Whether you live on or off campus, Med Center Health at WKU Health Services is conveniently located to provide the urgent or primary care you need.
At WKU Health Services, we are committed to the health and wellbeing of the WKU community whether you live on or off campus. We are here to help if you don’t feel well or if you have a chronic condition that needs management, like diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety and more.
Monday-Thursday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Friday: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Schedule
Conveniently located at the corner of Normal Drive and Regents on the campus of Western Kentucky University.
Morgan Schroeder, PA-C
Demara Goodrich, APRN
Miranda Bonner, APRN
First Apartment Must-Haves
Moving Day Playlist
Interior Design for Function + Style
Bucket List Housing Edition
Conflict Q&A with an RA
Cooking in Small Spaces
COVER DESIGN BY MADELINE POWELL AND SARAH THOMPSON
CHERRY CREATIVE LEADERSHIP STAFF
Nicole Johnson
Creative Director
Bobbi Coffee
Writing Editor
Madeline Powell
Multimedia Editor
Sarah Thompson
Design Editor
Keelin Davis
Advertising Manager
Sam Oldenburg
Cherry Creative Adviser
Avari Stamps
Advertising Adviser
DESIGN
Shyanne Williams
Sarah Woodson
Van Zing
PHOTO
Tess Tinsely
Myah Griffin
Hanna Kronfeld
Lindsey McIntosh
WRITING
Hayley Barton
Irina Boarman
KC Ciresi
ADVERTISING
Olivia Games
Harrison Rogers
COVER MODELS (CLOCKWISE FROM UPPER LEFT) : Emma Endress, Keelin Elmer, Mary Shawhan, Madelyn Wilder, Kaitlyn Webb, Rowan Wilkinson, Sam Brophy
All full-time undergraduate students are required to live on campus for two years. Don’t sign a lease off campus assuming you’ll be granted an exception; few exceptions are made to the required housing policy. Find the full policy online at wku.edu/housing. WKUApartments.com is operated by Cherry Creative, part of WKU Student Publications, and is not affiliated with WKU Housing & Residence Life.
Starting From Scratch First Apartment Must Haves
Plants
Finding low-maintenance greenery is a lifesaver, they make your space look alive, even if you keep forgetting to
Save your money, your mornings and your will to function.
Your apartment’s overhead lighting might have the ambiance of a hospital waiting room. With a lamp, you can warm up your space with a soft glow instead.
Coffee Maker Lamp
Story by Bobbi Coffee | Photos by Myah Griffin
Crumbs pile up like they pay rent. Always be one step ahead of them.
Scented candles
Make your place smell like vanilla, pine or citrus sunrise — now that you can finally have them in your room.
First aid kit
You’re inevitably going to cut yourself breaking down boxes or assembling furniture.
Something will break, and Googling “how to fix ____ without tools” never ends well.
Vacuum Tool kit
L I V E I N S P I R E D A
LIVE INSPIRED AT MUSE Plant
your Roots
A t M u s e , w e p r i o r i t i z e o u r r e s i d e n t s a n d s t r
c r e a t e a v i b r a n t , i n c l u s i v e c o m m u n i t y . O u r
o n
At Muse, we prioritize our residents and strive to create a vibrant, inclusive community. Our focus is on fostering a fun and engaging environment wher e everyone feels at home. We are committed to continuous growth and improvement, encouraging our community to do the same. Plant your roots and grow with us at Muse Bowling Green.
E x p e r i e n c e
Experience
W e o f f e r m o d e r n a m e n i t i e s d e s i g n e d f o r c o m f o
c o n v e n i e n c e . R e s i d e n t s e n j o y a r e s o r t - s t y l e p o
f i t n e s s c e n t e r , s t u d y l o u n g e s , a n d a c l u b h o u s e
W i t h h i g h - s p e e d i n t e r n e t , p e t - f r i e n d l y s p a c e s ,
a p a r t m e n t s , M u s e p r o v i d e s e v e r y t h i n g n e e d e d
l i v i n g e x p e r i e n c e
We offer modern amenities designed for comfort and convenience. Residents enjoy a resort-style pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, study lounges, and a clubhouse for social events. With high-speed internet, pet-friendly spaces, and stylish apartments, Muse provides everything needed for a well-rounded living experience.
