Maroon Life Housing Guide 2021

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It’s no secret: There’s something special about this place. It has a spirit that can ne’er be told, a vision that can’t be contained and an Aggie community that never wavers. We at the Texas A&M Foundation work hard to build a brighter future for Texas A&M University because we believe it is worth protecting the things that differentiate Aggieland as a unique institution of higher learning. learning.

As a nonprofit organization and the primary academic fundraising institution for Texas A&M, we build and sustain relationships between former students, friends and the university to support scholarships, faculty research, campus facilities, college programs and student activities. Aggieland is our home, and it’s where we partner with you to lay the foundation for a brighter tomorrow.

Learn more about our mission at txamfoundation.com.

Building a brighter future for Texas A&M University

AggieSearch is Texas A&M University’s only official off-campus housing search website.

Off-Campus Housing Listing Service A fully searchable database that allows students, parents, faculty/staff and guests to find off-campus housing that meets their needs.

Roommate Finder AggieSearch allows you to create a profile and search for roommates in the Bryan/College Station community.

Educational Resource Center Browse sample documents, including checklists, budgets, roommate considerations, suggested questions for property owners and more!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 || DORM LIFE

LOW INCOME HOUSING || 20

BY ALEX STEBEL

BY AMINA BUTT

05 || LIVING WITH ROOMMATES

HOUSE LIFE || 21

BY JULIA POTTS

07 || INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

BY AUBREY VOGEL

GREEK LIFE HOUSING || 24

BY AMINA BUTT

BY MICHAELA RUSH

08 || EMERGENCY RESOURCES

BY BEC MORRIS

10 || APARTMENT LIFE

BY MYRANDA CAMPANELLA

14 || DIY DECOR

BY JESSICA LE

15 || FURNITURE FINDS

EDITORIAL STAFF

BY LAUREN DISCHER

Brady Stone, Editor-in-Chief

17 || ADOPTING A PET

BY SHELBY MCVEY

18 || TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

BY AUBREY VOGEL

XX — THE BATTALION

Cover art by Gabrielle Shreve

Myranda Campanella, Managing Editor Amina Butt, Special Sections Editor Hannah Underwood, Sports Editor Will Nye, Photo Chief Abbey Santoro, Asst. Photo Chief Cori Eckert, Head Page Designer Victoria Ramirez, Page Designer

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FILE

Texas A&M University is home to 71,109 students as of Fall 2020.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Special sections editor Amina Butt aims to support Aggies with this housing guide

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Howdy! s the special sections editor, I am honored to be a part of this year’s Housing Guide and to provide a helpful resource for students. As the past year has proven, there are a lot of unexpectancies that can come into our lives. While the move to College Station can be an overwhelming experience for some, our goal with this guide is to provide a helpful resource for students about how to make your experience as an Aggie an enjoyable and memorable one.

After spending the majority of my year at home, it’s become more evident to me how important our living environment is to our well-being. For the majority of students, where we live determines where we will learn, study, exercise, socialize and unwind. Therefore, it’s important to feel comfortable at your home away from home.

With a wide range of living opportunities within the area, it’s beneficial to

know all possible options and make the decision that is best for you. Whether you end up deciding to live on campus, in an apartment or in a house, this housing guide has important information to consider when moving to College Station.

Knowing what housing option is best for you is helpful. Countless students have experienced roommate disagreements, high living expenses, poor housing management and a lack of amenities.

By informing students ahead of time about some of these potential red flags and giving them the resources they need, we hope to prepare them for an enjoyable, stress-free living situation.

Aggieland has and will always hold a special place in my heart. I have had the privilege of living in College Station my entire life. Growing up, I remember visiting A&M’s campus for the first time for a school field trip. I was only six years old, and I could never comprehend attending such a beautiful place. Since

then, my parents have always encouraged me to pursue higher education, and the fact that I have the opportunity to be a first generation college student at A&M makes this place even more meaningful to me.

As I finish my college education at A&M this coming May, I can’t help but look back on the many unforgettable memories made right here in Aggieland.

Whether it was my first A&M football game in the student section or attending my first Ring Dunk, I quickly realized that when Aggies do something, they do it together. Community is a big part of the many traditions here at Aggieland, and it’s one of the many things that makes A&M stand out.

With nearly 70,000 students attending the university, this community shares its good times with one another but also its hard times. With unexpected events from the COVID-19 pandemic to snow storms, the Aggie community sticks together and provides resources for those

in need.

Finding the right housing in Bryan-College Station is another challenge that has emerged as the student body continuously grows. Being a College Station native, apartment and housing construction has immensely picked up throughout the years. Thankfully, that means there is no shortage of housing options. With that being said, it’s important for students to consider location, their ideal rent and what amenities are most important to them when deciding where to live.

Coming to a new place can be scary and challenging, but Aggies at The Battalion hope to make the process seamless with tips on deciding where to live, choosing roommates and finding your home away from home so students can make memories of a lifetime at A&M. Amina Butt is a telecommunication media studies senior and special sections editor for The Battalion.

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Aggies find friends in on-campus housing

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Krueger Hall was constructed in 1972 and is named after Carl C. “Polly” Krueger, Class of 1912.

Dorms offer convenient option for students to ease into independence

By Alex Stebel @alexsteb11 While the university does not require students to live on campus their first year of college or thereafter, for some students dorm living opens doors to opportunities they would have otherwise missed out on.

Texas A&M offers 25 residence halls to all students, as well as 12 Corps Dorms for members of the Corps of Cadets and two apartment-style dorms on campus. These dorms provide students with a variety of conveniences to assist them as they tackle their transition to college life, though dorms can also include downsides.

Animal science sophomore Erica Oh re-

sided in the White Creek Apartments for her freshman year. Oh said since she was moving to Texas from out of state, it was important for her to live close to campus.

“I decided to live in a dorm because I live in California, so being from out of state I didn’t really know there [was] off-campus housing for freshmen,” Oh said. “But I honestly wanted to live on campus so I could be close to everything, and I didn’t have my car freshman year.”

During move-in day, Oh said her whole family was able to help her get settled in her home, making it memorable for her.

“That was my first time even seeing my room, and then moving in with my family was really fun and meeting all my roommates’ family, too,” Oh said. “Overall, it was a good experience.”

In contrast to Oh’s move-in date before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, biol-

ogy freshman and Lechner Hall resident Evan Weldon said he experienced a less exciting move-in day in the fall of 2020.

