The Daily Illini: Spring Housing Guide 2020

THE DAILY ILLINI

Housing Guide Monday, February 17, 2020

Monday, February 17, 2020

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Monday, February 17, 2020

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Monday, February 17, 2020

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out of control. We’re all a little stubborn and a lot stressed, so take the time to try to understand your roommates and just have a conversation, even if for a few minutes. A small conversation is a reminder that you’re still there for them, and their response back to you might validate their openness toward you and stop you from overthinking the situation. Even if it’s just asking them for the time, take any small step toward relieving the tension instead of letting it grow.

In college, it’s well understood some of your roommates will consistently test your patience, while others will seem like the best thing since sliced bread in comparison.

We’ve all heard the horror stories. Maybe you’re lucky and have had the most amazing roommates throughout your time here, but even then it’s hard not to have bad days.

Personally, it took me years to realize as hard as I might look, there is no such thing as a perfect roommate. Any living situation can start to feel perfect when you make the best of it – and here are some preliminary steps Life gets busy, and sometimes we forget that might help you get into that mindset. to wash our dishes or throw out the trash.

We postpone vacuuming the living room or mopping the bathroom floor, without realizing that our roommates aren’t in our Sometimes, situations feel a lot tenser heads listening to us convince ourselves we than they should be. Whether you’re living can do our chores later. For all they know, you with your best friend or with four different have no intention of doing them, ever. Take strangers, everyone has their own lives and five seconds to let them know you remember their own personal things going on. It’s easy what you have to do, you just don’t have to feed off the tension and let things escalate. time to do it right now. If your roommates The more difficult, yet more rewarding part, are the ones neglecting their tasks, give is to actually have a conversation with your them a gentle reminder, or ask if they need roommates if you feel like things are getting any help. In the worst-case scenario, you

Responsibilities

Tension

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Monday, February 17, 2020

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help. In the worst-case scenario, you might have to end up doing it yourself.

Don’t think of this as caving or doing all the work for the apartment. Think of it as maintaining your own living space for yourself and your sanity —as practice for when you might be living alone. It might even feel therapeutic or make you be more confident as someone who can willingly take on responsibility. Obviously, at some point it will be more helpful to sit down with your roommates, and tell them you can’t constantly clean up after them; you’re not their maid. You’re a student, too, and you don’t have any more free time than they do.

others around you. I once had a roommate who used to lock me out of my own room. There was one night I had to sleep in my dorm’s study room, and many nights I would come back late from the library to find someone else in my bed. My friends knew my situation and let me stay with them on more than one occasion. There were nights when my current roommate, who only knew me at that point for a few months, would let me share her twin-sized bed with her, because I had nowhere else to go.

(Thanks, D!) The point is, people care; people will help you. Communication is the most important thing. You aren’t stuck.

You can get out of any situation, and nothing is permanent. It might not be perfect, but you can find ways to get as close to that point as you can.

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Live as a local in your Urbana neighborhood

BY KATIE POWERS BUZZ EDITOR

With the construction of new highrises and bars, it feels like Campustown is moving west. But living east of Lincoln Avenue in Urbana is still an excellent option for plenty of students. It offers a nice break from apartment living, plus it allows you to experience the culture and quirkiness of neighborhood life. Check out this guide to Urbana living so you can make the most of your time as a resident.

Learn to navigate the bus system

Although the Urbana is still walking distance from just about anywhere on campus, it’s helpful to understand the MTD bus system for days when the weather is bad, you’re in a hurry to get to your destination or you need to get home after a late night.

Download the MTD app or take advantage of the online trip planner to figure out which route will be most convenient for you. Most Urbana residences are easily accessible by 50 Green or the 22 Illini. Planning ahead will make your travel around campus far easier.

Find quick eats and coffee spots

Coffee shops provide some of the best spots on campus to study, meet up with friends or head out on a first date. Maybe the bar scene is moving west but with the closing of the Starbucks on Green Street and the Daniel Street Espresso Royale, the coffee scene is certainly moving east. Enjoy the spaciousness and ambiance of Caffe Paradiso on Lincoln Avenue or grab a sandwich and unique drink at the remaining stand-alone Espresso Royale on Oregon Street. For your bubble tea fix, there’s also Caffe Bene on Gregory and Nevada streets. If you just want something to eat, there are plenty of options on Gregory Street such as Basil Thai. There are also a few shops to explore in the area if you need a last-minute gift and, of course, you’re close to the entertainment options at The Canopy Club and Krannert Center.

Get out and explore the downtown life

If you’re new to living in Urbana, you might not realize how close you are to the city’s downtown. If you need a break from Green Street and student life, don’t hesitate to take a walk to the bars, stores and restaurants in that area. Enjoy breakfast with friends at Courier Cafe or take in a local band at the Rose Bowl

MARK CAPAPAS THE DAILY ILLINI

Students sit in the outdoor seating of Espresso Royale in Urbana on May 5.

