The Daily Illini: Housing Guide

THE DAILY ILLINI

HOUSING GUIDE Monday, February 18, 2019

Monday, February 18, 2019

The Daily Illini

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Champaign ILLINOIS

Housing Fair | February 21st 11AM - 2PM @ ILLINI UNION

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Date, prize and fees are subject to change. Limited time only. While supplies last. See office for details.

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Monday, February 18, 2019

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Housing: an invaluable, underappreciated resource

BY MOLLY ZUPAN SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

In my high school psychology class, my teacher showed us Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The levels of need and their components all made sense to me.

First, people need physiological satisfaction with food, water, warmth and rest. Second, people need safety and security. Third, people need to feel a sense of belonging with intimate relationships and love. Fourth, people need healthy self-esteem and experiences of accomplishment. And fifth, people need to feel they are achieving their full potential, with opportunities to engage in creativity.

When my teacher explained this, my initial response was, ‘Sweet, I have most of those things ... I’m good.’ Since then, I’ve learned a lot, and I am relieved to say my perspective and understanding of these needs has matured.

Over the past few years of my life, I have taken courses at the University which have changed my life for the better. I have read articles and books which have opened my eyes to a variety of difficulties I have never dealt with. I have interacted with people who have gone through hell-like experiences and made it out alive. And with each, I have reflected.

I have met passionate people who devote their time to teaching future generations about the struggles of the lower and middle classes, and the flaws in our laws and policies which push people and families down.

And I am so grateful.

I have had food, water, shelter, clothing, safety and everything else for my entire life.

I lived in the same house for 20 years and I spent that time laughing, growing and learning, without worry or concern about the wellbeing of my family or myself.

I have an incredible family and loyal, kind friends. I am in college, pursuing greater education, in a field I love. I have access to many resources and opportunities, and I rarely feel threatened. I find comfort and confidence in various environments that make me feel welcomed and appreciated amongst classmates, co-workers, friends and family.

And I am so grateful. But, I am most grateful for my access to housing.

It has given me so many things, such as a space to relax, a space to create and a space to live. It has given me focus and direction.

More than anything, it has given me a place to belong. Without housing, my life would be turned upside down; it would be something much less. I would be someone else and I wouldn’t have a majority of what I have now.

MOLLY ZUPAN THE DAILY ILLINI

A photo of Special Sections Editor Molly Zupan’s childhood home, where many memories were made and her life began.

There are millions of people who don’t have housing and some of them are closer to you than you think. There are people who have to move from house to house, people who have lost their homes and people who spend most nights on the sidewalk you walk on. What do these people have if they don't have adequate housing?

The next time you walk in your door, take a

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deeper step. Recognize the value and opportunity in what you have, especially in the roof sitting above your head and walls surrounding and promoting your well-being.

Housing is essential, but it is not guaranteed. Cherish it.

Molly is a junior in FAA. mollyz2@dailyillini.com

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Live how you want on a college student’s budget Figure out how much you can afford to spend Whether you’ve just moved out of the Unlike full-time working adults, college dorms and are getting a taste of apartstudents tend to have a less clear view ment life, or if you’ve been renting one for of their monthly income. Whereas a fullsemesters now, it’s not easy to keep track time worker can just subtract monthly of your budget when you’re living indepen- rent from monthly income, many students dently. Here are a few ways you can betdon’t pay for their living spaces with salter manage your expenses now that you’ve ary money. got a place of your own.

If you’re one of the students stretching out their loan or grant money over the Use a budgeting app course of the year, divide the amount by While keeping and sticking to a budget the number of months you need to pay is no easy task for a beginner, it’s a lot eas- rent. From there you can see how much ier if you use the right tools for the job. In money you’ll have left over for other the age of technology, why bother writing expenses like groceries and cell phone out all of your expenses by hand? Instead, bills. invest in a free smartphone app that can Knowing that number will ensure you help automate the process of tracking your don’t spend too much money one month expenses. only to find your grant or loan has ran out These apps will let you sync themselves before your final month’s rent is due. It with your bank account directly, meaning might be a good idea to use an app that they can automatically track how much alerts you if you spend over a certain you are spending on food versus entertain- amount in a month, just to be safe. ment, etc. They even give you a monthly report to see where the bulk of your Save money where you can expenses went to, meaning you can focus No matter what your monthly budget on cutting down in that specific area. ends up being, it always helps to have a little wiggle room for unexpected expensBY NATALIE STANOWSKI STAFF WRITER

es. It’s good to have some emergency funds saved up for situations like these, but if you don’t have any, you can also reduce everyday costs to be left with a little extra at the end of the month.

