NEWS
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Challenges of house hunting With the deadline for UP-owned houses fast approaching, students moving off campus feel the pressure Students make connections for non-UP houses
Will Lyons Staff Writer lyons14@up.edu For students ready to brave the world off campus and move into a house, it may be harder than they think. The window of opportunity to find an off - campus house is quickly closing. With 45 percent of students living off campus in 2012 and some freshman seeking their first opportunity to live off campus next year, competition for houses in the University Park neighborhood is increasing. The deadline to apply for University - owned houses is Feb. 15, and homes owned by other landlords are filling up fast. With many students still searching for housing, students and landlords agree that applying early is the best way to secure a residence. Director of Residence Life Mike Walsh won’t know how many UP - owned houses will be available until current residents decide whether or not to stay. “The biggest perk of renting through the University is having your rent linked with Student Accounts,” Walsh said. “And we have an army of P-plant workers to fix your toilet.” Currently, 95 students live in University houses off campus. Walsh said all students have an equal shot at renting a home from the University. Juniors and seniors can apply for a University-owned house before Feb. 15 with a $100 down payment. Students seeking a University-owned house are invited to a series of open houses on Feb. 16 before the Feb. 20 housing selection day.
In terms of finding a house not owned by the University, who you know is key. Sophomore Alex Douglas is struggling to move from one offcampus house to another because of his need to rent May to May.
“The biggest perk of renting through the University is having your rent linked with Student Accounts. And we have an army of P-plant workers to fix your toilet.” Mike Walsh Director of Residence Life “When you’re looking so far ahead, you’re not taken seriously,” Douglas said. “As a college student you’re almost neglected.” Douglas hopes he can find a new residence before the end of the school year. “The fallback is to wait until summer,” Douglas said. “Something will come up in the next couple months, I’m sure.” Some students said the best way to find a house is to get in early with seniors who will be graduating in the spring. Junior Jessica Heitman knew seniors and got into her off-campus house simply by asking. “It kind of fell into my lap,” Heitman said. “I asked for it in September and everything worked out nicely.”
‘Hands on learning’
Contacting a landlord early proves to be one of the best ways to get a house. Bob Kessi, a UP alum who
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has 40 properties in the University Park neighborhood, gets calls as early as August for houses in May. “It’s a balancing act between letting current residents re-rent and letting new students in,” Kessi said. “I always appreciate students looking out early.” Kessi recognizes the struggles and benefits of renting to University students. “Renting to University students results in more hands on learning,” Kessi said. Will Lyons | THE BEACON “I have to let them know From right to left: Juniors Theo Clapp, Chloe Fearing and James Lange like what to call for, what I’m living off campus, even though it means adult responsibilities. The students responsible for and what adopted two cats now that they live in a house. Miller is on the rug. they’re responsible for.” Kessi believes the neighborhood benefits as students The semester just started, and it may seem like next fall is continue to move off campus. far away, but it’s already time to start thinking about housing “University students bring for next year. Here are some changes to be aware of: vibrance and security from what the neighborhood used to • A $100 deposit is would get their deposit be 15 years ago,” Kessi said. required for all students back if such a situation “New houses and fixed up applying for housing arose. old houses have improved the next year. • Deposits can be paid neighborhood.” • Students can apply online or through Even if it can be a struggle without paying the the Office of Student to find off - campus housing, deposit right away, but Accounts located in many students, like junior James students will not be put Waldshmidt Hall. Lange, believe living off campus on any housing list until • All housing applications affords the opportunity to learn the deposit is paid. must be submitted valuable life lessons, including • After the application is online. how to care for pets. Lange completed, the deposit • Applications and adopted two feral cats once he will be applied to the deposits must be moved off campus. room cost. submitted by Feb. 15 “I feel like I’m moving out • The deposit will not be for Haggerty/Tyson and of student-hood and into the refunded if a student rentals, or Feb. 24 for real world,” Lange said. “Yes, does not sign a housing all traditional residence paying bills and cleaning is a contract or cancels their halls. huge pain, but it hasn’t been contract. • One wing in Shipstad that bad, especially when you • Students will not be Hall will be converted have housemates you can work penalized if there is no to all male rooms. together with.” housing available, and - Lydia Lathe
Changes to on-campus housing
Flu and norovirus strike students UP has seen a sudden spike in illness, forcing students and staff to take extra care Nastacia Voisin Staff Writer voisin15@up.edu In one word, sophomore Anndres Olson describes having the norovirus as “exhausting.” She recently woke up nauseous and spent the next 24 hours throwing up. “I wasn’t able to keep anything down,” Olsen said. Olson is healthy now, but many other students on campus have come down with norovirus and flu. UP has seen a sudden spike in sickness. This year’s bout is peaking early, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has declared the current flu season an ‘epidemic,’ meaning that the current death toll has passed projected levels. Across campus, students are falling ill, swapping cures and doing what they can to get better or stay healthy. According to Susan Chisum, assistant director of primary care services at the Health Center, the norovirus is a particular threat on
campus. “We have seen quite a few students coming in here,” said Chisum. “In the community at large, there has been an increase of both influenza and the norovirus.” Chisum said college campuses are particularly susceptible to outbreaks of contagious illnesses like the norovirus and influenza. “Any place where you have a large number of people gathering is a potential source of contamination,” Chisum said. “Especially when you get people living in small living spaces like dormitories [and] classrooms, there is an increase of both illnesses.” Still, Chisum is confident that the flu “will it will run its course” as in past years. The CDC’s website says both the norovirus and influenza have overlapping symptoms, but there are differences. The flu hits quickly with an onset of a fever, followed by headaches, sore throat, a cough, body aches, fatigue and congestion. Influenza spreads
mainly through coughing and sneezing, and symptoms last on average from three to seven days. In contrast, the norovirus typically lasts between 24 and 72 hours and spreads through fecal germs. Symptoms are nausea and vomiting, a low grade fever, chills and body aches. Some residents of Shipstad Hall have already witnessed how fast the flu can spread. Stephanie Hampel, freshman and Shipstad hall receptionist, has observed this firsthand. “The flu has definitely become problematic for residents here,” said Hampel. “It started with just a few people, but it’s been working its way up the floors.” Hampel estimated roughly 20 to 30 students on one floor had come down with either illness recently. To fortify themselves against infection, some students have taken to drinking extra fluids. “I’ve been seeing a ton of students drinking Gatorade, Naked juice, and just downing tea,” Hampel said. After getting sick over the
Stephanie Matusiefsky | THE BEACON
Bon Appetit hopes to help stop the spread of germs by temporarily having a worker serve students at some stations, like the salad bar, where students would normally serve themselves. Here, junior Morgan McAllister serves salad to freshman Emily Nitzberg. weekend sophomore Justin Roberts has been trying to cure himself by drinking vitamin C – and large amounts of chicken soup. “I have two thermoses full,” Roberts said, holding up a container of soup.
Students aren’t the only ones making an effort to stem the spread of these illnesses. See Sickness, page 4