communication is key here. Even if someone doesn’t mind you using their closet when you want something new to wear, never do so without asking first.

And feel free to say no as well.

Sharing is nice but is not a requirement of being part of a household.

It’s okay to be a little selfish with your things.

The bottom line Living with other people isn’t always going to be smooth sailing. But by making a list of your living habits and being upfront with your values and habits, you’ll be able to enjoy your year that much more. If your best friends are people you just don’t think would be compatible housemates, it’s better to save the friendship and live with someone else.

MAAILAH BLACKWOOD GAZETTE I KNOW YOU ARE BUT WHAT AM I? Instead of having a passive aggressive conversation over text, why not follow some of the proactive tips below for a more fruitful relationship?

Taking steps to avoid roommate conflict ELLIS KOIFMAN CULTURE EDITOR @ELLIS_KOIFMAN Cleaning, cooking, buying groceries, throwing out the trash, having pets; these are all things that can cause agonizing conflict with your roommates.

Whether you plan to live on or off-campus next year, you are sure to encounter a number of issues with your roommates.

Luckily, most conflicts can be avoided as long as you plan ahead and know how to deal with things as they arise. And believe me, they will arise — even if you start off the year as best friends.

Make a schedule One strategy for avoiding a lot of these conflicts is to make a schedule of who does what errand when.

For example, ‘Roommate A’ will be in charge of taking out the trash one week and ‘Roommate B’ will do so the next. Other errands such as cleaning the common areas, mowing the lawn and washing dishes can be fit into the schedule as well.

This may seem like an unnecessary pain to create, but once you get into the busy days of midterms, late night assignments and being stressed out, you’ll appreciate having this all sorted out.

Draw boundaries Roommates (and their guests) stealing your food can be another major source of conflict. I cannot count how many times people have told me how pissed they are that their roommate drank their vodka, or ate all their cookies.

Establishing boundaries is definitely a big part of preventing this.

The best way to do so is to have designated cupboard spaces so all your food isn’t mixed together — hey, sometimes people get confused or forget; we’re only human.

The fridge and freezer are a bit trickier. The fridge can be split up into sections as with the cupboard, but the freezer tends to get full and overstuffed really quickly, especially given how much students seem to like eating frozen meals. When all of your roommates are buying the same

Pizza Pops or Pogos, you should consider labelling boxes with a sharpie.

Talk first, yell later Perhaps the worst thing you could do is not talk about things or plan at all and instead start being passive-aggressive toward each other.

Sometimes you’ll have roommates who will straight up refuse to be organized or divide up errands.

That sucks, but it’s not the end of the world; you can still avoid things rapidly escalating by talking things out.

As with almost any other situation involving interaction amongst human beings, yelling isn’t a good way of accomplishing things. Talk either in-person or on a group chat platform.

At the end of the day you’re going to be spending months living with your roommates. It’s always good to build a respectful relationship with them so you can be friends, get along and perhaps most importantly, enjoy your personal space.

Create a schedule.

Not many people like to clean, but everyone can appreciate a clean space.

A clean living space promotes a healthier, calmer and more productive lifestyle.

Cleaning doesn’t have to be an ordeal. Here are some tips to help you stay on top of it:

FIRST LAST GAZETTE

If you’re living with others, a cleaning schedule will hold everyone accountable and help ensure that everybody pitches in.

Don’t forget garbage day.

Get yourself a copy of the annual City of London garbage and recycling pickup calendar.

The last thing you want is to start accumulating garbage.

Do your dishes. Please.

If you’re sharing a kitchen with housemates, do them a favour and wash your dishes regularly.

Talk to your housemates.

Communication is key. If something is bothering you, talk about it. Nobody likes a passive-aggressive housemate.

JORDAN MCGAVIN GAZETTE

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016 • 7

housing

Students don’t need to live in squalor ANNIE RUETER CULTURE EDITOR @ANNIERUETER1

Leaky roofs. Mould on the ceiling.

Mice in the walls. Dead squirrels in the fireplace. A flooding dishwasher.

It’s easy to wonder who would put up with these issues, but many students encounter these problems in their houses.

Is student living going to be glamorous? No, not by any means.

But that doesn’t mean you need to live with repair issues that impact your daily life. In other words, it’s still okay to have standards of living as a student.