Tavern just across the street. And if you need a the Urbana Free Library on Green Street. Plus, quiet place to study that isn’t the Undergraduate when you have parents or other guests in town, Katie is a Senior in LAS. Library quiet floor or the Illini Union, check out you’ll be prepared as on where to take them. kmp2@dailyillini.com

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Monday, February 17, 2020

Monday, February 17, 2020

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Monday, February 17, 2020

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Utilize healthy eating strategies in your dorm

BY SONAL SINGH STAFF WRITER

Eating healthy is a struggle to begin with, regardless of where you live. However, living in a dorm without a proper kitchen can make eating nutritious even harder. Some ways you can stay on track are listed below.

Invest in a mini-fridge and a microwave

Although these may seem like unnecessarily expensive purchases for your dorm, I can assure you they will both come in handy.

Whether you want to store milk, fruit or yogurt, a mini-fridge is the perfect option. Additionally, a microwave comes in handy all the time – especially if you’re trying to make something quick and easy like the classic, ramen.

Don’t skip meals because it’s inconvenient

The first step to eating healthy is consuming enough nutrient-rich food. As easy as it is to skip breakfast because you just got out of bed and might be late to your 8 a.m., try to always keep some simple foods on hand. Cereals, Greek yogurt or fruit in your dorm can be a great resource if it’s difficult to make it to a dining hall before class.

Apart from that, make sure you get lunch between classes. Figure out which dining hall is closest to your classes. (If you’re looking for vegetarian and vegan options, I recommend Field of Greens at LAR.) Finally, try not to eat dinner too late!

Stay hydrated

One of the best ways to make sure you’re eating healthy is to constantly stay hydrated.

If your dorm has a water fountain, you could either get a Brita or invest in a reusable water bottle. Having a water bottle around makes it more likely that you will drink it when you’re thirsty, as opposed to having to walk to the fountain every time you’d like a sip. Additionally, consuming soda with every meal just because it’s readily available in the dining RYAN ASH THE DAILY ILLINI halls will quickly lead to an excessive amount Students eat in the Busey-Evans dining hall on Oct. 25. Even though living in a dorm without access to a kitchen can be a challenge, there are multiple of sugar. ways to stay healthy.

Everything in moderation

beef or chicken. Additionally, one thing you can try is making sure you get a lot of different kinds of foods. For example, if you’re getting a little bit of meat, try getting some It is rather easy to buy a lot of junk food and Eating in the dining halls can quickly go vegetables and some fruit with it as a sweet especially convenient when you want to snack downhill, especially when you’re constantly treat. Overall, just try to focus on having a while watching Netflix. If you’re living in the consuming sugary and greasy food. Some balanced diet. dorms, you probably have access to 57 North, things you can try are meatless Mondays, which is always stocked up on processed food where you try to get your nutrition from items like instant ramen and large bags of chips. sources that aren’t animal products like You don’t have to completely ban junk food from

Navigating dining hall food

your diet, but try to make sure you eat everything in moderation.

Try incorporating these suggestions, and see if it helps you make a difference. Focusing on your eating habits will help improve your overall health and experience while you’re in college.

Sonal is a sophomore in Business. tssingh2@dailyillini.com

Monday, February 17, 2020

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Make room for room customization in your life

BY MEGHAN LYONS STAFF WRITER

When you walk into somebody’s college room, what is the first thing you notice? Is it the wall plastered with pictures of friends?

Or is it the “Saturdays are for the Boys” poster that hangs from the wall? From seeing somebody’s room, you can tell a lot about a person. In college, people have the freedom to decorate their room however they please.

It might not be any different as it was at home, but I know I was not able to customize my room as I intended.

My room at home looks the same as it was since grade school. Bright pink walls, the same stuffed animals shoved in my closet. Back home, I was never interested in decorating my room until college. In college, your room is a blank canvas where you are freely able to express yourself. When people walk into my room, they are automatically met with bright and bizarre decorations.

Hanging on my wall is an abstract tapestry, followed by music posters and pictures I painted. There is no doubt my room at school is drastically different from my room at home. I always get a lot of comments on how “out there” my room is, but I don’t mind.

I made sure I wanted to have my room the way I wanted it to be: centered around my

hobbies and interests. Your room gives a lot of insight into who you are as a person, and I like what my room says about me.

Where do you start when decorating your room? I recommend using items already available for you instead of spending a lot of money on decorations. For example, I took pictures out of some albums I had with me for my record player and taped them on the wall. Reusing decor is an efficient way to save money and puts sentimental objects to use so you can see them every day.