“I guess with COVID[-19] it was kind of quiet,” Weldon said. “I drove in with my family. It was kind of nice because my older brother happened to be in town so he helped me move in, but it wasn’t particularly memorable.”

Weldon said in the future when students move into their dorms, he recommends they try and meet as many neighbors as possible to enhance the experience.

“I would say to [new residents], be as extroverted as you can be and try to meet people early on,” Weldon said. “It’s hard because of COVID[-19] we were assigned a move-in date, too, so I would say if you’re moving in late it can be harder.”

Although Weldon missed out on a traditional move-in day, he said he was still able to

form a friend group in his dorm due to their close proximity and natural connection.

“Just in passing in the halls, we started talking in the halls and that was it,” Weldon said. “I would say the biggest pro is living in close proximity to your friends.”

Mathematics freshman Erin Burns of Mosher Hall said what she will miss the most about living in a dorm is having all the on-campus amenities just steps away from her bedroom.

“It’s very convenient because everything you need is on campus pretty much, and with the meal plan I don’t have to worry about cooking my meals, it’s all right there. Just everything’s convenient,” Burns said.

Since moving out of her dorm last spring, Oh said she misses the social aspects as well as the benefits of her former meal plan’s dining dollars. “[I miss] being able to go down and get food with my dining dollars and being able to walk into people’s rooms,” Oh said. “You live around people that are your age, so it was fun to meet people in your hall.”

Aside from the benefits of being so close to peers, having to give up personal space to live on campus proves a challenge to most students. Weldon said for him, having to be mindful of his roommate’s conflicting schedule has been one of the biggest inconveniences of living in a dorm.

“That’s the one thing about not having your own space, is that sleep schedules can become a problem depending on how people work,” Weldon said. “Because it’s college, so everybody’s sleep schedule is different. It changes day by day.”

Burns said despite being forced to share a room with someone this past year and dealing with the inconvenient factors involved, she is still able to see the positives.

“It has taught me to live with another person and to make compromises,” Burns said.

“I also learned to keep my space clean and respect other people.”

Although Burns and Weldon have had to deal with restrictions to their on-campus activities due to COVID-19 this school year, Oh said one of her favorite memories of living in a dorm last year was spending quarantine with her best friends at White Creek.

“What was most memorable was meeting Hannah and Zoe, honestly, but also being quarantined at White Creek,” Oh said. “That was pretty fun because a bunch of us had stayed and we just did school all together.”

Oh said even with the ups and downs of dorm living, she recommends students live in a dorm at least for their first year at A&M. “Other than the inconveniences, living in the dorms really was such an amazing experience,” Oh said. “I hope everyone gets the chance to [during] their freshman year.”

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Roommate communication critical during COVID-19

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Electronic system engineering and technology junior August Worley says a good relationship with your roommates can be achieved by regulating the time you spend with one another.

Students share tips to make sharedspace living easier during pandemic

By Julia Potts @juliaapotts Over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, people have grown accustomed to staying at home for most of the day, and so have their roommates.

As anyone knows, the more time spent with someone in a confined space, the more likely arguments are to come up. College roommates are no exception. While many students know the normal struggles of living with others, be it dirty dishes in the sink or trash piled in the garbage can, being stuck in one place does not help.

Manufacturing and mechanical engineering junior Jorel Decipulo has lived both on and

off campus throughout the course of the pandemic, but he said living off campus has felt more confining.

“Both experiences definitely felt more empty than they used to, with less people going around,” Decipulo said. “Living off campus felt cramped having to stay home with the same people most of the time. Living on campus, however, feels more open in the sense that there’s more study spaces, more parking and shorter lines for campus resources these days.”

Regulating the time spent with each other can help with the close quarters, electronic system engineering and technology junior August Worley said.

“Usually what we do to stay sane is communicate when we want company and when we’d rather keep to ourselves,” Worley said.

“Spending time together, but only a limited amount of time, has helped us a lot.”

Like many students after their freshman year, kinesiology junior Frank Serrata moved off campus with friends, and he said his experience during the pandemic has not been too difficult.

“Besides more dishes to wash and slower Wi-Fi, I personally haven’t experienced many issues with everyone being at home,” Serrata said. “I’m thankful for the roommates I have.”

According to a study done by the University of Wyoming, some important things to consider when dealing with roommate living issues include good communication and sharing responsibilities.

Serrata said communication is needed to resolve issues with roommates in order to avoid any hard feelings later on.

“The one thing to remember is that although we’re college students, we’re still adults,” Serrata said. “Sometimes to get through things you have to sit down and [talk]. Throwing

shade behind each other’s backs or ignoring the problem entirely will only lead to soured relationships and an uncomfortable living environment, both of which no one deserves or needs, especially with how stressful times already are.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused people to live differently, learn differently and, ultimately, interact differently. But there are ways to maintain healthy relationships with roommates without escalating issues. Decipulo said respect plays a major role in household relationships.

“Like any case, be respectful yet firm about what you want them to change,” Decipulo said. “Avoid the nuclear options as much as you can, and be patient. Habits don’t disappear in a day, so you might have to keep reminding them. Be considerate of what they might be going through, too. It’s not exactly ideal to pursue your passions through Zoom.”

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International students find home in Aggieland FILE

A&M’s diverse student population provides comfort, inclusion for all

By Michaela Rush @Michaela4Batt As the population of Texas A&M’s student body continues to grow, so does its number of international students. According to the university’s student demographics, international students made up 7.2 percent, or around 5,150 students, of the flagship campus’s total enrollment in the fall of 2020.

The international student population is not limited to a singular country or continent.

There is diversity not only in nationality, but also in their experiences attending school in the United States.

One Korean student is statistics sophomore Brian Park. Though Park’s family lives in South Korea, he attended high school in Bryan and said his experience at A&M has been great thus far, as he has made stronger connections with his peers.

“Coming to A&M, there’s a lot of international students from Europe and all over the world. I have a lot of friends from Colombia [and] Mexico,” Park said. “It’s kinda new be-

cause in high school I didn’t have the chance to meet people like that. Seeing people who are in the same place I am right now, meeting with them, is pretty cool. It’s a community.”

Park said in terms of acclimation, A&M’s administration and student body have been welcoming to non-domestic students like himself, and the blend is beneficial for all.

“School-wise, it’s not that different. I could describe international students ... who go to A&M as the same as people with citizenship, with just a need for more documentation,” Park said. “The number of international students is increasing as well. For people who have citizenship but who have never seen international students, it makes it easier for them to make friends with us.”