To avoid a family of racoons moving into your back room because of a broken window that’s gone un-repaired for months, it’s important to understand what to expect from your landlord in terms of repairs and maintenance.

Despite the fact that landlords are obligated to keep the rental unit in a state of good repair and in compliance with bylaws and health codes, not all landlords respond to repair issues within a reasonable amount of time or take this responsibility seriously at all.

Michael Hutchinson, fourthyear MIT student, was faced with the issue of a lacklustre landlord who didn’t adequately address the issue of mould growing in his student house.

At the end of Hutchinson’s second year, he and his seven roommates found an ideal off-campus student house. Following April exams, he and his housemates chose bedrooms and moved their things into

the house.

“But when we came back at the end of August, some of the guys who had moved their stuff into the basement rooms found their mattresses and blinds covered in mould,” Hutchinson says.

Initially, the group tried contacting their landlord to explain the issue of mould growth in the basement. Unfortunately, the landlord was relatively unresponsive and the boys living in the basement became couch surfers upstairs. “[The landlord] sent someone down and they scraped away the visible mould but they didn’t open up the walls and try to clean anything severely, so the issue was still there,” Hutchinson explains.

After a number of attempts to convey the severity of the issue to the landlord, the group decided they needed to leave the house. They contacted Off-Campus Housing Services to see what options they had.

After getting information about the options for legal recourse, the group made the ultimate decision to cancel their cheques, move out and split into two groups of four. Their landlord threatened legal action, but nothing came of it.

During this experience, Hutchinson experienced what many students feel — a belittling of their living needs. But knowing the course of action to take can put students in a stronger and more informed position.

If you have a repair or maintenance concern, the first step is to contact your landlord in writing

MAAILAH BLACKWOOD GAZETTE HOLE IN THE WALL. An unresponsive landlord and a house that’s falling apart isn’t all that uncommon — just make sure you know what to do next.

describing the problem. Keep a copy of the written and dated request in the event that your landlord doesn’t respond within a reasonable time.

If your landlord doesn’t make the repair, you have a few options.

You can follow up with your landlord, report the problem to their local government or the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit — a regulatory body in Ontario for residential rental tenancies — or reach out to the Landlord Tenant Board

— a quasi-judicial mediation board between tenants and landlords. The LTB can advise you on what to do from there, whether you just follow up with your landlord or decide to take formal legal action.

While there are landlords who take advantage of the fact that students are a transient and relatively uninformed population about renter rights, landlords don’t need to be the enemy.

Some landlords or housing

corporations are highly responsive to repair requests. Hutchinson is even able to understand the position of his young, inexperienced ex-landlord; “It’s a learning curve for them as much as it might have been for us,” he says.

At the end of the day, try to maintain good relations with your landlord and know your rights — it will put you in the best position possible as a student renter.

With files from Samah Ali.

Spotlight on Western Residence

Chick, Chick, Boom!

Joining the Rez Soph and Staff Team When Dan Mously moved into Medway-Sydenham Hall, he immediately loved the culture, and decided to become a Rez Soph for the next two years.

“I was fortunate enough to experience the fun and excitement of residence, something people only get to do once, and I had the opportunity to do it again,” he says.

While he originally wanted to be a Faculty Soph, his mentality shifted when his own Rez Soph provided insight.

“He asked me, why live with only three close friends when you can have a team of 33, not to mention the 30 students I would get to live with and hang out with all

year,” he reflects.

As a Rez Soph and any Staff position for that matter, students gain transferable skills and experience to add to their resume.

“I grew up a lot and improved so many skills from conflict management to simple communication and it was all done in a very accepting space. The sophing experience is a great indicator of leadership, communication and teamwork,” says Mously.

Brianna Jackson, an Academic Leadership Programmer in Delaware Hall echoes the sentiments from Mously regarding Staff positions in Residence.

“You have the opportunity to work with an incredible

group of people, and play a role in first-year students’ positive transition to university life. Helping them succeed is so rewarding!” says Jackson.

Read more about Rez Sophing at rezsoph.uwo.ca For Rez Staff info, visit rezstaff.uwo.ca

www.westerngazette.ca

8 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016

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By Amy O’Kruk Moving out of first-year residence is exciting, but it can be tough to choose where to live — especially on a student budget.