As a University student, you should pay close attention to students discounts and deals.

Places like the TechZone offer educational pricing, meaning students will always get the best deal, and certain programs like Microsoft Suite are free as long as you provide a valid University email address. Buying used textbooks or renting them instead of buying them new is also a great way to shave off expenses in the back-to-school rush.

By saving a few bucks here and there, you’ll find your bank account left with a little more breathing room at the end of the month.

Natalie is a sophomore in LAS. nms6@dailyillini.com

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Monday, February 18, 2019

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THE DAILY ILLINI PRESENTS

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Monday, February 18, 2019

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Come see us at the Spring 2019 Housing Fair this Thursday in the Illini Union 11 am - 2 pm

Hunt for your perfect home

BY MOLLY ZUPAN SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

Next semester will have many changes. I will be transitioning from undergraduate to graduate classes, apartment living to home living and from Champaign to Urbana. I have had my fair share of expensive rent prices, listening to people’s footsteps above me and not being able to have a pet. And I’m over it.

I recently found a suitable, welcoming house in Urbana I’m looking forward to calling home.

But it took a lot of work to find it. I am rooming with seven friends and a dog. We started the house search with many opinions, needs and desires. Along with that, it was necessary for us to check off a variety of boxes.

If you are considering adopting the off-campus house lifestyle, be sure to consider the following points to ensure you make the best choice.

So, what are your deal breakers?

Figure out what your most essential requirements are. Consider your lifestyle and your habits, location preference, the environments you have felt most comfortable in and the price you are willing to pay. Let these factors guide your choice. Make a checklist to stay organized, especially if you will have roommates.

STUDIOS 1 BEDROOM 2 BEDROOM & 3 BEDROOM

Pay attention to detail When you find a house, don’t let the paint job be the ultimate decision-maker. Take a close look at the insulation, pipes, foundation, window quality and so on. Disappointing conditions can be masked with good decor or amenities. Check for leaks, damage or mold.

AVAILABILITY

Take a whiff Do you smell sewage, gas or anything unpleasant? Sewage systems in older homes can sometimes get clogged or damaged. Hire a company to check the pipes through the drain if you are suspicious. Also note any odors from previous tenants or pets.

Talk to current tenants Any questions you have can likely be answered by the people who already live there.

What is the landlord like? Does your room get cold in the winter? Is the stove gas or electric?

How much is your average monthly utility bill?

What is it like sharing a refrigerator with four people? Ask away.

Hire a professional If you don’t trust your own judgment, have a home inspection done. Building inspectors know what to look for and what to avoid. Every house is likely to have a defect or two. Some will be obvious to you and they can be fixable, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Awareness of damages can help you negotiate a lower price and can alert you of any necessary repair costs.

Take your time The house search can be very stressful, but an attentive, thorough search will pay off in the long run. Leases are contracts; you want to be sure of your decision before you provide your signature.

Molly is a junior in FAA. mollyz2@dailyillini.com

Take its temperature If the house of your liking looks old or rickety, it probably is. Heating and cooling systems are not cheap to repair and replace. Make sure the furnace is in good condition before you solidify any decisions. This is an essential consideration, especially with recent extreme weather trends resulting from climate change.

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Get your hands on everything On the first visit, touch everything. Play with the light switches, the garbage disposal, the doorknobs, the faucets and everything in between. Flush the toilets, taste the water and check the power outlets. Check for accessibility and functionality. Who wants to pay for something they can’t use?

Look for consistency If you plan on having many roommates, like me, try to find a house with very similar bedrooms to avoid arguments about who gets what room and why. If the bedrooms have similar characteristics, satisfaction among everyone is more likely.

SERINA TALUJA THE DAILY ILLINI

Houses in the Champaign-Urbana community can be a viable option for college students hoping to branch out. Making sure these homes are in good shape before signing a lease can reduce trouble.

The Daily Illini

Monday, February 18, 2019

7

Follow these tips to best optimize your dorm space

BY SONAL SINGH STAFF WRITER

If you’re a freshman living in the dorms because you have to or a junior living in them because it’s just easier, one major problem I think comes up rather often is space. Somehow, regardless of how little or how much stuff you have, there is just never enough space.

Below are some suggestions you can implement in your room to try to create more space.

Create more physical space To create more physical space, start with major changes like lofting beds. It is best to have your bed mid-lofted or high-lofted so it gives you more under-the-bed storage. You could also move your desk around to either under your bed if it’s high-lofted or turn it so it’s against the window, giving you more space to place drawers. Additionally, one of the most common ways to create space is to stack your larger electronics, such as a printer, a microwave or a refrigerator.