The International Student Association, or ISA, provides cultural learning opportunities to all students, while assisting international students with the transition to life as a college student in the U.S. Architectural engineering senior Ajil Mathews is the current outreach chair for ISA and attended part of high school in College Station. He said his experience as an international student from Dubai made him interested in connecting with other international students, both undergraduate and graduate.

“My sophomore year I wanted to join an organization that would help and benefit A&M,” Mathews said. “With me being an international student, I was like, ‘How can my voice be heard more?’”

Like Park, Mathews noticed a large difference in the demographic of students going from high school to college, which he said helped his transition to higher learning.

“When I came to college, even though I was an international student, I was able to blend in much easier compared to high school because there were so many different cultural organizations that tried to help me make the transition,” Mathews said. “A&M has a presence of all these multicultural orgs — it’s a more welcoming experience for new people.

It makes it feel like we’re back at home.”

International Student Services, or ISS, provides a support system to international students at A&M. In addition to helping with the volume of paperwork and documentation, being an international students requires they also offer events and education to all students.

Psychology senior and ISS event coordinator Ana Samira Mina said her inspiration to apply for the job came from her family’s history and her desire to connect with her peers.

“I started learning more about the position

and incorporating international students and helping them adjust here; that’s very important to me,” Mina said. “My parents are immigrants from Bangladesh, and my granddad was an Aggie in the 1960s. He was one of the first Bengalis to graduate with a Ph.D.” Though Mina is not an international student herself, she said she feels her family’s background has made the connection between her and international students much more authentic.

“At home, I live in a certain culture, and outside, I live in a certain culture. I blend both of them on a daily basis,” Mina said. “I’ll see people on campus and they have the same language [as my parents] and I’ll be translating in my head … It’s a special connection that not everyone gets to have, and when you do have that it’s really comforting.”

Park said his biggest piece of advice to incoming international students is to take care of their documentation, but also to get involved socially right away.

“Take care of your I-20, and try to join clubs as much as possible,” Park said. “Try to get involved in school stuff, not just studying. It helps a lot to build up community. Enjoy life here, make friends and try to act like you’re home, it’ll help you with that.”

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Emergency essentials

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Emergency Phone Number Guide:

Flashlight When the power went out across the state in February, many found it difficult to be productive after the sun went down. While phone flashlights come in handy, their batteries drain quickly when emitting light for extended periods of time. And if the power doesn’t come on quickly, the phone can die. Thus, keeping a flashlight in an easy-toaccess location can allow for some work to be done and for better, safer navigation within a darkened dwelling.

Charged power banks

Photo by Will Nye — THE BATTALION, PROVIDED

From first aid kits to non-perishable food, there are several essentials students need in case of emergency.

News editor Bec Morris shares 10 items to have on-hand in case of emergency

By Bec Morris @BecWrote When natural disasters hit or tragedy strikes out of the blue, college students are often unprepared. As Texas A&M has seen in the past year, everyone should be ready for unexpected life disruptions. Whether it be a fire, a pandemic, a break in or a dangerous weather event, there are items that can make a disaster less devastating.

Here is a list of some essentials students should keep on hand to stay safe and well in case of emergency situations or hazardous events:

Fire extinguisher Every on-campus student has heard the frequent fire alarms coming from various dorms. You never know when one of those cleverly hidden candles will decide to share its warmth or a cup of mac and cheese will start to burn. Small fires can easily be put out in the moment with a fire extinguisher. Just make sure the extinguisher is up to code, and this tool will come in handy.

First aid kit If a college student does not have a first aid kit already, it should definitely go on their next shopping list. While this won’t provide a permanent fix for major injuries, the supplies can definitely stop bleeding, ease pain and perform less severe procedures. Accidents can happen at any time, so it’s better to be prepared.

Extra blankets As Texas learned during February’s winter storm, Southerners don’t always have enough warm layers to make it through a below-freezing week without power. Carrying around a blanket in the car is an asset when stuck in a cold vehicle. Even in a dorm, house or apartment, having an extra blanket or two can save a lot of pain when there’s no heat.

Carbon monoxide detector According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 430 people die and 50,000 are admitted to the emergency room from carbon monoxide poisoning each year. While most student housing comes equipped with smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors are more rare, but they could save a life. This small investment can keep students and their pets safe from this odorless poison, even after college.

Buckets or pails This one small tool can double as both a storage unit and a leak-catching vessel. With broken pipes already a common problem before the storm, water systems are likely to fail more frequently during freezing weather. Therefore, having a bucket around may come in handy to collect drips or scoop out water if flooding occurs.

Non-perishable foods Since grocery stores are usually the first establishments cleaned out during a community panic, it’s always best to have reserve supplies to eat until power is restored, stores are stocked again or the crisis is over. The best goods to keep in stock are non-perishables that do not require refrigeration or reheating, such as beef jerky, canned meat, fruits, vegetables, soups, nuts and protein bars. That way, if power goes out or food is scarce, difficult to obtain or hard to keep preserved, students can still receive proper nourishment.

Phones are an essential when it comes to being a college student, but if they die and there’s no way to charge them, someone can be stranded, lost or in danger with no way of contacting help or family. Battery packs and charging cables can keep a phone afloat for days with the right size. Even in a non-emergency event, such as a power outage with no extra damage, having a charged phone can help students keep on top of work or boost their mental health through social contact, online resources and entertainment.

If disaster strikes, no one wants to be left unprepared.

Keeping these and other supplies on hand can drastically improve a person’s situation.

For more campus-specific resources, visit tamu.edu/emergency/resources/students.

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Extra locks

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It’s a dangerous world out there, so the best thing to do is create a place to feel secure. When moving into a new residence, one of the best security measures is installing an extra lock on the inside of the main door, such as a chain lock or door reinforcement lock. Especially if living alone, having a secondary lock can relieve a lot of fear and make it that much harder for someone to enter the home.

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Baseball bat All it takes is a wooden or metal bat stored next to the bed to be on more even footing with a potential attacker.

Even keeping a cheap or short, sturdy bat nearby allows for defense against intruders while not breaking dorm or apartment guidelines regarding weapons. Women, especially, can benefit from this, as they are the most likely to be attacked, stalked or followed.

