Student Life Housing Guide 2024 -WashU St. Louis

6| Letter from the Editors

Table of Contents Table of Contents

7| “Save Me Scene!”: Deciding where to live

8| Crazy walk to school sightings

10| Dorm pros and cons

22| Five tips to have a perfectly organized dorm room

24| Five pieces of advice for selecting a WashU-owned apartment

29| How to settle your housing drama

30| Profiles of streets around WashU

38| Nooks, crannies, and little holes to hide in on the South 40

41| The untraditional take on traditional dorms

42| Expectations vs. reality: First-year dorm

45| Tips on moving to a new apartment between semesters

46| What makes a house a home

48| Throwing the extravaganza-bonanza dorm function

51| Pros and cons of living with a roommate

52| In defense of Beaumont. No really. I’m serious.

54| From the roommate with sensory issues

55| Unique pets for your college dorm

56| Unspoken dorm rules

59| Moving in and moving on

60| It’s time to start walking the walk

62| Dorm drama

63| Essential dorm objects

64| Let me cook! Advice for managing your first kitchen

66| What building would you want to live in on campus?

69| Yum Corner: Easy, functional recipes for both off-campus and dorm living

70| Funny roommate stories

2024-25 Masthead 2024-25 Masthead

Avi Holzman

Nina Giraldo Editors-in-Chief editor@studlife.com

Aliana Mediratta Managing News Editor news@studlife.com

Alice Gottesman Managing Scene Editor scene@studlife.com

Sylvie Richards Managing Forum Editor forum@studlife.com

Riley Herron

Managing Sports Editor sports@studlife.com

Sydney Tran Head of Design designers@studlife.com

Cathay Poulsen Managing Chief of Copy

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Bri Nitsberg

Managing Photo Editor photo@studlife.com

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Will Rosenblum

Zara Shariff Senior Scene Editors

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Jordan Spector Amelia Raden Senior Forum Editors

Elias Kokinos

Ian Heft

Senior Sports Editors

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Mia Burkholder Chief of Copy

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Letter from the Editors

Welcome to the 2024 Housing Guide!

This issue is for those who have already signed leases and those who have no clue where they are living. Having gone through the housing process three times ourselves, we can say that it can be stressful and intense. Finding a place to live looks different for everyone, and the good news is that there are plenty of options depending on what you are looking for. The Student Life staff has compiled articles, ideas, and stories that will hopefully help and entertain you during this process.

Coming to college means finding a new home for four years — constantly moving around each year, or maybe multiple times a year — and the ins and outs of finding the right housing for you can

make that process difficult. The reality is, you only get to do this whole housing thing in college once — so try to do it while you are smiling. Bring your character and yourself into all the spaces you live in, whether it be with a weird poster or a charming knickknack for your kitchen table. Create funny traditions with your roommates and suitemates that make living with them memorable. In this Housing Guide issue, the StudLife staff tells you stories about roommate drama, the value of walking to campus, and ranks all the dorms on campus.

We would like to thank the StudLife staff for making this issue happen — the people who set aside time during midterms season to share and write their stories for you. A special shoutout to our designers, photographers, and illustrators,

who made this issue look fantastic! Extra special thanks to Lauren Smith, our specialissues extraordinaire, for putting up with our chaos and keeping everyone on task and on time. It feels like we spend so much time in that office that perhaps it has become a little

bit like a home. If you need a place to look for information and inspiration about all things housing, it’s as simple as turning the page!

Good luck with your search, Avi Holzman & Nina Giraldo 2024-25 Student Life

Seniors Avi Holzman and Nina Giraldo are this year’s Editorsin-Chief for Student Life.

BRI NITSBERG | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR

Dear Scene Staff,

It’s getting to that point in the semester where I need to figure out where to live next year, and I’m overwhelmed — I feel like I don’t know enough about my options to make a decision. Please help!

– Anxious Apartment-hunter

Dear Anxious Apartment-hunter,

If you are nervous about finding housing, on campus or off, fear no longer! As someone who has taken pride in finding housing for my group for the past two years, including both oncampus housing and off-campus housing, I have suffered for you and can now impart my wisdom. I have also had to do my fair share of sorting through roommate kerfuffles, including deciding who to live with and working through subleasing agreements for roommates studying abroad. If you are hoping to live on campus, read more here:

While your first-year dorm assignment is fairly arbitrary, it’s nice to have more say in the matter of where you will live and who you live with, beginning with sophomore year. My friends and I decided that we wanted to live on the 40 again, as long as we got singles and had a common room. I think it was very useful to establish a list of priorities going into the housing process, because when it comes time to shop for a suite on the housing portal, it’s very difficult to make big decisions on the fly without more and more suites being taken off the market by the second. For example, we tried to plan ahead for a variety of scenarios. We decided that we wanted to live in

any building on the South 40 as long as we were in modern singles, and we had a list of rankings of buildings that fell within that category. We also knew that we would pick the Village over living in a traditional dorm or modern doubles. However, this part of the decision is less relevant now that sophomores will also be required to live on the 40. Regardless, I’d still highly recommend talking with your roomies, establishing what you are looking for, and ranking the qualities of each possible suite by their importance.

If you are hoping to live off campus, read more here:

The number of options for junior-year housing and beyond can be overwhelming. However, all of your issues can be resolved simply by going to club mixers and other parties hosted by upperclassmen. Who would have thought that the solution to this problem would come back to being a social butterfly? But alas, here we are. One could go the responsible route and get in contact with a landlord and ask to see properties in the area. Or, one could simply reflect on all of the dirty basements that they spent countless hours in firstyear and the apartments they saw through pre-games hosted at upperclassmen’s apartments. If you were considering being a

KEVIN KAN | STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

hermit crab this year and hiding from all your friends, take this as your motivation to socialize: If you don’t, you are creating more work for yourself when it comes to finding a place to live.

My friends and I decided to take over the current unofficial house for one of our club sports teams next year. I ended up being the organizer for this, asking my friend who currently lives in the house an abundance of questions about her apartment and having her put me in contact with her landlord. She gave me and all of my friends a tour of her apartment during a team potluck. This was a win-win for both of us, because the landlord offered to give her a bonus for helping them find new tenants, and I had to do less work to get the application information for my future home.

Then, I had to work with my friends to figure out our studyabroad situations, putting a little bit of pressure on them to meet with their advisors and make decisions earlier so that we could figure out who our subletters would be for each semester. My biggest piece of advice here is to make decisions early — it worked well for my group to set a deadline for ourselves to make a study-abroad decision by Fall Break of the year before we

hoped to live in the apartment, especially because people had more time to talk to their parents and fill out applications at that time.

Another reason I am emphasizing the importance of starting early on the housing process for off-campus junior housing is that there is a chain of effects when someone changes their study-abroad plans. One of the original members of our housing group realized that she had to switch from going in the fall to going in the spring, which meant that we had one too many people for one semester and one too few for the other. Dealing with this required a series of one-onone conversations before talking with the full group, and setting up times to meet to have these conversations was difficult when also juggling normal school work and extracurriculars. I ended up going back to the drawing board to organize our tenancy by semester on a physical piece of paper. It was very useful for me to track what I knew about my future roommates’ housing plans in this way. Give yourself enough time to adapt to new situations without stress!

Your neighbors, Scene

Crazy walk to school sightings

One time, I was walking to school by the Forsyth side of the DUC, and a shuttle was coming out of the parking lot. As the bus turned left, the driver stuck their whole arm out just to flip off another bus driver waiting on the other side of the intersection. I had never seen someone go to such lengths just to flip someone off.

A dying baby squirrel, but then I saved it. I also saw someone get hit by a car.

I see that one guy on the big scooter who keeps narrowly missing everyone around him all the time.

The other day, as I was walking home on the path towards the Loop, I saw a dog standing on its hind legs drinking from a water fountain. A pack of bunnies that then chased me.

I saw a female student I knew getting harassed on the way to campus on the trail from the Loop. I distracted the middle-aged man, and he took off his shirt and wrapped it around me. I then got my pepper spray out and pointed it at him, and then WUPD finally got there to calm him down.

Tinder pulled up on the Danforth card kiosk (RIP). Dead birds. Remains of dead birds. Dead birds stuck on nets. Dead birds. So many dead birds. (Thank you, Shepley Garage)g

ANYA RAO STAFF WRITER

PROS

dorm pros and cons:

MODERN

MODERN

Dardick and Nemerov

Dardick and Nemerov have a strong residential community, with plenty of traditions and bonding events. This sense of camaraderie is bolstered by the fact that all first-year Beyond Boundaries students live in Dardick, and many second-years in Nemerov. With the ability to cut across the parking lot, Dardick and Nemerov are highly convenient, as they are close to campus, right above Habif, which is a circulator stop, and the closest to the metro stop. Further, there is a really nice piano in the Dardick lobby, and residents often grace the building with impressive tunes.

PROS

CONS

The piano is definitely a double-edged sword, as for some, their ideal piano-practicing time is in the wee hours of the night. Additionally, since Dardick and Nemerov border the baseball/softball field, residents are often woken up by loud music and sports-announcing in the early morning for weekend games. And lastly, primary sources have informed me of mice in Dardick this year.

Umrath and Zetcher

As much as the residents of Umrath and Zetcher love to brag about their residential colleges, they do so with good reason. Both dorms are essentially in Bear’s Den, so convenience is high, especially with Zetcher being an elevator ride away. Also, the study rooms are great (so great that residents from other buildings often steal them). Umrath and Zetcher are large, which gives them a fairly social vibe, and with around 80 people per floor in Umrath, you are bound to make friends in your residential college.

CONS

The main con, as of late, has been the fire alarms in Umrath and Zetcher that go off frequently and at odd hours of the morning. Also, Umrath has green walls, which isn’t to everyone’s aesthetic taste and can feel kind of sterile and a bit hospital-like. Also, both dorm houses are huge which prevents floor community and overall dorm house community. Additionally, the size of the buildings can lead to major distruptions as people can be super loud and obnoxious.

Eliot A and Eliot B

Eliot A and B are highly convenient, both close to campus, especially with Eliot B’s side door being close to the Bear’s Den, and the Clocktower. Both are relatively small dorms in terms of how many residents there are, which makes things like laundry less of a hassle and contributes to an overall relaxed vibe.

