Special Section: Housing Issue

Housing issue

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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • FEBRUARY 26, 2016 •

HOUSING ISSUE

Editor’s Note This time of year everyone is either too busy with midterms or pledging that they forget about the all too important quest to find somewhere to live come next year. Whether you are an underclassman still living on campus or a soon-to-be senior trying to escape, this special issue is here to help. Finding a house or an apartment is hard. But reading these articles will make it easy. At least we hope. Whether you are trying to decide between an apartment or a house, want to figure out the best and worst dorms Trinity has to offer, or are just looking to find that perfect roommate, we’ve got you covered. Not literally of course. That’s what a house is for.

Our Staff Contributors

theTrinitonian The Housing Issue 26 February 2016

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Off-Campus Essentials

Sarah Tipton

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Point/ Counterpoint: Living on or off Campus

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Finding a Roommate: Do and Don’ts

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Luke Wise

Editor-in-Chief

Senior communication and political science double major. Tottenham Hotspur fanatic, surrogate mother to two stray cats and part time oracle and palm reader. Sometimes I wake up.

Kim Nguyen Web Editor Kim is a computer science and communication major or something like that. Not sure exactly. She is also an adorable owner of the ugliest bun on the planet. Just kidding its also equally adorable although incredibly evil. You’ve been warned.

Sarah Tipton & Mason Stark

Tim Zhang

Sarah Tipton A&E Writer ​Sarah Tipton lives under the Ruth Taylor Theatre Building stairs

Pet Guide for Living Off Campus

Kim Nguyen

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Living Off Campus

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Where to Live off Campus as an Underclassman

Luke Wise

Staff Contributors

Graphics and design by SAMANTHA SKORY, Graphic Editor.

Cover Photo by MIGUEL WEBBER, Photo Editor.

like the troll she is. Whenever she is not being chained to a desk and forced to write, she is an English and communication major.

She is also married to the fictional character Jamie Fraser.

Mason Stark Guest Writer Mason Stark is a senior philosophy major who plans to live off campus for the rest of his life. He enjoys salad and doesn’t care who knows.

Tim Zhang News Intern Tim Zhang is a computer science major and currently a Campus Publications intern. He is also a lovely, wonderful person. Thanks Tim

HOUSING ISSUE

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• FEBRUARY 26, 2016 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

BY SARAH TIPTON

A&E WRITER

Off- Campus Essentials

I’ll be moving into my own apartment after graduation, so I made a list of things I will need now that I will be living on my own. And because I am a gracious person, I have decided to share that list with my fellow Trinity folks.

Dorm Room Contraband

Furry Friends

My apartment will be filled to the brim with what is considered as contraband in the campus dorms. No, I’m not talking about hard liquor or drugs. The first thing I will buy for my apartment is a toaster.

Do you know how much I miss eating Eggo waffles for dinner? A hella lot. I will finally be able to toast food to my heart’s content. I also have a stockpile of candles that I have been hoarding secretly at my parent’s house, waiting for the day when I can finally light them the hell up. I’m not a pyromaniac, I swear. Candles just work so much better at making a room smell good than an electric scent plug does.

It might get lonely if you’re living on your own, so either bring your childhood pet to your new place or adopt from a local shelter. This way you’ll have someone to lick your face when you get home after a long day — if you don’t already have a significant other doing that for you, that is.

Décor Alas, the days of half-naked lady posters and unframed photographs are over. You’re an adult now, so your place has to look the part. You should try to get wall décor that actually borders on art, even if it is just an Audrey Hepburn quote on an old dictionary page. But only if it’s framed or on canvas. Otherwise it’s juvenile and you need to step your game up; this is coming from a person who has a collage of the silly faces of Ben Wyatt (from “Parks and Recreation”) hanging on her wall currently. If you want to look extra classy, get some reprints of portraits of English or French nobility. People will assume you are cultured and knowledgeable.

