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RAs tell all The untold stories of WKU’s RAs
Greek living Inside WKU’s Greek houses
Living on campus The benefits and exceptions
Roommates The good, the bad, and the best
Dorm decor Tips to brighten up your space
Roommate quiz What type of roommate are you?
Don’t be duped Tips for living on campus
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WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
In-charge: The untold stories of WKU resident assistants Story by Sydney Jones
Going on his second year as a resident assistant for WKU’s Housing and Residence Life, Clarksville junior Jeffrey Silvers reflects on a memorable experience he had while working in Barnes-Cvampbell Hall. (Photo Illustration by Phoebe Alcala)
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HOUSING GUIDE
Some of the unsung heroes of WKU housing are the hard-working, ever-vigilant resident assistants. Because they work around the clock, they often have some memorable stories to share. Whether the stories are funny, awkward or nightmare-ish, these three RAs — Theresa Whelan, Jeffrey Silvers and Olivia Santangelo — have lived them.
Nightmare on Gilbert third-floor A few years ago, Walton senior Theresa Whelan was doing her rounds in Gilbert Hall when she decided to check the third-floor kitchen. She checked to make sure the stove was off, letting the door close shut behind her with a thud. Once she had confirmed that the stove was off and all was well, she turned back to leave. Only she couldn’t. Whelan couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw the door, without a doorknob. She tried to open the door by pulling on it. That didn’t work. Then she shouted, thinking maybe one of her residents would hear her and rush to her aid. They didn’t. Finally, Whelan remembered that she had her phone with her and texted one of her residents, who came to her aid. She opened the door from the outside, freeing Whelan. However, before Whelan could ask her savior if she knew where the doorknob was, another resident ran
down the hall toward them, hand raised high in the air, the doorknob held in her fist. “It was a confusing night,” Whelan said, recounting the story. “But be careful. I heard that that doorknob still falls off even to this day.”
Strange noises and a misunderstanding Clarksville, Tennesee junior Jeffrey Silvers recalled an evening that he thought was just like any other. He was walking up and down his hall in Barnes-Campbell Hall when he heard strange noises coming from the community bathroom. He could see under one of the stalls that there was one person on their hands and knees and a pair of shoes pointing the opposite direction. Confused, Silvers called for the two people to come out, but when the stall opened, there was only one, very sick, very embarrassed man. “As it turns out, he was in there alone throwing up, and the shoes were his,” Silvers said. “He had removed them because he had thrown up on them.” Silvers explained what he had thought was going on to the man from the bathroom stall, and they both had a laugh about it. Silvers said he sometimes still wonders if that man ever got the smell out of his shoes.
Bonding in the ER A few years ago, Villa Hills senior
Olivia Santangelo was out with some other RAs on a Thursday night. At around 1:30 a.m., she got a call from a panicked resident. The resident told Santangelo that her friend, another of Santangelo’s residents, was having trouble breathing and was starting to lose consciousness. Santangelo also began to panic, so her fellow RA rushed her back to campus. After quickly parking near the Pearce Ford Tower courtyard, they ran over to find the two residents. Santangelo asked every question that was on her mind, trying to understand the situation. The residents said they had been at a party but hadn’t been drinking. The resident in distress had been feeling dehydrated and couldn’t find water. “She couldn’t speak more than half a word at this point,” Santangelo said. “She looked like she was about to pass out, wobbling back-and-forth and unable to focus on anything, when sure enough she drops like a stone.” Luckily for the resident, the other RA was standing right behind her and caught her before she hit the ground. Amidst the chaos, Santangelo called the campus police and explained the situation while the other RA helped the resident to the ground. As a crowd began to form, Santangelo ordered another resident to keep them moving. About half of the girls from her floor had formed a protective circle around the three of them. When the paramedics arrived,
they put the resident on a stretcher and took her to the hospital, with Santangelo and three of her residents following them there. “It was a busy night, apparently, and the staff was stretched thin,” Santangelo said. “We spent a solid hour and a half in the waiting room before they would allow us to go back and see her.” Santangelo’s resident had suffered a heat stroke and was severely dehydrated, but she eventually awoke responsive and smiling. They were told that the resident could leave once she had gone through her whole bag of fluids. The group spent the next few hours with her, wrapped in med-blankets, laughing, sharing stories and eating chocolate pudding. “It’s weird how something so scary could have turned into one of the best bonding sessions I have ever had with residents, but there it is,” Santangelo said. Around 6:15 a.m., as Santangelo and her three residents said goodbye, she pulled the nurse aside and asked if she could get doctor’s notes for her residents, excusing them all from class. They had all had a long, emotional night, and needed to get some sleep, she explained. “She obliged, and with notes in hand, we piled into one of my resident’s cars, made a detour at a McDonald’s for some breakfast and shuffled back into the residence hall,” Santangelo said.