While Eliot B has a door connecting to Bear’s Den, I didn’t list this as a pro because it locks in the evening, which really lowers its utility. Although there aren’t as many residents, they seem to be very studious, as an empty study room is hard to come by. Also, Eliot A and B don’t have a printer, unlike many of the other modern dorms, so one has to go to Bear’s Den or Koenig/Liggett to print.

Koenig and Liggett

PROS CONS

Koenig and Liggett are top-tier dorms on the South 40. Their location is highly convenient, as they are very close to campus, the Wallace Garage, the Clocktower, and Bear’s Den. The first-floor layout is really nice, and the fact that Koenig and Liggett are connected makes the building feel huge. There are a ton of laundry machines, and the basement is overall great, especially because it has a game room. Liggett also has triples, which can be hard to come by at WashU.

The first con that comes to mind is proximity to the metro stop or Forsyth Boulevard in general. Relating to location, you do not get to walk under the underpass with everyone else and can get kind of lonely. Also, the ceilings are what I’d call popcorn ceilings- a rough, offwhite material, which are slightly unattractive and gives that the ceiling has secret mold. Additonally, it is super easy to get lost in there, and the hallway, elevator, and stair situation can get confusing.

Lien and Gregg PROS

Lien and Gregg are basically a hop and a skip away from campus, making them extremely convenient, especially for those who want five extra minutes of sleep before their 8 a.m. classes. The Lien Library is a great study spot, and the hammock outside Gregg is a great place to enjoy nice weather. They are right next to the clocktower and above Ursa’s Nightlife, giving them a solid location.

The Gregg common rooms feel small, compared to those of other modern suites on the South 40. The hallways add to the small feeling as they have lots of twists and turns.Also, since the lowest floor of Lien’s door is always locked, residents have to trek up a tall flight of stairs, which doesn’t always feel easy after a big meal in Bear’s Den.

Danforth, Wheeler, Shepley

Danforth, Wheeler, and Shepley have some of the nicer study rooms on the South 40, and the dorms feel very clean and modern, thanks to white walls. Danforth has what feels like an infinite laundry room with so many washers and dryers, and also has a nice staircase through the middle of the building.

PROS

The main con of these dorms is the location, as they are in the depths of the Swamp and thus the furthest from the Danforth campus. While the staircase in Danforth is nice, it doesn’t usually feel optional to use it, because the alternative of taking the elevator is typically an unbearably slow endeavor.

Park and Mudd

Park and Mudd have a reputation as some of the more fun dorms on the South 40, bolstered by the fact that they have some of the biggest common rooms. In addition, they have some of the biggest single and double rooms. There are a ton of really nice music rooms as well, all of which are sound-proof.

The main downfall of Park and Mudd is the distance from campus, and the fact that the trek to these res colleges is uphill. Also, sophomores living in Mudd have another year of living in doubles, which isn’t to everyone’s liking.

PROS

TRADITIONAL

TRADITIONAL

Hitzeman, Hurd, and Myers

Hitzeman, Hurd, and Myers have really nice, spacious common rooms. The balconies also come in handy, giving residents a ton of space. Further, you are certainly the closest to the mailroom and right by Wallace Garage. The location is also really convenient to call Ubers or be picked up from. For Game of Thrones fans, the Hitzeman mascot is a dragon, which is pretty cool.

One of the main cons is sharing one bathroom with six residents, though this is not unique to traditional dorms. Also, they are quite far from campus, as one has to either hike up a steep sidewalk or walk through most of the South 40 to reach it. Another con is that that hallways can be a maze to get through, which makes it difficult to navigate around.

Dauten, Rutledge, and Shanedling

PROS

Dauten, Rutledge, and Shanedling also have balconies and nice common rooms, often with windows, that are great for getting work done at. The large common rooms make these dorms a great place to gather with friends. Dauten is home to a large basement kitchen with everything you could need to make your own meal, so many residents in other dorms migrate over to cook there. Also, the bathrooms are large, so multiple people can use them at any given time. These dorms also have balconies, which makes for a great day whenever the weather is nice and increases the possibilities for fun decoration.

PROS

The lack of elevators definitely tops the cons list, and when coupled with how hot the dorms get around the summertime, makes for a lethal combination — especially for those who live on the third or fourth floors. The individual rooms are fairly small in these dorms, and residents also share one bathroom for six residents. The dorm facilities, like kitchen and communal areas for the entire building itself, do not level to the facilities of modern dorms. So while there is more space to hang out in any one room, there is less opportunity to bond with fellow floormates.

Lee and Beaumont

Lee and Beaumont are home to singles, which for some students, is a massive pro. Because residents don’t have roommates, there is a strong sense of community, as people are friends across floors and buildings. Lee has a great, spacious basement that allows for a lot of social events, including a Super Bowl watch party this past year. Plus, Chancellor Andrew Martin once told Student Life that if he had to pick a dorm, he’d pick Lee-Beau, because he goes “old-school.”

For some more social students, living in a single is a con. Further, many describe these dorms as “prisonreminiscent,” lacking the clean, modern, open feel some other dorms possess. Finally, Lee and Beaumont have common bathrooms, which can be a drag for many. Additionally, while some dorms suffer from slow elevators, Lee and Beaumont don’t have the luxury of elevators at all, forcing students to take the stairs.

PROS

VILLAGE

VILLAGE Lopata House

Lopata House gives residents a comfy chair in each individual room, and there are two bathrooms per fourperson suite. The rooms feel clean with white walls, big windows, and mirrored closet doors. Also, Lopata is the closest to the metro stop and frat row. The Lopata Great Hall is a plus because it is a quiet place to study, and it often holds events that have leftover food!

PROS

Lopata is quite far from just about everything else and can feel very isolating at times. Also, there are no common rooms or kitchens in the individual suites, so if you want to chat with your roommates, standing in the hallway or going to the floor common rooms might just have to do. Because it is at the corner of two major roads, it can get quite noisy if your room faces the street which is especially noticeable at night while trying to fall asleep.

Village House

Village House is right above the food in The Village, making it very convenient for when you want to grab a quick bite to eat. It’s also close to the Snow Way Garage, the Sumer’s Athletic Complex, and the Law School; overall the location of the Village House is really conveniant. Village House, like Lopata House, has two bathrooms per four-person suite. There is also the Village Black Box, a theater space, and a computer lab located in the basement of Village House.

PROS

CONS

Similar to Lopata, Village House has no common rooms or kitchens in the suites, making for a similar cons list. Also, thin walls seem to be a common complaint. The rooms in Village House are also comparably smaller than those in Millbrook. You have to climb the stairs to and from main campus which can get annoying especially when you are running late or when it is rainy or icy. People also rarely eat dinner together in the Village, so the dining hall seating area is usually empty and most people get their food to-go every night.

Village East

Village East is the only option with a kitchen that includes a dishwasher. Residents all have a full-size bed, and there are two bathrooms per four people, both of which have a bathtub. The common rooms are large and homey with really nice furniture, and the location is conveniently close to campus. Village East is also right next to the Millbrook Garage, which is a plus. Overall, Village East housing is the most up to date, as homebase door readers have also recently been installed in the dorms.

CONS

Village East is the most expensive option for on-campus living, given its additional amenities. Also, cockroaches seem to run rampant, especially in the summertime. Maintenance does confuse Village East and Village House, so it can sometimes take a little longer to get problems addressed. There is much more variation between the rooms than some of the other buildings depending on placement — some spaces have significantly less kitchen space and smaller bedrooms than others and the floor plans are fairly unhelpful for differentiating between them.

Milbrook Apartments

PROS CONS

The Millbrook Apartments (1, 2, 3, and 4) are apartmentstyle with a kitchen, common room, and dining room space. They range from 4 to 8 person bedrooms. Many Millbrook apartments have 2 bathrooms. While apartment sizes vary, Millbrook apartments are relatively large and larger than Village East. The dining space is unique and provides a good eating and study space. Millbrook Pool is open for the first month of school, providing a fun social activity.

The Millbrook buildings are some of the oldest residential buildings on campus. The apartments are prone to maintenance problems and have had some issues with mold from time to time. The kitchens don’t have dishwashers, there are no elevators, and the laundry rooms have very few machines. Millbrook also has some doubles, making it possible that you will end up with one or two while choosing housing.

ANNA CALVO | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Clocktower on the South 40 is a frequent meeting spot for students.

ANNA CALVO | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The swamp serves as the primary green space on the South 40.

ERAN FANN | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Students play frisbee and enjoy the sunlight on the Swamp.

ERAN FANN | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

The main entrance of Village East on the north side of campus.

BRI NITSBERG | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR

The backside of Millbrook House that opens onto a path right near the Millbrook swimming pool.

BRI NITSBERG | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR

Outside the Village, there is space for students to eat outside and enjoy the natural light.

BRI NITSBERG | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR

Five tips to have a perfectly organized dorm room

BRI NITSBERG MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR

As WashU students, most of us have dozens of other things going on in our lives, and organizing is usually the last priority. Keeping your space tidy doesn’t have to take hours of your life every week. These are easy tips on how to get your sh*t organized (and actually keep it that way).

1. Use the space under your bed

The absolute best place for storage in a dorm room is going to be underneath your bed. Whatever doesn’t fit in the closet or your dresser will most likely have to be under the bed, so it is super important to organize this space well.

The biggest problem with organizing under the bed is the tendency of things to get lost down there. Getting drawers, bins, and/or organizers helps keep everything in its place. Deep under-the-bed drawers are the best storage option if you are looking to organize extra clothes. For things like toiletries and snacks, clear bins in different sizes are a good way to keep everything contained.

Under your bed is also one of the best places to organize all of your shoes. These are usually pretty bulky, so storing them under your bed keeps them out of the way. To organize, you can either get a shoe rack, bin, or storage ottoman. Any of these keep your shoes out of sight and contained in one place.

2. Get rid of stuff

This tip might seem obvious, but it is so important in a dorm room. You will only have space for so many things. So the best way to stay organized throughout the semester is to get rid of as much as possible. Most of the time, people

don’t use half of the stuff that they have in their dorm rooms. Look through all of your toiletries, school supplies, and other random items in your room, keeping only your absolute essentials. Pare down your wardrobe to what you wear consistently.

Having less stuff means that everything has a home in your room. This way, it is easier to keep things as organized as possible, even if you are crazy busy all the time.