911 - General Emergency (979) 845-2345 - Texas A&M University Police (979) 764-3600 - College Station Police (979) 209-5300 - Bryan Police (979) 764.3700 - College Station Fire Department (979) 209-5960 (press “2”) - Bryan Fire Department (979) 207-0100 - Baylor Scott & White ER (979) 776-2568 - CHI St. Joseph Regional Hospital ER (979) 845-2700 - TAMU HelpLine (800) 273-8255 - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (888) 373-7888 - National Human Trafficking Hotline Or Text HELP to 233733 (BEFREE)

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College Station is home to many student living apartment complexes.

Apartments provide space to grow Managing editor Myranda Campanella describes how moving to an off-campus apartment helped her find independence Myranda Campanella @MCampanella_ Everyone I know who’s ever been to college before me has lived in a dorm. I grew up hearing stories from my mom about latenight study sessions and weekend rendezvous with her dorm friends. Family and friends always told me the easiest way to get sucked into college life was to live on campus. So I did, for a year. And I don’t regret it. Being a freshman at one of the largest universities in America without a car really made campus-living appealing. But despite all the conveniences of a five-minute commute and weekly custodial services, after I had successfully adjusted to college life I knew I needed a

different (bigger) living space. After two years and two different apartment complexes, I’ve discovered the following standout things that made the decision to switch to off-campus living worth it: Filling the space One of the first things I was itching for within the first two months of my freshman year was more space. I hated that I couldn’t study late at night without my roommate snoring three feet behind me, or that I only had a single wall space to hang up pictures and decorations. I don’t have siblings, so I’ve never had to share a bathroom in my life before I came to college, and boy, was that a humbling experience. Fortunately, I only had to

share a bathroom with my roommate instead of experiencing the horror stories some of my friends had to deal with in communal hall bathrooms. Nonetheless, it was a little anxiety-inducing for 18-year-old me, a supposed full-fledged adult, to have to learn about the morning bathroom war for the first time on my way to an 8 a.m. exam. Thankfully, most off-campus apartments in College Station have a bathroom in each bedroom, so I no longer have to worry about sharing a bedroom or a bathroom on top of the daily stressors college students endure.

In addition to experiencing the physical freedom that comes with more space, I also have the liberty to fill up and decorate my space however I want. I have four walls all to myself that I was able to decorate to my

personal taste and practical needs. For our shared spaces, my housemates and I made several Pinterest boards with decoration inspo before we moved in, and we made it a bonding experience-combined-wannabe HGTV project when we decorated our living and dining rooms. Now, every time I walk into our apartment I feel truly at home knowing our living space is cute, comfortable and full of shared memories sitting on our shelves and hanging on our walls.

Embracing your inner chef One of the biggest things I love about living in an apartment is having a kitchen and developing my cooking skills. I have the freedom to cook whatever I want, whenever I want.

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The Park West apartment complex is located on George Bush Drive and houses many A&M students.

I don’t have to worry about someone taking my food from a communal fridge, or whether the stove is already occupied. I don’t have to rely on the same 10 menus that cater to my food tastes on campus. Plus, I save so much more buying groceries at H-E-B every other week instead of purchasing one of A&M’s infamously overpriced meal plans. On average, I spend about $200 on groceries every month.

When I lived on campus, my meal plan broke down to $570 per month — with most of my meal swipes going to waste by the end of the semester after frantically trying to give them away to friends and strangers in the MSC. Overall, if you’re someone who’s on a budget, has diet restrictions or just generally likes to cook, apartment or house living is probably the better option for you.

Choosing your roommates As a freshman, I lived in a Living Learning Community, so I was assigned a roommate. While the intention is good to push students to get to know people from different backgrounds, my roommate and I definitely had our differences. Meanwhile, within the first week of joining a Freshman Leadership Organization I met two girls who I became instant best friends with, and we decided we would live together sophomore year. Three years into our friendship, I can confidently say those ladies will be my future bridesmaids and life-long friends. Having the opportunity to choose who you live with makes the college experience 1,000 times better. From random movie nights to late-night couch chats to road trips and everything in between, sometimes I

feel like I’m living in an episode of “Friends.”

Living in an apartment has been such a fun experience that has strengthened my relationship with my housemates every day.

Being independent When I lived in a dorm, I still felt like a kid living under somebody else’s roof. Dorms have a lot of rules, from what you can hang on the walls to who you can invite into your room, and it can feel a little suffocating at times. Moving into an apartment pushed me to become completely independent. I’m responsible for the general cleanliness and safety of my apartment, and my housemates and I determine our own house rules. Having to buy my own dishes and furniture finally made me feel like an adult. And signing a 12-month

lease means I have somewhere to live in College Station year-round rather than just the four months of either semester, so instead of feeling like I have a home away from my parent’s home, I feel like I actually have my own home.

Overall, living in an apartment has allowed me to mature and recognize what I’m responsible for on a daily basis. However, I know plenty of people who enjoy their college independence in a dorm room. Choosing where to live is up to your own list of pros and cons, and there is no right or wrong place. But if you’re looking for a little more freedom and a place to build your aesthetic, then I would argue from experience that off-campus living would be your best bet.

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DIYs add life to living spaces

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A simple arts and crafts project can help students looking to embellish their dorm rooms or other living spaces.

Aggies find cute, creative ways to add personal touches to their homes

By Jessica Le @jxssicalx To make any living arrangement feel more homey, students can create their own decorations to hang up. Not only is this a cheaper alternative, but it also acts as an interactive and engaging outlet to freely express their creativity.

Visualization sophomore Tessa De La Fuente said students can conveniently make do-it-yourself decorations with what is already around them, but it requires looking at things from a different perspective. She said she found a pair of string lights and small, translucent paper clips to create a makeshift display for her pictures.

“I had a string with lights and little postcards and images,” De La Fuente said. “A lot of the people I know actually [hang] small polaroids … I had an old Bob Ross calendar [with] small polaroid pictures of his paintings and little inspirational quotes. I got the ones that I liked the most and stuck them on there.

It gives your stuff a unique personality that you can’t buy anywhere else.”

In addition, De La Fuente said students can also engage in crafts by adding a personalized touch to plain, inexpensive objects, such as using old magazines to decorate cardboard letters spelling out their name.

“If you’re doing a magazine collage, you’re either going to want to cut [pictures] out individually or tear them out, depending on what style you want,” De La Fuente said. “Then, you’re going to have to glue it on. Depending on what glue you use, it could leave a residue … [so] if you’re wanting a similar finish to the whole thing … actually put a finish on it.”

De La Fuente said another way to decorate the letters is through papier-mache. You can papier-mache the plain surface of any textured object with newspaper clippings to paint your own design on top.