To help you in your search, The Gazette analyzed the rent per bedroom of close to 400 listings on Western’s off-campus rental listings website. The result? Your ultimate guide to average rental prices per student neighbourhood.

The highlights:

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Most expensive: UPPER-YEAR RESIDENCES Least expensive (with utilities): CAMPUS (BEAVER HALL/AUSABLE HALL) Least expensive (without utilities): NEAR WEST

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• www.westerngazette.ca

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016 • 9

NEAR WEST

Average price with utilities: $515/month Average price without utilities: $466/month

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with utilities: $509/month without utilities: $510/month

OLD NORTH Average price with utilities: $575/month Average price without utilities: $565/month

DOWNTOWN

Average price with utilities: $606/month Average price without utilities: $633/month

MASONVILLE

Average price with utilities: $573/month Average price without utilities: $516/month

CAMPUS Upper-year residences (single bedroom; eight-month occupancy; no meal plan; 2017–18): London Hall: $1,124/month Alumni House: $955/month University apartments (price includes utilities; based on 2016–17 prices): Bayfield Hall (one-bedroom): $893–956/month Lambton Hall (two-bedroom): $555 per tenant/month Beaver Hall and Ausable Hall (two-bedroom): $457–494 per tenant/month Data sources: apartments.uwo.ca/rates.cfm, residenceatwestern.ca/rates.cfm and offcampus.uwo.ca/listings/ Western’s off-campus rental listings were accessed on Nov. 11, 2016.

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10 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016

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How to choose your home-sweet-home KATIE LEAR PRINT MANAGING EDITOR @KATIELEAR_ Most students think that selecting their future roommates is the hardest part of choosing your living arrangements. But even with your squad in tow, it can be hard to figure out what place to call home. Here are a few tips to find the perfect abode.

MAAILAH BLACKWOOD GAZETTE

Having a four-legged roommate has its benefits BRADLEY METLIN DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR @BRADLEYMETLIN The first time you step in a puddle of dog pee inside your own home, you will experience a range of emotions — anger, frustration, annoyance, sadness and disgust. Welcome to the world of living with your roommates’ pets.

Sure, that might sound like a lot of negative reactions, but living with other people’s pets isn’t all that bad.

Like any relationship, it requires a bit of give and take. Like anything else in a house, laying out some ground rules would probably be in your best interest.

Any animal that will be interacting in a communal space of your house or apartment means that

everyone has a stake in this decision. So if a pet will ever be moving in, that’s a conversation that everyone living together should have. If someone has a hamster in their own room, that’s their prerogative.

By agreeing to live with a pet, you’re also agreeing to help out from time to time. If you need to clean out a rabbit’s cage, purify fish water or feed a cat — remember, it’s a two-way street. Sometimes you may need a favour and if you took care of your roomie’s pet when they needed help, you’ll have some leverage and built up appreciation to cash in on.

Most importantly, be reasonable.

Just by virtue of having pets in your house, there are certain things you’ll have to live with. Yes, dogs bark from time to time. Don’t get annoyed or complain about that, you’ll just look

ridiculous. If problems persist, by all means, have a respectful conversation, but don’t fly off the handle.

While this may seem like a lot of burden for the pet-less roommates, remember, there are a lot of benefits to having a pet. WebMD notes that pets make you seem more appealing to potential romantic connections, can reduce levels of stress, anxiety and can lower blood pressure. It’ll be like having therapy dogs every single day.

Having a pet in a student house comes with some extra challenges.

But with any circumstance, having an open dialogue is always beneficial. While you may need to throw your socks in the laundry an extra time or two after stepping in an accident, pets can be great roommates.

University Apartments (519) 661-3520 • apartments.uwo.ca

1 & 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS WELL MAINTAINED UNITS

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COMPETITIVE RATES UTILITIES & PARKING INCLUDED

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Rent Before you even start to look at any places, you should sit down with your roommates and set expectations for how much you all ideally want to pay in rent and what your hard upper limit is. When you finally do start to look at places, make sure you ask whether utilities are included or extra to avoid a nasty surprise your first month in. And if you find a place you love that’s a little out of your price range, it doesn’t hurt to ask if the price is flexible at all, especially if you’re hunting later in the year. For landlords, it can be more valuable to secure tenants than hold out for the ideal price, so give it a shot and see what they say.