3. Put things away as you use them

The best way to consistently keep your room clean is by putting things away as you use them. If you are getting ready for a night out and trying on a million outfits, put them all back before you leave for the night. If you get back for the day and have a bunch of things in your hands, put them away before you do anything else. Even if it’s just one thing, make sure it goes back into its home immediately.

Getting into the habit of doing this every single time you walk into your room makes a massive difference. You will no longer have to spend crazy amounts of time cleaning up your room because everything is already going to be put away.

4. Make your bed

This seems silly, but there’s a reason everyone and their mother tells you to make your bed. It is going to help, I promise.

Right when you get up and start getting ready for the day, make your bed. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but at least straighten your blanket and arrange your pillows nicely. This is a great way to start your day productively. Especially in a small room, having your bed made helps the entire space look much more put-together (even if the rest is a bit messy).

5. Have a catch-all spot

Let’s be honest: We are all extremely busy and sometimes just aren’t able to put everything away. If that’s the case, the best way to handle it is to prepare in advance.

Designate somewhere in your room as a catch-all spot for the random things that you might not have time to put away immediately. This can be a spare basket, the top of your dresser, or an empty bin under your bed. As things get messy, your miscellaneous possessions can be discarded in this spot.

However, remember to clean this spot weekly. Make it a part of your routine to go through it every weekend or some other time in your schedule. This way, you can manage your clutter whenever you don’t have time to stay organized. Your space won’t always look perfect, and that is completely fine. Doing little things like buying organizers, consistently putting things away, and making your bed makes a massive difference in keeping your room as organized as possible throughout the semester.

Managing Photo Editor Bri Nitsberg’s dorm room is organized in the way that works best for her.

BRI NITSBERG | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR

Bri Nitsberg’s dorm room is organized in the way that works best for her.

BRI NITSBERG | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR

Five pieces of advice for selecting a WashU-owned apartment

ELIZABETH GRIEVE JUNIOR SCENE EDITOR

Finally feeling settled into your sophomore-year housing? Too bad. It’s time to start thinking about housing for next year! You’ll want to get a head start because, unfortunately, junior year housing is probably the most chaotic.

For one, you’ll most likely be transitioning into apartment living for the first time, which

1. Know your options

is a big change. This comes with an avalanche of options, from locations, to layouts, to buildings. Not to mention, the crucial decision of whether you want to live in a WashUowned building.

So, how do you approach junior year housing? Well, I’m not here to tell you whether you should pick a WashU-owned apartment. Non-WashU-owned properties can work really well for a lot of people, both financially

and priority-wise. They are generally cheaper, and there are a wealth of options in the neighborhoods surrounding campus.

There are many advantages to living in WashU-owned housing as well. To name a few, you don’t have to deal with a landlord or a lease, all of the apartments are furnished, the cost of utilities are included, maintenance responds quickly, and the apartments are generally very

nice. My roommates and I couldn’t be happier in the Lofts Apartments, and we plan on living there again next year. If you decide on WashUowned, however, there are some things to keep in mind during the housing selection process, especially because it’s different from sophomore year housing selection. Here are five pieces of advice for the WashU-owned selection process.

Each WashU-owned property looks very different. It’s important that you and your group research all of the different options. The on-campus apartments are Village East (VEast) and Millbrook, both located in the Village. The offcampus options are the Lofts, University Drive (UDrive), Rosedale Court, and Greenway. Their locations, amenities, and even the number of bedrooms vary significantly. For example, the Lofts and VEast have dishwashers, while Greenway and UDrive don’t. The latter two have a good amount of street parking while the Lofts has a parking garage. Some rooms have twin mattresses, while others have full-size mattresses. The Lofts has its own mailroom, while most of the others use the Village mailroom. Some apartments are older and reflect that stylistically, while some are sleek and modern. The costs of each of these apartment complexes vary as well, with VEast being the most expensive and Rosedale the cheapest. There is a lot to consider, so it’s critical to think about your priorities. Make sure to consult the ResLife website to see how each of the properties stack up.

2. Groups of three are best

Here’s where it gets difficult. While there are apartments across the different properties that have between one and eight bedrooms, the vast majority have three bedrooms. This means that you will have the most options in a group of three. Also, if you are in a group with more or less than three people, it is more likely that your group will be administratively assigned, and you won’t have a choice as to what apartment you get. Being administratively assigned is not the end of the world; ResLife does its best to accommodate student preferences. That being said, odds are you will get placed in an apartment other than your first choice. It’s not absolutely necessary, especially depending on the building you’re shooting for, but a group of three is certainly easiest.

3. Make sure all of your roommates are on the same page

Once you’ve formed your group, decided on WashUowned, and done a little research, you will want to make sure you’re aware of each of your priorities. That way, you can make sure everyone gets what they want. My group found it easiest to individually research the properties and then make lists of our priorities. Afterward, we came back together and collated our lists. We used this to figure out what buildings were best for us. Not every apartment is going to have everything the group wants, but sorting through options is easiest when you’re informed.

4. Know the layouts

The layouts available in each location are very different. If you have no preference, that’s okay! But if you do, you’re going to want to sort through the layouts ahead of time. There are a lot of different types of layouts, especially in the Lofts, UDrive, and Greenway. What’s worse is that on selection day, you don’t get to see the layout you’re picking — only the room number. This is something that can catch you by surprise during the heart-racing, adrenalinefilled moments when your time slot begins. Think about your living style and discuss what fits your group’s needs. Unfortunately, ResLife took down the floor plan PDFs of all of the apartments this year, so you might have to do some internet deep-dives and guesswork. My best advice is to go to upperclassmen friends and ask to see their apartments. Keep a list of the room numbers with layouts you like. And a little hint: if you like a layout, the units above and below probably have the same layout! (For example, there is a good chance that room 210 and 310 will have the same layout as room 410, although this isn’t a guarantee.)

5. Stay calm on selection day

Just like sophomore year selection, your group will receive a time slot about a week before selection begins. If your group doesn’t get a time slot (meaning you’ve been administratively assigned) that’s okay! You will still have somewhere to live. If you do get a timeslot, this is where all of your research and prioritizing pays off. Make sure you are ready when your time slot begins. Have your list open and the housing portal up. Take a deep breath. It’s going to work out, no matter what!

SAM POWERS | JUNIOR PHOTO EDITOR

BRI NITSBERG AND SAM POWERS | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR, JUNIOR PHOTO EDITOR

Rooftop

Pet-Friendly

Private

Non-Smoking Community

Private

Controlled

How to settle your housing drama

SYLVIE RICHARDS MANAGING FORUM EDITOR

Housing drama is almost inevitable while picking where to live in college. Every year, we have to decide where to live and who to live with, choosing from a pool of our peers and places on or near campus. If you opt to live in WashU housing, this drama is built into the system — most often, you move from one roommate your freshman year, to three suitemates your sophomore year, to two suitemates junior year and senior year.

Maybe you need to decide which four friends you will share a suite with or how your friends will split up to move off-campus. Or maybe you have a group figured out, but you are debating whether to live in the Village or the 40, or on Pershing or Kingsbury. These decisions can create more than your average friendship spat, which makes the stakes of choosing housing seem unnecessarily high.

Yet housing decisions do not need to be so fraught. Not living with your friends is not the end-all, be-all of your housing situation, and your housing situation is not the end-all, be-all of your friendships.

Where to live

In disagreements over where to live, I recommend each person rank their priorities. For each of your housing options, write out the pros and cons and how they translate to these priorities. As you discuss these pros and cons, try to find a place that fits between your respective preferences, with everyone making some compromises. If you share any priorities, seek out places with those boxes checked before evaluating everything else about them.

Who to live with

Choosing who to live with is often the most stressful part of housing decisions. Living with good people can turn a not-soideal place into a home. That being said, these good people do not need to be all, or any, of your best friends.

WashU housing makes us consider who to live with, often having us shift the group every year. When making these decisions, think about your lifestyles above who you like the most or feel closest to as a friend. Pick roommates who go to bed and wake up at similar times as you. If you have people over a lot, pick suitemates who like having visitors. If you’re a neat freak, pick people who match your freak. Maybe you smoke every night or have a partner who sleeps over a lot — you need someone comfortable with that.

When you choose roommates, do not make your friendship the only reason for it. Living with friends can be great and certainly bring you closer, but on the flipside, it can also strain the friendship if it is not a compatible living situation. Being with your friends in close quarters every day can create unnecessary tension and issues. It may also be easier to communicate concerns about things like dishes and cleanliness to a roommate than to a friend, who may bring resentment into your relationship.

Not living together is not the end of a friendship. You can still take time to see one another, and this may be better for your relationship than forced proximity. I know many people who prefer to live with roommates who they are not close with; oftentimes, people prefer keeping their friendships separate from their living situations.

These decisions are complex and can result in friends choosing to live without you. This can be hurtful, but it

does not mean that they aren’t your friends or that you will be left out all year. When friends choose to live without you, it isn’t because of you as a person (unless you’re a jerk…), but is often a result of different living priorities. Maybe they feel that they have the most compatible lifestyles with someone else, or are set on living in an offcampus WashU apartment with three bedrooms.

It may feel like they prioritize living somewhere specific or with a certain group over you, and that is a valid feeling. Communication is essential in these situations. Be honest about your feelings with your friends. Rather than ruminating in anger or sadness about your friends’ choices, have these conversations to clarify the reasons they made these decisions.

If you end up going into a housing decision alone, WashU’s administrative assignment is far from the end of the world. I know so many people who had random roommates and are now living together for another year because they are such good living companions.

You may find yourself with people who had similar

housing-decision situations as you, and you will likely coexist nicely or become friends. Or you could end up comfortably living with a pre-existing group of friends or become part of the group. I live in a five-person apartment with my group of four from our suite last year and someone who I had never met; she is one of our closest friends now.

Ultimately, as you make your housing decisions for next year, remember that you will end up living somewhere safe and comfortable. You will not be forced to live alone. Wherever you end up, it only has to change your life as much as you want it to. Housing is not your whole life, and who you live with is not the end-all, be-all of your friendships. Where you live is just your home base; your life is what you choose to do inside and outside of it. Classes, extracurriculars, hobbies, and activities will take up your time next year — where you live is a small part of that in the grand scheme of things.

Weigh your options, pick your priorities, and communicate with the people who are a part of that decision. Then think about all the fun things you are going to do next year!

