Fall 2014 housing guide

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The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide

Fall 2014

Fall 2014

The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide

Thanks for picking up the Fall 2014 Housing Guide!

Our main goal is to ensure that University of Tennessee students receive all of the information they need to know before searching for their next home.

In this issue you will find advice on apartment necessities, utilizing your space and how to talk to your landlord, as well as other interesting tidbits. We hope you will find this guide to be a must-have for all apartment hunters.

Shelby Dildine

Advertising Manager

Hannah Cather

Project Manager

Katrina Roberts

HOUSING GUIDE • FALL 2014 ADVERTISING MANAGER Shelby Dildine

PROJECT MANAGER Hannah Cather

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Claire Dodson

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Katrina Roberts

CHIEF COPY EDITOR Emilee Lamb • Cortney Roark

MEDIA SALES REPRESENTATIVES Carly Kirkpatrick • Taylor Rife Connor Thompson

FRONT PAGE DESIGNER Jordan Dronebarger

ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Brandon White • Steven Woods

Creative Director

The Daily Beacon is an editorially independent student newspaper at The University of Tennessee. The office is located at 1340 Circle Park Drive, 11 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0314. Callers with questions about advertising should call 865-974-5206. Editorial questions should be directed to 865-974-3226.

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The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide

Fall 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS

7 8 10 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Don’t leave the nest without these 10 essentials Fort resident boasts about abode

Every inch counts when it comes to living space

Break a sweat at a gym near you Sorority Village officially finished

Perks of staying in the nest

Driving service with a smile

6 reasons to live in The Village

Housing haikus for all seasons The Great Divide: River separates classes from home

Fall 2014

The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide

How long can I live 1 in this place?

If you need a place to stay for the summer, find a home with a 12-month lease. Planning on getting an internship or summer job elsewhere? Then you only need 9 months.

5 Are any utilities included in the agreement?

2 When can I move in?

You want to move in within the first two weeks of August; you’ll need time to unpack and get used to your new home before school starts. The date will probably dep pend on when the old tenants have to move out.

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much is rent, 4 Is there a 3 How and when is it due? grace The cost of the rent will probably determine period after the whether or not you move in, so this might be the first question you’ve asked. After you’ve monthly due date? established you can afford your new digs, make sure you know your dates so you don’t get charged with late fees.

Important questions to ask your future landlord

Some landlords incorporate utilities (air, heat, water, electric) into the rentt cost. Others expect you to take care of that on your own. Make sure you know where and when those bills need to be paid.

C I paint walls 8 Is there an office 7 Can on-site or a 24or make other decorative changes? hour phone number in case of emergency?

It’s your new pad -- you want it to look

6 Are pets allowed?

Another question you probably asked in the beginning, but let’s say you found an adorable stray kitten on the side of the road after you moved in. Will your landlord let you keep it? If so, will it cost you anything extra?

Important numbers

to

good. Some landlords give you free reign, some expect you to return the place to its original condition and others just say no. If they don’t allow painting, you could always buy a nice rug.

Know

UT POLICE DEPARTMENT

Emergency: (865) 865-974-3111 Main Phone: (865) 974-3114

KNOXVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT KNOXVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT UT STUDENT HEALTH CLINIC KNOX CO. HEALTH DEPARTMENT KUB COMCAST DIRECTV DISH NETWORK

(865) 215-7000 (865) 595-4480 (865) 974-3648 (865) 215-5000 (865) 524-2911 1 (800) 266-2278 1 (877) 772-1528 1 (877) 497-0036

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The fire department is there if things start burning down, but what if the roof caves in? You want to be able to contact your landlord no matter what.

Life is hard. Some landlords acknowledge that better than others.

Make sure you know how strict your landlord is. Easiest way not to forget: hang a calendar in the kitchen for everyone to see.

Where 9 does the trash go?

You’re a relatively clean college student, and you take out your trash regularly. Make sure you’re taking it to the right place so it will be removed.

Some places even offer recycling, so make sure you ask.