Furniture The bad thing about living on your own is you have to provide your own furniture. Luckily there are places like Ikea that are created specifically for a poor student’s disposal! You’ll need the basics, like a Brusali, Tyssedal, Norsborg and a Liatorp. (In other words, you have to get things like a bed, dresser, sofa and bookcase.) If you are on a budget, steal things from your parents’ house. They’re sending you to Trinity, so they can afford to replace the items you steal. With your limited budget, try your best to make sure all of the furniture matches. Or you can try to go for that eclectic bohemian vibe. It’s up to you. Just please, for the love of God, don’t use cinder blocks and sheets of wood.

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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • FEBRUARY 26, 2016 •

HOUSING ISSUE

Living in a House versus an Apartment

BY LUKE WISE | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Living off campus senior year is a difficult process. You have to find roommates, sign leases and make the most important decision — house or apartment? That’s where I come in. If you are not sure of your choice or don’t know the first thing about either, I’m here to tell you the only right answer.

Get a house. You’ll thank me later.

I have nothing against apartments by any means. Apartments are an easy choice.

They often come furnished and are more flexible with student leases. They have pools and grills alongside laundry and other services. But everything you can get at an apartment, you can have, even better, in a house. First, the most important aspect of any off campus living decision: cost. By most standards apartments are usually within a close range of price, right around $600 dollars in San Antonio for the cheap. You can get some more expensive ones too, with nicer amenities and services. Houses, on the other hand, are of a wider variety — you can find nicer places willing to rent to college students closer to the thousand dollar mark (if you can dish that out) or as low as 400 dollars. This variety lets you fine tune your choice.

While most apartments fall into a relatively regular pattern of price, style and look, houses vary widely. No two houses are the same, and you can get one for way cheaper. But what about utilities? As houses usually have a larger space by square feet than most apartments, utilities like electricity and gas can cost more to cool and warm a larger space. But another important note is that many apartments’ utilities are allocated, making tenants split the total cost of all tenants on an average. This can, if you are a more frugal person, drive up the cost. Not to mention that you can, in a house, more freely choose options of cable and Wi-Fi. A major cost of a house comes in the form of furnishing — most apartments come furnished while houses do not. Beds can run upwards of $400 dollars with dining tables another $200. But here lies the fun of a house. It isn’t as easy as an apartment, but the end result is worth it. Look for deals, go thrift shopping, check Overheard or Craigslist. My entire house was furnished, very well mind you, for less than $200 dollars. A $60 dollar bed frame and mattress? Check. A $20 dollar dining table, complete with chairs? Check. A bunch of free bookshelves and coffee tables from the first-year dorms at the end of the year? Check. You’ll have to work harder to find these deals, but should you need to move in the future you can make your money back through garage sales or already have the necessary items to furnish your next home.

On the notion of work, a house can seem like a lot to maintain. You have to mow your lawn, trim your weeds and, if you are in an older house (as you likely will be in San Antonio), keep up with other maintenance. But unlike the cookie-cutter space of an apartment, these sort of things, while seeming like chores at first, make you proud of your house — it is a reminder that this space is much more personal to you. What you put in, you get back. You want a garden? Go for it. So long as your landlord doesn’t mind, you are free to work and manage the house to your heart’s content. If you are good at it you’ll only be driving up the value. Just having a yard is worth it. Having to only clean your room and kitchen at an apartment may seem nice, but getting out and mowing the lawn at your house is more rewarding. You’ll have to do it eventually anyhow, so you’d better get used to it.

But before you buy a lawn mower or weed wacker or spend money fixing that broken sink, go meet your neighbors. While an apartment like Tobin may be filled with people around your age, it is really just a glorified dorm. You have more freedom sure, but you still have loud wallmates who blast music and have loud sex, and your laundry, grills and other services are all shared. You social butterflies out there you may love this.

But in a house you are free from such restrictions. You don’t ever have to meet your neighbors, though you should. They are likely a wide variety of people, from those your age to middle aged families with children. And that’s great. Everyone has something different to offer. Need to borrow a lawn mower? Just walk down the street. Broken window? Someone on your block can likely fix it for you, cheaper than an apartment or other service. Everyone has a role on the block. On ours, out on our porch in the warm afternoon, our neighbors can stop by for a beer and a good talk. Just a few blocks down is our neighborhood salesman, with DVDs, air conditioners and the like (just don’t ask where it comes from). Another house down is the handyman with 14 types of drills you never knew you needed. Unlike an apartment, which can often be either too intimate or too familiar to campus, a house is a colorful, unique experience that gives you exactly what you put in.