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Living like a Greek: 5 things you didn’t know about living in Greek housing
Lexington junior Connor Roberts and sophomore Hannah Blankenship of Coal Grove, Ohio, laugh in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house on campus. Roberts, vice president of SAE, has lived in the house for two years. “That’s why it’s so awesome because normally you’re with your pledge class, and you’ll get super close with people,” Roberts said. “I can count on them to do anything.” (Photos by Grace Pritchett) Story by Chloe Benningfield
Have you ever wondered what it is actually like to live inside those grand brick houses? The reality of living in a sorority or fraternity house is probably different than you may imagine. Here are some unexpected truths about sorority and fraternity living.
1. COMMON SPACES ARE SHARED WITH EVERYONE Greek
chapter
houses
at
WKU
can
accommodate anywhere from 8 to 24 people. You might think having 20 roommates is a lot, but imagine having 150. Living in a sorority or fraternity house means sharing the common spaces with the entire chapter. Anyone involved in Greek life most likely has the code or key to their organization’s house and is able to go in anytime. “We always encourage chapter members to come by the house to hang out with others and promote brotherhood,” said Will Harris, a Glasgow sophomore who is a member of Phi Delta Theta.
Shelbyville freshman Vincent DiMercurio (from left), Skylight freshman Nick Walz and Skylight junior Lucas Walz watch TV in the Phi Delta Theta house after classes with other members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
2. GREEK HOUSES ARE NOT WILD PARTY HOUSES
You have probably seen movies like “The House Bunny” or “Neighbors” that depict Greek houses as a place for throwing wild ragers, but that is not the case. At WKU, sororities and fraternities aren’t allowed to drink alcohol in their houses. Chapter houses are utilized for chapter meetings, philanthropy events and other sober events. Sorority and fraternity houses are technically oncampus, so any events with alcohol must be held at a separate location off campus.
HOUSING GUIDE
“We have really high expectations for ourselves,” said Michaela Brangers, a Chi Omega junior from Elizabethtown. “We always keep the common spaces clean and have rules enforced by our housing board.” Many sorority houses also have regulations about male guests, like restricting them to common spaces, which allows for more bonding between chapter members.
3. IT IS VERY CONVENIENT
Since many activities are held at the chapter house, residents can simply walk downstairs to attend a chapter meeting or an early morning recruitment workshop. They also get to enjoy leftover food from events hosted at the house. Living in a Greek chapter house is also one way to be exempt from WKU’s two-year housing agreement. Since Greek houses at WKU are right beside campus, the walk to class is relatively short, providing the on-campus feel without the small living space of a dorm.
4. THERE IS VERY LITTLE PRIVACY In many Greek houses, especially sorority houses, people share rooms and bathrooms with at least one other person, if not more. Living
with a dozen friends can feel like a never-ending slumber party, but it also means having very little privacy. On the bright side, there is always something going on or people to hang out with in the house. “You have someone to eat with for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” said Ashley Perschbacher, a Kappa Delta junior from Thompson Station, Tennessee. So even though residents might have to walk to a study location on campus to find a quiet space and some privacy, loneliness or boredom rarely strike while living in a sorority or fraternity house.
5. IT FORGES DEEP BONDS Living with roommates is one thing, but living with roommates that double as sorority sisters or fraternity brothers is another. Chapter housemates are more than just roommates since there is a shared connection as members of the same sisterhood or brotherhood. Since everyone goes to chapter meetings and other events together every week, housemates will grow to feel like family. “After you graduate, you’re going to have experiences where you can live with other women again, but it’s never going to be people you’re
9
A photo in the Chi Omega sorority house shows past members of the chapter. Sophomore Katie Wheeler of Marion who lives in the house said, “When I first moved into the house I thought the coolest part was seeing all of the history in it because I could see all of my sisters who have lived here since 1965 through now and all of the trophies that we are so proud of are here.”
connected with at this level, and it’s never going to be this many girls,” said MaryCarol Kuhn, a Prospect sophomore who is a member of Kappa Delta. Living in the house also means being involved in most things going on in the chapter. House residents live, eat and breathe their Greek organization. Being constantly surrounded by other members of your sorority or fraternity makes it hard not to become deeply invested in the chapter and fellow housemates.