Location Spending a lot of time on campus is a given if you’re a student, so it’s imperative to know how you’re going to get to and from classes, whether walking, taking the bus or driving. Outside of campus, make sure you know where the nearest necessities are, like where you’ll get groceries, and the bus routes that will get you where you need to go. If you’re a student who loves the nightlife or if you’re a super light sleeper who dreads Friday nights on Richmond St., you’ll want to live somewhere conducive to either of these.

Amenities Not every student is going to live in a place with a sprawling backyard and a fire pit. Most rental sites list amenities that come with the place, such as parking and a washer and dryer, so make sure you know what amenities you can live without or what the extra costs might be if you have them.

Cleanliness When looking at your potential new home, you should pay careful attention to the space itself.

Check the water — both cold and hot — in all of the taps to make sure they don’t leak; make sure there’s no mould hiding anywhere; see how flood-proof your house is — especially if you’re going to be in the basement. Check the window frames to make sure they’re in good shape; see if there’s any weird colouring on the walls or ceiling; check to make sure your phone has signal; check the stove and burners; and look for the available storage space.

Even though doing an inspection for each place you’re visiting is time consuming, it’s much easier than being unhappy with your living space later. As well, if there’s any chance you can track down the previous tenants, do so; they may be able to give you some insight to avoid some surprises later.

Security The USC has popularized the ‘Lock Your F*cking Doors’ campaign to help protect students

from break-ins, but there’s more to house security than remembering to lock the door behind you. Look to see if your house is in a well-lit area, if the locks on the door are new and resistant to force, that the doors are sturdy and there are no obvious alternate ways to get in, such as large windows. If you’re opting for apartment life, check the security in the lobby too; How easy would it be for someone to get from the lobby to your apartment? Who has the keys to your place and under what circumstances can they enter? Asking these questions now will save you from wondering what’s going bump in the night the first time in your new place.

Landlord Landlords are an often overlooked part of the rental package, but you’ll want to make sure you know who to call when things go wrong. Before you commit, go over what issues they deal with and what’s on you to handle yourself. Make sure you know how to contact them at all times. There’s nothing worse than coming home from a trip abroad only to realize that the water from the shower you needed to take before work tomorrow is brown and you can’t get a hold of your landlord. And taking a few extra moments out of your day to say hi to them when you run into them may make them more sympathetic to your needs in the long run.

Rooms If you’re living in a house with roommates, the issue of who gets what room is going to surface. Having the rooms assigned randomly is a fair way to do it, or whoever gets the master bedroom could opt to pay a larger share of the rent than the other roommates do to balance it out.

Even if you decide on a first come, first serve system, make sure all roommates are aware of how you’re divvying the space to avoid any resentment later.

Lease As with any important decision, it’s a good idea to get an outside opinion. If you have a parent or family friend who’s familiar with rental leases, have them give your lease a look-over before you sign. Small details like whether pets are allowed or if you can let someone sublet your place may be glossed over now but may prove to be important later, so make sure you have a copy to reference as well.

Overall, don’t feel pressured into making a decision immediately; give it some time. Sleep on it, make a pros and cons list for all the places you’ve seen, and above all, make sure all of your roommates agree. You’ll be living here for at least a year, so make sure it’s a place you’re happy to spend your time in. If something doesn’t sit right with you, don’t wait until it becomes a bigger problem after you’ve signed the lease; there are lots of great places in London, so stick with your search — you’ll find the house that’s perfect for you.

Happy house hunting!

• www.westerngazette.ca

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016 • 11

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12 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016

housing

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Tips to stay on top of your finances off-campus RITA RAHMATI NEWS EDITOR @RITARAHMATI One of the biggest learning curves moving from residence to off-campus housing is budgeting and managing your finances. Not being on top of your monetary game from the very start will cause you problems through the year.

Here are some things to keep in mind to help you keep on top of your finances:

TAYLOR LASOTA GAZETTE

Living the upper-year rez life NATALIE TREFFRY MULTIMEDIA EDITOR @NATTREFFRY Living in an upper-year residence may be the ideal situation for some; it’s quiet, you only have to share a bathroom and kitchen with one or two roommates and it’s really close to class. But it isn’t for everyone — especially if you’re looking for a social experience.