In the end, what really matters is what you want. If you want to live in a closer, more intimate space without the hassle of furnishings or maintenance, then an apartment may be for you. But if you want the extra freedom, space, and flexibility, then a house is for you. With an incredible variety of types and prices, in all kinds of locations, finding the right house may seem hard at first. But when you wake up to your unique and personal space, looking out on your own lawn in your favorite part of town, you’ll be glad you found it.

In the end it really matters what you want.

If this was the 50s, most of us would be married by now and be living in the suburbs.

HOUSING ISSUE

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• FEBRUARY 26, 2016 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

Finding a Roommate: Do and DON’Ts Looking for a place to live can be very scary or intimidating, — especially when it comes to finding a roommate that you’re going to live with for the next year. You pace back and forth and wonder what kind of person your roommate is going to be. Will your roommate be a party animal or a bookworm? Will he or she keep the room clean or let it rot? Questions like these make you pray at night, hoping that you’ll not be left with someone who will make your life a living nightmare for the next year. Worry not! I have some tips for you that will make your roommate decision process a lot less frightening. So sit back, relax, and read the following Do’s and Don’ts on finding your next roommate.

because you think they have enough money to help you pay rent at a nicer apartment. In both cases, don’t pick a roommate because he or she has material objects like a PS4 you too want to play on, or a big screen TV that you also want to watch. In doing so, you risk finding someone who does not get along with you or is mean to you. Such a roommate may hog the bathroom, take both beds or even not allow you to use his or her TV (the reason you chose the roommate in the first place). On top of that, you are also attempting to use other people for their things, and that is totally not cool.

DO:

If you like your roommate, try to give it another go!

BY TIM ZHANG

NEWS INTERN

or not. He or she may also be extremely messy when you are a neat freak. If you have a friend you’ve never roomed with before and want to room with next year, perhaps get a good look at his or her current place or even ask his or her current roomies how he or she is.

Chances are if the potential roomie is so hated by the current roommates, they will likely be willing to make a big rant, showing you how much your potential roommate is hated.

DO:

Make sure your roommate is willing to commit long

before the deadline

Always make sure your potential roommate is fully committed before it is time to pick some place to live.

If you are only one of many options he or she has to The first place you want to look for a roommate is pick, then make sure to find out if he or she is willing always those you know very well. The last thing you to commit to you as EARLY as possible. Set a deadline want is to be roomed with a stranger. You want to go to on when he or she is to commit to living with you. That the friends you are closest with — and by closest, I mean way, if the potential roomie says no or remains unsure, those who know your deepest, darkest secrets. Those you would still have time to find someone else. Even if who have been with you thick and thin, have never and the potential roommate commits to you early, verify the would never stab you in the back and are always willing commit every week and make sure that every week until to be there for you (because living with you, they kind housing selections, he or she gives you a rock-solid yes. The Assume that a good absolute worst thing that can happen is for you to find out of have to). Find those you trust the most. friend is ALWAYS at the last second that he or she has chosen someone else and that you will have no time to find someone else. To

a good roommate Find a roommate avoid this fate, make sure that your potential roommate is

based on leverage You may find a roommate you do like and enjoy committed to you as early and frequently as possible.

having around, but as you two settle in together, you’ll Finding a roommate is such a tough process, but Do not pick your roommate based on what they find that getting along with someone does not always hopefully, my advice has given you a better direction materially provide you. In other words, do not pick a equate to being able to live with someone. You’ll find roommate because he or she has a lot of hours and the that such a person, while well-meaning and nice to you, on how to approach this task of yours. In saying that, two of you can sign up earlier to get a better dorm. In may be someone who does not live like you do. That I wish you the best of luck, and I hope you find the the case of those living off campus, don’t pick someone person may like to play loud music whether you like it perfect roommate!