H o m e
Home
M u s e i s t h e p e r f e c t p l a c e t o c a l l h o m e , o f f e r i
f u r n i s h e d a p a r t m e n t s w i t h m o d e r n d e s i g n s , i n
a p p l i a n c e s , a n d g r e a t r a t e s . O u r d e d i c a t e d s
e n s u r e s a w e l c o m i n g a n d s u p p o r t i v e e n v i r o n m
m a k i n g y o u r l i v i n g e x p e r i e n c e b o t h c o m f o r t a
e n j o y a b l e .
Muse is the perfect place to call home, offering fully furnished apartments with modern designs, included appliances, and great rates. Our dedicated staff ensures a welcoming and supportive environment, making your living experience both comfortable and enjoyable.
Interior Design for Function and Style
Story by KC Ciresi | Photos by Hanna Kronfeld
TOP: Mary Wooters, an interior design major at WKU uses her space to express herself. BOTTOM LEFT: Floral decorations add a warmth and brightness to the space. BOTTOM MIDDLE: Adding pillows and stuffed animals to your bed show your personal style and individualizes your space. BOTTOM RIGHT: You can put your favorite quote/print up on the wall to give yourself motivation, while also adding a pop of color.
Organizing and decorating a small living space is both a practical necessity and a chance for personal expression as college students navigate busy campus life. Balancing functionality with style is key. With a few expert tips, students can transform their dorm or first apartment into an organized, efficient and visually appealing home base.
Bowling Green senior Mary Louise Wooters, who is pursuing a major in interior design with a certificate in floristry, has many ways to tackle this challenge and make your dorm feel like your own.
When space is tight, making the most of every inch is crucial. Wooters recommends packing only things you already use in your daily life.
“If you’re not someone who cooks a lot, don’t bring cooking supplies,” Wooters said. “You’ll just end up with extra dishes and things you never use.”
For those who do like to cook, she recommends a minimalist approach.
“Be realistic about what you’re going to use. If you don’t make big meals, there’s no need to bring a giant skillet. Maybe one of those small ones from TJ Maxx,” Wooters said.
Wooters suggests grouping all kitchen-related items in one area to avoid misplacement and clutter.
“Rolling carts are fantastic for storage,” she said. “They’re great for things like utensils, water bottles and even snacks.” Decorating a dorm room can be a delicate balancing act, especially when sharing the space with a roommate. “Be willing to switch things up. Have a couple of different aesthetics,” Wooters said.
“If you’re rooming with someone, be open-minded about the design process,” Wooters said. “You might want different aesthetics, but that’s OK.”
She emphasizes flexibility and recommends starting with a conversation about expectations.
“If they really want a WKU-themed room, choose maybe another color that would look really good with red,” Wooters said.
Even though college dorm rooms may be temporary, they can still feel like home with a little effort.
“It sounds kind of silly, because it’s
like a temporary space,” Wooters said. “At the same time, you still want to make it your own. You want to make it pretty and cute — that is your space.”
She recommends switching decor up now and then to keep the area fresh.
“It’s all about the small touches,” Wooters said. “At Christmas time, I bought Nutcracker pillows that kind of had both of our colors in them. So that way it tied it into her side but also tied it into my side.”
Finding items that blend both roommates’ styles can help avoid clashes and create a shared comfortable space.
“Our chairs are yellow, a very kind of weird shade of yellow which we didn’t really like at first. But we got some cute blankets and made our chairs look different,” she said.
When it comes to organizing and decorating a dorm, Wooters suggests starting with the basics.
Although most of the books won’t be read on a daily basis, having a book shelf adds a lot of design value to the space. It takes up a lot of wall area, without looking busy.