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The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide

Fall 2014

Fall 2014

The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide

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10 things you didn’t know you’d need

When you leave the nest and move into a place of your own, you may realize there are a few things missing. The Daily Beacon is here to help with a list of bare necessities for your introduction to adult life.

BROOM

Because there will be crumbs and dust and whatnot, and you can’t afford a maid

SCISS

ORS

MESSAGE BOARD Because you can’t read your roommate’s mind

Because sometimes your teeth aren’t strong enough and that packaging is unbelievably difficult to open Because you will splash water everywhere without one

BATTERIES

SCREWDRIVER

SHOWER CURTAIN

Because the TV remote will not run on will power

Because sometimes you buy things from Ikea and assembly is required

HAND TOWELS

N A B Because washing your hands and drying them on your pants is counterproductive

CLEANING SUPPLIES Because selfies don’t look good in a dirty mirror

ES G DA

(or first aid kit or survival kit)

Because a little cut only needs a bandage, but a big cut needs a first aid kit, and an apocalypse needs a survival kit

TUPPERWARE Because maybe you’re an adult now and can’t eat all of the fabulous food you cooked

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Fall 2014

‘The Fort is a magical place’ Jordan Achs

Copy Editor I remember the first time I heard about the Fort. I was a freshman, and it was a story deserving of a flashlight under the face around a campfire.

“It’s like the elephant graveyard from the ‘Lion King’” my classmate said. “You must never go there, Simba. Well, unless you’re looking to party, but still never go alone!”

I went there anyway, because I was studying with a cute boy, and lord knows no

amount of danger will stop me from that potential Nicholas Sparks moment.

When I didn’t die the first few times I stepped foot in the Fort, I started to get a little less cautious. I stopped thinking every other pedestrian was specifically sent to kill me and started enjoying my time there. I enjoyed it enough to actually learn which streets are which, enough to live there for the rest of my college career and even enough to (speed)walk through it alone.

Sometimes, I do still call my friends in Illinois “just in case I get kidnapped on this walk home,” although I’m unsure how useful they’ll be if that actually happens.

Sure, the quality of houses in the Fort can be questionable, and the apartment buildings may be overpriced. Sure, there are some characters that have made me double check the locks on my house. And sure, there was a shooting or two last year. Any city will have that.

But big picture? The Fort is a community. Parties, porch-hangs, tailgates -- it all happens there, and it’s just small enough

where you might find someone the next day that saw that same crazy party bus you did.

Neighbors often become classmates or even friends.

The Fort has a reputation for partying that this article probably isn’t helping, but I’ve seen Fort Folk do amazing things, like donate party gains to charity, host art shows, showcase local musical talent, become the setting for short films and more.

The Fort is a magical place; I’m pretty sure I’ve tweeted that sentence a half-dozen times. But I mean it. Solo cups, beer cans and Cookout tray remnants litter the ground like Christmas ornaments, and porch gangs look at passers-by with contempt and curiosity as their cigarettes hang lazily off their fingers. Hula hoopers take over streets with their flow, using music from their hearts or loud stereos. There’s always some sort of party going on somewhere, with a bass that’s almost like the North Star carrying you where you need to go.

It’s magical because there is nothing quite like the Fort; at least I’ve never seen

anything that compares.

I’ve visited friends’ schools in the Midwest, and their feel is so different. Public buildings (like restaurants) are right by fraternity houses, which are right by university buildings, which are right by regular student housing or apartment buildings. Their campus and city are spun together and spit up like the questionable stains that litter residence hall elevators every weekend. That sense of community just isn’t there; no place has ever made me feel like the Fort does.

Where else can you have massive, citizenchoking block parties or local bands performing in dining rooms and backyards?

Where else could you find a random fridge in your yard like we did, or a dog park with a view of downtown? Where else can you make friends across porches or yell “Go Vols!” at strangers?

I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Jordan Achs is a senior in journalism and electronic media. She can be reached at jachs@vols.utk.edu.

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The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide

Fall 2014

Keep your place, make some space

space for or the box of toiletries you’d prefer to be discreet about? Walk into your bathroom. Turn around and look above the door. Five dollars says there is a space of approximately 12 inches above it. Install a shelf there. Revel in the glory of your instant storage space.