The commercial-grade kitchen at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house (left) and the home-like kitchen at the Chi Omega house (right) are two of many common areas in Greek houses which are shared, not just by the members who live in the house but, by many other individuals in the chapter.
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Surviving and thriving during your underclassmen years Story by Abbey Norvell
With few exceptions, freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus at WKU. Housing and Residence Life believes students will benefit from living on campus for their first two years of college, according to the HRL page on the WKU website. HRL is dedicated to doing what is best for WKU students. The HRL page also said HRL has collected conclusive research that shows living on campus for two years yields a positive outcome. Data collected shows that freshmen students who live on campus are nearly 10 percent more likely to return for spring classes and nearly 7 percent more likely to return for the following fall.
Five exemptions from the twoyear housing requirement: •
Veterans of military service (181 days or more)
•
If you’re married or the primary caregiver for dependent children
•
If you're 21 years of age or older before classes start
•
Members of fraternities or sororities living in the chapter house (two semesters on campus and 30 credit hours earned)
•
If you're commuting from your parent or guardian's permanent home (50 miles or less)
Never sign a lease off campus assuming you'll recieve an exemption from the two-year housing agreement; chances are you won't. Here are four benefits to living on campus for two years: 1. Meet friends
A common sentiment about college is it is where you find your lifelong friends. Living in a residence hall for two years can help you find your best friend, whether that is your roommate, the girl you study with downstairs or the guy who always shares his snacks with you.
Students study on the second-floor lobby of Southwest Hall on Feb. 19. The lobby area includes tables, a couch and a kitchen. Studying in the dorm is part of Katelyn Latture’s routine. “It’s hard to find a space for a big group of people to do homework,” Latture said. “So, Southwest lobby is a good place to go.” (Photo by Hayley Watson)
“Meredith Hall allowed me to meet my best friend, Brae Fredericks,” Versailles freshman Turner Reynolds said. “She always makes our room smell good and shares her sweets with me.” 2. Proximity to classes Living in a dorm means living close to your classes — most likely much closer than you would be living off campus. Gas is expensive, and walking to classes saves money. 3. Sharing We have all heard the saying “sharing is caring.” Although some people view sharing in residence halls as a negative thing, it can be a positive thing too. For instance, sharing one larger fridge in your room takes
up less space than having two separate mini fridges. 4. Transitional period
Moving from a home with parents and rules to a dorm without parents is a huge transition. Newfound freedom is one aspect of college, but too much freedom can sometimes lead to reckless actions and consequences. Living in a residence hall helps to maintain some structure in students’ lives by providing a community of peers and residence assistants to help students adjust. Living on campus for two years still leaves two years to live off-campus in an apartment or house of your choosing. The key to making the most of the housing situation you are in, residence hall or otherwise, is to maximize the advantages and opportunities available.
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WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
Gibson Brueher, Cassidy Townsend, Jacob McAndrews and Griffin Rae (not pictured) live together off campus at the Registry. (Photos by Phoebe Alcala)
HOUSING GUIDE
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Roomie Stories The Good The Bad & The Best Story by Abbey Norvell
Choosing a college roommate can be stressful. The time and energy spent searching can be wholly rewarded or rendered useless. WKU students shared their best and worst roommate stories — and how they were changed for the better from both.
The Registry roomies
Cassidy Townsend, Jacob McAndrews, Gibson Brueher and Griffin Rae live in an apartment at the Registry. Townsend, McAndrews and
Brueher talked about the benefits of an apartment compared to a dorm. “We can choose when to hangout with one another,” Townsend, an Erlanger junior, said. “Like if I wanted to lock myself in my room for 48 hours, I have every option to.” Townsend said her caring roommates would check on her prior to this elapsed time, but the apartment layout is beneficial in terms of privacy. “It definitely is nice having both a public space and a private space,” McAndrews, a Villa Hills junior, said. “It makes your time in the public
space much more enjoyable.” The four roommates do genuinely like being around each other, Brueher, a Franklin, Tennessee junior, said. “I feel like we spend a lot of time together for how busy we are,” Brueher said. “We do spend a lot of time in the common space, even though we do have our own private spaces. When we’re all out here, it’s always a party. We’re always doing something crazy, like playing chess.” Each of the Registry roomies have different reasons why they enjoy living together.