DAVID WANG| STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

Profiles of streets around WashU

AVI HOLZMAN

ALICE GOTTESMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING SCENE EDITOR

Throughout our almost three and a half years at WashU (it feels like yesterday we were first-years), we have explored the streets around campus where most upperclassmen choose to live. Each cluster of student housing streets has its own distinct flavor. Between

ALEXANDRA ACEVEDO | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Intersection at Forsyth Blvd and Manhattan Ave, facing the exterior of houses on Forsyth.

Waterman

How long is the walk to the DUC?

Between 20 and 25 minutes

Units?

Mostly houses with 4 plus bedrooms but there are also some apartments.

Vibe?

The nerdiest (and maybe best) way I can describe Waterman is that it is the party street of WashU if WashU had one. A lot of the houses here have basements which make hosting convenient. Each house has its own flavor and looks distinct. This is applicable to both Waterman and Pershing, but the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood around Waterman is super interesting and a fun place to walk around and explore.

Pros?

The first block of Waterman that is east of Skinker Boulevard is the spot to be. It is just far enough from campus to

feel off campus and also close enough that walking to classes is super easy. You will know people living on the street and in the area so running into friends is an added bonus. The houses themselves are usually pretty spacious and have a sense of character that a dorm or a newer apartment lacks.

Cons?

This block is the hardest block to get a house on since it is so competitive. You either have to be ready to find a house early in the year or be friends with someone who has already been hunting for houses. The grocery store is for sure a bike ride or drive away, and there are not a lot of restaurants within walking distance. The street is pretty public and living there does not always feel like you have your own space when you are walking around. That being said, you can run into some pretty interesting people as well.

our own housing experiences and those of our friends, we have made our way to apartments on every street.

We each have our own opinions about what it’s like to live on these streets. Some takes are more founded than others,

but hopefully all of them are entertaining. Below is a list of the most common streets WashU students choose to live on — feel free to parse through our characterizations and find some truth within them.

Forsyth

Forsyth is the block or two extending West from the AC.

How long is the walk to the DUC?

Around 10 minutes

Units?

Most of the units here are houses that have 4 or more bedrooms in them, there are several three person and a couple of 2 person apartments on this block.

Vibe?

The street has a homey, suburban feel since all of the houses on the street are free standing. Each of them looks different and makes you feel like you are back in a neighborhood. Even the apartment buildings look like houses and are not too tall. A lot of athlete houses are on Forsyth and it is really close to Chabad, so it is not always

the quietest, but it is very beautiful.

Pros?

It is quiet and mellow, if that is what you are looking for, and not too far away from campus. You can find both apartments and larger houses on Forsyth, which is great. There are a few popular restaurants on this street (shoutout Colleen’s) and it is conveniently close to the gym.

Cons?

Any grocery or convenience store is going to be a bike ride or, more likely, a car ride away from where you are living. The street is also far away from most of the academic buildings on campus so that walk to school will be a little longer than expected. a little longer than expected.

Fall foliage on Waterman Blvd.

SAM POWERS | JUNIOR PHOTO EDITOR

Pershing is behind Kaldi’s and Nami Ramen, East of campus.

How long is the walk to the DUC?

Around 20 minutes

Units?

Mostly 1-2 bedroom apartments, but also some houses with 4+ bedrooms.

Vibe?

Pershing is kind of the stepchild to Waterman. It is closer to campus and to the Metro station on Skinker, but there are fewer houses and thus fewer house parties on Pershing. It is a pretty calm place to live and right next to Forest Park, which adds to the street’s aura.

Pros?

A huge Pershing pro is the proximity to good restaurants and coffee right at the end of the street. Everything from coffee to ramen is just down the block. There is also a

Pershing

shuttle stop on the far end of Pershing if you don’t want to trek to campus on a rainy day. Essentially, no matter what end of the block you live on, there are advantages and amenities.

Cons?

If you’re a Political Science major and you want to live on Pershing, consider getting a bike. While it doesn’t seem far from campus, the distance from Pershing to buildings like Seigle or the AC is something to keep in mind. Finding a house on this street, especially on the first block, can be pretty hard since they are so competitive. Pershing is a ten-minute walk away from the CVS on the Loop, which can feel a lot longer, especially at night when you are already tired. The street cleaning is a con compared to some of the other streets, since street parking can be hard to find and it is easy to forget and collect a monthly ticket.

Rosedale Court

How long is the walk to the DUC?

Around 30 minutes

Units?

Mostly apartments that are either 2-4 bedrooms.

Vibe?

You’re almost as cool as Waterman, but not quite. There’s a sick view of the church’s clocktower across the street though. Be ready to hear it chiming. Every hour. On the hour. The street itself is not super distinct but usually has pretty good parking access on it.

Pros?

It’s cheap and the units are quality. Rosedale is not as popular as Waterman or Pershing which means that the units are not as competitive as the ones on other streets.

Cons?

It’s far from campus, especially if most of your classes are not on the East End. This is a weird con, but not a lot of people know where Rosedale is, so get ready to send people Google Maps links a lot of the time.

Intersection of Pershing and Melville, located east of campus.

SAM POWERS | JUNIOR PHOTO EDITOR

Kingsbury

Kingsbury is the block in between the overpass and the loop.

How long is the walk to the DUC?

Around 10 min

Units?

Almost all of the units on this block are two or three person apartments. They are sorted by building, so either everyone in your building is in a two person apartment or everyone is in three person apartments.

Vibe?

Kingsbury is usually bustling but is also in a great location right between campus and the Delmar Loop. There are a lot of students living in each building, which makes the apartments feel kind of like dorms but without resident advisors. Behind several of the buildings, there is a shared green space where you can host friends or hang outside and actually touch grass (side note: touching grass is one of my favorite activities). The buildings are pretty old but have a lot of character to them. In a lot of ways, this is the center of social life off the northwest side of campus.

Pros?

It is almost a certainty that you will know someone else

who is living on this street and you will probably bump into them on your walk to campus on a daily basis (I am realizing that might also be a con). The green space behind these buildings is truly undefeated since it can be hard to find spaces to host people and hang outside, especially late at night — I am a sucker for a campfire and grill setup, and Kingsbury is a great spot to make that happen. The location is prime in my opinion. Being a ten-minute walk away from campus, close to the Loop, and right next to Greenway is hard to beat. There is also ample parking available

Cons?

Like I said earlier, you will run into people if you live on this street, which can also be a great thing. Living in a building with a lot of other people (the majority of whom are WashU students) means that you might all be moving in and moving out on the same day, which could be annoying but is unlikely. The units are also pretty competitive to get, or so I’ve heard, compared to housing on a lot of other streets. They come unfurnished, but usually you can strike good deals with former tenants who will likely be graduating.

How long is the walk to the DUC?

10 minutes

Units?

UDrive offers threebedroom units.

Vibe?

It’s super homey. The apartment buildings are right next to the subway line and the overpass that goes to Olin library. As for the vibe, the street is usually quiet. The units are somewhat competitive to get since it is so close to campus. After all, some people looking for housing off campus are really looking to be as close to campus as possible so that they have easy access to the library and can sleep until the last second when they need to walk to class.

Pros?

It all boils down to that old adage, location, location, location. University Drive (UDrive) is pretty much as close as you can get to campus. The buildings all have parking lots in

the back, which is great if you have a car and are constantly struggling to find parking. If you are a real housing expert, you can also coordinate with your friends and try to live in the unit above or below them so that you are even closer to them despite living off campus. Living near friends can be a great way to spend lots of time with them while also making sure that you have your own respective spaces.

Cons?

Driving to UDrive is super weird and there are some ways which make it hard to get to and to find. UDrive is also not super close to any restaurants and grocery stores which makes living there without a car a bit of a pain. The other big-ish con is that there is no direct path to campus if you live in the middle of the street. If you live near the overpass or the crosswalk getting to campus is easy but living on the middle of the block means having to walk around which can be a little annoying.

The exterior of the Kingsbury apartments, located between the overpass and the Loop.

SAM POWERS | JUNIOR PHOTO EDITOR

The exterior of UDrive apartments, located in the Ames Place Neighborhood.

SAM POWERS | JUNIOR PHOTO EDITOR

Washington Ave

The block between Kingsbury and the Loop, also the location of the Greenway buildings.

How long is the walk to the DUC?

Around 15 min

Units?

Most are apartments that are 2-4 bedrooms. A mix of houses and apartments.

Vibe?

Washington Avenue (Wash Ave) is right next to Kingsbury so the vibe is similar to living there but also distinct. The street is quieter, and there is less foot traffic up and down the block. At the same time, the street is close to the Loop and plenty of people will be walking on the path to and from the Loop. Being so close to the path to campus makes it a super convenient location to access campus. At the same time, since the area is closer to the Loop, it has a less suburban feel than the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood and you cannot exactly go on a nature walk when you step out of your apartment. Wash Ave truly is a street of contradictions but an amazing place to live

How long is the walk to the DUC?

20 minutes

Units?

There are about four bedrooms in each house. The apartments on the street are all mostly two and three bedroom units.

Vibe?

It’s a residential area and not just for college students. You live there because you couldn’t get a house on Pershing or Waterman. It’s the same as those streets in terms of housing, but there are fewer college kids. The street is relatively quiet and quaint, having grown up in suburban Virginia it is very similar except instead of families most of the people walking around are college students who are late to something.

Pros?

It’s affordable. You feel more removed from the campus

nonetheless.

Pros?

The location is great if you like being near the Loop and all it has to offer, but there is not a lot of nature in the area without having to walk through the Loop to Forest Park. Even so, nearby Kingsbury provides good outdoor space. Additionally, the WashU Delmar Loop Shuttle stops at two points on Wash Ave, which is super helpful during unpleasant weather or when you’re inevitably running late to class.

Cons?

The parking availability at Wash Ave apartments is inconsistent. This is because there is such a variety of types of housing — from WashU housing to some freestanding houses. If you have a car, parking is definitely something you should inquire about. The street itself is also narrower than nearby Kingsbury, which means if the neighbors across the street are throwing a party, you’re definitely more likely to hear it (better make some friends!).

McPherson

bubble, you get your own space, and you feel more like a grown-up. It’s nice to live in a house versus an apartment, because you get more of a homey vibe. The street is near the community garden which is a great way to spend a little bit of time in nature while not having to walk for more than five minutes.

Cons?