If you are a person who really values friends and family, printing and putting up pictures is a cheap and great option. I did this and managed to turn a blank wall of mine to one full of life. You can send pictures to Walgreens and have a large number of shots printed for low prices. Plus, on lonely days, you can always look to your wall as a reminder of those close to you.

Another tip is to utilize existing furniture that people would not normally think of using. Most dorms and apartments come with dresser drawers that can freely move around. Coming back from break, I had a lot of objects that needed placement on some kind of surface. With my desk already full, I came up with the idea of pulling out my drawers to use as a nightstand. On this, I

MEGHAN LYONS THE DAILY ILLINI

Pictured above is the abstract tapestry hanging on Meghan Lyon’s wall. This is an example of her unique decorating style.

keep my record player, albums, some books to come back to a home you love. and a picture frame of my parents and me.

Don’t be afraid to create the room you Meghan is a sophomore in LAS. envision. At the end of the day, you’ll want mslyons2@dailyillini.com

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Stay calm during apartment-hunting chaos

BY BELLA KEYS STAFF WRITER

If you’re in college and are beginning to search for an apartment for the first time, the process can be a little overwhelming.

There’s always a rush to sign a lease and to find roommates almost immediately after the fall semester has started. This can be extremely stressful because you’re making decisions on who to live with so early in the year that you don’t know if these relationships will be maintained at the end of the year. Plus, there’s the worry about money. Everyone you are living with may have different budgets and ideas for what they think is important to have in an apartment. Here are a few good things I learned from my first apartment search.

Call dibs on your prospective roommates

First, you need to make sure that you lock your roommates in early. Start talking to those who you enjoy being around and are closest with about living together as soon as you can.

If you wait, your friends may get asked by someone else and end up signing without you.

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for a roommate, I asked a friend of mine who ended up ditching me, and because of that, I will end up having to live with two girls I don’t know next year. This was devastating for me and a difficult situation to avoid because it’s hard to know if the person is going to flake on you. So, when choosing a roommate you need to have multiple people to live with instead of just one because a group is harder to back out of. If you’re dead set on one roommate, you should sign a lease with them very early or make sure you can really trust them.

Picking roommates is something that causes people’s stress to skyrocket and, because of that, even friends can act in crazy ways. So it is best to secure your roommates early and sign a lease promptly.

hand-washing their dishes. It’s important to make a small list with a couple of features that everyone who will be living in your apartment wants so when you look for apartments you can rule bad options out immediately. Another important thing to do would be for all of you to go on the apartment tour. It may be tempting to agree to live somewhere by looking at pictures of the place and listening to good reviews from your roommates, but you can’t know if you really vibe with the place unless you’ve been there in person.

Choose your apartment wisely

If you’ve found an apartment everyone can agree on, it would be a good idea to take pictures of everything. Over the summer, I used the videos I had taken of my future apartment to plan exactly how I wanted to decorate my room and living area. This was very helpful because those pictures made it clear what kind of space was available in the apartment. A beautifully decorated apartment will really make a difference on how you perceive it. If it is decorated with love the place will begin to feel more like home. Good luck, and happy apartment hunting!

Find examples of decorations your roommates agree on

Once you’ve got your roommates secured, it’s time to pick an apartment. Before you go about choosing an apartment, you should discuss what the price range will be. This is especially important because if one of your roommates has a low BEN TSCHETTER THE DAILY ILLINI price range and you begin touring apartments much pricier than they can afford, it can become Students celebrate Unofficial from the balcony of their apartment on March 1. difficult for them to tell you they can’t afford that price range, especially if the other roommates begin to advocate for a specific apartment. After about what everyone wants in the apartment. and don’t care if the bedrooms are smaller and Bella is a junior in LAS. settling on a price range it’s important to talk Some people will want kitchens with dishwashers others will want lots of space and are fine with ikeys2@dailyillini.com

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Monday, February 17, 2020

Here’s why you should sublet instead of sign

BY BRIAN BAUER ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Subletting an apartment is usually a person’s last resort. It is a desperate maneuver typically sought out by students going or returning from studying abroad. But there are benefits to subletting that make it a desirable living situation in its own right. For some, it may be a better fit than signing a full-term lease although that’s not to say there aren’t significant drawbacks because all options have them. Here are some of the pros and cons to weigh when considering living in a sublet.

Lower commitment There can be a lot of pressure to make an apartment dynamic work when cosigning with others. It is an involved process that starts months in advance. Subletting is less of a commitment, especially if you’re looking only for a semester. Your roommates will have everything set up with the landlord and utilities, requiring only the monthly Venmo payment from you. Rent is generally cheaper as a sublet, and by going through other renters trying to fill the apartment you are in a better position to negotiate. If things take a turn for the worse, or you just want a change of location, you can leave for something else.

There are always options people are trying to fill, so you just have to look.