“My favorite thing about living with this particular group is our morning routine when it works,” McAndrews said. “We sometimes wake up early and eat breakfast and work on our homework before class.” Brueher said that McAndrews denied his breakfast and homework offer that particular morning. Nonetheless, they remain friends. “My favorite thing about living with this group is, beyond the apartment stuff, there’s always someone to chat to,” Brueher said. “If you’re ever feeling like you’re bored, you can
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WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
Jacqulyn Celeslie and Caitlyn Smith met using the Schools App and became quick friends after move-in day. The app matched the two based on a personality profile and a quiz. (Photos by Phoebe Alcala)
come out and chat.” Townsend agreed that the four roommates have meaningful chats, and said they also get competitive with board, card and video games, like Mario. Townsend said they all get along and rarely argue because they’re all level-headed and mature. They all attested to the fact that any conflict is easily resolved because they live together. The Registry roomies are obviously very funny, laid-back and enjoyable people. Amidst all the jokes and anecdotes, they mentioned how much they would miss rooming together next year.
First impression gone wrong
Editor’s note: The source of this bad roommate story requested to remain anonymous. She wants to keep her relationship with her old roommate as professional as possible. Anonymous met her roommate at H4, an Honors retreat, prior to the start of freshman year. They became friends and decided to room together last minute. “I regretted it from the moment I said yes, but it was just a year,” anonymous said. “I knew I was in for it when her mom indicated to me that I needed to mother her while she was
at school.” From the beginning, anonymous could tell that her personality clashed with her roommate’s. She expressed the stress that her roommate would force on her. “She didn’t know how to handle being away from her family even as a sophomore and just kept deflecting her anxiety onto me,” anonymous said. Her roommate would have panic attacks about procrastinating on assignments and release that panic as anger onto anonymous. “I’d say I’m pretty good at time management, and she would literally get mad that I had free time to the
point of yelling her frustrations and having regular panic attacks,” anonymous said. “I didn’t have much sympathy for her because she was constantly putting off studying until the last minute.” The situation between anonymous and her roommate progressively got worse. They continued to clash, and her roommate continued to regularly break into a frenzy. “She constantly wanted people to pity her and take care of all her problems and the breaking point was when I stopped coddling her,” anonymous said. “I experienced the most anxiety I had ever felt in my life — imagine not feeling welcome or safe in a small space that serves as your kitchen, study, living room and bedroom, as well as sharing it with another person.” Anonymous was typically a relaxed person, so this newfound anxiety was unnerving. Anonymous talked about how annoyed and rude her roommate would become if anonymous would have friends over in their room. She said her roommate acted that way on multiple occasions, so she tried to confront her, but her roommate would not face the issue. “The final straw was when she wouldn’t respect even my friends that would hangout with me,” anonymous said. “I spent most of my nights with my boyfriend who lives off campus. I finally told my mom what was happening and she was appalled. She came up the next weekend, and I signed a lease that Sunday.” Anonymous made the decision to move out for her health and sanity. She is now in a great roommate situation. “My new roommate now is awesome. She and I are very much alike, and I admire how hard of a worker she is,” she said.
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HOUSING GUIDE
Making the most of PFT Nashville freshman Caitlyn Smith and Chicago freshman Jacqulyn Celeslie are roommates residing among the 26 floors of Pearce Ford Tower. The two matched on the Schools App after describing their personalities and taking a quiz, then Smith messaged Celeslie on Instagram to start a conversation about becoming roommates. They explained the dynamic of living in PFT in terms of space. “We don’t really have enough space to be messy,” Celeslie said.
If there is a pile of clothes left on the floor, then space becomes even more limited than before. Smith said the advantage to this reality is that they always keep their room clean and organized. Smith and Celeslie said they have one of the most lively dorms in PFT. They decorate their door and room for every holiday. “Everyone is obsessed with our room because we have carpet, a Wii, television, decorations and four fans,” Smith said. That list contains many useful items, but the decorations are what
make their room feel like a home. In early February their room had red and pink signs on the door with XOXO balloons, a colorful heart blanket and a “Happy Valentine’s Day” pillow on the inside. When they rotate these decorations out, St. Patrick’s Day decorations will be set up. “What I love about living with her is that we’re besties,” Smith said. “That makes it easier because we can just hang out.” “You hear those stories about roommates that hate each other, and they hate being in their rooms,”
Celeslie said. “The only reason they’re in their room is to sleep. But for us, we spend the majority of our time here. We enjoy being together.” They have already created traditions of eating at a Japanese restaurant every Monday or Tuesday, playing Mario Brothers and shopping for holiday decorations together. Smith and Celeslie are living proof that the Schools App can work. WKU and the Schools App brought two people together that never would have met otherwise. They are now best friends and quite literally finish each other’s sentences.