DO:

Go to your closest friends

If you and your current roomie get along fine, why not keep the arrangement? That way, you don’t have to worry about what kind of person your next roommate is because you already know exactly what kind of person he or she is, and if things are great between the two of you right now, then you know things will be great next year. If you and your roomie have become best buddies this year (like in my case), then what are you waiting for?

DON’T:

DON’T:

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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • FEBRUARY 26, 2016 •

Pet Guide for Living Off Campus Check your lease Does your lease allow pets? Does the cat or dog have to be under 40lbs? Are certain breeds not allowed? How much is the deposit? If you can’t have a dog or cat, can you have a hamster or fish? It’s important to read the fine print and ask the landlord. If you get a pet without their knowledge you could get evicted from your home, lose your deposit and get your pet taken away. Always read the contract before signing and double check with the landlord if you have any questions.

House or apartment?

If you’re dead set on getting a dog or cat, you’ll need to make a list of pet-friendly apartments and houses that allow pets. These places will most likely require a pet deposit from $0 to upwards of around $800 or more. If your pet is well-behaved and doesn’t cause damage to the property, the deposit will most likely be refunded. However, the future is unpredictable, so be willing to lose that deposit if something happens. You also have to consider the space of a house versus an apartment. It would be cruel to confine a large dog to a small apartment where he is alone all day and only gets let out twice. An animal will most likely become destructive if it’s young and confined in an apartment or house, so don’t be surprised if the cat clawed the sofa or the dog chewed on a pair of sandals. Adopting an older pet would help alleviate the issue, as well as being aware of the temperament of your pet and its space requirements.

HOUSING ISSUE

BY KIM NGUYEN

WEB EDITOR

Can you afford a pet?

Pets are incredibly expensive, especially if your parents aren’t going to help pay for an animal that’s supposed to be your responsibility.

You need to consider their food costs, veterinary visits, treats, toys, beds, paying friends to pet sit when you leave for the weekend and other miscellaneous items. Pets depend solely on you for their quality of life and you should be prepared to love them and take care of them for the next couple of years. In terms of housing you should take responsibility for carpet damage because of accidents or baseboard destruction because of boredom. All these costs will add up and could easily overwhelm a student.

summer/winter break What will you do with your pet when you have to go back home?

Will a friend watch them for you? Will you put them in a kennel?

How much will that cost for a week? One month? Three months?

Boarding an animal even for a few days is ridiculously expensive. The best situation is to ask a friend to pet sit over the break. You’ll either have to buy enough food beforehand or give additional money to cover the cost. You’ll have to consider if you can trust your friend to access of your house or apartment or whether it could stay at their home.

Ultimately, if you want a pet off campus consider the impact it would have on you, your living spaces, the people around you and most importantly the animal itself. When you adopt a pet, you’re taking charge of another life that would die without your care.

Having a pet (especially if it’s a little bunny) could be the most wonderful addition to your life if you’re willing to take the best care of it within your means.

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1B

Studio 440 sq. ft.

2B

2 Bed - 2 Bath

810 sq. ft.

1B

1 Bed - 1 Bath

594 sq. ft.

1 Bed - 1 Bath

603 sq. ft.

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• FEBRUARY 26, 2016 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, you should live off campus next year, and we should get pizza sometime so I can learn about how you became the person you are today. If you answered “no” to these questions, you should still consider living off campus for the following reasons:

Price

Adulting You might learn how to do some adult stuff that was previously mysterious. For example, this year I learned how to apply wallpaper (sadly, false), and my housemate Charles Wagner learned how to use a toilet brush (sadly, true).

Neighbors You can enjoy newfound neighborly love and distance.

Having neighbors can be great; having neighbors can be terrible. One of the nice things about not living in a housing situation where there’s 40 people within yelling distance is that you’re not living in a housing situation where there’s 40 people within yelling distance. Can you say increased control over who you see and don’t see? Yes, you can. And you never know, your neighbors could be totally righteous and invite you to play a casual game of badminton in their backyard every now and then. This hasn’t happened to me yet, but I remain hopeful.

Pets The illegal tortoise you’ve kept in your sock drawer for the past three years can finally get some fresh air.