Lighting

Liv McConnell Special Projects Editor

Though the square footage of your shoebox-sized apartment or dorm room may be meager, don’t feel down about it. Keep your chin pointed up — and in the process discover all the vertical space you’ve been wasting.

For those of us students with cramped living quarters, maximizing a room’s full potential and making the space work hard to fit our needs become especially crucial.

By incorporating any of the following ideas into your home décor, your residence -and, by extension, your mind -- will feel more efficient and less cluttered.

Bedroom These aren’t the bunk beds of your youth (although my loft bed-owning sister does equate hers to a tree house). Lofted beds are somehow far trendier, as the folks at IKEA would attest to. There’s no need to automatically turn the lower half into an obligatory study space. The best arrangement I’ve seen was in Gloria Steinem’s New York City apartment; a Moroccan-themed dining area, equipped with gauzy curtains and a painted wall mural, occupied the space underneath her bed. For those of us who may even someday desire a guest room -- the ultimate indicator of established adulthood -- this is a terrifically versatile idea.

Bathroom This one is inexcusably obvious yet not commonly thought of. What to do with those extra towels you have no drawer

These industrial lights are popping up in the apartments of hip 20-something professionals once more and for good reason.

Compact yet powerful track lights free up the bulk of your floor, counter and wall space. Hanging framed art underneath them can even add a sort of gallery-like flavor to your room. Or, to create illusory additional space, forgo the art for an assortment of mismatched mirrors. The resulting reflective light will immediately add an impression of depth.

Closet Nothing tends to eat up more closet floor space than piles of shoes. To prevent yourself from amassing the Mount Everest of shoe leather in your room, look to cheap over-the-door shoe racks, available at most home goods stores. This idea is so patently simple and beneficial, it’s hard to believe the concept is a relatively recent one.

Kitchen You’ve decided to cook Italian food tonight, thus you swing open the kitchen cabinet containing your saucepan. The scene that follows could have appeared on Zoboomafoo as pots and pans come cascading out. Sound familiar? Put those cookware avalanches to an end and free up cabinet space by installing a pegboard on your kitchen wall. A variety of utensils beyond pots could be hung from it like whisks and oven mitts. Paint the pegboard a warm color, such as a deep red, to make the display that much more of a focal point.

Liv McConnell is a senior in journalism and electronic media. She can be reached at mmccon12@vols.utk.edu.

Fall 2014

The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide

Helpful hints to make the most Narrow bookshelves help keep things off the floor: the taller the better

of your small space When you’re running low on wall plugs, an extension cord keeps all your plugs in one convenient place

Elevating your bed opens up more storage space

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Go for a nightstand with drawers to hold smaller things

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The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide

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Sports amenities offer health, community Troy Provost-Heron

Sports Editor (@TPro_UTDB)

Some apartment complexes have them; some don’t.

On campus, there are plenty of options to work up a sweat. But for off-campus students, the luxury of a nearby gym, swimming pool, walking trail or basketball court is not always so available.

Sports amenities – or the lack thereof – can be a big deciding factor for students when choosing a place off campus to call home.

At The Woodlands, an apartment complex located off Cherokee Trail, Caroline Norris has access to a swimming pool and a gym all within her complex. The sophomore in business administration said having those amenities at her disposal has been a welcomed part of her living experience.

“In the summer months, I use them a lot more, hitting up the pool and swinging by the gym,” Norris said. “However, during

“I

t gives an apartment complex, especially one off-campus, more of a community feel, and it is a great way to make new friends.”

- Caroline Norris

the winter months, I use the sports amenities less.

“They are all within walking distance and great perks to have nearby.”

Other students, however, don’t have the same opportunities.

In Zach McWhorter’s case, his apartment at The Commons does come with access to a pool, but it happens to be located a few blocks away at another Commons venue.

“It’s a little inconvenient, but luckily Knoxville’s weather during school time

doesn’t bode well for swimmers,” McWhorter said. “But in the summer when you want to go take a dip in the pool, it can be a little frustrating for that option to be further than you’d like it to be.”