“You take water and flour [and] you take strips of newspapers, and you dip it into the mixture. Then, you lay it flat on the [object] and wait for it to dry. [This] gives your art piece a base to work from,” De La Fuente said. “You could do tons of different patterns: polka dots, stripes [or] mix and match. You can get creative, glue stuff on them, maybe buttons or glitter. It’s basically just up to you.”

As well as searching for materials to upcycle, you can also create your own decorations from scratch. English sophomore Sarabeth

Erdner said she enjoys decorating her room by using a hack she learned to paint images from her camera roll.

“I don’t really consider myself an artist; I consider myself a copier … us[ing] the graphite technique,” Erdner said. “You can print out a picture of whatever you want to paint. You graphite the whole backside, just do pencil, and make it one big blotch on the back. Then, you tape it onto the canvas and trace your item with pencil, so it’ll push the graphite on the back where you trace onto the canvas.”

Erdner said this provides a convenient way to transfer an outline on a canvas to paint herself rather than simply printing out a colored picture and putting it in a frame. This interactive process allows her to make alterations or additions to the picture.

“One of my favorite things, especially about acrylic, is nothing is permanent. If you have a painting, and you mess up on it, acrylic is awesome because you just get a little water and you wipe it off,” Erdner said. “I can make it exactly what I want.”

In addition to painting on a canvas, psychology junior Aria Monterrubio said she was inspired by TikTok when she decided to do her own non-traditional painting on glass.

Although she does not think of herself as

creative, Monterrubio said this craft is easy because it combines tracing as well as color-by-number into one activity.

“First, you’re going to pop out the glass from your little picture frame, and then, you’re going to print out the mirrored image of whatever you decide to paint [and] put it under the glass. With your Sharpie, you’re going to outline all the major outlines,” Monterrubio said. “Then, take your paintbrush and [paint] over it. You want to start at the smallest details first, so if you have a person, for example, you want the whites of their eyes [and] their teeth.”

Although she could have easily bought a poster of the image in stores, the reason Monterubbio said she enjoys doing the craft is because she knows she accomplished it herself.

“The actual process is very fun to create your own game plan and your own strategy, [looking] at it from a different angle. There’s an aspect of it that encourages creativity, not only with just creating and painting stuff, but it’s also creativity in your ideas,” Monterubbio said. “It’s a cute individual craft that you can do to spice up any room and make it personalized … It’s something that you did, and something that you can be proud of. That’s why I like doing DIYs.”

THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 15

Ryan Hartfiel — THE BATTALION

Local antique shops and furniture stores often offer deals for college students looking to furnish their living spaces.

‘Someone else’s trash can be your treasure’ Local stores, online resellers offer quality furniture at bargain prices

By Lauren Discher @lauren_discher For Aggies on a budget, there are many places to look around Bryan-College Station to find furniture at affordable rates.

Furniture can be one of the most expensive parts of living in a house or an apartment, and for the average college student, these prices are often more than they can afford. However, there are options such as local furniture resale stores, Facebook Marketplace and thrifting apps like Wallapop, OfferUp, Letgo and, of course, eBay that offer cheap alternatives.

These resources allow individuals to sell furniture in various conditions from practically new to “fixer upper,” which can benefit both the buyer and the seller.

One such furniture resale store in town is Quality Used Furniture. According to the store’s website, “Quality Used Furniture is a locally owned (A&M Class of 1964) and operated business that has been buying and selling used furniture in our community since 1998.

With new furniture arriving daily, we consistently offer a great selection to choose from.”

Quality Used Furniture manager Cole

Watson said in his 20 years of experience at the furniture store, he has found every day brings in something new.

“We’ve had some weird and strange things come in, but every day is interesting because you never know what kind of furniture is going to come in,” Watson said. “It’s not the same mundane thing every day working here.”

Located off of Harvey Mitchell Parkway in College Station, Watson said the store is commonly used by Aggies.

“We sell furniture for cheap, which is what most college kids are looking for because they usually don’t have the money to buy new furniture,” Watson said.

Other local used furniture stores include Resale & More, Sweet Repeat Resale and Second Chance Resale.

Psychology senior and avid Facebook Marketplace buyer Stormie Sampson said she’s purchased various items through the popular social media site, the most notable of which is a bed frame that was nearly unused.

“I needed a new bed frame, and I saved one on Wayfair that I wanted to buy, but it was around $300,” Sampson said. “I saw the exact same bed frame on Facebook Marketplace being sold for $60 just because the family was moving and needed everything gone. It was a total win for me and my bank account.”

Sampson said she has also purchased a media center, a shelf and pet stairs through Facebook Marketplace that she has restored.

“The process is usually pretty simple,” Sampson said. “I usually just message the seller and ask if the item is still available, and if it is, I schedule a time to pick it up.”

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Sampson said she now takes precautions to keep both herself and the seller safe.

“I usually ask that the owners set the items outside, and I inform them when I’ve arrived to pick it up. I’m usually wearing a mask and gloves when I go just to be cautious,” Sampson said. “Also, paying is pretty easy because you either give them cash or you pay them electronically through Facebook or apps like Venmo.”

As someone who is paying for college by herself, Sampson said the website was helpful when she didn’t want to splurge on something new.

“I think it’s a very convenient way to buy things when you don’t necessarily have enough money to spend $100 on a piece of furniture,” Sampson said.

After using Facebook Marketplace for months to find furniture, local Marketplace user Charlotte Dixon said she recently ventured into selling on the website.

“The best thing about it is the conve-

nience,” Dixon said. “I love that it’s a cost-effective, sustainable way to shop and that it supports the local community.”

Though much of her time using the site has resulted in positive experiences, Dixon said there are some occasional downsides.

“It can be exhilarating when you sell or find a bargain, but also disappointing if there is no interest in your item, a buyer doesn’t follow through or you miss out on a piece of treasure,” Dixon said.

Despite this, Dixon said the website is especially useful for college students who are looking to furnish their new homes.

“It has real advantages in that students have the opportunity to buy used, high-end furniture that is generally reasonably priced as well as pieces that may have previously been unaffordable,” Dixon said. “I’ve found upcycled furniture to be solid, heavy and well made, opposed to cheap furniture, which is often not well made and surprisingly expensive for the quality.”

The best part, Dixon said, is the ability to negotiate that often occurs when sellers are in a rush to sell items because they are moving or in need of the money for other reasons.

“It’s really true that someone else’s trash can be your treasure,” Dixon said.