Protect old friendships and make new ones A lot of friendships are dama by the stress of living together. Seeing them so much of the day, every day and experiencing another person’s habits can create a wedge between friends. Fights can break out over who does the dishes and who needs to throw away the trash. Differing standards of cleanliness can create tension, and early birds might clash with night owls. By subletting, you can separate your friendships from this potential damage. On the other hand, you have the chance to determine how close you want to be with your unknown roommates. You could stay as friendly, yet distant acquaintances or grow close and forge new friendships. And if you want to get away from your roommates you are now guaranteed to have friends outside the apartment.

BRIAN BAUER THE DAILY ILLINI

The exterior of Gregory Towers at 1107 S. Fourth St. in Champaign. Assistant Photo Editor Brian Bauer says subleasing an apartment is a lower commitment than signing a lease on your own.

living with strangers, take all the necessary precautions. Look into your potential roommates, and ask any mutual friends you may have if they can vouch for them. Doublecheck the bills to make sure you aren’t getWhile subletting lets you look at available ting taken advantage of and ripped off. Hide places all year long, you have to plan ahead and secure your valuables while keeping an and give yourself enough time. Waiting until inventory of your belongings. the first day of class and needing to couch As always, when settling in a home and surf while you still hunt for apartments is

Be wary of new roommates

Don’t wait until the last minute

not a good spot to find yourself in. As you will probably with dealing with other students, it’s important to allow for their busy schedules and get everything settled before it’s too late.

Brian is a senior in LAS. bmbauer2@dailyillini.com

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Everybody stay calm: You can solve roommate woes thing your new apartment will need. Share the checklist with your roommates, and figure out what still needs to be bought, distributing the contributions evenly among roommates.

It’s also important to discuss things like who’s going to set up utilities, depending on what your lessor already includes in rent. Whoever is responsible can then send screenshots of the bills and divide it among the roommates for payment. This can get difficult if your roommates forget to pay or just don’t pay at all, but don’t be afraid to keep reaching out until they pay their share.

BY CASSIE REICHERT STAFF WRITER

After living in the dorms for your first year of college (and maybe a sorority or fraternity your second year), I’m sure many of you will eventually find yourselves living in an apartment or a house with roommates. This time you don’t have a meal plan to go along with your housing, someone to clean the bathrooms or someone to take out the trash. When you decide to live with other people, whether you know them well or not, it’s important to establish boundaries and understand all that goes into maintaining a shared space.

Create a grocery game plan

Make preparations before Move-In Day

You’ve already picked the location you’re going to live, which is a struggle in and of itself; now it’s time to communicate with your roommates how you all want to handle living in your new place, which is best to discuss before you’ve even moved in.

I’d first suggest making a group chat with all your roommates to keep track of what everyone’s bringing, paying bills, grocery shopping and everything else. Before you move in, research and make a checklist of every-

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Once you’re all living together, you’ll obviously have to eat. This typically requires grocery shopping, so discuss with your roommates if you want to share a grocery bill, or buy all of your own food. If anyone has any food allergies or intolerances, I’d suggest buying your own food so they don’t have to pay for food they are not going to eat. Also, make sure to let them know if you don’t mind sharing food, but be respectful of their food if they don’t want to share theirs. If you’re bringing small appliances, make it known if anyone can

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or if they have to ask to use it.

Find balance in reciprocity

You will probably have a shared living space of a kitchen, a bathroom and a living room, so all of these areas should be kept clean, and you all need to be held accountable to clean up your own messes. If you notice your roommate washed all your dishes, next time you see dishes in the sink, make it a priority to clean them for your roommate. But if you find yourself constantly having to pick up your roommates’ messes, don’t feel bad about reaching out and respectfully letting them know how you want them to step up their responsibilities.

Don’t be afraid to have a (respectful) chat

23 to live there, and you deserve to live as comfortably as your other roommates are. However, this is why it’s extremely important you handle all confrontations respectfully. Think of how you would want your roommate to speak with you, and proceed in a similar fashion. You also need to think about the balance between getting what you all want and compromise.

Sometimes it’s better to just take the high road than be petty about small things that annoy you. This can be difficult to do, but try your best. Another side of communication involves letting each other know about things that are going on in your life. You don’t have to share everything, but if you’re going out of town let them know; if you’re having people come over, ask if it’s OK first. Another thing I’d suggest is to share emergency contact information in case anything bad happens to one of you.

Being roommates is more than just being annoyed and dealing with issues. Roommates, if not already, can turn into great friends. So spend some time with them, offer them food if they haven’t had time to go to the store in a while, wish them luck on a test they’ve been studying for all week; whatever it is, don’t forget to enjoy the good times with your roommates.