If you are one of those off-campus students whose apartments or houses don’t have the luxury of sports amenities, there is always the option of going to the oncampus amenities, such as the TRECS and the HYPR. “It’s a pretty far walk, but I try to go play ball at the TRECS at least once a week,”

said Andreas Montano, a junior in chemical engineering who lives in the fort. “It doesn’t really bother me that we don’t have any courts closer to where I live because I prefer the courts on campus anyway.”

Sports amenities, however, add to the overall cohesiveness of an off-campus apartment complex, according to Norris.

“It gives an apartment complex, especially one off-campus, more of a community feel,” Norris said, “and it is a great way to make new friends.”

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The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide

Fall 2014

Sorority Village provides comfort, community within campus Cara Sanders

Assistant Online Editor Home to more than 530 women, Sorority Village is located on the edge of campus and overlooks the Tennessee River.

The project, which broke ground in 2011, was completed at the beginning of August.

The homes, which range from 9,000 to 17,500 square feet, house each of the 13 Panhellenic chapters at the university and are privately funded through donations and rent fees paid by chapter residents.

New members are encouraged to fill up the houses, which can hold up to 53 residents and live there during their sophomore year of college. However, there are certainly members who opt to continue living in The Village as juniors and seniors, as well.

Allison Newman, a junior who lived in the Alpha Delta Pi house last year said she was glad to have had the experience.

“I believe that all new members should live in the house because they will get to know their pledge class better,” said Newman.

“The girls in your pledge class are the ones who will be with you until graduation, so it is important to bond and make memories with them, and living in the house allows you to do that.”

The 13 houses reflect the personality of each chapter and represent years of hard work to make the dream of Sorority Village a reality.

Merritt Willis, a junior and member of Tri Delta who currently lives in the house is pleased with her housing so far.

“My experience is amazing living in the house,” she continued. “There is always someone to talk to, watch TV or study with, and I never have to schedule to meet up with my friends because they are just a knock away.”

Living in the houses provides a different experience than living in a dorm or an apartment in the Fort. Though there is a strict adherence to rules – no boys on residential floors, absolutely no alcohol even for those 21 and older – most residents think the benefits far outweigh the costs. One popular benefit is the food service available on site in the house.

The most often cited concerns for residents are transportation and proximity to campus. Taking the bus is the most common way to travel to campus.

“The bus takes about 20 minutes to reach Neyland Stadium and then you might have to walk a ways to reach your intended destina-

“T

here is always someone to talk to, watch TV or study with, and I never have to schedule to meet up with my friends because they are just a knock away.”

- Merritt Willis

tion, which means that you have to leave the Village really early in order to make sure you will arrive on time,” said Willis.

Safety, however, has not been a major concern. The development is fenced and has several blue light emergency phones, cameras and a community service officer. To enter a house, a member’s UT identification must be keyed to that lock or the door won’t open.

Much like the togetherness created from living in a dorm, there is a sense of community within The Village. Each house has many common areas and spaces that allow residents to hang out together or welcome visitors. It isn’t at all uncommon for members of one sorority to visit other chapters’ houses.

“My experience of living in the ADPi house was one that I will take with me for the rest of my life,” concluded Newman. “It was one of the most fun times … just being right down the hall from your friends and having so many nice amenities. I know I will hold on to the memories I made living in the house and tell my kids about it someday.”

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Living at home: land of coziness, family Melodi Erdogan Copy Editor

When my family moved to Knoxville, I didn’t have much of a choice of where I went to school.

But I really couldn’t complain. The University of Tennessee is in a beautiful location, has a nice campus and a student newspaper, which is what I was most excited about. So I really came to embrace UT and all it had to offer, but attending this school would mean living at home with Mom and Dad. Home, for me, is exactly 30 minutes away in West Knoxville. Every day I travel a total of 60 minutes.

One. Whole. Hour.

By now, in my third year, I’m quite used to the drive. I bet I could drive it with my eyes closed (Disclaimer: I won’t do that).