It’s not as pleasant to walk on Skinker at night because of the unpredictability of the light, and it’s also a much bigger street and a busier intersection than those around it. The circulator stop is not super convenient so getting to campus can be difficult without a car. There are also not a ton of grocery/convenience stores near the street which can make finding food difficult.

Delmar

The Lofts and Everly.

How long is the walk to the DUC?

Around 25 to 30min

Units?

Everly has studio, two bedroom and three bedroom apartments.

Vibe?

Delmar is the closest thing WashU has to a college town. The school markets it like there is everything to do and more, and don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to do. You can go see a concert and play Magic: The Gathering and eat three different types of cuisine on three different days. That being said, eating out can be expensive. Overall, Delmar is a bustling place to live and hang out off campus.

Pros?

There are always people around and there are lots of things to do. It is also a great

place to live because when you don’t want to cook, there are a bunch of places where you can eat and get all the food the Loop has to offer. You also get a little bit more distance from campus when you live on the Loop which comes with its own sense of independence.

Cons?

It is a busy area and there are always people around. When it comes to suburban St. Louis, Delmar is the closest thing to New York City. Additionally, it is far away from campus, so if you have an early morning class, expect that walk to be longer than you might predict. Before you decide to live in Everly on the Loop you should know two things: it has great amenities and it costs a lot of money. In terms of grocery stores, it is United Provisions or bust, so if you are someone who thrives off of Trader Joe’s frozen meals, this might not be the best place to live for you.

The exterior of the Greenway apartments, located between Kingsbury and the Loop

SAM POWERS | JUNIOR PHOTO EDITOR

A beautiful rainbow shines over the Delmar Loop.

n

Third floor rooftop pool with sundeck & grilling station

Sky terrace with conversational seating n Smoke-fee/vape-free community

Bike storage n Package concierge n Game lounge with Wi-Fi

Resident social lounge with entertaining kitchen n Resident events

High endurance fitness center n Yoga studio

Quartz countertops n Subway tile backsplash n Keyless entry

Stainless steel appliances* n Tile shower / tub surround

Open floorplans n Plank flooring n Washer and dryer in unit

Large balconies* n Walk-in closets* n Views of Forest Park* *select units

Nooks, crannies and little holes to hide in on the South 40

splendid sleep of my life on the couches.

Best

Five-Star

24/7

During my first-year at WashU, I was flabbergasted by how difficult it was to find alone time. I was assigned a traditional double in a six-person suite, which left me relatively pressed for space with privacy. Gone were the days of doing homework in total isolation in my bedroom, screaming along to music in my car, and choreographing elaborate ballets in my bathroom mirror.

The little moments of zen, when I was allowed to act completely insane in solitude, were a thing of the past, but being the resourceful WashU student that I am, I scoured the South 40 for secret spots to guarantee minimal surveillance from my peers and the @washudog lady.

There are so many reasons why you might feel the need to seclude yourself, and all of them are perfectly valid. Whether you need to escape your suite, find a place to cry, or discover somewhere to study in peace, I present you with my personal favorite places to be antisocial outside your room.

Lee Basement

I cannot hype up the Lee basement enough. No one is ever down there because it’s Lee, and all people expect from it are communal bathrooms and gloom. They don’t expect multiple TVs, a plethora of study rooms, a music practice room with an out-of-tune piano, and the most comfortable couches on the South 40. When I got locked out of my dorm once at 2:00 a.m., I went down to the Lee basement and had one of the most

There is something magical about the lack of windows that inspires an unmatched level of productivity within me. Tenpage Comparative Literature essay due? Time to get on that subterranean grind and head to Lee. It’s the closest thing to solitary confinement you will find on campus.

Tietjens Practice Rooms

One of the things I missed the most in coming to WashU was being able to belt along to music in my car on my way to school. Singing in the shower was not really the vibe in my suite, so I found the perfect method of satisfying my craving for a sing/scream-a-long by frequenting the Tietjans Hall practice rooms.

In each room, you will also find a piano, where you can tap some keys and make lots of joyful noise in total privacy. If you go during the school day, it’s especially empty.

Mudd Library

Located on the first floor of Mudd, this quiet study space has gorgeous windows and bookshelves exuding intellectualism and the deepest of focuses. Especially if you’re a first-year, this is a great place to rat out and hide because Mudd is a sophomore dorm, meaning you will recognize NO ONE (hopefully).

The library also has gothic-looking light fixtures dangling from the ceiling that make me feel like a sophisticated young woman on top of her schoolwork (something I am most often the opposite of). If you’re

LAUREN SMITH SPECIAL ISSUES EDITOR

BRI NITSBERG | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR

The ping pong table in the Lee Basement stands ready for people to hang out and have fun

LAUREN SMITH | SPECIAL ISSUES EDITOR

Mudd Library is a study space that all residents of Mudd Hall can use to get work done.

looking for the same lockedin feeling as the third floor of Olin but not looking to be surrounded by the masses, I would recommend Mudd Library.

Fourth Floor Umrath Lounge (The Plant Room)

I should preface that this recommendation is only an isolation station during the day (as it gets packed during the evenings) but it is a study oasis anytime before 6:00 p.m. It’s the kind of place that was designed for listening to Lo-fi, drinking warm drinks, and enjoying learning. Plants in glass jars line the window sills, cleansing the room of negativity and self-doubt, and the midday sunlight

2 miles to Wash U

Inspiring Spaces

Expansive Sky Lounge

Dog Park and Fitness Studio

Resort-Style Courtyard and Pool

Coveted Amenities

makes you forget you’re indoors.

Walk off campus

If you really need to be alone, sometimes the only cure is a walk off campus. Plug in an audiobook or a playlist full of your personal jams, and go look at some trees. Even if you just exit the South 40 through the brick wall behind the butterfly and walk around that neighborhood, you’ll likely encounter zero people. A Forest Park jaunt is also a wonderful indulgence (although, one time I saw my WUSA shirtless on a run, which was anything but an escape from WashU).

Underground Parking

Dynamic Fitness Center

Award-Winning Service

Five-Star Property Management Team

24/7 Maintenance and Concierge

Amazing Location

Steps from Forest Park

Best Highway Access in St. Louis

The untraditional take on traditional dorms

OLIVIA SALINGER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

So, you’ve been placed in a traditional suite. The world is over. You can feel the panic creeping in, and your roommates are random, so you don’t know who you’ll spend the next nine months with.

Well, two random suitemates turned friends are writing this for you, so know it’s not all catastrophic. We’re here to give you a glimpse into your next few months and convince you it really will be okay. Let’s start as early as memory allows.

You’re two weeks in, a floorto-ceiling dent has appeared in your wall, and the boys’ suite next door leaks Old Spice into the hall. You have

to brace yourself for the noise the toilet makes after each use, and the whole building reverberates from the thrum of the plumbing. Objectively, not everything is perfect, but solidarity with your suitemates goes a long way.

A month in, and the common room wall slowly fills with the suites’ academic achievements, club acceptances, and ridiculous quotes marked on post-it notes. Your suite was the only one with enough space to throw a birthday bash for your new friend, which increases both your (and all your friends’) appreciation for the traditional layout. Rearranging the furniture is a collective late-night anxiety outlet, and the bean bag chairs serve as makeshift beds where people can crash; the suite is on

its way to being a true hub for your social life. Cards Against Humanity, Twister, and old Pangea game boards lay across the coffee table, remnants of late nights. You invested in a projector with your suitemates, and nights are now filled with movie nights, F1 races, and baseball games, eliciting shrieks of laughter and despair.

Two months in, and your food stash has evolved to a point where you can go for weeks without stepping foot inside BD. Coffee sits freshly brewed in the refrigerator each night, ice cream concoctions await in the freezer, and the steaming scent of fresh rice fills the suite weekly. Your lives have gotten busier, but the dining table in the middle of the common room brings you together at odd hours, providing the perfect

space for sporadic debriefs. Three months in, and you’ve finally invested in some communal dorm decor. Felted garlands are strung, lights dangle atop the balcony railing, and painted pumpkins signify the arrival of fall. The noisy plumbing doesn’t cross your mind; instead, you start thinking of this space as a home. You’ve even befriended the Old Spice guy from down the hall.

We understand that you’re worried, and it’s not unfounded. For many, the quality of WashU housing is a real draw, and feeling like you got the short end of the stick so early in an overwhelming transition is bound to feel luckless. But we’re not here to tell you how to make a traditional dorm a good situation. We’re saying it already is one.

The courtyard for traditional dorms Rutledge, Shanedling, and Dauten (JKL) in sunlight.

BRI NITSBERG | MANAGING PHOTO EDITOR

HANNAH LA PORTE

Expectations vs. reality: First-year dorms

SOPHIE SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

From late-night dorm hangouts with new friends, triples converted to doubles, ping-pong and foosball tables in common rooms and elevators, air conditioning, ice machines and filtered water dispensers on each floor, to stolen laundry in the dryer, flooded bathroom floors, and burnt microwave popcorn that has left a lingering smell, the dorms on the South 40 provide the all-encompassing first-year dorm experience, full of highlights and horror stories.

All first-years are required to live in WashU’s residential area known as the South 40. There are 10 different first-year residential halls, split into older traditional suites and modern doubles, which, according to the Princeton Review, are the second-best college dorms in the nation. But what is most characteristic of the South 40 is the copious amounts of facilities open to students. With an onsite gym, dining spaces, basketball and sand-volleyball courts, game rooms, music practice centers, dozens of study rooms, Paws

& Go (a convenience store), and Bear Necessities (a gift shop), the 40 has all that a fearful first-year could ask for, and eases the transition to independent living.

As the Class of 2028 geared up for move-in, many took to the internet to investigate their new living arrangements and their associated expectations. First-year Henry He, a Shanedling resident, was initially hesitant about his traditional-dorm assignment with an older building and more roommates.

“[Shanedling] looked terrible on YouTube. I saw some people taking videos, and honestly, [it] looked like a prison,” He said.

Now three months into living in the dorm, He has changed his views on traditional living.

“You make six instant friends. We have a TV, Xbox, fridge, stickers, some notes, and some posters on the [wall],” He said.

Some chose to resort to the floor plan in order to get a mock-up of the dimensions of the room. First-year Hannah Carbunaru, a Dardick resident, felt extremely lucky when she found out she would only have to share a bathroom

with suitemates because of her unique situation of being assigned a corner room at the end of the hall.