That brings up communication. Because you live with these people, you, of course, want to maintain a good relationship in the house. If you have an issue, you might be afraid if you bring it up they’ll be annoyed or it’ll be awkward between you. It is essential you address the Cassie is a sophomore in Business. issue; after all, you’re all paying equal amounts crr5@dailyillini.com

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Monday, February 17, 2020

Monday, February 17, 2020

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24

Pick your first apartment without doubt

BY MARYKATE GREEN COLUMNIST

It can be very intimidating to find a place to live without your parents with you to ask all the right questions. But fear not! It’s not so scary when you know how to prepare for this process.

Decide who your roommates are

The first thing you need to do is to determine how many roommates you’re going to live with and the maximum budget for each person. You should use the lowest one as a cap on how much you’re willing to spend.

When picking your roommates, make sure to discuss expectations and habits. It’s important to know early on that your roommate doesn’t want to clean or expects you to be home to hang out all the time. Your schedules and needs may vary, but they shouldn’t conflict in worrisome ways. While living with your friends may sound fantastic, it could mean that living together will be the very thing that ends that great friendship. Not all friends are compatible roommates, and that’s OK.

Consider apartment wants and must-haves

Once you determine who you’re living with, the next thing you want to do is make a list of things you all want or must have in an apartment — included utilities, furnishings, pet-friendly policies, parking, a short walk from campus, fitness center, laundry in-unit or in-building, minimum number of bathrooms, etc. After you’ve decided all of that, you can then start your online searching process.

Tour locations that interest you

When looking online, make sure to view the photos and read the reviews. One common mistake is to see the price and not be sure if it’s the total rent or the individual rent (and yes, it happens more than you think).

Once you’ve determined if a place checks most, if not all, of your boxes, it’s time to book the tour. Either call or schedule a tour online and make sure you have a way of getting there, whether it’s by bus or someone’s car. Book it for a time that you will all be Always make sure to ask for a sample lease available because it’s vital that everyone so you can have someone look it over, either be there. someone in your family or the legal team on campus. After that, you should compile a list

Do your research before you sign anything

CAMERON IRELAND THE DAILY ILLINI

of questions you have about the apartment so you can ask the representative who gives you the tour. Questions like: “How do I pay rent: online or in-person?” “Is a deposit required?”

“Are there any plans to update the building or surrounding buildings?” “Have there ever been noise complaints?” “Do I need a cosigner?”

If you can’t think of any questions, you can

always Google good ones to ask! Most of all, keep in mind that the management is still going to tell you the best things about the place and not the worst, so trust your gut and do your research before signing.

Marykate is a sophomore in DGS. mg22@dailyillini.com

Monday, February 17, 2020

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Monday, February 17, 2020

Make your library of choice feel like home

BY NOAH DAVIS STAFF WRITER

Every year, college students must frantically hunt for a new place to live in a race to secure the best leases. Whether you and your closest friends get your dream apartment, students often don’t always spend most of their waking hours at their place.

Aside from attending class, the library is where actual work gets done. Unfortunately, popular study areas like the Undergraduate and Main libraries can be stress-inducing environments.

Grainger Engineering Library, on the other hand, can be downright traumatic. It’s commonplace to see students run out of the Computer-Based Testing Facility crying, and the ambiance is akin to the WorryFree factories from the movie “Sorry to Bother You” where employees are treated as feudal serfs and actually live inside the factory.

If the weather lately has been making you reluctant to leave the comfort of your couch and put your binge-watching on hold to trudge through the snow to the library, here are some ways to make horrific library vibes feel more like home.

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Hygge

Remember how much more convenient it was freshman year to simply go down to your dorm’s mailroom to get Amazon orders and care packages from your mom? Well, if you’re not at home in the afternoon when mail usually gets delivered, there’s a higher chance it can get stolen off your doorstep. So, just make the library where you pick up your packages! I’m sure the librarians won’t mind at all.

overpriced cup of coffee from Espresso Royale or comradery with peers in a common struggle.

It’s even embraced as a remedy to fight seasonal depression. So, go to the library, find a good spot in the smoking or non-smoking section you prefer, and get cozy to incorporate more hygge into your life.

Hygge (hoo-guh) is the Danish and Norwegian word meaning “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” In practice, hygge is about finding a way to make yourself comfortable and relaxed in everyday situations but also Noah is a junior in Business. enjoying the little things, like a freshly brewed, noahd3@dailyillini.com

Bring your toiletries Midterm season is right around the corner, which means more all-nighters and fewer $1 wells at Monday night Lion. But a rigorous courseload isn’t an excuse to stop taking care of yourself; in fact, self-care is more important in stressful times. If engineers at Grainger are able to find time to shave, brush their teeth and bathe with a sink, so can you.