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THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 17

Finding forever furry friends Students find pets to be great companions, support in college

By Shelby McVey @shelbyxbreann Every day, hundreds of animals sit in local shelters patiently waiting for the opportunity to go to their forever homes. Now more than ever, college students are taking advantage of these local shelters to find a new furry friend to keep them company while navigating the stresses of college life.

In Bryan-College Station, shelters like Aggieland Humane Society and Long Way Home Animal Rescue have a mission of supporting lost and found pets and creating human-animal bonds through their adoption services.

Although they would love to give each pet a home to anyone who walks through their doors, an important part of their goal is to promote responsible and safe animal ownership for both the pet and anyone looking to adopt.

Adopting a pet while in college might seem like the right decision for some, but there are still several factors to consider before making the journey to the animal shelter. Owning a pet is a major time commitment, and with assignments, exams and social life, it is easy for college students to become overwhelmed by balancing their responsibilities on top of taking care of their animal.

For wildlife and fisheries sciences senior Avery Cummings, the decision to adopt her cat Mowgli didn’t come without its research and major consideration. Already a cat owner prior to arriving in Aggieland, Cummings found that the stress of being a college student not only affected her, but her cat as well.

“I got an [emotional support] cat going into my freshman year of college. Then when we moved to College Station, I was sad leaving her alone all day going to both work and school and could tell that she was lonely,” Cummings said. “I had been thinking about getting her a companion but was going back and forth about it. One day, I saw that the humane society was going to have a free adoption day … and I took a chance to see if I’d love any of the kitties there.”

Upon arriving at the adoption site, Cummings said it was no time before she found the kitten she wanted to take home with her.

“I saw this little white kitten sitting in a

kennel all quiet, not really caring while all these dogs were barking around him, and I just knew I had to adopt him,” Cummings said. “It was the best decision I made because within two hours of him being home with us, both of them were snuggled up together.”

Although Cummings’s decision to adopt wasn’t spontaneous, animal science junior Taylor Ward took the leap and adopted a lab named Boudreaux, whose litter would have been euthanized had they not been adopted.

Although she never saw herself getting a dog until after college, all it took was a single Facebook post for Ward to jump in her car and head to Franklin to bring Boudreaux home.

“I found him on … a post saying they couldn’t care for [the litter] and were going to have to put them down, so I drove to Franklin that day and picked him up,” Ward said. “If I hadn’t gotten Boud he would’ve been put down, and he gives just as much love as any dog I’ve ever paid for.”

Now that Boudreaux is a certified emotional support animal, Ward said she wouldn’t trade her adoption experience for the world.

Coming at a time when COVID-19 was taking over the world, Ward said Boudreaux helped her fight the loneliness associated with the pandemic.

“100 percent honest, he’s the only thing that got me through quarantine,” Ward said.

“He’s my little piece of joy every day.”

Even though there is happiness to be found with bringing home a new pet, Angelina Alcantar, Class of 2020, said the option of adopting rather than shopping from a breeder or over social media isn’t one to be taken lightly.

“I understand why people buy dogs from breeders. They can be with the dog and raise them as puppies and the dog only knows them and doesn’t really have a past,” Alcantar said.

“For me, I would rather adopt and save a life.

[But] my roommate bought her dog from a breeder over a year ago, and it probably was not the best decision for her while she was in school.”

Alcantar said that her dog Maxine, or Max, helped push her through a difficult time when it came to her mental health.

“I had really bad anxiety issues during my final semester [at A&M] where I just didn’t want to do anything,” Alcantar said. “Because I had Max, I knew that I still had to take her out and take her on walks or go to the dog park. During my last semester, I learned that

Ryan Hartfiel — THE BATTALION

A&M students who choose to adopt pets in college can visit the Aggieland Humane Society or Long Way Home Animal Rescue.

the best way to cope with my anxiety was to go on walks. I probably wouldn’t have known that if I didn’t have to walk her.”

In all, the stresses of college life can be hard for anyone, especially incoming freshmen with little to no connection to home while they’re away. Yet even with the stigma that owning a pet during college may be too much for a student to handle, adopting is a decision that could potentially ease anxiety and support a positive change in students’ mental health“I could see how caring for something could be hard for a college student, but to me it’s so

worth the happiness he brings me,” Cummings said. “There is nothing better than a cat or dog coming and laying on your chest or lap and looking like they love you so much when you are stressed out of your mind. It reminds you that no matter how hard things are, you have a best friend who loves you unconditionally. And all I have to do is love it and feed it?

Totally worth it.”

Editor’s Note: Angelina Alcantar is a former photographer for The Battalion.

THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 18

Traveling Aggieland

Will Nye — THE BATTALION

Aggie Spirit Bus routes can be found at parking.tamu.edu.

Texas A&M offers several ways to navigate campus, College Station

By Aubrey Vogel @aubrey_vogel With such a large campus, navigating Texas A&M and Aggieland at large can be daunting.

However, the various modes of transportation available in College Station may make the task easier for students.

Communication and Marketing Director of Transportation Services Debbie Hoffmann said she always recommends planning ahead as well as having a plan B when traveling around campus.

“There are many options for getting around

campus. Be open to trying something new and not relying on the same mode of transportation every day,” Hoffmann said. “Be courteous and safe by following the rules of the road when walking, cycling, driving or whatever mode you choose.”

Hoffmann said with the number of options available to students, it is not necessary for students to have their own vehicle to get around.

Whether bringing their personal vehicle to Aggieland or relying on public transportation, A&M and the cities of Bryan and College Station provide several options for students on the go.

Aggie Spirit Bus The Aggie Spirit Bus provides routes not only on campus but also around the Bryan-College Station community to places like grocery stores for students to be able to travel off campus without worrying about providing their own transportation.

Assistant Director of Transit Transportation Madeline Dillard said there are many resources when it comes to the Aggie Spirit Bus, including apps to keep students up to date on real time bus locations and arrival times for their traveling needs. Another resource that is available for use is the Twitter account @ aggiespiritbus.

“All transit services are included in student registration fees and do not require a bus pass; however, passengers are required to present their A&M, Blinn or Brazos Transit District ID when boarding at off-campus stops,” Dillard said. “In addition, students may ride The District buses fare-free by showing their IDs upon entering the bus.”

Transit provides a unique opportunity that is offered to students where they can become the bus drivers themselves. Many students are hired and trained to be drivers, which can come with many perks, senior education major Rebekah Ard said.