Another useful tip would be to move one of the given dressers into your closet so it gives you more space in your room and helps you store your clothes better in the closet. Furthermore, try your best to get rid of your old textbooks when possible. They’re bulky and can

KENYON EDMOND THE DAILY ILLINI

A student dorm room in Pennsylvania Avenue Residence Hall. It is important for students to clean up their rooms often so there will be more livable space.

take up a lot more space than necessary when they're just lying around. If you can’t get rid of them, just try to dedicate a space for them — preferably on a shelf or inside a drawer.

Store efficiently Despite creating more space using the

above steps, your room will still feel small unless your belongings are stored properly and efficiently. The best way to organize your belongings is to use storage containers, which you can easily stack under your bed. Divide your things into various categories, and place them in medium-sized, labeled containers.

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It's a great idea to invest in an ottoman because of its multiple handy uses. It can be used to sit on when your friends are over or to store some extra miscellaneous items. It will also come in handy when trying to get up to your lofted bed.

Clothing also plays a major role in creating space in your dorm because it is probably what you have most of. Try to fold items so they take up less space, but if that’s not possible, hanging them might work better. In addition, when it comes to clothes, try sectioning them off into summer and winter items, and store your off-season clothes in the back of your closet.

Also, having over-the-door hooks will definitely come in handy, especially during winter with coats and scarves. And instead of getting a shoe box, try getting a shoe rack you can hang inside your closet.

Moreover, if you want to go through the extra effort, invest in a cork board for all the small papers and notices which you would normally find lying just about everywhere.

Implementing some of these ideas should help open your space and give you more room to move around.

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

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Recycling has rules worth effort, consideration is carelessly tossed outside, there is potential for this material to end up in our waterways, Welcome to Recycling 101, where most of which eventually contaminates agricultural your recycling inquiries will be answered. lands and our drinking water.

We will begin by discussing some incentives This is also true of landfills because a proof recycling. Of course, most people these cess called leaching occurs, which is when days are well aware recycling’s main purpose toxins and chemicals from trash leach into the is to reuse. This simple claim does not provide environment. It is best to keep our environmuch insight into the many benefits created by ment free of pollutants so our produce remains recycling, so I am here to enlighten you. healthy for us and uncontaminated.

Let’s begin with some numbers. According Another lesser known incentive for recycling to the Environmental Protection Agency, the is the support it brings to the American workU.S. alone generates approximately 230 milforce. According to Ecocycle, one of the largest lion tons of municipal waste annually, which non-profit recyclers in the U.S., 1.1 million new is about 4.6 pounds of trash per person every eco-friendly jobs can be created if our recyday. Only about 30 percent of this waste is cling rate increases to 75 percent by 2030. recycled or composted.

Don’t landfills and incinerators also require National Geographic has found that 91 perpeople to work and thus create jobs? Yes, but cent of plastic is not recycled — keep in mind not nearly as much. Recycling jobs create 9 most plastic can be recycled — and a majority times more jobs than landfill and incinerator of the plastic not recycled is littered. facilities. Consistent and attentive recycling By recycling, we are protecting our beloved is not only good for the environment; it brings environment by preventing its degradation. economic benefits as well.

In simpler terms, recycling means less waste So, what can be recycled? Papers, such as ends up as litter and in landfills, which mininewspapers, magazines, notebook papers, mizes unnecessary pollution. The less polloose leaf and printed paper can be; boxes, lution we create, the more pure our environsuch as food packages and cardboard as well ments will be. as plastics and food cans, such as aluminum It is important to be aware that litter travand other metal can be also. els and transforms. When recyclable material If the recyclables had contained food at

BY ARISTIDES THEODOROPOULOS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Let's U-Cycle Together

any point, they should be rinsed prior to being placed in your recycling bin. Any cardboard, a common one being pizza boxes, contaminated with food, oil or grease, should not be recycled; however, the top of the pizza box may be fair game.

Chip bags and candy wrappers are another example of material that cannot be recycled, so if you want to go above and beyond, avoid those unhealthy snacks and stick to fresh food instead. Plastics labeled one through seven can be recycled; however, Styrofoam cannot be. (This is true for a majority of recycling facilities, including those serving Champaign-Urbana.)

It does not require much effort to recycle, and the benefits of recycling outweigh any arguments for not doing so. We must work together to live sustainably to care for our increasingly pressured environment. The more mindful we are about switching outdated habits into eco-friendly ones, the longer we can admire the beauties this planet holds. Anything you do matters, for better or for worse.