“Get baskets, pop-up bins, or rolling carts to keep things tidy,” Wooters said.
She suggests getting simple storage solutions from places like Target. “Just throw your stuff in there,” she said. “I do really well just tossing my stuff in a bucket.”
Even if you can’t get off campus to shop, there are plenty of ways to find unique decor.
“Look for events on campus where students are selling items or offering deals,” Wooters said. “I know there’s also poster people that come to campus
sometimes, and they usually set up in the Centennial Mall area or inside DSU. They just hang all kinds of posters. They have anything from anime all the way to girly pop things.”
Additionally, she highlighted the value of campus resources like the print club, where students create affordable, oneof-a-kind prints. Wooters recommends utilizing the print club as a cheaper option for wall decor.
“I think what people also don’t realize is you don’t need to go buy an expensive print for your wall,” she said. “You can
just get on your computer and find something cute on Pinterest and then print it out on campus. The color quality may not be all the way there, but once you put it in a frame, it’s gonna be way better.”
At the end of the day, dorm decorating is all about creating a space that feels uniquely yours while balancing the limitations of shared space and budget. With these expert tips, students can turn their dorms into functional, stylish retreats where they can relax, study and make lasting memories.
START THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT
Personalizing a desk can be made easy with adding an initial and other personal belongings.
Pillows and table trays add more character to a space. If they were removed, the space would look dull and empty.
BUCKET LIST HOUSING EDITION
Story by Bobbi Coffee | Illustration by Van Zing
Decorate the apartment for a holiday
Nothing says festive like covering your space with hot-glued decor at 2 a.m. Handmade decor means no one will have the same aesthetic as you.
Go thrift for a fashion show
Hit the thrift stores, find the weirdest (or best) outfits and strut the living room runway like it’s Fashion Week. The true MVP will commit to the outfit all day.
Host a book club night
Pick a book, grab your friends and pretend you’re sophisticated intellectuals (even if you just read the summary).
Create a vision board for the year
Manifest your dream life with magazine clippings, Pinterest quotes and way too much glitter glue. Even if it doesn’t work, your wall will still look inspirational.
Host a mocktail & karaoke night
Belt out your favorite song with no shame, preferably with a fancy non-alcoholic drink in hand. Try to figure out which one of your friends will have the most questionable song choice.
Have a PowerPoint Night
Gather your friends and create a presentation on a random or funny topic. Deep dive into absolutely anything, from “Why Crocs Are the Superior Shoe” to “Ranking Disney Villains by Tax Evasion Potential.” The more unhinged, the better.
Make a DIY coffee or hot cocoa bar
Set up a station with syrups, whipped cream and toppings to give yourself the ultimate caffeine (or sugar) fix. Turn your kitchen into a mini cafe without paying for overpriced drinks.
Host a themed dinner party
Pick a theme — taco night, breakfast for dinner, pasta bar. Go all in and make a night out of it because pancakes for dinner just hit different. Everyone can chip in, so it’s budget-friendly!
Have a “come as your type” night.
Show up dressed as your ideal person to date, and let everyone approve or judge your taste. If nothing else, it’s a great way to expose each other’s dating patterns.
Roommate Realities Conflict Q&A with an RA
Story by Irina Boarman | Illustrations by Sarah Woodson
Having roommate troubles? Look no further! Louisville senior and former resident assistant Julia Connelly is here to help! Connelly dealt with a lot of roommate situations during her time as an RA.
Say your roommate has no sense of personal space or tells you way more than you want to know. What should you do?
Talk to your RA about it. They can facilitate the conversation for you. If you’re not comfortable with that, just start out by making little comments and see if they pick up on the fact that you’re uncomfortable. Hint at the uncomfortableness.
Then if that doesn’t work, be straightforward. Sometimes people are just used to oversharing and don’t know when they’re being too much. They need somebody to call them out.
What if your roommate is bad at cleaning? How should you deal with that?