“It’s nice not having to share a bathroom, because then we can just leave all of our stuff [in there]. And only two people use the bathroom, not three or four.” Carbunaru said.

On the other hand, firstyear Becca Karon, a Lien resident, found out upon arriving on move-in day that she also had a corner room and would not have suitemates. She described how the lack of others in her immediate vicinity made the adjustment to WashU more difficult.

“It didn’t help with the transition of getting to know more people when I first came,” Karon said.

Nonetheless, a unique aspect of dorm living is the opportunity to foster friendships with those living on your floor and in your building. Those in traditional dorms have one common area where residents from each suite have the opportunity to come together and socialize, fostering a dorm culture.

“I [love] coming to the common room. [We] always have movie nights and some

ADEMOVIC | STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

other fun activities,” He said.

Unlike the floor atmosphere cultivated in traditionals, those in modern dorms aim for a more cohesive floor culture upon becoming a WashU student. First-year Noa Sobel, an Umrath resident, arrived on campus excited about a preconceived idea of dorm living that included hotel-like amenities and open, inviting doors.

“I thought it would be like college movies, [where] everyone knows each other and it’s part of [the] hall experience,” Sobel said.

Though the floor culture that Sobel had hoped for during her first year at WashU did not meet her expectations, she noticed that friends of hers in certain other dorms did form the kind of floor community she’d sought out when choosing WashU.

“Some of my friends’ dorms have been the opposite way, where they are all a good community and all their doors are always open. I think it depends on the dorm,” Sobel said.

Despite some mixed emotions, most first-years reported contentedness with WashU’s first-year dorms, even just after a few months of living on the 40.

“I love my actual room and the layout between my room, my suitemates’ room, and the bathroom. We have one hallway, [an] entrance, and then there’s a room, [the second] room, and a bathroom, and I like that [setup]. We can have a joint little gathering,” Sobel said.

It’s safe to say that the South 40 gives students the picturesque first-year dorm experience, despite some minor setbacks that vary from student to student. But do the dorms truly live up to the hype that tour guides, admissions officers, and even the Princeton Review rave about? Well, that’s up for you to decide!

ELMA

Entry access control for residents only

Fitness center with weight, cardio and therapy rooms and towel service

24th floor rooftop lounge and sky deck with 360 degree views of Clayton

Community lounge with pool table, wet bar and private theatre

On-site Kingside Diner restaurant

Pet-friendly community with pet spa

High ceilings with oversized windows

Amazing views of Shaw Park to the west and Downtown St. Louis to the east

Tips on moving to a new apartment between semesters

AVI HOLZMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Moving between semesters is weird. Not good or bad, just a little bit weird. Finding a new space and living with new people can make the fall and spring semesters feel even more distinct than they already are. My junior year, I moved homes in between semesters; in the fall I lived on Limit Avenue behind the Lofts, and in the spring, my apartment was on McPherson Avenue. It was a planned move and made the most sense for me given my housing situation at the end of sophomore year. Moving between semesters can be a pain or a joy, and for me, it was both at different times. There is not a ton of time to adjust, but there lies the chance of getting to meet new people and explore a new neighborhood. Below are some tips, based on my experiences, that will hopefully help you with you too.

Tour both places you are going to be living in before you move in:

This seems obvious, but it is critical. Before you decide where you are going to live, make sure that you have seen more than just pictures. It is especially helpful to have a feel of the space you are going to be living in before you get there. Take note of the layout, the size of your bed, the size of the kitchen, and anything else that is especially important to you. Make sure to ask the landlord about rent, maintenance, and any other questions you may have. When I toured my spring semester, I kept asking myself “what if” over and over again to generate questions for different situations. It might seem excessive, but I would recommend you walk from the apartment you are touring to campus to get a feel for what the walk would look like and how long it would take.Try to maximize your time and learn the most you can before you officially commit.

Walk when you can:

I did not have a car my fall semester, but I did have one spring semester, and I really regret how much I drove to school. Feeling totally comfortable in a new space with new surroundings takes me a while, and walking everywhere is the easiest way to achieve that. Walking gives you a chance to slow down and take in your surroundings, even if it means braving the elements for a little while longer. I used my walks to school to call my family or friends from home. When I did walk, I also got a chance to see what my neighborhood looked like at different times during the day; a place feels different at night then it does when the sun is high in the sky. The biggest reason to walk, and maybe this doesn’t have anything to do with moving between semesters, is to be grateful, to press pause on the hustle of school and reminisce in your thoughts about life.

Make sure you know how to pay rent:

Money is super weird, and it can easily become really stressful. Before you move into a new apartment, make sure you know exactly how much rent is going to be, and, if you’re living with roommates, who is responsible for paying it each month. I did this, and it made paying rent much easier and not a source of tension, which was a real blessing. It can definitely be awkward to talk about money with other people, especially your friends, but planning these conversations early is both a necessary and convenient way to break the ice. If you live with people long enough, you are sure to have some awkward conversations, so they might as well happen before you begin living together!

Pack Light:

I failed at this, epically. There is only so much you need for a semester of college, and moving sucks. Before you move into your fall semester place, make sure to label and separate the boxes you plan on bringing

MANUEL LOPEZ | STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

with you and the boxes you can leave in storage. Talk to your future roommates ahead of time about appliances and items like cleaning supplies so that you do not end up accidentally bringing extra. When it is time to unpack, I recommend doing so in a way that is easy to pack up again. A semester really flies by, so being ready to pack quickly can save you a lot of time and energy.

Reach out to your roommates (if you don’t already know them) before you move in:

Make sure you know the people you are going to be living with, even if it is only for one semester. I didn’t do this for my spring semester roommates, and it was a little awkward for all of us. My words of wisdom: the first time you meet someone should probably not be when you move in with them. Maybe find a time when you can grab lunch with them on campus and try to find common interests you may share. If you really hit it off, go see a movie with them. Basically create some kind of shared experience so that when you do live together, it doesn’t feel like you are on a blind date (except in this one you are

both stuck in the relationship regardless of how the date goes). Even during the first few weeks of the semester, make time to hang out together as roommates to build that connection, so that in case something goes wrong, you feel comfortable enough to reach out to them.

Find a rhythm:

I recommend developing habits and getting into a rhythm as soon as possible, especially when you’re moving somewhere between semesters. That move will take you out of your rhythm, and being in a new space means new routines. Think about what you want your mornings to look like and what you want to do at the end of the day to help you wind down. Finding spaces for all of your things and cherishing these little moments of routine can unlock the experience and provide you with a strong sense of belonging in your home. For me, it is relaxing and soothing to know that I am going back to the same place to do similar things most days. Developing strong habits for living in a new space can help you set a baseline for what living in this space is going to feel and look like on a day-to-day level.

The ultimate guide to throwing the extravaganza-bonanza dorm function

LORE WANG JUNIOR SCENE EDITOR

So, you wanna have a dorm party. Maybe you’re tired of endless bidding over GroupMe party-ticket messages; maybe you’re thinking of a chill night in; maybe you’ve just been somehow assigned to host the afters. Whatever the occasion, the dorm party is a certified classic function. So, if you’re looking to throw a night everyone will remember (but not because of a mass email from the RA), here’s your ultimate guide.

At the end of the day, hosting a dorm party is no different than hosting any other event. There might be a little more necking occurring on the couch or spilled Solo cups on the ground than your average Better Homes and Gardens dinner party, but that doesn’t mean we can’t channel a little Martha Stewart into making this 161-square-foot box a home!

Step 1: Location, location, location

Look, I’ve seen some creative furniture configurations in my time as a dorm connoisseur. And as much as I appreciate the major moves happening in the everything-shoved-into-acorner scene, there are some real physical limitations to your space. Think big, and by that I really mean think traditional. Those cushy common rooms pre-furnished with a suspiciously stained couch and an escaperoute balcony are exactly the size you need for your bash. Oh, and don’t forget to let your roommates know — unless you’re keen on giving them the shock of their lives when they walk in and find a herd of strangers standing at their desk..

Step 2: Set the mood.

Is this a “cozy hangout” or a “we’re not technically breaking fire code” moment? Ambient lighting is your friend. You’ve probably already got paint-ripping LED light strips that illuminated the darkest days of quarantine hiding out

somewhere in your closet. String lights, novelty lamps, seasonaldepression lights — everything is romantic in the dark.

Step 3: Set the music.

As you’ve likely found out by now, dorm living means sound travels with the persistence of an unpaid car payment, so keep your music within a reasonable range. You want tunes that say “party” but don’t scream “noise complaint.” A safe bet is to always go for an obscure mix you just stole off your coolest friend from home’s Spotify. Nobody will ask questions about the music if they’re too busy pretending they’ve been avid listeners of this indie collective for years! Oh, and get a speaker that doesn’t sound like it’s playing from the bottom of a cereal box. Tell your parents that that $80 credit-card charge is an investment in the vibe.

ANTHONY HUANG | CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR

Step 4: Be a provider.

Nothing ends a dorm party faster than the sudden, all-toocontagious idea to all pop into BD for a midnight half and half. Avoid this common pitfall with some low-maintenance finger food. Stock up on all the dorm classics: chips, candy, maybe a veggie tray if you’re feeling philanthropic (but don’t expect anyone to eat it). A clever hack? Microwave popcorn for that movie-theater smell. Just don’t burn it, unless you’re dying to hear every fire alarm within a four-floor radius.

Step 5: Set an exit plan (not just a route).

Like all things in college, your party should have a deadline. A casual “Thanks for coming, let’s all get some sleep” is polite but firm. Don’t let your party guests trickle out like lost souls in a horror movie. Set a time, stick to it, and make it clear: You’re

hosting a chill get-together, not a 24-hour rave. If people are lingering, start talking about an imaginary early-morning study session. Works every time.

Step 6: What Happens in Danforth 4100…

The true mark of a dormparty pro is not just the ability to throw a great bash, but also the ability to erase all evidence by sunrise. This means wiping surfaces, gathering rogue cups, and neutralizing any suspicious odors. If you don’t remember to clean up, someone will (and might charge you $500 for it).

And that’s it! Go forth, create chaos (within reason), and throw the kind of bash that makes your dorm a home — without anyone actually getting written up. May your dorm parties be just the right blend of thrilling and non-expellable.