No matter where you live — house, apartment or dorm — be conscientious. Get a recycling bin and don’t forget to use it.

Recyclables Plastics labeled 1-7 (no Styrofoam)

Cans and tins (after rinsing)

Papers (magazines, newspapers, etc.)

Aristides is a junior in LAS. apt2@dailyillini.com

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CASSIDY BRANDT THE DAILY ILLINI

Fraternity puts Marie Kondo methods to test

BY ZACK FISHMAN STAFF WRITER

A new Netflix series, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,” has been sweeping the nation (and my social media feed), with the host helping others magically clean their living spaces. I was initially confused by the oversized celebration over decluttering, but I soon remembered the mess that is my tiny bedroom — mounds of unsorted items filling laundry baskets, groceries stacked wherever they fit and a microwave partially blocking my doorway.

I have been largely unsuccessful at cramming my belongings into a small fraternity dorm, so I decided to apply Kondo’s techniques and try out this potential solution.

As I began my research, I learned Kondo is a professional organizer from Japan and made a name for herself in 2014 with “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” a wildly successful self-help book. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed it as she weaved in amusing stories of herself and her clients alongside the KonMari Method, Kondo’s eponymous organizational philosophy. The two episodes of her television show I saw — which had a charm and personality belong-

ing on TLC — focused more on her clients but displayed the same approach to tidying.

In both formats, Kondo breaks down her method into two broad steps: discarding and storing. The first requires rigorous testing of every item in the house, keeping only what “sparks joy” and trashing everything else. After only the essentials remain, they are assigned a permanent place in the room.

The KonMari Method includes more useful advice and tips than I can list, the most novel being the vertical storage of clothes in dresser drawers to keep them all visible. But its most notable characteristic is the nearspiritual way Kondo treats homes and their clutter. She instructs clients and readers to thank each object for fulfilling its service, especially before discarding it.

Empowered by Kondo’s comprehensive approach, I began my tidying with my clothes, pulling them all out of my small closet and considering my feelings toward each. It felt strange to thank old shirts as I tossed them in a discard box, but I persisted and eventually appreciated what felt like a genuine interaction with my belongings. By the end, I had rid about two dozen articles

of clothing from my wardrobe.

The same process continued with each new category, like books, papers and so on. I was surprised at all the items I had kept out of a sense of obligation or I’ll-usethis-someday-itis. Even personal items like birthday cards and gifts were joylessly taking up space, which I noticed only while following Kondo’s instructions. By the end of the week, I filled a huge box of items for donation and emptied my trash can nearly a dozen times.

My storage step mostly consisted of finding the right containers for my belongings, like a Ziploc bag for my cables and a plastic bin for my food, and assigning them permanent homes. It was a relatively easy process, but my room sometimes had trouble cooperating. I have no dresser and instead put my clothes on shelves, for instance, and it’s impossible to stack anything vertically in those. Unfortunately, not every tip was helpful.

Although I couldn’t follow through on the KonMari Method perfectly, I completed the exercise with more floor space and less clutter than I’ve ever seen. I have a few items left to sort through, but I have been

worrying much less about organization and understand the hype around Kondo.

In my mind, the chores themselves are not nearly as interesting as the ideology they embody. Kondo’s instructions, particularly the focus on “sparking joy,” exude the essence of minimalism, which looks to preserve only what is necessary (for living in a dorm, in this case).

This contrasts with the common, perhaps instinctual mindset to keep everything that has some sort of value. But by hoarding this excess value, the KonMari Method dictates, we get distracted from the most important and meaningful things in our lives.

Kondo’s tidying teaches us how to inhabit the home not just cleanly but also mindfully. I’ve been able to maintain that practice in the few days since I finished and being able to store everything comfortably in my tiny bedroom after months of failing truly borders on the magical. Although Kondo’s material is geared toward full houses and apartments, I believe anyone can benefit from a little tidying up.

Zack is a junior in Engineering. zbf2@dailyillini.com

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Receive existential self-help from the comfort of your home

BY YOAV MARGALIT STAFF WRITER

In the pursuit of a college life, we often find ourselves confronted with deep questions: Who am I? Why am I doing what I’m doing?

Questions like these haunt us, and it’s easy to understand why. They are, after all, difficult to answer.

Most of the time, there’s a simple solution; we can just ignore them. We can talk to friends, go to a bar or just get out of the house.