I feel like for cleaning, you can tell someone to keep it on their side. If you’re OK with their mess and you can stand it, keep it on your side. Make a list to divide up cleaning and feel free to edit it as you go. Usually you need vacuuming, wiping down surfaces, stuff like that.
You can take turns and go back and forth. Set up a level boundary. Like, trash and food laying around is unacceptable, but clothes are OK. It’s very much communicating and setting boundaries.
How would you approach your roommate about borrowing things without permission?
I’ve had a roommate borrow without permission. If she had just asked, I would’ve said yes. I was very upfront with her, like, ‘Hey, I know you took this. That’s not OK with me.’ But that doesn’t work with all people.
Everything’s very case by case. If they keep taking things, talk to your RA about writing up a contract. If it gets to a point where it’s so bad, you can work with the area coordinator and switch roommates. If a roommate keeps doing illegal things, they have processes to fix that.
Maybe your roommate is an old friend from high school, and as you start to branch out and make new friends, they start to become possessive. What advice do you have?
I don’t know if it’s good advice or not, but you can find them somebody else to latch onto. If you’re like ‘OK, this is not my person, I need freedom, you can help them find somebody.
It’s not your responsibility, but it might help take the pressure off of you for them to have somebody else to share their time with. Sometimes being possessive over somebody can come from a place of feeling lonely and that they’re losing their source of socialization.
Now you have an unexpected third roommate. What do you do about a constant guest?
This is a situation where so many things can go wrong. If all else fails, make a contract. Say that these are the days where it’s allowed and these are the days where it’s not. I feel like some people don’t explain to their roommate why they don’t want a guest around all the time. They’re just like, ‘Don’t do it.’ It’s valid to feel that way, but sometimes you need to spell it out for that person.
Tell them that it’s uncomfortable to share a space with someone you don’t know. I feel like that can garner some sympathy from the other person. Say, ‘Maybe you can go to their place sometimes.’ Find a balance, so it’s not just one-sided. If you can’t figure it out yourselves, talk to your RA and they will find a fair compromise.
Agree on a few days, and then you can give them permission outside of those days. Some people feel like they’re taken advantage of. If they’re originally OK with somebody having people over often, then it starts to feel unfair. If you do a contract, then you can say it’s out of your hands, blame it on the RA. From an RA’s perspective, blame it on the RA if it makes your life easier.
What if you have different sleep schedules?
I would say just be courteous, especially if they’re a light sleeper. You can find easy ways around that. When you’re getting ready in the morning, be quiet. Some of the noise is unavoidable. It’s just courtesy. You want to respect them so they respect you. It should be a two-way street.
Imagine you have a neighbor who is noisy all the time. What should you do about it?
There’s only so much you can do. You’re allowed to make noise, but there are quiet hours. You can file a complaint with the desk assistant, and they can send an RA to tell them to quiet down.
Don’t be scared to use your RA, it’s not like you’re snitching. It’s just a mediator. There are so many people that don’t feel comfortable addressing things themselves. Once someone has so many offenses, they’ll get annoyed enough being called into behavioural meetings with the hall director enough to stop.
How do you deal with someone that doesn’t respect you? No matter what you do, they just don’t care?
You can try to find a reason to make them care. If they’re repeatedly using your things, maybe ask, ‘What if I started using all of your things?’ Eventually, maybe something will strike a chord, and they’ll start to listen more. They have to care to a certain extent because of housing contracts.
As a friend, I’d say maybe give them a taste of their own medicine. If they’re noisy when you try to sleep, be noisy when they try to sleep. People sometimes don’t want to be sensitive to things that they haven’t experienced. Once they experience them, they’ll be a little bit more sensitive to those things. But you have to be careful because you could just make it worse. As an
RA, I would say find someone to rant to about it. If it’s something you can live with, where it’s just frustrating, sometimes you need somebody to air out your frustrations to. You just need somebody to validate that it’s OK to feel that way, instead of letting it build up inside you. You can handle a lot more than you think if you have somebody to validate it’s a hard thing.