But living at home has taught me these things, which you may want to consider if you’re planning on moving back home and becoming a true commuter, as I like to call people like myself.

Although, because of that 30-minute drive home, it is important to stay sober and alert and away from alcoholic beverages. No one wants a DUI on his or her record when applying for internships, and don’t let peer pressure make you give in. I get hype off a can of soda, so it’s not a terribly big deal for me. True commuters: if you do drink, sleep at a friends place and avoid your car in general.

important to remember that all the aforementioned reasons on the great things about living at home are because of your parents. Your home will always be your home; even though it’s where your siblings are and where your childhood teddy bears may live, it’s also where the heart is.

You will never go hungry

Water, heat, electricity

Even though living with your parents during college seems like a bummer, consider the food. There is nothing I enjoy more than coming home to a warm, homecooked meal after a day of constant class, work and meetings. Plus, Mom always knows what you like, and you’re almost guaranteed to never get food poisoning, something The Strip cannot ensure.

There’s nothing more comforting than knowing there will be water, heat and electricity at home. I have heard so many stories about my friends ending up having to pay their bills last minute since they know their electricity is going to go out the next day. And the hot water complaints in dorms? Ain’t nobody got time for that. Having a home with its own heating and cooling system is extremely convenient.

The Mom-soon and the Dad-ster

Driving an hour every day can seem like a dull chore. That is, until you turn your car into a major Broadway stage. Through the likes of Spotify Premium and Pandora, my small blue car becomes the Bijou Theatre and I am the top name on the Playbill. From “Chicago” to “West Side Story,” I’m Broadway’s latest “It Girl” in the morning and at night, and especially on those encore nights when I go downtown for dinner. The car ride is a perfect way to practice your singing skills and stretch your pipes, whether you’re jamming to some rap or the latest pop jams. Just make sure you’re not texting and driving.

Mom and Dad can get on everyone’s nerves every once in a while. This is even more annoying when you’re a college student. But it’s

Melodi Erdogan is a third-year student in journalism and electronic media. She can be reached at merdogan@vols.utk.edu.

Responsibility is key Just because I live at home doesn’t mean I don’t have fun. I find myself staying on campus on weekends to hang out with friends downtown or in The Fort.

The importance of the playlist

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The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide

Fall 2014

Catch a ride Woodlands offers transportation with a smile, day or night Bradi Musil

Assistant News Editor (@bradi4) “Hey, Melinda. How you doing,” Herb Cover asked, as Melinda climbed into the back seat.

As more students filled the shuttle, Cover addressed each student by name.

“A lot of them are surprised that I can learn their names so fast,” he joked. “I feel kind of like a Wal-Mart greeter sometimes.”

Since June of 2012, Cover has been driving the Woodlands Apartment’s day shuttle bus, and said he has loved every minute of it. Living off campus can be quite a gas suck, but at the Woodlands of Knoxville Apartments, located off Cherokee Woods Way, providing a free shuttle service during school days, weekend nights and game days saves students from the expense.

“As long as UT is in session, we’re driving,” Cover said.

During the week, the day shuttle runs from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., leaving the Woodlands Apartments every hour and campus every half-hour at gate 21 at Neyland Stadium.

During the summer, the hours are adjusted to fit the smaller student population, and run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The busiest time, Cover said, is during football season, when the shuttle runs on game days, starting rounds three hours before kick-off and picking up three hours after the game ends.

“We’re going all the time (on game days),” he said. “During that three hours before kickoff, when we would usually make three trips, we’re taking six or seven trips.”

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the Woodlands offers a night shuttle that runs from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. that drops off at the Shell Gas Station on Cumberland Avenue.

But Susan Wilson, the only night bus driver, said she usually tries to take students wherever they need to go--whether it be somewhere farther down Cumberland Avenue or into Fort Sanders.

Like Cover, Wilson has been known to give her personal cell phone number out to

Woodlands residents who may be needing a ride.

“They’re young adults and everybody is friendly, so I like what I do,” Wilson said.

“It’s fun. It’s adventurous, and everybody is just appreciative.”