Jorts You might have a lawn so that you can yell at the gershdern kids to get off of. You will occasionally have to mow this lawn. This will be a great occasion to break out the jorts you keep in the back of your closet and show off your sculpted thighs to your neighbors. Who wants to play badminton, now?

In sum, living off campus senior year is the objectively correct decision. Anyone who thinks otherwise is, quite frankly, a terribly confused person whom I pity. Did I win the article battle?

BY MASON STARK | GUEST WRITER

If you want it to be, living off campus will be cheaper than living in Trinity’s dorms. I pay $325 (plus an average of $50 for utilities) per month. My lease is for 11 months.

Take a look at the housing expenses on your latest bill from Trinity — which covers the four months you’re on campus this semester — and do the math. My home is no Prassel Castle, but it keeps out the varmints just fine.

Assess your priorities.

A&E WRITER

Are you sick of living disturbingly close to Coates Library (aka “Nerd Central”)? Do you long to take charge of your own bathroom-cleaning regimen? Are you tired of ResLife always getting on your back and making you feel welcome in a campus community that fosters personal and intellectual development? Do you find balconies offensive?

BY SARAH TIPTON |

CAMPUS

OFF

ON

CAMPUS I am a senior who lives on campus, and I am proud to say so.

Over the past six months I have been able to roll out of bed 15 minutes before my classes start and be in my seat before the teacher begins speaking. It’s hella nice. Plus, I live either with or close to all of my closest friends. Basically, I win at life. In all seriousness though, I highly recommend living on campus your senior year. Here are all the reasons why!

Laziness Personally, the thought of coordinating schedules with your future roommates, going out and looking for apartments and houses and then dealing with cruddy realtors or landlords does not sound like fun to me. I’d much rather spend the very little free time I have stalking my favorite professors and daydreaming that we are best friends. We can deal with that gross grown-up stuff once we graduate, but while we still have the time, let’s be as lazy as we can possibly get away with and stay in the great community that is the Trinity campus.

New dorms Two things: Your own room, or puppies and kitties galore! If you’re a senior rooming with other seniors and have a decent amount of credit hours under your belt, you will have a plethora of dorm picks at your disposal. There’s the newly renovated North Hall, where each person has their own room (no more roommates walking in at improper moments!) and decentlysized closet space. I currently live in North, and I can honestly say it feels like living in a trainer apartment. I love having my own space and I still benefit from a shared common space for social interactions (if you’re one for those types of things).

Plus, the university is making South Hall pet-friendly! You can bring your real best friend (humans don’t quite measure up to a furry pal) and have them there waiting for you when you come back to your room after a long day of classes. Sure, there are rules and guidelines that you have to follow in order for your pet to stay in that dorm, but it is so worth it!

Proximity I already mentioned the benefit of being able to roll out of bed and go to class, so I won’t go into too much detail about that. Even though gas is cheaper than it used to be, it would be a pain to have to drive back and forth at least once a day for classes, let alone for extracurricular activities and studying purposes. It’s much more worthwhile to walk the short distance between your room and those things. You are also close to where all the action is! Sure, you’ll still have a great senior year experience if you live off campus, but by being on campus you are living your final year in college to the fullest!

Granted, having your own kitchen almost negates all of the points I just made, but we’ll ignore that.

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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • FEBRUARY 26, 2016 •

HOUSING ISSUE

Where to live as an underclassman

McLean

Of all the upperclassmen dorms, why the hell would you pick McLean? The bottom floors are ravaged by first years power hungry and bent on destruction, with it's notorious 3 a.m. fire alarms plaguing your sleep. But still, McLean should be on the top of your pick list. First, as mentioned above, it's typically split between grades, a space set to accommodate the change in class sizes through the years. For this reason, TUPD and Res Life prowl the halls. But just the lower ones. They couldn't care less about the upper levels. Hiding in plain sight is the finest strategy we have to offer.

Not that you should be doing anything wrong anyways but still, just in case. Not to mention, unlike it's other upperclassman brothers and sisters who are either roach infested (we're looking at you Myrtle) or on the edge of campus (yes you Prassel), McLean is close to Mabee, the Pod and the Commons; everything you need within close distance. Plus nothing beats hanging out on the roof, kicking back and watching the first years struggle through their miserable existences after thinking they could manage 18 hours.