Ard said the job provides flexible hours for students who have a busy schedule like herself that is filled with classes and extracurriculars.

Ard said drivers are prepared well during the training period and the job of driving the bus is relaxed. Drivers even get the opportunity to bring their speakers aboard to play music during their rides.

“When I was starting to drive my parents didn’t see me as one who would be driving a truck, so driving a bus was not even thought of,” Ard said. “I got into it and I enjoy it so much, and I am almost two years [into] driving a bus on campus.”

Bikes and Bikesharing Another popular way of getting around campus is by cycling, which can be done with a personal bike or by using the bike share service the university provides through VeoRide.

Alternate transportation program coordinator Byron Prestridge said VeoRide provides standard pedal bikes as well as throttle bikes, which are new this spring, that can be rented on campus easily on the app.

“Veo is another great way to get around campus. With 1,800 pedal bikes and 600 throttle bikes on campus, there is always a ride nearby,” Prestridge said. “Simply download the app and put a bit of money in the virtual wallet, then go. The app shows available bikes and how to unlock them to start the ride.

When done, simply lock the bike to a rack or within a designated parking area.”

If students choose to bring their personal bikes, they must be registered with the university. Alternative transportation program coordinator Jeff Puckett said he recommends students look over their bike at least once a week and pump the tires at least once a month, reminding them that no matter the make, model, brand or price, all bikes lose tire pressure over time due to temperature fluctuations.

“To learn more about biking or bike repairs, schedule an appointment at the Hub, the on-campus bike shop. While the shop does not have replacement parts, the staff can help diagnose any issue and give advice on how to repair the bicycle,” Puckett said. “The Hub is a free service available to all students and has all the tools and knowledge necessary to maintain a bicycle.”

Parking Lots and Garages During the summer, students are given the opportunity to register and purchase an annual parking pass they can use to park in their assigned lot. If students need to park on campus, there is also the option of paying for parking by the hour.

Nights, weekends and holidays also allow for more parking for students with an increased range of where parking passes can be used.

Other Modes of Transportation In addition to all services provided, many students walk to their destinations along with an increase in skateboard and motorized skateboard usage. No matter how students choose to get around Aggieland, there are always more options to explore when it comes to getting around campus and the surrounding community.

1. NO MORE THAN FOUR

Living off campus? Since at least 1972, the city does not allow for more than four unrelated individuals to occupy a dwelling unit. As an example, four friends living together in a home are complying with the ordinance. Four siblings living together are also complying with the ordinance, but if an unrelated friend moved in, it would be a code violation.

5 TIPS TO HELP STUDENTS THRIVE IN COLLEGE STATION

2. MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS

Introduce yourself and exchange contact information in case of emergencies or other problems. If an issue arises, would you rather they call you or the police?

3. KEEP THE NOISE DOWN

That includes barking dogs. It's unlawful for anyone to willfully make or allow continued loud noise, especially from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. If you can hear the noise at the end of your property line, then it's too loud and everyone on your lease risks receiving a citation.

4. AVOID CODE VIOLATIONS

Many people don't think about city codes until they receive an unwelcome citation.

Familiarize yourself with our city codes by visiting cstx.gov/CodeEnforcement.

5. STAY INFORMED

Keep up with city events, programs, emergencies, notices and more by following us on social media. We'd love to hear from you too! @CityofCS

/CityOfCollegeStation /Ci

Find more resources: cstx.gov/NewResident

THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 20

PROVIDED

As a low income student, telecommunication media studies senior Amina Butt took on a part-time job her junior year to support the cost of living in her sorority house.

Housing experience of a low-income student Texas A&M aids students with low-income backgrounds, provides future that can break through generational wealth issues Amina Butt @aminagemella Unlike many of my peers in high school, once I was accepted into Texas A&M my immediate reaction wasn’t a celebration — it was, “How am I going to pay for any of this?”

Families with an income of less than $35,000 a year are considered low-income, and my family has fallen under this umbrella for most of my life. For many A&M students who are looped into the low-income spectrum, our worries range from how we are going to afford tuition and books to how we will pay for our housing. Thankfully, A&M is an institution that prides itself on taking in students with low-income backgrounds and providing them a future that helps them break through their generational wealth issues.

Once accepted to A&M, I immediately filled out my financial aid application, otherwise known as FAFSA. I highly recommend everyone fill out their FAFSA forms because you really don’t know what benefits you may receive unless you apply. Including my FAFSA, I also applied for several scholarships through A&M. In my applications, I shared why it was important to me to be an Aggie and how helping pay for my tuition and living expenses would benefit my college experience. I was able to receive multiple grants and scholarships that ended up paying for my tuition completely, in addition to some of my living expenses.

Being a first generation college student, I wanted to make sure I made the most out of my college experience. I wasn’t going to let financial issues prevent me from having the same opportunities as everyone else. I knew I wanted to live in a dorm my freshman year to

make long-lasting friendships and really make Aggieland feel like home. Through resources like reslife.tamu.edu, I researched dorms and considered location, benefits and price. I ended up choosing to live in the Southside Commons at good ol’ Dunn Hall. Dorm life was everything I expected and more, but I couldn’t help but feel like I was overpaying for some of the issues that our dorm struggled with, such as pests.

During freshman year I joined multiple organizations, including Greek Life, to try and break barriers of what is stereotypically expected from low-income students. Once my sophomore year came around, I knew I wanted to live with some of my closest friends at the Kappa Delta house. But upon moving in, I had to take on a part-time job during the school year to help pay for my rent and other expenses, and even then I continued to struggle. Though it was hard having to jug-

gle a job and academics, the benefits of living in my sorority house ultimately outweighed the disadvantages. Not having to worry about utilities or buying groceries and having access to amenities such as a gym, study rooms and a movie room that I got to share with my closest friends was the best part of my college experience.

Being a College Station native, I was able to move back home when COVID-19 forced classes online, which has allowed me to focus on saving money to help me pay for post-college life while also getting to maintain my college experience.

I am so grateful for my time as an Aggie and the way that A&M helps many of its low-income students. With programs like the Regents Scholars Program and the Aggie Assurance Program, both of which I benefited from, low-income students are able to have a comfortable time in College Station.

THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 21

Students live in off-campus homes for spacious living arrangements

By Aubrey Vogel @aubrey_vogel With different types of housing options available in Bryan-College Station from dorms to apartments, many students find themselves choosing the spacious living arrangements of off-campus houses or townhomes during their time at Texas A&M. Though they aren’t in a dorm or an apartment complex, most Aggies still have opportunities to live around other students because College Station offers student housing subdivisions around town.