But what about when you can’t? What if you’re sick, your friends are all busy or you just don’t feel like getting out the door? How can you ignore your questions when you can’t distract yourself with social contact? You must prepare. You must be ready to hunker down and ride out your existential crisis from your home. Here are some tips to make it happen.

Wellness There’s a turn of phrase that equates a wellkept body with a well-kept mind. For our purposes, that’s hogwash. What, do you think you’re having an existential crisis because of your spleen? That your Taco Bell-and-Dorito diet are catching up to you in a moment of

philosophical discontent? The crisis is for your mind. And mental wellness is not the same thing as physical wellness.

You can practice physical self-care, which probably means eating celery, and possibly Brussel sprouts, or instead, you can practice psychological self-care, which involves eating what you enjoy. Have some food that you actually like to eat, ready for bingeing.

Especially when you are riding it out at home alone, getting past an existential crisis is all about rationalization. So, here’s some free rationalization for you: Eating healthy food can wait until after the crisis is over. Unless the crisis is about how you can’t commit yourself to clean living.

If it is, then it’s time to bust out the Brussel sprouts. Maybe you could steam them. Or bake them. Or just throw them in the trash to save yourself the trouble. Whatever.

Time travel Sleep is pretty magical, when you think about it. It’s a big ‘ole restart button built into our brains. Especially when we’re having one of those late-night existential breakdowns, a great idea is to go to sleep and procrastinate

the issue until we’re in a better frame of mind.

But here’s the tricky part. When we’re in a sleep-deprived, existentially dispirited state like that, we don’t want to sleep. The thought of going to bed with these thoughts still being unresolved is pure agony. You can’t possibly count on yourself to choose this option when it matters.

So you need to get sneaky. All you need is a couch, a fluffy pillow, a cozy blanket and some selective amnesia. Put the blanket and the pillow on the couch. Make the couch so comfortable it’s tough not to drift off. You will tell yourself you are only doing it to make a comfier couch. But, in reality, it’s all part of your cunning scheme.

With the couch weaponized according to these specifications, you will find yourself instantly transported four to eight hours into the future whenever you would normally lie down and hate yourself for a few hours. It’s the perfect crime.

tion. Instead of dealing with the problem at hand, you do something else to try to ameliorate it — which is another great word, by the way — indirectly. If you distract yourself, you can sometimes galvanize — wow, these words are just everywhere — yourself to solve the problem from another angle.

Read a book. Watch Netflix. Start a diary.

Run for president of the United States. Whatever. The point is you distract yourself from where you are now to trick yourself into finding a new perspective. Rationalization is fun that way. It isn’t about solving the crisis, not really. Really, your goal is to get to a frame of mind where the crisis isn’t as big of a problem as you thought it was.

Solving your existential crises is easiest when you can talk them out. But sometimes, you’re stuck at home alone without any people, so follow these steps and deal with existential crises the good old-fashioned American way. It’s like opening a restaurant.

Ninety percent of it is repression, repression, repression.

Distraction Here’s a good word: Syzygy. It’s a noun. It refers to an alignment of celestial bodies. Nifty. Yoav is a senior in LAS. See what I did there? That’s called distracyoavm2@dailyillini.com

404: EXISTENTIAL RATIONALIZATION NOT FOUND

BRIAN NGUYEN THE DAILY ILLINI

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Monday, February 18, 2019

Busy students can eat healthy, simple recipes

BY MOLLY NGUYEN STAFF WRITER

One perk of living in a dorm is having a meal plan. You never have to worry about waking up extra early to make breakfast, coffee or meal prep for the day. Although the dorm lifestyle is very convenient, the freedom of being in your own housing allows you to create and control what you eat.

You might have to take a little more time to go grocery shopping, to plan out what you want to eat and to make your food, but it can be much healthier for you in the long run.

Here are some easy ways to stay healthy and creative with your meals throughout the day.

Breakfast This meal is most essential for a productive day and making it is easier than you think. Living in an apartment or house can be very useful because you can use the stovetop to make eggs, boil water for your coffee and tea or make pancakes. If you have early classes, you most likely don’t want to wake up extra early to make yourself a full breakfast.

Try making overnight oats. You can prep them the night before, and leave them in your fridge until the morning. This is a simple and healthy way to stock up on energy and nutrients for the day.

Overnight Oats Recipe Add one cup of rolled oats Add one cup of desired milk (2 percent, almond, soy, etc.)

Add peanut butter or almond butter Add chia seeds Add honey or your favorite sweetener Add fruit or nuts Leave overnight in a cup or container Mix and enjoy in the morning

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Greek Salad Recipe Add desired greens (lettuce, kale, spinach, etc.)