Wilson has been driving the night shuttle since 2010 and said she chose the job to see all the “different things that go on at night.”

More than that, though, Wilson likes her responsibility to keep intoxicated students off the road.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Wilson said, referencing the Woodlands providing a late night shuttle. “We can’t save everybody but it keeps a lot of people from drinking and driving. Most of them appreciate it, they really do.”

Driving the night bus, however, does run the risk of getting some rowdier student riders. Wilson said more than once she has been forced to kick students off.

“We have some officers that are here and sometimes I have to go to them and they have to take care of things,” she said. “But, if somebody misbehaves, I’ve got to put them out on the side of the road.”

Cover’s day-time experiences tend to be a little different, he said, driving about 50 of the same students every day. Besides just getting to participate in helping students save a little gas money and keep off the road when they’ve had a bit too much to drink, he said he enjoys getting to know his riders on a “personal” level most of all.

“I’m kind of a people person, and it’s really nice getting to know kids and talk to them—not just they’re name but where they’re from and what they’re family is like and what they’re studying,” Cover said. “It’s kind of nice to have somebody to say ‘hey, how you doing and how was your day and talk to them about tests that day or whatever’ … That’s why they ride the shuttle, they want to get down there and make as a good an attempt as possible to make good grades.

It’s really nice.”

To learn more about the Woodlands of Knoxville apartments, visit http://www.volcondos.com/.

Fall 2014

The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide

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Six reasons to live in The Village get to live with and see some of your closest friends on a regular basis. That also means having an assortment of closets and clothes to rummage through before a night out or a game day.

2. Not having to deal with parking on Mondays before meeting

Cara Sanders

Assistant Online Editor Sorority Village is the picturesque site located on the very edge of campus.

Since the completion of the development, more than 530 Panhellenic women call The Village home. While there are many advantages to living in The Village, here are my top six.

1. Living within 20 feet of your best friends Though the size of each house varies, most sleep between 40-50 girls, which means you

We all know parking at UT can be hell on Earth and Sorority Village is no exception.

Most chapters hold their meetings Monday nights, which means hundreds of girls swarming to one central location and very limited parking. One of the biggest perks of living in The Village is having a parking pass and getting to enter the land of plenty (maybe not plenty, but enough for sure). Furthermore, living in the house means trying out new heels for meeting and only having to walk down a flight of stairs rather than struggling up a hill.

ing in the house is the food. There is nothing better than banana pudding, Taco Tuesday or Wing Wednesday at the Pi Palace (cheesy, I know). Seriously, the food makes up for every unfortunate thing about living in the house – but there aren’t many of those.

parts of my living experience. I have gotten to develop friendships with so many different women I probably wouldn’t have known otherwise. Those bus rides, walks and other events really create a sense of community within The Village.

4. Having an excuse to take the bus to class

6. This is probably the nicest you’ll live for a long time

The biggest downside of living in The Village to many is the constant struggle of transportation. Though my roommate and I have worked out a nice little system of taking each other to class, we also have the Neyland Express to transport us to and from The Village.

The bus typically doesn’t take more than 20 minutes and drops you off at AMB – one of the most central locations on campus. Taking advantage of the bus is best on days when it’s raining or freezing out.

3. Chef Rob

5. Living in close proximity to other sorority women

While most chapters have chefs or catered dining services, one of the biggest perks of liv-

Living in close quarters to 12 other chapters has been one of the most beneficial

While this may not be true for everyone, am I realistically going to live in a 17,500 square foot house with a cleaning service that comes three times a week and a personal chef right after college? I sincerely doubt it. At 20 years old, I was presented with the opportunity to live in such a house and why wouldn’t I take advantage of it? Each of the houses in the village are beautiful and come with their own unique set of amenities and perks. Take advantage of them while you can, ladies.

Cara Sanders is a junior in public relations. She can be reached at csande29@vols. utk.edu.