NEW UNITS COMING APRIL 1st! 1, 2, & 3 BEDROOM APARTMENTS We provide quality housing for individuals and families that want a clean, comfortable place to live. (270) 320-6425 // COOKPM . COM Drawing from family tradition, Smith and Celeslie like to decorate their room for each holiday.
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Dorm Decor: Five ways to brighten your room on a college budget By Sydney Jones
A dorm room can sometimes feel like a prison. The gray walls, blinds that don’t always work and lack of space can make you feel like you’re suffocating. Lucky for you, there are countless ways to turn that cell into a palace, without going way over your budget.
1
The best way to brighten up any room, no matter how dull, is to literally brighten it up — with fairy lights! These lights come strung together and are just delicate enough to make you believe that your room has actually been inhabited by the tiny flying creatures. They can be strung with tiny, clear Command Hooks; you can get a pack of 40 hooks for $5.59 at Target. T.J. Maxx has six-foot strings of gold, silver, bronze or purple fairy lights for $7.99. In total, this easy and quick way to make your room a little happier will cost you $13.58.
the wall. Then cut your yarn so it is long enough to connect to the Command Hooks and tie each end of yarn to each hook. Michaels sells 10 yards of acrylic yarn in 14 different colors, each for $1.09. Finally, you can use clothespins (Meijer sells them in packs of 50 for $1.79) to hang those pictures, making your wall feel a little less gray and a little more like home. To make this project even more successful, you’ll have only spent $6.07 by the end.
3
The next option isn’t one you can make unless you want to learn how to use a loom: It’s a colorful blanket! This will add a pop of color to your room and brighten the entire space in just one step, and it’s a cozy addition, too. Target sells fuzzy throw blankets in several colors for $14.99, but if you’re willing to wait a few days, Amazon has a myriad of throw blankets in countless colors, starting at $8.97. You’ll feel warm inside when you see
this new, colorful addition to your dorm, and even warmer when you cuddle up with it!
4
You can’t scroll through Pinterest without seeing mason jars and ways to DIY with them. Well, you can’t read this list without that either! This next trick to brighten up your dorm calls for one or two mason jars of standard size, acrylic paint — in a color of your choice — and a Bob Ross-positive
2
Another great way to make your dorm feel a little more like home is to hang pictures. One of the cheapest ways to do this is using yarn and clothespins, as well as those trusty Command Hooks. If you don’t have any pictures to hang yet, do not fear! FreePrints is a photo app that allows you to print 85 pictures a month and sends them directly to your dorm, and all you pay is $1.99 for shipping! Once you have your pictures, space out two Command Hooks on
Louisville freshman Julia Fry decorated her Gilbert Hall room on a budget by buying small items such as a tapestry, fairy lights and a colorful blanket. (Photos by Hayley Watson)
attitude. Target sells mason jars for $1.97 apiece, but if you are looking to go Pinterest-crazy on some projects, Target also sells them in bulk packs of 12 for $8-12, depending on the size. Once you have your jar, use an acrylic paint to cover the inside. Michaels sells paint for 70 cents per two-ounce bottle and paint brushes in packs of five for $2.20. After the paint has dried, use your imagination! You can use this colorful jar to hold anything from makeup brushes to pens and pencils.
HOUSING GUIDE
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Louisville freshman Julia Fry believes it is important to have a cozy space to return to every day to decompress. Fry has made many of the decorations in her dorm room in Gilbert Hall including her lamp shade, closet curtain, wall-decor and many little plant pots. “I did a large National Park puzzle, glued it together and attached it to the wall over my desk,” Fry said. “Although the dorm life may seem dreadful, putting up some string lights, a colorful tapestry, personalized posters and paintings instantly give such a small room a more homey feel.”
If it’s strictly decoration you’re after, you can purchase fake flowers from Michaels in a pack of two for $1. This project should cost you between $4.87 and $20.67, depending on how many mason jars you want!