Add chopped tomatoes Add slices of avocado Add slices of cucumber Drizzle olive oil Sprinkle desired cheese Mix and enjoy Dinner Since this meal is in the evening, you might have more time to make it how you want it.

Once again, living in a house or an apartment comes with the advantage of kitchen appliances. For example, a super easy way to prepare a meal that will last a while would be making your favorite pasta. But what is pasta without veggies?

Roasted vegetables are delicious, healthy and pair well with pasta. Clean your veggies, glaze them with olive oil, add some salt and pepper and bake them for 15-25 minutes. Or make kale chips. They are yummy, healthy and take about 15 minutes at most to make.

Lunch This meal can be tricky because sometimes Crispy Kale Chip Recipe you don’t want to go all the way home if you Preheat oven to 275 F are in between classes. In that case, try meal Wash and dry desired amount of kale prepping your lunch in the morning.

Remove the ribs of the kale A very simple and easy-to-make lunch could Chop into 1-inch pieces be a sandwich or wrap. Or you could make a Place them on top of a metal pan with alu larger batch of a dish so you will have lunch minum foil for the week. Soups, chilis and casseroles are Sprinkle olive oil and salt good options and there are a variety of recipes Bake until edges are brown, but not burnt online. A healthier, greener alternative could (10-15 minutes) be making a big salad. If you want to make the salad last longer, don’t put your dressing Although it is easy to walk to Green Street to on until right before you eat it. Nobody likes a grab your favorite franchise meal, don't give in. soggy salad.

Molly is a junior in LAS. mxnguyen@dailyillini.com

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Monday, February 18, 2019

The Daily Illini

14

Make your house feel like a real home with these pointers

BY NATALIE STANOWSKI STAFF WRITER

Moving into a new place is a simultaneously stressful yet exciting time. With a new location and new neighbors, it can take a while before you feel used to your new place.

That being said, here are a few ways to make sure your place feels a little less alien and a little more like home.

Rearrange your furniture Whether you have just moved into a prefurnished place and want to leave your mark or you’ve been living there a while and you would like to freshen things up, rearranging the furniture can completely change a space.

Push your bed to a different corner of your room or change the direction your sofa is facing. Try out a few different ideas until you find the combination which suits you best.

Add some greenery If you live alone or if your apartment’s colors are on the dull side, add some color and life to your environment by investing in some houseplants. Keeping plants indoors has been found to reduce stress and boost people’s moods, not to mention the cleaner air they provide.

Adding a few will definitely change your

space for the better, and there’s no need to stress about whether your place is too dark (or too disorganized) to take care of a plant.

There are plenty of options to choose from depending on your experience with caring for houseplants and the amount of light you get.

If you’re interested and want some more tips on houseplant options and care, check out out our column, “Find out what houseplant fits your needs best."

Put up photos and posters What better way to make your place a bit more personal than to decorate the walls with your favorite photographs? Adding pictures of your friends and family will instantly make the place look more like home. You can choose to frame a few or opt for an open wall collage; there are plenty of creative DIY ideas if you search the internet.

Add additional lighting Depending on the place you have, you may feel limited by a lack of natural or even artificial light in your home. By adding some additional lights of your own, you may find you can use spaces in ways you couldn’t before.

Adding a floor lamp or some string lights can brighten up an area far from the reach of the windows. If you already have overhead

AMANDA KATZ THE DAILY ILLINI

lights or a lamp which just isn’t quite enough, consider changing the lightbulb for a brighter one. Fixing any issues your place may have will make it a lot more welcoming, which leaves

you with a place that truly feels like home.

Natalie is sophomore in LAS. nms6@dailyillini.com

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Monday, February 18, 2019

16

The Daily Illini

Co-ed habitation creates a cohesive community

BY SERINA TALUJA

ASSISTANT SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

I’ve done a lot of experimenting with living situations during my time as a student. From dorm living with a stranger to all-girls living to living with my best friend, there have been a lot of ups and downs with each new circumstance.

This year, I tried something completely new: being the only girl in a house of boys. I live with four of my guy friends, all of whom I’ve known since freshman year.

Going into this situation was nothing short of nerve-wracking. I didn’t know what to expect, and I soon found out all my roommates felt the same way. We were all a little anxious to begin the year this way, but we have also all agreed it’s been one of the best decisions we have made.

So, if you are a guy or girl considering living in a co-ed house or apartment next year, here are some little anecdotes from my time living with four guys to hopefully ease your worries.