U

Quartz countertops n Stainless steel appliances

Two-tone cabinets n Vinyl hardwood floors

Matte black finishes n Kohler fixtures n Tile backsplash

Large, walk-in closets n Full-Size Washer/Dryer

Lavish bathrooms n Tile shower surrounds

Modern Lighting n Electronic thermostat Expansive balconies (select units)

Quick Access to I-64/40, Downtown St. Louis & The Metro Link 4.5 MILES TO

Rooftop Courtyard with Pool, Sundeck, and Grilling and Gaming Areas

Fitness Center n Business Center n Modern Clubhouse

Pet-Friendly Community n Controlled Access Buildings

Fitness Center n Bike Storage n Elevators

Controlled Access Underground Parking Garage

On-site Management / 24-Hour Emergency Maintenance

Directly across from SLU Hospital and School of Medicine

Close to Universities, Hospitals, Purina & Anheuser Busch

APARTMENTS

Granite Countertops

Gas Range

Fully Furnished 1 & 2 bedrooms*

10 1/2 Foot Ceilings

Vinyl Plank Flooring

In unit washer and dryer

Extra Storage

Patio and Balcony

Gorgeous Natural Light

Built-in pantry & linen closets

Large walk-in closets

*select units

AMENITIES

Dipping pool on the upper atrium deck

Interior atrium / outdoor lounge

24 hour fitness center

Entertaining lounge with coffee bar

Pet-friendly community

Concierge lobby attendant

Smoke & vape-free community

Controlled access attached parking garage

On-site management & maintenance

Community Events

Pros and cons of living with a roommate

NIKOL KROL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Walking into your first semester of college can be an unnerving, yet extremely exciting experience. With a new campus, new teachers, and new friends, anything can happen! For some, a major component that determines your experience at WashU is the person you spend a large portion of your time with: your roommate.

Roommates: you either love them or you don’t. Everyone has a different experience. But if you’re a current freshman on the fence about living with a roommate in a double versus living in a single next year, here are some pros and cons to consider.

those lonely thoughts and the homesickness that many students experience.

“It’s a lot of fun because there’s always someone to talk to, and it’s never lonely in the room,” first-year Eddie Zhao said.

Having a go-to person during your first week of college is one of the biggest pros of having a roommate. After meeting hundreds of people during orientation week and only managing to remember a select few names, a constant familiar face feels like a breath of fresh air after a long, busy day.

For first-year Camille Johnson, one of the best perks of having a roommate was having a built-in friend.

“At the beginning of the school year, [my roommate] was just an easy person to know and to be able to do stuff with,” Johnson said. “I feel pretty close with my roommate, even though we’ve only known each other for a little bit.”

As the school year goes on, classes pick up and there is less time to talk to your friends and family. Seeing your family spend time together and your high school friends enjoying a weekend out can be a really lonely experience, which is why having a roommate can help dispel some of

And as a bonus pro, Zhao added, “You can eat their food sometimes.”

There’s no denying, though, that living with a roommate isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. Sharing a living space for months at a time can be difficult, especially as midterms and finals roll around. Spending too much time with the same person can also become overwhelming, and the desire for your own space can influence how you behave around each other.

“I think sometimes, scheduling can be difficult,” first-year Rami Antoine said. “Things like bathroom schedules or when people are showering … things get messy like that.”

Hearing your roommate talking on the phone too loudly at unruly hours, lying awake while they sleep through three alarms, finding their hair on your clothes, tripping on their unwashed laundry on the floor, and getting into petty disagreements are just a few potential cons of sharing a living space with another individual.

It can also be challenging if you’ve never had to share a room before. However, if this is you, don’t eliminate the idea of a roommate completely. You never know what they’ll teach you during your time together.

“It’s a learning experience, just how to live with another person,” Antoine said. “Finding out ways to work around each other and how to cohabitate with someone is

a good skill to have.”

Another thing that may not necessarily be a con is that you might just not vibe with your roommate — and that’s okay. You might not become the best of friends, and maybe you won’t even hang out or talk much, but there’s nothing wrong with simply coexisting in a neutral environment. As long as they aren’t causing you any issues, there isn’t anything wrong with not being friends with your roommate.

As someone who lived with a roommate their first year and opted for a single in a suite of four the following year, sophomore Kira Larner had nothing but good things to say about her living arrangement.

“I feel like freshman year, being in a double is super important,” Larner said. “It really made me become best friends with [my roommate] within a week and a half, which is crazy. It made me be more social, … brought

me out of my shell, and it really made college a fun experience.”

If you’re still not sold on the idea of living with a roommate, that’s okay. Living in a single is pretty great, too.

“You can do things at your own pace,” Larner said. “I always went to bed later than my roommate, so [this year], I didn’t have to bother [anyone] at all with that.”

The downside: “It’s lonelier. It’s still nice though, because you can be in a suite with your friends, so we still have the common room and everything, which is perfect,” Larner said.

Regardless of what you choose, your rooming experience will more than likely be a major learning experience. Even though there will always be the inevitable “roommate horror stories” floating around, many agree with Larner’s conclusion: “I wouldn’t have changed my freshman-year situation.”

ANNA DORSEY | CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR

In defense of Beaumont. No, really. I’m serious.

QUINN MOORE NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Beaumont is perhaps the most notorious dorm on campus. With the looks of pity and remorse I get after revealing my dorm of choice, you’d think someone had just punted my puppy. But, come on guys, really? We’ve only been flooded with toilet water once in the past two years.

Let’s be honest: Beaumont, one of the oldest dorms in the South 40, is not known for its amenities. Further, being a traditional dorm, residents must contend with public restrooms and showers. There have even been rumors of Beaumont’s demolition for years. However, in return, each and every dorm in the building is a single.

Here in Beaumont, we’ve got three flights of stairs, a half-broken ping-pong table, and the worst couches known to man to our name. Further, one of our laundry rooms has conspicuously been evacuated and turned into a dungeon of sorts.

However, these problems are not as big a deal as some would claim. Frankly, the majority of the time you’re in your dorm building, you’re just in your room. Beaumont’s study rooms are serviceable enough, and because the South 40 is so compact, residents can journey across the rolling plain to other dorms for more specific desires and comforts.

Beaumont’s kitchen and bathrooms are not quite abysmal either. While the kitchen is basic, it has the tools most college students will use: a microwave, an oven/stovetop, a fridge/ freezer, and an ice machine. The kitchen is where you’re

most likely to find your Beaumont comrades.

As for the public restrooms and showers, these are not as troublesome as you’d think. The kind and friendly cleaning staff do an excellent job at keeping the kitchen and bathrooms sanitary.

Look, a public bathroom is not ideal, but it builds character. You’ll survive. After all, it’s no different than the restrooms you use on the way to and from class.

Yet, despite these public spaces, Beaumont is not a shining beacon of a dorm community. I have seen the same two people in the bathroom every morning for the last 10 weeks, and I think I have spoken to them twice. From my experience, there is not a large social scene. It does not help that the hallways were literally designed as “riot-proof.”

Daedalus would be awestruck by Beaumont’s design, and Theseus would promptly find a corner to cry in. Simply put, Beaumont is composed of one very narrow and winding hallway with nigh zero visibility.

Look, this is not to say that you can’t be social in Beaumont. Much like college as a whole, the dorm is what you make of it; you just need the will. The single dorms can even be a great place to host friends, as there is no need to schedule around roommates or cram into a tight room.

Speaking of the single dorms, they are not copouts. Every room is either a double or a triple converted into a single, meaning the rooms are spacious. With a bed, a desk, a window, two closets, and more, there is plenty of space to truly make

the room your own. This allows the dorm to truly be a safe, quiet, and private space to recharge and relax, without worrying about accommodating a roommate or two. This is your reward for taking the stairs every day: a space you get to well and truly call your own, with all your assorted nicknacks.

Beaumont does not have a rambunctious dorm community and is not modern by any stretch of the imagination. However, it gives you exactly what it promises: a great room to situate yourself in while riding out the storm of college. Plus, maybe a few college stories along the way.

A fully decorated traditional dorm room.

RACHEL BENITEZ BORREGO | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Beaumont is one of the few remaining tradtional dorms on the South 40.

RACHEL BENITEZ BORREGO | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Amazing

Sundeck

Controlled

Centralized

Grilling

Pet-Friendly

Dog

Lofted

Theater

Quartz

Vinyl

FOB/Mobile

Designer

Kitchen

Custom

Tile

Matte

Washer/Dryer

Spacious

From the roommate with sensory issues

RIVER ALSALIHI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

It’s easy to acknowledge that the idea of living with someone tends to be more exciting than the actual fact of it. It’s harder to refuse to room with the coolest girl who has an insanely beautiful Instagram feed (in the case of the ambitious incoming student who got accepted to WashU a week ago and has already parasocially stalked the perfect aesthetic match) or your best friend of three months, whom you’ve spent every single day with since you met them in a club (in the case of the rising sophomore).

As someone with sensory issues, I have made the mistake of acquiescing to a roommate who was bubbly, fun to hang out with, and had wonderful taste in decor, but who didn’t honor my needs. We paired up within a week of Early Decision 1 after riffing off each other in a 40-person group chat, having never met. Our cursory phone call that night covered the basics:

How clean are you? “Oh, you know… I’m not like, insanely clean, but I’m not filthy, either.” Are you a morning person or a night owl? “Definitely not a morning person. I go to sleep at a pretty average time, I think…”

Gorgeous non-answers! The first time we ever spoke verbally, we were terrified of disappointing each other’s expectations and shattering the illusion of a great match. I downplayed my sensitivities and she downplayed her proclivities towards loud activities, bright lights, and coming home late from parties or the studio.

So…

Be honest about your limits and preferences — both to Prospective Roomie and to yourself.

It can be difficult to identify

what exactly bothers you off the top of your head. Consider taking some time to brainstorm or keeping a running list that you can add to when you notice something bothering you. Everyone has different sensitivities: sound, sight, textures, smells, etc.

To be honest, you probably won’t find someone with the exact same needs as you, so it’s best to focus your efforts on identifying your own and communicating them clearly. “Hearing someone chew their food from across the room makes me want to shoot up out of my chair and commit violence” is not the same as “mouth sounds bother me sometimes.”

Figure out how each of you can work to meet each other’s needs.