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Monday, February 17, 2020

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28

Avoid luxury apartment hype, opt for good deals

BY CLARE BUDIN ASSISTANT SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

If you’ve been anywhere on Green Street in the past few months, chances are you’ve been greeted by enthusiastic pleas to sign forms and clipboards by employees of the soon-to-befinished luxury apartment The Dean. When hearing about it from the shiny new tower’s representatives, your future life at The Dean seems too good to be true. With a rooftop pool and hot tubs, a cohesive community and a prime location just steps away from your classes on the Main Quad, as well as the extravagant rewards teased for those who apply now, many students with little experience apartment hunting may find it hard to delay signing up now for their own piece of Champaign paradise.

The Dean isn’t the only luxury apartment or private housing company in the area guilty of such relentless and endlessly positive marketing. Local YouTube ads for apartments like The Retreat or polished actors warning that most students found their apartment in September can create a sense of panic among those who haven’t pinned down a living space for next year. The fact is, despite what these marketers want you to think, hype for a swanky new apartment shouldn’t override financial restrictions and common sense about what you really need as a 20-something student.

Worry about covering more important expenses first

Time in the hot tub to relax in advance of an upcoming exam sounds amazing, I’ll grant it that. But how much do those hot tubs, which you really may end up using once a week at the most, add on to your rent when you already have to squeeze to afford groceries, utilities, new running shoes after your five-year-old pair gets worn down and other expenses that will inevitably pop up in your new adult life? Even if you plan on hot-tubbing like clockwork, when will this new form of relaxation act in the same way as your Xbox tempting you from across the room: yet another distraction from working and studying?

Be aware of the gimmicks

Some of you are probably rolling your eyes at this buzzkill telling you to squash your dreams of living in luxury when you have the chance in your incredibly stressful student life, and believe me, I get it. But not every apartment is perfect, even with dozens of desperate student employees charged with signing up passers-

HALEE PRATCHER THE DAILY ILLINI

The outdoor lounge at Octave Apartments. Assistant Special Sections Editor Clare Budin suggests that students avoid the hype of luxury apartments and stick to budget deals.

by telling you otherwise. Companies offering cash prizes to a demographic they know are largely strapped for extra funds in exchange for you paying more than you need in yet another Green Street luxury apartment feels more predatory than promising, and regardless if you pay $300 or $1,300 a month for your apart-

ment, owners and landlords all have the same goal: to draw in more students who will fill their pockets.

While the hype for whatever new tower on the horizon is high, take the chance to make a honest list about what you truly need in a living space for next year or semester and save mon-

ey on in building gyms and hot tubs for more important spending after college when you’re truly an independent adult with a stable career and solid plans for future financial stability.

Clare is a sophomore in Media. claredb@dailyillini.com

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Monday, February 17, 2020

Monday, February 17, 2020

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The Daily Illini

Transition to apartment can be painless with effort

BY JJ KIM MANAGING EDITOR FOR REPORTING

ment and you cook a nice dinner all by yourself. At the same time, grocery shopping inadvertently teaches you how to manage your money better by forcing you to set aside a certain portion of your weekly budget for the trip to the store.

OK, so you’ve gotten to experience the wonders of living in a college dorm. Cramped spacing, stacking microwaves on top of minifridges and taking the risky half-naked walk to the communal bathroom for a shower.

Now you’ve got that all out of your system, you may be looking to switch things up a little bit by signing a lease on an apartment. For those of you who are about to take the next Living in a dorm, you’re provided with the step into adulthood, be sure to keep these bare essentials: a bed, a desk and a chair, things in mind. because there isn’t space for much more.

But when it comes to an apartment, you have to be sure that the living area is furnished; otherwise, that’s another expense to add on top of the monthly rent. Moreover, coordiIf you lived in a dorm this year, chances are nating which roommate will bring what for you also had a meal plan as well. You never the kitchen and common space is imperareally had to worry where your next meal tive. You don’t want to show up on Move-In would come from. Now that you’re about to Day and realize you and roommates have live in an apartment, you have to start adult- brought four sets of silverware but no dish ing more. That begins with preparing meals sponge. Sure, if you forget something, you for yourself. Take it from me and the sever- can always go to Walgreens or Target, but al angry phone calls I’ve received from my you’ll have to combat the other thousand parents for eating out too much, it’s neither students who forgot to bring something to THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO cost-effective or healthy to do so. Although campus, and you don’t need to be an Imagiit may seem tedious, there’s also a sense of neer to know the checkout line will be hell. Students hanging out on their balconies at 907 S. Third St.in Champaign on March 1. accomplishment when you’re at your apart-

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Monday, February 17, 2020

apartment and see a mountain of disgusting dishes in the sink.

Do your dishes immediately. On that same note, with an apartment, you won’t have a custodial staff to clean your bathroom, and things can get unhygienic faster than you might expect, especially the showers. Having Clorox wipes handy will help keep the bathroom, and you, clean.