For girls For all of last semester, I was dating this guy from back home (which, for me, is Dallas, Texas). Since we couldn’t spend a lot of time physically together, we would have Skype dates every week on Sunday nights.

One Sunday, our conversation ended in a fight that left me in tears. I sat in my room, crying, and I felt so alone … and on a whim, I texted my roommates.

“Hey guys, anyone home?”

I got responses from the two who were home right away, letting me know they were around and asking what was going on.

I didn’t respond over text but tried to pull myself together and knocked on both of their bedroom doors.

They opened them immediately, and I just told them I needed a hug. I had no idea how either of them would react to such a random request, but they could both immediately see something was wrong and hugged me.

They also both instantly started asking what was going on and if they could help.

I let them know I just wanted a hug and that I needed a little space to process what was going on, and they totally respected that. They also kept checking on me throughout the night to let me know they were there for me, and I honestly don’t know how I would have made it through that evening without them.

So are guys a little messier than girls?

Sure. Do guys get a little loud when they’re drunk? Sometimes. But are they there for SEE CO-ED | 16C

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FROM 16C

CO-ED you no matter what, especially when you really need a friend? Without a doubt.

For guys It’s finals week of fall semester. It’s cold outside, the stress is kicking in and really, we all just wish we were home celebrating the holidays already.

My roommates are on edge: One has three projects due the same day, one has finals leading up to that last Friday at 7 p.m., the other is distracting himself from finals by debating whether or not to apply to graduate school. You could say the household was hectic.

Meanwhile, I’m a stress baker. So while I was worried about my finals, at the end of each day, I would make something sweet to distract myself from the potential disaster that were the exams I was about to

17 take.

Turns out, sweets and treats are good stress relievers for other people, even if they themselves are not stress bakers. The treats I made brought us all into the kitchen where we got to talk about what was on our minds and support each other through a tough week, all over chocolate-covered strawberries or a batch of fresh cookies.

So do girls take a little longer in the bathroom in the morning? Maybe. Are girls a little more interested in keeping things neat and tidy? Perhaps. But do we bring people together and provide lots of love and support to our friends? Totally.

If you are going into a co-ed living situation, remember to keep an open mind and try your best to relax and enjoy yourself.

After all, we are all still people, there to support and care for one another, genderidentity aside.

Serina is a senior in LAS. taluja2@dailyillini.com

SERINA TALUJA THE DAILY ILLINI

Monday, February 18, 2019

Monday, February 18, 2019

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Monday, February 18, 2019

19

Use this guide to avoid being an annoying roommate

BY YOAV MARGALIT STAFF WRITER

There is a beautiful dream: society. A dream that different people are coming together with dignity, mutual warmheartedness and the drive to succeed to create something greater than themselves. Society is a massive effort of cooperation from all people to make ourselves safer, happier and more fulfilled than we ever could be by ourselves.

But then you get home and see laundry all over the couch, mud tracked in the entryway and a kitchen that looks like a bomb has gone off, and that dream starts to sound more like a figment of your imagination.

Here are a few tips to avoid being the source of that stunned moment of disappointment.

not be the best idea to put all your weight on the coffee table that can just barely handle the weight of an overfilled mug.

On the other hand, it hasn’t ever broken before, so who am I to tell you what to do?

food. That’s mean. Obviously.

The corollary to this is stolen food is about 10 times more delicious than nonstolen food. So the updated rule is use your discretion when taking other people’s food.

Your food Unless your roommate has accepted your offer to share, your food should not get in the way of theirs.

For example, pasta sauce is best served on pasta, rather than on a countertop. Microwaving fish is a fantastic way to be put on the FBI’s most wanted list and the dishes from last week’s dinner should not be in everybody’s sink. Finally, don’t eat other people’s

Your music Have you ever heard of Occam’s Razor? It says the simplest solution is most likely to be true. The easiest way to deal with a roommate who plays music too loudly is to hate them.

However, if that music happens to be music that you actually enjoy listening to, then congratulations.

You have just met yourself, reincarnated into your

Your stuff Your stuff should be in your room. If a space is for everybody, then don’t go colonizing it with swathes of clothing, books and bric-a-brac. Leaving clothes in the washing machine or dryer, leaving unfolded laundry on a table in the living room and leaving clothes just about anywhere outside your room are no-nos.

The corollary to this rule? Being the better man lets you be indignant. Nothing’s more fun than looking down your nose at other people.

Yourself Don’t break stuff. Or lie down on stuff. Or break stuff by lying down on it. Come to think of it, it might

ALAYNA NULTY THE DAILY ILLINI

next life. Ask him or her what next week’s lotto numbers are.