Around this time last year, like many of my friends, I was concerned about where I would live after first year. I knew there were many options available for students after first year, like living in a residence as a soph, living in a furnished condominium like LUXE, leasing a house or apartment, or living in an upper-year residence.

While almost all of my friends opted to live off-campus, I decided to live with two of my friends who were set on living in an upper-year

rez.

There are a lot of things that I love about my living situation.

The convenience of living next to campus makes getting to my 9:30 a.m. classes a lot easier. I don’t have to worry about paying for rent or utilities on a monthly basis because I make one payment for the entire year. Yes, this single payment was daunting, but it’s good for forgetful people like me and it also means that you don’t have to chase down your roommates for their portion of the rent every month. Another benefit is not having to buy furniture, so you don’t have to worry about a long-term commitment to a desk you might end up hating, and you can also purchase a meal plan for those nights that you really don’t want to cook.

However, there is one significant downfall to living in upper-year residence: it’s hard to meet new

people. In upper-year residences, there isn’t a common space or an RA or a don to lead floor meetings or events, which are used to create a sense of community in first year. Instead, there are occasional residence-wide events that range from campfires to movie nights, but without a dedicated residence staff member on your floor, it’s hard to know when these events are happening.

People might think that living in an upper-year residence might be conducive to creating relationships with others, but in reality it’s pretty hard. So if you’re looking for a social living space, you might want to look into rez sophing or living off-campus.

But hey, if you like studying in peace and watching Netflix at the end of the day by yourself, upperyear residence could be the place for you.

Platt’s Lane Estates (519) 679-4561 • plattslane.uwo.ca

1. PRIORITIZE NEEDS OVER WANTS. Students don’t necessarily have a steady source of income so purchases have to be limited. Always make sure you’ve set enough money aside for the essentials — rent, utilities, textbooks, groceries, etc. — and then you’ll know what money you have left for luxuries.

2. PREPARE YOUR MEALS. Although it takes time, preparing daily or weekly meals can save you a lot of money.

Making food at home will almost always be cheaper than buying meals out, and another plus is that it you will probably be eating a lot healthier and staying in good shape.

3. ALWAYS PAY YOUR RENT ON TIME. A typical student rental in London ranges from $500-650 a month, so make sure to set money aside each and every month for this purpose. Not having money in your account on the first of each month may mean you incur late fees, and you’ll likely get on your landlord’s bad side.

4. BUDGET YOUR FINANCIAL AID. Don’t spend all your OSAP, bursaries or grant money at once. Some students may tend to overspend their financial aid when they receive the bulk of it in September. Be wary of your needs versus wants. It might even

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for upper-year students, graduates, or students with families

5. HAVE TWO BANK ACCOUNTS. In order to ensure you don’t spend all your money at once, consider creating another bank account. If you have two accounts, you can set aside one account for recurring costs such as rent, utilities and groceries. Use the other account for daily expenses such as your Tim’s run, nights out and miscellaneous stuff. This also helps you track your spendings and can let you know when to limit yourself.

6. BE CAREFUL WITH CREDIT CARDS. A number of banks offer student accounts which are free or have small recurring fees, make use of these offers. Some days you might want to treat yourself with some retail therapy and your credit card may seem like your best friend — just be sure you’re not spending more than you can pay back at the end of the month.

7. USE BUDGETING APPS. There’s an endless supply of apps to help people save money, such as Mint, which breaks down your spending habits, Tilt, which lets you transfer money to people without a service fee, and BillGuard, which allows you to keep track of spending by type, month and location.

8. REVIEW YOUR BUDGET. At the end of each month, take a look at what you’ve spent and see how you’ve done. You might realize you’ve been spending too much money on certain items and will need to readjust for the future.

From ‘meal plan’ to planning your own meals CLAIRE PALMER SPORTS EDITOR @CLAIREATGAZETTE

COMPETITIVE RATES

be good practice to have your OSAP directly transferred to the university for tuition if you don’t trust yourself with that much dough.

Learning how to cook, stay healthy and shop for groceries are key milestones. If you’re living on your own, here are a few tips and tricks to meal planning.