In a general sense, moving to an apartment will be a more enjoyable experience, because you have your own room, don’t have a resident adviser breathing down your neck and a bathroom that hasn’t been used by 100 people in a single day.

Always remember to communicate with your roommates (if you have them) about any problems you take issue with, because bottling it up will only make things worse. Just being mindful of your actions and how it’ll affect others should help you ease into the world of adulting.

Clean up after yourself, seriously

Cleaning up in a dorm isn’t too difficult when all you need to do is take out the trash and recycling when the bins get full or vacuum the tiny space once in a while. The responsibilities increase tenfold from there once you transition into apartment life. As hinted in the previous paragraph, everyone’s worst childhood grievance— doing the dishes — is an absolute must.

After a delicious meal, you may think to yourself, “I can just do the dishes after tomorrow’s dinner,” or “I don’t have much time tonight, so I’ll do them at the end of the week.” Stop. It takes roughly five minutes that will save you a vast amount of time in the future. From personal experience and the experiences of several friends, the longer you let the dishes sit in the sink, MARK CAPAPAS THE DAILY ILLINI JJ is a sophomore in Media. the less likely that they will get cleaned. The last thing you want The exterior of Wassaja Hall on May 6. Wassaja is located 1202 S. 1st St. in Champaign on the northern half of the Ikenberry jjk7@dailyillini.com is for company to walk into your Commons.

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32

Find your signature drink based off of your dorm

BY AVA TRAVERSO SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

Let’s take it back to where it all started: The University dorms. No matter if you loved, hated or were indifferent about your time in the University’s housing, those days truly were a defining point in your college career. Let’s take a trip back in time and talk about what your dorm says about you, or more specifically, what drink your dorm would be.

Ikenberry North: A Keg (probably of Natural Light)

Ikenberry North is the largest group of dorms on campus, consisting of Barton and Lundgren, Hopkins, Wassaja, Nugent and Weston, and is arguably the rowdiest group on this list. The keg stand is the perfect pick for the dorms closest to Frat Park and the Greek House party scene on campus. I think having a keg at a house party is a total indicator of an unforgettable night. If you called the Ikenberry North residence halls your home at some point or another, consider taking a kegger this weekend in tribute.

Ikenberry South: Blue Guy

The tried-and-true classic standby that has become synonymous with KAM’s is the pick for the Ikenberry South dorms. The Ikenberry South cluster consists of Bousfield, Scott, Snyder and Taft Van-Doren. All of these dorms (except Bousfield, which is one of the newest and nicest residence halls on campus) embody the stereotypical, American dorm experience. The classic, nostalgic feeling of the halls of Scott, Snyder and TaftVan Doren can be compared very closely with the feeling that comes from the joy of Taking a cue from the engineering stereodrinking a blue guy. Both of them can make you reflect on the wild nights of college with type that often follows the residents of Illinois Street, their drink of choice would probably a big smile. be water. This selection can be attributed to late nights spent cramming for exams at Grainger Engineering Library or frantically staying up all night to finish a complicated coding project. Because of the low-key, stuPabst Blue Ribbon won the spot for Allen dious vibes that encapsulate ISR, water is the and with good reason. By being the cheap, drink that fits that the most. indie beer that many college hipsters flock to, it seems like the perfect match with the perception of Allen Hall. Allen Hall has genI lived at PAR during my freshman year of erally had the reputation of being the dorm for indie, theater kids to call home. Taking college, so I think this one resonates with me these factors into account, PBR wouldn’t be even more on the others. I also get similar energies from both PAR and FAR so that’s a better fit anywhere else. why I grouped them together. Burnette’s gives the vibe of cheap, terrible-tasting vodka that

ISR: Water

Allen Hall: Pabst Blue Ribbon

PAR/FAR: Burnette’s

EMILY HAZEN THE DAILY ILLINI

has contributed to many a hangover (helped with Gatorade and snacks from Penn Station, of course). The underrated but charming quality of a Burnette’s mixed drink and the PAR/FAR halls could not be a better match.

Bromley: Black Cherry White Claw

Like Bromley, the black cherry White Claw is the most basic you can get. Bromley is flooded with sorority girls and frat bros, so this flavorful low-calorie drink is great to get the job done quick and look good doing while you are doing it. Take advantage of the White Claw happy hour deals this week and look back on your time at Bromley fondly.

Newman: Wine (probably a nice red)

As anyone who was raised in the Catholic faith (as I was) knows, the wine during communion is a big part of the religious church service. I found this to be a fitting selection for Newman Hall because not only is it the Catholic dorm on campus, but it also has a church directly attached to the residence hall. A nice bottle of red wine is a good compromise and match when it comes to the drinking and religious identity of Newman hall.