5
My fifth and final suggestion to turn your dorm into your favorite place on campus is a wall tapestry! It doesn’t have to be a mandala
pattern that costs you an arm and a leg, but it can sure cover up some of that empty space on the wall. Amazon sells these hanging masterpieces from $12.99 to $19.99, and the pattern possibilities are endless. If you don’t like patterns or you think a tapestry would ruin your vibe, look for a team flag instead. Support your favorite team, especially if it’s the Hilltoppers, and brighten up your wall space all in one step! Amazon sells flags from $5.99 to $29.95, depending on what you’re
looking for. Once you have your tapestry or flag, you can hang it up using Command Hooks, or you can hang it on string, like the photos in Project 2. The cost of this brand new look for your room will cost you between $11.98 and $39.62. If you haven’t been inspired to brighten by now, then a minute or two on Pinterest should do the trick! There’s no telling the happiness your dorm room will bring you when you show it a little love.
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HOUSING GUIDE
What kind of roommate are you? 1.
I spend
in my bedroom.
A. All my time B. Most of my time C. Some of my time D. None of my time
2.
It’s your 21st birthday. What are you doing?
A. Having a nice drink by myself B. Having some friends and family over C. Hitting the town D. Going out for the whole weekend
3.
On the weekend, I’m usually out until
A. 10 p.m. - 12 a.m. B. 1 a.m. - 2 a.m. C. 3 a.m. - 4 a.m. D. I don’t come home.
4.
House fridge rules:
A. If it’s not mine I don’t touch it. B. After 3 days anything is fair game. C. What house fridge? I have my own mini-fridge in my room. D. I take what I want.
5.
Roommates are going to bed: I should
7.
C. Just try to be quiet by midnight.
B. I wake up early with a cup of coffee. C. I guess I’ll roll out of bed. D. I’m skipping class.
MOSTLY
It’s finals week:
A B
You probably are reasonably social, but enjoy the company of one or two close friends. You are a reasonable, easy to be around roommate, not inconsiderate or overbearing.
C
You’re social, but probably not overly so. You value a good time but aren’t “on” all the time. You are probably energetic and a hassle when “on”, but with the right people, your place is always the place to be.
D
You are a social machine. Your roomates probably have a hard time keeping up. You need to find the right kind of roomates, or consider tidying things up a bit!
A. Let’s all go study on our own. B. Let’s help each other study. C. Let me bother you because I don’t want to work. D. I’m throwing a party!
YOUR RESULTS
You are likely quiet and content with your own company. You are likely a very considerate roommate who would inconvenience yourself before your roomies.
D. Who cares? They can wear headphones.
6.
How do you get up in the morning?
A. I’m going for a run!
A. Go to my own room and do what I’m doing quietly. B.Keep things at a respectable volume wherever I am.
Quiz by Sam Chumbley
22
WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
Don’t be duped:
Tips for living off campus
With the variety of apartments and rental houses in Bowling Green, choosing your first place to live off-campus can be intimidating. From landlords with a single apartment for rent to complexes with hundreds of openings, there are a lot of options. Your housing hunt will be successful if you follow a plan to evaluate those options. These tips were adapted from the Barren River Area Renters’ Handbook produced by the Homeless and Housing Coalition of South Central Kentucky. Find more tips and the full handbook at www. wkuapartments.com.
3.
Read the lease
Under Kentucky law, the lease determines your rights. The landlord will write the lease to protect his or her own rights and money, so you should make sure you’re protected too. If the lease doesn’t include clauses to protect your rights, write them in, and ask the landlord to agree to any changes in writing. If the landlord won’t accept changes, that could be another bad sign.
1.
Determine what you can afford
2.
Check the place out
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines affordable housing as spending no more than 30 percent of your income on rent and utilities. To determine what you can afford, calculate your total income for the school year by estimating pay from any jobs, residual money from loans and scholarships and any other income you might have. Divide your total income by the number of months you’ll be renting, then divide that by three to estimate the max you should spend on monthly rent.
Before signing a lease, always look at the place in person to be sure it is in good shape, safe and livable. Look for holes and stains on the walls, ceilings and floors, and make sure the plumbing and lights work correctly. If you find problems, think about renting somewhere else. A landlord who tries to rent a place before fixing any issues may be a sign of bad things to come.
4.
5.
Document damages
Once you’re moving in, document any pre-existing damages you come across. Take pictures of anything you find, and compile them in a list signed by you and your landlord. If you don’t document damages, you may be charged for them when moving out.
Be a responsible tenant
Make note of when your rent is due, and pay it on time each month to avoid any late fees. When maintenance issues arise, alert your landlord immediately. Being a good tenant will benefit you in the long run as properties you want to rent from in the future may contact your previous landlords for a reference check.
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