Your self-esteem Misery loves company, so you need to keep your happiness to yourself. Nobody enjoys having somebody else’s success rubbed in his or her face after having a day full of Oliver Twist-ing.

The corollary to this is that nothing is more enjoyable after a crummy day than to flex that misery. Flex it well.

Your social life Don’t have one. Problem solved.

On the other hand, having friends is usually a good thing. It ends up being something of a coin toss. If you insist on having a life, it might be easier to schedule things for when your roommates are out to try to minimize the damage. If you need to host an event while they are home, you can try to keep it down.

It won’t work, though.

It might be cheaper to live in a cardboard box, but it’s more comfortable to live in a house or apartment.

That option becomes more affordable when you have someone else willing to split the rent. If you follow these tips, you might be able to eke by without getting murdered.

Or you can finish off the milk.

Yoav is a senior in LAS. yoavm2@dailyillini.com

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Monday, February 18, 2019

The Daily Illini

20

Find out what houseplant fits your needs best

BY SERINA TALUJA ASSISTANT SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

What’s leafy, green and cute all over?

If you guessed houseplants, you are right.

With winter in full swing and the sky a constant gloomy gray, it’s important to remind ourselves that even on the coldest days, there are ways to maintain a bright, happy living space and high spirits.

Indoor plants and home gardens are an option to do exactly that, but you don’t have to take my word for it. A 2015 study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information showed interacting with plants leaves young adults feeling more calm and relaxed in general as opposed to interacting with technology that tends to leave young adults feeling distressed.

So, interacting with a plant is more likely to calm you down after a long week than kicking back and watching a flick on Netflix.

To some, plants may seem like a huge responsibility. Are you unsure as to where to start on a home garden? Have you killed plants in the past? Here are some tips to start your own sustainable home garden and keep it going through the winter and beyond.

What type of plant person are you?

If commitment is scary for you, just one plant might be your best option. If you like to dive into things more head on, an entire terrarium or herb kit might better hold your attention.

If you’re a person who tends to forget to water plants, succulents and cacti are the plants for you. These little guys are nearly indestructible as long as they have a relatively consistent light source. Some easy ones to start with are aloe vera or anything in the Echeveria genus.

If you tend to give your plants lots of love and attention, something like a leafy houseplant is probably best for you. Plants like ferns and vines grow great when they get a lot of love in the form of watering and moderate light.

If you’re unsure, I would recommend adopting an air plant. These are bizarre and with interesting habits, but if they are properly cared for, they can remain beautiful for a long time. Fun fact: Air plants don't need soil.

When to water Now that you have an idea of your plant type, let's break down how much water different plants need. There are rules of thumb to follow depending on the plant type you choose.

Succulents should only be watered about once a week as mature adults. They really prefer being sprayed or misted, so their soil doesn’t get disturbed.

On the flip side, leafy houseplants only

CASSIDY BRANDT THE DAILY ILLINI

thrive if they are watered relatively often, like every day or every other day.

Air plants like to be left alone most of the time. Contrary to popular belief, misting is actually not something they prefer and can kill them. Instead, completely submerge air plants in a bowl of room-temperature water for about 30 minutes every week. Take them out, dry them off and put them back on display.

If you’re anything like me, watering plants is not always at the forefront of your mind while focusing on work, classes and everything in between. I would recommend writing down when you plan on watering your plants. Stay consistent and attentive.

When to fertilize A little less urgent than watering habits

are fertilizing habits. Some plants need to be fertilized to continue thriving, and others hardly need it at all.

For air plants, it’s important to fertilize them in the spring. There are lots of spray fertilizers that work great for this.

Both succulents and leafy plants can be fertilized or not, but if you’re going to fertilize them, it’s definitely better to do it in the spring because that’s when plants would normally require the compounds in the fertilizer if they were planted outside.

Where to put them Placement is key for maintaining a home garden. It’s important to look up specifically how much light your plant will need, especially for leafy plants, since too much light can actually bleach their leaves.

Succulents are pretty standard in their light desires though: the more, the merrier. Succulents are more likely to grow fuller and in a more Instagram-worthy way if they are close to a strong light source, like a grow light or a window facing east or west.

Air plants are also pretty easy-going when it comes to light. They can grow well in a lot of sunlight and will often flower if they are placed in a bright window but will also continue to grow in shadier areas of your house or apartment.

No matter what type of plant person you are, happy growing. Remember: The more you tend to your plants, the more they tend to you.

Serina is a senior in LAS. taluja2@dailyillini.com