No matter what dorm you called home during your early days on campus, (or if you lived in one at all), I hope this article has brought back fond memories of residence hall days.

Ava is a junior in ACES. avat2@dailyillini.com

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Monday, February 17, 2020

33

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It’s not your roommate’s problem, it’s yours partner. Hopefully, this article helps current and future roommates bring themselves one In a perfect world, upon leaving the step closer to the tranquility of successful cramped communal spaces of the Univer- cohabitation. sity dorms, every student will have the option to set off on their own and experience the bliss of independent living where you make your own rules, cook your own meals, play your music and stay up as long as you like.

It’s happened to everyone: You wake Unfortunately, in the world we live in, there are measly options for affordable apartments up one morning, look around at the pile of and private housing; most of us won’t be so clothes and papers strewn across your room lucky and will have to face the unique trials leaving less than half of your floor space bare, and tribulations that come with one or mul- and you wonder, “How did this happen?”

Often with our busy schedules, personal tiple roommates.

There are already plenty of articles and clutter can seem to build up overnight, while advice readily available that can teach you other’s disorganization is far easier to notice how to set boundaries with your roommates, and judge. Chances are, around the time how to deal with less-than-satisfactory living you’re just noticing your mess, its presence partners, and, for worst-case scenarios, how has been blatantly obvious to a neat-freak to break your lease and run screaming from roommate who has spent the past few weeks the broccoli-microwaving, EDM-blasting resisting the urge to go through your room monster you’ve had to live with for months. with a fine-tooth comb and tell their friends In most cases, however, conflicts between how much of a slob you are. roommates aren’t entirely one-sided, and The moral of the story is not to beat youryou’ll have to face the difficult, but nec- self up but instead to take a few seconds essary, task of looking within yourself to every day or every few days to step back acknowledge and adjust habits and behav- and see if papers are piling up or if your desk iors that may have been unnoticeable to you chair is becoming another place to put your but have been annoyances for your living old jeans.

BY CLARE BUDIN

ASSISTANT SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

If you notice it, so do they

Don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions

Sometimes, when your roommate is the nicest they can be but could become acquainted with some deodorant or could be helping with cleaning up around the apartment, speaking up and setting boundaries can be easier said than done. Chances are, your roommate has these same pet peeves, too, which can lead to an incredibly awkward situation in your residence that will only worsen as disagreements and annoyances continue to go unaddressed.

One of the most effective ways to prevent this excruciating situation is to take action yourself and ask your roommate frankly and regularly what you can be doing better as a roommate. In encouraging your roommate to be as honest and proactive as possible in their criticism, tension will inevitably wind down as you are opening yourself up as a resident who cares about their living partner’s wants and needs and a dialogue where everyone can address their issues is far more likely once one person takes the big leap.

Respect and accept each other’s differences

Everyone hopes for a living situation, either within or outside of University Housing, where you and your roommates become close friends immediately, can help each other with homework, host huge parties together or just play Smash Bros. on a lazy night.

However, in many cases, this harmony and closeness just won’t be there, and that’s OK. Especially if you’re in a situation where one roommate was brought in by another or you were introduced through a Facebook group for fellow apartment seekers, it’s completely plausible that personalities, preferences and habits won’t clash but won’t necessarily mesh perfectly either. Going into your first roommate experience, it’s important to keep your expectations at a manageable level and not expect unrealistic perfection, but instead work towards mutual comfort, personal compatibility and communication with your living partners.

Clare is a sophomore in Media. claredb2@dailyillini.com

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Monday, February 17, 2020

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Monday, February 17, 2020

Urbana, the lesser known beauty of CU

BY MARK CAPAPAS PHOTO EDITOR

Urbana is sometimes seen as the estranged half of CU. From an outside perspective, it can be seen as lonely, distant, and quiet. This is of course from the viewpoint of someone living in the west side of the region. The people who reside in Urbana know that the journey is worth the destination. The docile sounds of the trees, calm evenings, and personality driven local spots are just some of the many relics that Urbana has to offer. These images are some of the places and sights that I have seen throughout my year of living there.

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37

Monday, February 17, 2020

Urbana, the lesser known beauty of CU

BY MARK CAPAPAS PHOTO EDITOR

Urbana is sometimes seen as the estranged half of CU. From an outside perspective, it can be seen as lonely, distant, and quiet. This is of course from the viewpoint of someone living in the west side of the region. The people who reside in Urbana know that the journey is well worth the destination. The docile sounds of the trees, calm evenings, and personality driven local spots are just some of the many relics that Urbana has to offer. These images are some of the places and sights that I have seen throughout my year of living there.

Mark is a Junior in Media. capapas2@dailyillini.com

The Daily Illini

Monday, February 17, 2020

39

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