Map out your meals beforehand Before the week starts, map out what you want to eat during the week. This will save you time trying to decide what to make. Theme days can help eliminate planning time, such as: taco Tuesdays, soup on Wednesdays or pasta Fridays.

It will also help when you go grocery shopping, because you’ll know exactly what you need to buy. Having a list when you go grocery shopping can help you limit unnecessary purchases and impulse buys. If you know your meal plans don’t call for broccoli this week, then you won’t buy it on the off-chance you might use it. A list will also help you steer clear of the junk food.

Cook twice a week, refrigerate For the busy student, eating on campus can seem like a better option than cooking at home when you’re short on time. To get around that, try and cook in bulk twice a week. Make easy-to-refrigerate foods like pastas and rice dishes. It

will save you money, and it’s much healthier to eat home-cooked meals than to eat at the Spoke every day.

Keep it simple Don’t try to become the next Gordon Ramsay. The amount of time that goes into preparing overly complicated meals can deter you from wanting to cook. Pinterest and Tasty are a good place to get started with some easier, simpler meals.

Meals should taste good, but the thought of making them shouldn’t stress you out.

Learn the basics Once you have the basics down, it’s easy to branch out and start trying new and more complicated things.

Take a quick cooking class over the summer, or ask your mom how she makes those perfect scrambled eggs. Even if it’s the only thing you know how to make, at least it’s something!

Consider having your groceries delivered This may not be an option for some, as it can be a bit pricier than going to buy groceries yourself. However, if you live far from a grocery store and have to drive or cab there and back, you may actually save on money having them delivered. It’ll also ensure you have fresh produce and meats around the house, motivating you to cook more at home and eat less on campus.

• www.westerngazette.ca

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016 • 13

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London Property Corp. prides itself on providing the best possible service to its tenants. We offer full-time property management which means tenants don’t have to worry about dealing with lawn care, snow removal or general maintenance.

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14 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016

housing

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Vigilance key in securing your home from burglars GRACE TO NEWS EDITOR GRACE_KTO

JENNY JAY GAZETTE LOCK YOUR FUCKING DOORS. As students move off-campus for the first time, it’s important for them to keep home security in mind.

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After first year, most Western students opt to live off-campus.

Leaving behind the safety and security of living in residence with 24-hour building surveillance and Campus Police, students living off-campus are easier targets for burglars.

Whether it be varying school timetables or leaving the house for winter, reading and summer breaks, students need to be extra vigilant to keep their homes safe.

According to statistics from London Police, breaking and entering crimes have decreased between the years 2011 and 2015, dropping from 2,900 to 1,525 reported cases. However, thefts varied in number of cases each year, showing no general trend of increase or decrease. These offences each have about a 20 to 25 per cent rate of resolution as indicated in London Police’s annual crime report in 2015.

There are a number of ways that students can prevent break-ins and thefts from happening in order to

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COACHES/INSTRUCTORS NEEDED FOR hockey and Learn To Skate programs. Email resume to: universityskate@rogers.com or call 519-645-1136. Winter session (November to May).

GYMNASTICS COACHES REQUIRED. Gymworld Gymnastics is expanding into a new facility in North West London. Recreational and Competitive coaching positions available. Great pay, flexible hours and on a bus route. Please reply to Ildi at info@gymworld.ca.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED LONDON SENIOR SEEKING a volunteer helper to assist with completion of woodworking projects. On Wonderland 10 bus route. Will pay $5/hr for up to 3 hrs help 1 night/wk. Also looking to rent space for woodworking projects in Westmount Shopping Centre area one evening a week. A garage or workshop space would be ideal. Contact Alan 519-660-1442.

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SERVICES BUSINESS 2257 TUTOR seeking students looking to maximize their 2257 grade. My qualifications include: Achieving a 94% in 2257, 8+ years of tutoring experience, and Economics TA of the Year. Contact: trooney3@uwo.ca TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID BEING PHISHED 1. Never respond to emails that request personal financial information. Reputable companies don't ask for passwords or account details in an email.

2. Visit banks' websites by typing the URL into the address bar. Phishers use links within emails to direct victims to a fake site. If you suspect an email is bogus, do not follow any embedded links within it.

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feel safer in their own homes.