“Don’t be scared to use your RA, it’s not like you’re snitching.”
-Julia Connelly
Located just steps away from WKU, Midtown offers apartments with furniture packages and modern finishes tailored to student living. Enjoy private bedrooms, spacious common areas, and a vibrant community designed for ultimate convenience and comfort.
WHY MIDTOWN?
Walk to Campus in Minutes
Furniture Packages Available
High-Speed Internet & Utilities Included
Resort-Style Pool & Fitness Center
Study Lounges & Social Events
One Pan Wonder Cooking in Small Spaces
Story by Hayley Barton | Photos by Lindsey McIntosh | Illustrations by Sarah Thompson
After coming home from a long day of classes the last thing you want to do is cook. Creating a menu, grocery shopping, cleaning up after cooking — it can all feel like too much to handle.
Pineville sophomore Mikayla Gambrel said she loves the benefits that come with cooking: saving money, feeling more productive, having control over what goes into her meals and pride in herself. To add to the benefits she gains from cooking for herself she also looks at it as a form of self care.
“I do think of cooking as self care because it makes me feel better about myself, my health, my body, and what I am fueling myself with,” Gambrel said.
This makes her not only feel good physically but also mentally. Having these benefits then leads to her having a better performance in her classes.
To fit cooking into busy days, Gambrel prepares ahead of time to make quick meals. One easy-to-prepare option that she enjoys is pasta. Another way she likes to get ahead on long days is preparing slow-cooker meals like soup.
“Coming home to an already cooked meal gives me one less thing to worry about during the day,” Gambrel said.
The night before she plans to make the soup she sets out her
chicken to thaw. Then, the next morning she wakes up a bit earlier than usual to cut up her chicken. She uses disposable liners for her slow cooker to make the clean up process easy which is also helpful. At the end of the day, she returns home to a ready-to-eat meal that brings her a taste of home.
“Cooking my mother’s chicken noodle soup recipe reminds me of cozy winter nights with my family,” Gambrel said.
One-pan meals are another way Gambrel likes to make cooking easy. Using only one pan simplifies the cooking and makes the cleanup easier. Other meals can require a lot of pans and utensils. A one-pan recipe that Gambrel likes to prepare is barbecue chicken and potatoes.
“I enjoy cooking this meal because it gives me an easy way to have protein and a side for dinner. I also like the fact that if I want to make it a bit fancier I can cook some extra sides like corn and rolls,” Gambrel said.
So cooking may seem like a daunting task for college students. Gambrel shows how it can be manageable and very rewarding to make a home cooked meal. Whether it be from something that was quick and easy or a family recipe, making a meal can be good at the end of a long day.
Mikayla Gambrel cooks barbecue chicken for dinner in her off-camus apartment. She recommends cooking to save money and have control over the meals she eats.
Barbecue Chicken and Potatoes
2 Servings
Ingredients
2 large potatoes, cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup barbecue sauce
1 teaspoon rosemary or thyme (optional)
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
Recipe
1. Preheat your oven to 400 F. Line a large baking sheet or a rimmed baking pan with aluminum foil. You want enough space for both the chicken and potatoes without overcrowding.
2. Wash and peel (optional) the potatoes, then cut them into cubes. Spread the potatoes on one side of the pan and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Then, season them with garlic powder, rosemary or thyme, 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper.
3. Place the chicken breasts on the other side of the baking sheet, leaving space between them and the potatoes. Drizzle the chicken breasts with the remaining olive oil. Season both sides of the chicken with paprika, onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper.
4. Bake the chicken and potatoes for about 25 minutes. After, remove the sheet from the oven and brush the chicken with barbecue sauce. Toss the potatoes to ensure even cooking. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 F and the potatoes are golden and tender.
5. Once everything is cooked, remove the pan from the oven. Let the chicken rest for five minutes before serving.