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The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide

Fall 2014

Living in haikus Hannah Cather

Project Manager

When we realize the walls around us have become a home, a sense of satisfaction fills us. When we look forward to returning home and laying our heads to rest, we know we’re home. These poetic musings led me to create three haikus about this sensation.

a home is a home when you can find your heart there, or something like that. when the roomies leave, ditch your trousers and sweater, underwear only.

ride the bus ‘round town, cycle for miles, homeward bound or just walk on back. toilet paper roll always hangs empty these days, who is to blame here?

Fall 2014

Hi-ho, hi-ho, across the river I go Katrina Roberts

Creative Director

After forgotten assignments, long classes and the prospect of a well-deserved nap, I walk to my car nestled on the third floor of the G-10 garage.

I go down the stairs, past the 3-week-old abandoned Cook Out cup and out to my car where a five-minute drive awaits me (assuming I don’t stop at any red lights).

This is when I get to relax, if only for a few minutes. I can’t do homework, the radio keeps me company and responding to texts or e-mails is downright irresponsible. If I get lucky, I hit all the red lights and my trip is extended for that much longer.

Living across the river gives me a distinct geographical break between school and home. A line of water quite literally separates the stress of classes and work from my fluffy pillows and books I actually want to read.

At night, the drive across the bridge is borderline magical. The lights lining the bridge usually alternate between orange and white, spiking my school spirit. Sometimes I even whisper “Go Vols.” Occasionally, there are a few purple ones thrown in there just to mix things up. Whether there is actually a reason behind the color shift, I have no idea, but I appreciate it none-theless.

The commute also allows me the time to listen to whatever I want, as loud as I want.

Whether it be Taylor Swift’s new album, the most recent ‘Mike and Tom Eat Snacks’ podcast or nothing at all, I get to decide without fear of judgment. (Note: I will not be listening to Taylor Swift’s new album.)

But living across the river also has its

drawbacks.

Being in a dorm was extremely convenient for the days when getting up was particularly challenging. I could wait until 20 minutes before my class started to get out of bed, brush my teeth and walk out the door and still have time to stop at Starbucks for coffee. A louder alarm clock and a coffee maker in my apartment make those tough mornings a bit easier. Not much, but a little.

This is also the first year I’ve had to commute. Read: this is the first year I’ve had to fight hundreds of other commuters for a single parking space. I had heard horror stories about parking before. Be warned, kind reader: all the tales are true. But if you can figure out the right times to attempt parking, it isn’t so bad. One of my roommates has it down to a science and is rarely left hunting for a space with only 10 minutes before her class begins.

Living on campus meant never having that struggle, but it also meant rarely getting off campus to do other things.

As it turns out, Knoxville has more than just a campus and the Market Square area.

It’s difficult to experience the plethora of activities when venturing in a vehicle means never getting a decent non-commuter parking spot ever again.

Living off campus and across the river, I get to see more of Knoxville on a regular basis, without fear of having to park 8 miles away when I return. There really is a lot of scruff in this city, and it only took me two and a half years to find it. Some of it, at least.

Residing on campus was great. I met one of my current roommates there. I learned how to juggle classes and work, while sometimes getting to sleep. And I figured out the perfect time to take a shower without losing hot water.

For two years, campus was my home.

They say there’s no place like it, but for the foreseeable future, my home awaits across the river.

Katrina Roberts is a junior in English.

She can be reached at krober56@vols.utk. edu.

The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide

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We polled students on Twitter for what they considered to be the biggest difference in living off-campus versus staying in the residence halls.

Michael Schilling @MrSchilling @UTKDailyBeacon simply having your own bedroom for off campus is huge. But you have to be willing to put up with terrible apartment Internet

Dexter @mr_dexter_scott @UTKDailyBeacon depending on where you live, investing in ear plugs can help you sleep on those loud weekends

Felipe Olvera @felipeolveraa @UTKDailyBeacon doesn’t provide same safety measures, community & convenience as on campus. Limited parking spaces. Cooking is a+ though.

Mary Beth @xmurbef @UTKDailyBeacon Peak hours for finding parking.

Eric Gibson @Bluekewlade @UTKDailyBeacon the hidden cost of life on your own. Like having to pay a deposit to get KUB

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The Daily Beacon • Housing Guide

Fall 2014