The most obvious thing to do is to make sure that doors and windows are locked, particulary when no one’s home. It’s easy to forget to lock them, especially after first year when residence doors would automatically lock when they close behind you.

If it’s possible, you may also be able to ask your landlord to get a chain lock or second key deadbolt installed on the front door. Some landlords may pay for the installation instead of it coming out of your own pocket. Always consult with the rental company first before making any changes to your temporary residence.

Keep valuables hidden away, ensuring that they can’t be seen when people pass by your windows.

Don’t leave jewellery or electronics out in the open or in a room that is easily accessible. If your bedroom door has a lock, lock the room when you’re not in the house, particularly if you’re not taking your valuables with you.

If you go away for breaks or weekends, it’s important that the house is secure. Keep windows

and curtains closed, but keep porch lights and some in-house lights on to make it seem like someone is still home.

Communication is key, so talk to your housemates and share schedules. This way, everyone will be able to know who will or will not be home at certain times of the day. It would also be helpful to trade contact information with neighbours — students can let each other know if there’s been any suspicious activity when the others aren’t home.

Sandasha Bough, London Police Services media relations officer, advises students to not post their timetables or out-of-city plans on social media as it shows others exactly when you won’t be home.

If you or your housemates believe that there has been any suspicious activity around your residence, report it to the police so they can take the appropriate steps.

For many students, being able to feel safe while studying in another city is important. By looking out for each other and taking the necessary precautions, potential break-ins and thefts can be prevented.

How to furnish your house on a budget CHARLIE O’CONNOR CLARKE SPORTS EDITOR @CHARLIEJCLARKE While half the battle is finding a place to live in upper years, it can be just as difficult trying to turn those bare rooms into something resembling a home. Fortunately, there are many options for furnishing your new house or apartment that won’t break the bank.

Use the Internet Social media is an extremely useful tool for no shortage of tasks these days, and looking for inexpensive furniture is no different. Western’s “Free & For Sale” Facebook group is a great place to find everything from desks to chairs to lamps for cheap, or even (as the name suggests) completely free, if you’re willing to go pick it up.

Websites like Craigslist and Kijiji also have pretty much everything you’d need from people around London, but you’ll probably need a car (or a friend with one) to pick up bulky furniture.

Garage sales With so many students moving around at the end of the school year, there’s always stuff that’s no longer needed or just too bulky to be brought along. Starting in late

April, and lasting pretty much throughout the summer, keep your eye out for garage sales and free furniture left on the side of the road in student housing areas.

Some of the couches left out can be a little gross, but there are some perfectly functional chairs and dressers that the previous owner just doesn’t want anymore.

IKEA and Walmart If neither the Internet nor a physical search of the neighbourhood finds you everything you need for your new house, or you just prefer something new, there are retail options that won’t hurt your wallet too much.

If you’re good with tools (and ambiguous instructions), Ikea has some inexpensive, good-looking modern furniture. There’s now an Ikea pick-up point in London, so for only $20 you can have whatever you buy delivered there.

Despite not being a store you’d immediately think of for home outfitting, Walmart has a decent selection of desks, beds and shelving units. Like Ikea, items you buy will require some assembly, but they’re also packaged in easily transportable boxes.

www.westerngazette.ca

15 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016

games

PHOTO OF THE DAY

CROSSWORD BY EUGENE SHEFFER

JENNY JAY GAZETTE NOT-SO-SUPERMOON. The moon that rose over UC Hill on Sunday night looked pretty standard from our perspective, but it’s still super to us.

WORD SEARCH

ALZHEIMER’S WORD SEARCH ABILITIES ACTIVITIES AGGRESSION ALLELE ALZHEIMERS APATHY ASSAY ASSESSMENT ATROPHY

BENEFICIARY BIOMARKER BRAIN CALCIUM CAREGIVER CEREBRAL CORTEX CHOLINE COGNITIVE COUNSELING DAILY DELUSION

DEMENTIA DIRECTIVES DISABILITY

FAMILIAL HIPPOCAMPUS HOSPICE



NAVANEETH MOHAN GAZETTE

IMAGING IMPULSES MEMORY

MILD MODERATE NERVE

NEUROLOGIST PHARMACOLOGY PLAQUE

For solution go to westerngazette.ca/solution

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www.westerngazette.ca

16 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016

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