There are many advantages to living in a house, sport management sophomore Damian Sanchez said. He chose to live in a townhouse at The Junction for the increased freedom it allows and said the best part of living in a house is being able to have more privacy and not having to deal with upstairs or downstairs neighbors.

“My townhouse in the Junction is a midpoint between an apartment and a house, which is honestly a good point for college students who don’t want to live on campus,” Sanchez said.

Though Sanchez said the townhouse is an upgrade from a dorm or apartment, he and his roommates will be moving to a house next semester for the added benefit of a backyard, which is something many students with pets desire.

Students that have dogs, like agricultural economics junior Lauren Perkins, find backyards essential for living in college. Perkins has lived in a single family house in the Barracks throughout her time at A&M. “My favorite part has definitely been the backyard,” Perkins said. “I wanted to have more space and a decent size backyard for my dog.”

Perkins said she desired a more permanent place to live in college, as many people seem to move more when limiting their options to dorms or apartments. Although some students may think living in a house isolates them from student life, Perkins said this can be remedied by finding a neighborhood that is populated by other college students, similar to being down the hall from someone.

“You don’t have as many opportunities to get to meet other college students,” Perkins said. “Since you have more space, you aren’t forced to meet new people.”

Perkins said she recommends living in a dorm or an apartment the first year to have that experience before moving to a house as it

Hunting for houses

Photo By Victoria Ramirez — THE BATTALION

Many students at A&M choose to live off-campus in townhomes or single-family houses.

is something she sometimes wishes she would have experienced.

Agricultural communication and journalism senior Kate West lived on campus and in a sorority house, but now lives in a standalone home near Wolf Pen Creek. West said after living in a dorm and a sorority house, she wanted more privacy.

“Sharing a room is definitely an experience.

I am the only girl in my family, so sharing a room and a bathroom my first two years of college put things into perspective,” West

said. “It wasn’t bad or anything. It just makes me appreciate my own space more.”

Though she still has roommates, West found she is able to have more alone time while also being able to socialize when she chooses to.

“I just needed more space with the ability to be alone but also be with roommates,” West said.

West said one of the advantages of living in a house is having her own kitchen to be able to cook, which is something she did not have

in her first two residences.

Students who are looking for an off-campus house may want to pay attention to things such as proximity to a bus stop as well as how far the house is to campus.

For students who are looking to live in a house, West said she recommends they start looking early because leases get signed the fall before students move in. West urges students not to be picky, though, because it is hard to find everything they may want in a house in a college town.

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Residence Life DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

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THE BATTALION MAROON LIFE 24

Photos by Abbey Santoro — THE BATTALION

Students in a fraternity or sorority can choose to live at off-campus Greek life housing.

More than just Greek life Greek housing provides fraternity, sorority members with community

By Amina Butt @aminagemella Students join Greek life with the intention of building meaningful connections, gaining leadership skills, volunteering within their community and making the most of their college experience.

If students involved in Greek life get the opportunity to live in the organization’s housing, this can have a huge influence on their social life.

Telecommunication media studies senior Sara Van Divier, who lived in the Kappa Alpha Theta house her sophomore year, said living in Greek housing is “one of the best decisions” she has made while being in college.

“I was more reserved my freshman year of Theta and anxious about sorority life with its stereotypes and what not, so I didn’t really put myself out there,” Van Divier said. “Living in the house gave me some of my best friends and helped me get to know some incredible

women.”

Just down the hall from some of her best friends, Van Divier said she loved the community aspect of living in the house.

“There was always someone down to watch TV or a movie with you, someone to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with or study with,” Van Divier said. “Not to mention the convenience of chapter meetings just being downstairs. If you wanted to grab some Gumby’s or coffee with someone, all you had to do would be send a message in the GroupMe or knock on someone’s door and they would be down. It was a blast.”

Some students are apprehensive about living in Greek housing because of the cost, but Van Divier said the expense was lower than she initially thought.

“There are people paying more money on rent and utilities in [College Station’s] Historic District than what I paid in the Theta house,” Van Divier said. “That included a personal chef, which meant you only had to feed yourself on the weekends, so few grocery runs, no utilities [and] no paying for amenities like toilet paper. It was awesome.”

With the events of this academic year

including the historic winter storm and COVID-19 safety protocols, allied health junior Abby Turner, who currently lives in the Kappa Delta house, said the opportunity to live with her sorority has been a meaningful one.

“The overall experience of living in the house is one of a lot of bonding and laughter,” Turner said. “Even when we had rolling blackouts and thought we were going to lose water during the snowstorm, we all hung out, filled water bottles and made the best of it.”

Turner said the benefits of living in Greek housing are endless, from the kitchen staff to other amenities.

“We have a fantastic kitchen staff, Bri and Alfonso, who make sure that we are eating two fresh meals a day and keep a fully stocked kitchen. This ends up saving a lot of money on food,” Turner said. “There are a ton of spaces around the house to study. There is a gym that we can use so we are safer from COVID[-19], and it is stocked with cleaning supplies so it is super convenient and not as risky as going to some other gyms, and only one person is allowed to work out at a time to ensure safety.”

Environmental studies senior Max Galatas,

a member of Beta Theta Pi, said his fraternity doesn’t offer housing but instead, it offers a space called “The Beta Barn” where students can kick back and have fun with their friends.

“Our house is a lodge,” Galatas said. “It’s a fun place to spend time when we get the chance. There are TVs and a basketball court, so there is nothing else you could really want.”

Galatas said he didn’t want to live in a house with 40-50 guys, so having a place that can be used for multiple events is more beneficial.

“I like the space we have because it can be used for so many different things,” Galatas said. “Living in a house with my friends and having our barn is the best of both worlds.”

When reflecting on his favorite memories at his fraternity’s lodge, Galatas said the Beta Barn is a great place to kill time with a group of friends.

“My favorite times are when we get big impromptu basketball games going that last until it gets dark,” Galatas said. “We’ve also been able to have get-togethers with some of our friends who have graduated. Being somewhat old myself now, it’s great to reconnect with the old guys when they are back in town.”

APPLY FOR FALL 2021 HOUSING TODAY! reslife.tamu.edu/apply

CONVENIENCE | COMMUNITY | ACADEMIC SUPPORT | SAFETY | SUSTAINABILITY

Residence Life DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

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