BY LUKE WISE | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Thomas

While there are many places to live on campus. The best place to live by far is Thomas. Yes I understand it is not the most aesthetically pleasing place to live on campus. However there is something that not everybody realizes and it’s that you get to live with almost all of your friends. The Prassel kids will never admit this to you but they are all jealous of the Thomas lifestyle. If you are in Thomas and want to go play MarioKart with your friends all you have to do is simply go up one set of stairs. Almost an entire class lives in a hotel-like building. Another perk of living in the poo palace that is Thomas is the fact that it’s Thomas. If you accidentally spill something on the carpet or break the closet door that’s ok, because it hasn’t been remodeled in so long that really nobody will notice if you break half of your dorm room. Sure you could go live in Prassel but that’s a lonely life, one filled with long agonizing walks and not nearly as much socializing ; after all isn’t that the whole point of living in a dorm?

BY TYLER BOELTS | NEWS EDITOR

Myrtle

Living in Myrtle was an absolute and true delight, really. Starting with the vintage-styled paint job delicately hanging from the fiery orange doors to the vibrantly blue-stained carpet reminding us of those that came before us. Myrtle oozes Trinity memories — literally. If you enjoy bathroom doors that are installed the wrong way and a consistent aroma of urine sticking to your clothing, Myrtle is the place for you to live. As they say, living in Myrtle is anything but brutal.

BY AYNAV LEIBOWITZ | SPORTS EDITOR I lived in Myrtle for the first semester of my junior year. I regretted it. I enjoyed the people I lived with but never before have I lived in such gross conditions.

The multiple layers paint on the doors is peeling off, there are dead bugs in the drawer, mold in the bathroom and poorly insulated walls. The worst though was when the service people were working on the floor above us and burst one of our pipes.

Our bathroom flooded with rusty brown water. It took then a whole day to fix the situation as our bathroom stuff stewed in brown water. Would never live in Trinity dorms again.

BY CLAIRE HOOBLER-CURTIS | MANAGING EDITOR

Prassel

While I tried to block out most of sophomore year, I do actually remember living in Prassel Castle. It was new and clearly the nicest dorm on campus to anyone with eyes and a nose. For one thing, people usually don’t pee in the elevators of Prassel like they do in the Thomas dorms. Now, it’s a matter of preference but if you don’t want to worry about falling ceiling tiles or random brown water spurting into the sink, then Prassel is definitely something to look into. The one downside of Prassel is the actual marathon of a walk that it takes to get to class. Hope you don’t mind waking up 15 minutes earlier and having to drag your unconcious body to class. It makes you miss living in the first-year quad and being able to wake up seconds before class and still being on time.

Either way, Prassel is a a solid choice. Chose it. Or don’t. It’s not a huge deal either way.

BY SAMANTHA SKORY | GRAPHIC EDITOR

Lightner

There are pros and there are cons to the Lightner life. When I first saw the room and the closet (after a year of living in Prassel castle) everything felt so tiny. My drawers and shelves in the closet are packed very tightly and I’m scared that if I bring anything else in there it might explode. But the one perk to such a cramped space is that instead of having to get up and walk across the room to turn off my roommate’s alarm clock that she never wakes up to at 7 a.m. I can just reach over to her nightstand and turn it off from my own bed since the beds are only separated by a few feet. I love the “living room” space and my suite has used it for many a pizza and wine night. We also have a great view, especially of sunrises and sunsets. Also, it only takes about 5 minutes to walk to upper campus, which is a significantly shorter commute than that from last year.

BY JULIA ELMORE | PULSE EDITOR

Thomas | McLean | Prassel | Myrtle | Lightner | Isabel | North | South | Susanna | Murchison

While finding a place to live come senior year may be a daunting task, picking the right dorm can be just as hard. Those of you who have been taking easy semesters may get the last draw, here’s to dreaming big.

For upperclassman we humbly present our guide to which dorms to put at the top of your list. And one dorm you should absolutely avoid.