If both of you understand each other’s sensitivities, and it feels like they could be compatible, you should discuss, in a practical way, how to avoid causing the other discomfort. It is worth mentioning that, unfortunately, some people simply will not cooperate, because they don’t respect your

needs. Involve RAs and other residential resources if necessary.

Maybe one person can’t handle the fluorescent overhead light in the morning or the evening. Easy fix: Look into getting table/floor lamps that will provide enough light to see, but are localized (e.g. on the desk) or gentle.

Or maybe one person is sensitive to overwhelming smells. The other can spray their floral perfume in another room. These seem so simple on paper, but laying them out beforehand can help the solutions feel concrete and possible, especially if you aren’t a fan of confrontation. You will likely have to enforce a boundary or remind your roommate of a sensitivity, however, or even discuss one that you hadn’t thought of before or that you recently developed.

Remember that having sensory issues does not make you annoying, needy, or nagging.

Though it can feel like you are being a nuisance explaining something that your roommate has never considered or

experienced, you are actually being communicative and mature. I’m here to remind you of that. It’s especially easy to feel like a weirdo in college, where you’re removed from the context you grew up in and are suddenly surrounded by a million people who live differently from you. Try to bring things up as they are happening in order to avoid building up resentment. Again, when someone doesn’t live in your brain with the same reactions as you, they can forget, and you aren’t a bad person for reminding them. It can be as easy as, “Do you mind putting headphones on to watch that TV show?”

Speaking of… Get a pair of noisecanceling headphones and/ or earplugs if you don’t already have them.

Magnificent invention for all of humanity, sensory issues or not. Especially if things end up going south, you may end up needing to block the world out while lying in your bed like a mummy. It happens. Next year, you’ll pick a better roommate.

Fully decorated dorm room in Park Hall.

SASHA MABRY | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Unique pets for your college dorm

DAVID CIORBA JUNIOR FORUM EDITOR

A good dorm pet is quiet, low-maintenance, and keeps you company while you study. For some students, that means keeping a fish on their desk; for others, it means hiding a cat in the common room. Although both of these options are viable, college is a time for exploration and new experiences. So why settle for the usual dorm pets? A unique animal friend can spark conversation, relieve stress, and bolster your responsibility in an out-of-the-box way. As an experienced pet owner who’s raised everything from chickens to degus, here are five cute, easy, and novel options for your next dorm pet.

Lobster

If you have been to Schnucks, you have most certainly ogled at the majestic live lobsters kept in the fish section, but why let the party stop there? Lobsters are solitary creatures, requiring not much more than a cool, clean tank and nutritious food. Effectively, they are similar to caring for a fish (though fish don’t have cool claws). These regal crustaceans can live up to 100 years old in the wild, and in captivity, some suggest they can live indefinitely. With the right care, your dorm lobster could become a lifelong friend or even a family heirloom.

Giant Flemish Rabbit

The giant Flemish rabbit is one of the largest rabbit breeds out there, weighing

from 15 to even 20 pounds. PetMD describes these furballs as patient, docile creatures, capable of being litter-trained. With a bit of bunny-proofing, you can forget the cage! Just imagine a furry friend hopping into your lap while you study for that psych exam. This Flemish giant will fit right into the college dorm life.

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

My first year, I was invited to some sort of get-together at a mutual friend’s dorm. I arrived and made awkward small talk with the host, before he suggested that I look into the cardboard box that he kept beneath his bed. I obliged. Moments later, I found myself staring at a rotting piece of lettuce and two handsome Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches scurrying inside a shoebox. For you entomology fanatics, these roaches are the way to go: They eat just about anything, require minimal housing, and (apparently) are great for parties.

Ball Python

Although I don’t keep one in my dorm, I have a splendid ball python at home. These tranquil snakes are named for their spherical defense strategy: curling up into a ball when threatened. Ball pythons eat mice, which you can purchase frozen and de-thaw when needed — so make sure you have a freezer, and remind your roommate to stay away from the snake’s food supply, too. These scaly friends don’t grow more than four feet and require little attention — the perfect addition to a cozy dorm

room.

Pigeon

Pigeons are surprisingly affectionate, intelligent, and easy to care for, making them an underrated dorm pet. They’re naturally calm and, once bonded, can be incredibly loyal companions. A domesticated pigeon can live comfortably in a spacious cage, with some free-flight time outside if permitted, or they can be trained to wear pigeon pants indoors (yes, that’s a thing!). Pigeons don’t need extensive grooming, and they’ll be happy with a diet of seeds, grains, and fresh veggies. Known for their cooing sounds, a pigeon will add a gentle, soothing presence to your space.

Each of these creatures has the potential to make

a great college companion (and a great conversationstarter, too). However, are you ready to be a pet owner? Make sure that you have the time and resources to properly care for your pet, and do your fair share of research before investing in any animal’s life. It is also important to be educated on Residential Life policies. Unless it’s a Service or Assistant Animal, fish are the only permitted pets. Those who break this rule could face disciplinary action. That being said, college students have historically been advocates for change. If you are aware of the risks and responsibilities, you wouldn’t be the first to keep a strange pet in your dorm.

Pet-friendly

Parking

Bike

Clubhouse/resident

Fitness

Bocce

Golf

2 miles to Wash U

Pet-Friendly Community with Dog Park

Controlled Access Building with Gated Parking

Club-Level Fitness Center

Outdoor Patio with Gas Grills

Beautifully Restored Lobby and Clubrooms

Complementary Coffee Bar

On-Site Management & Maintenance

24-Hour Emergency Maintenance

Community Social Events

Resident Perks Program

Unique Urban Living Spaces

Large Windows with Plenty of Natural Light

Historically Charming Details

Full

Plank Flooring

Granite Countertops

Moving in and moving on

ALICE GOTTESMAN MANAGING SCENE EDITOR

Grade school has tons of markers to remind you that you’re growing up, whether it’s birthdays, a mark of your height on the wall, learning a new math skill, or leveling up to chapter books. In college, those markers aren’t as distinguishable, but when fall rolls around, I inevitably start to think about the years flying by. Moving in always comes with a one-way ticket down memory lane.

Looking back on my four years of move-ins, the most dominant memory I have is the heat. There’s nothing that makes me question my choice in university like the St. Louis August weather. But really, the weather was the most consistent thing about my experience. And yet, each year of lifting boxes and getting sunburned has a distinct, unique memory in my mind, because as my housing changed, so did I.

Year one: I pulled up to Shepley Drive with a car packed to the brim and my entire family. It was crowded, I was nervous, and I had no idea what to expect. After filling and dragging multiple bins of decorative pillows, wall embellishments, closet dividers, and anything else that had been recommended to me via social media, I got started on the actual moving. The combined efforts of my family and me led to too many cooks in the kitchen, but also a somewhat swift process. A day later, after an emotional goodbye, they left me and my perfectly organized room to fend for myself at college — a completely unfamiliar environment where

I could barely figure out how to get to the main campus from my dorm.

Year two: my dad and I arrived on the South 40 in a car so full you couldn’t see through the back windshield. Campus was empty, and I was moving in on a very rigid timetable. The calculated move-in was because I was there early for WUSA training and to facilitate Bear Beginnings. Just one year later, I was moving back to take on the job of making a cohort of first-year students feel supported and welcomed just as I had been — so evidently things worked out after my family left me on the Koenig lawn last August. Move-in itself was also way less ceremonious. I had the vision of my room from last year, knew what worked and what didn’t, and already felt at home on campus. While it wasn’t the normal sophomore year moving experience, it was marked by a comfortability that had been missing a year ago.

Year three: I was moving off campus. Not only was I stepping up to an apartment with a kitchen, but my relationship with St. Louis was shifting. This year, my mom moved me in, and we shuttled back and forth from the storage unit to the Lofts until my decor was all in place. While my actual room supplies had been filtered out to only include the necessities, my over-preparedness this year manifested in kitchenware. But facing new challenges, like the increased distance from campus and cooking all my meals, also brought me freedom and better opportunities to explore the city I had been living in for 2 years. Junior year was spent trying new Loop restaurants, experimenting with recipes, paying attention to

local events, and being more in tune with St. Louis.

Which brings me to year four: After being abroad for my Spring semester, I made my grand return to the Lou earlier than in years past. I moved into my current apartment in June and settled into my first St. Louis summer. With this movein, landlords were involved, utilities were on my mind, and when the shower broke during the first week, I couldn’t just file a university maintenance request. But the shower is now fixed, my move has long since been completed, and this apartment truly feels like home. Senior year, I have a set of keys instead of an ID to get into my building, but everything else feels similar to the life I adjusted

to last fall.

That said, living off campus and having a kitchen are not the only things that feel familiar. These days I rarely use Google Maps to get around, I recognize street names, and I know my favorite restaurants in different neighborhoods. My life is still incredibly tied to campus, but I have a little separation from it both physically and symbolically. So, this year at the end of August, I was privy to everyone else’s move-in, whether it was into a first-year dorm or first apartment. And for the first time, I felt the weight of the growth marker. Here, your housing grows up with you, or maybe vice versa, and I’m suddenly all grown up.

ANNIE TIAN | STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

It’s time to start walking the walk

On any given night, if you ask me to pick one of the best parts of my day, I am liable to talk about my walk home from campus. I live on Waterman Boulevard, which is basically the Narnia of off-campus housing even though it’s only a mile and a half away. It takes roughly 20 minutes from the moment I step out of my door to when I sit down in McMillan for my 10 a.m., which feels like an hour now that it’s starting to get chilly out.

On that walk home, there’s something magical about how the sun hits the pale pink stones as it sets from the west side of campus, how the air changes as it hits November. Through this semester, my second to last here, I have tracked the progression of the weeks through these walks, reminding myself that the number of days I have left in this place is constantly dwindling.

During my junior year, I lived in an apartment on Washington Ave. Even though it was significantly closer to campus than my current house, I drove much more regularly. Maybe it was the shiny new appeal of finally having a car in St. Louis — reminiscent of how grown up I had felt when I first got my license. Maybe it was due to a litany of other reasons: it was too cold or rainy, or I was chronically late and needed the two minutes that driving would save me. But I believe that the real reason was much simpler — I got into the habit, and I never got out. It became routine to grab my car keys from my bedside table each morning.

Maybe, you’re reading this thinking to yourself, “Aliana, I would never drive to campus because I have my life together, and this advice is niche and inapplicable to me.” To that, I

say: you’re probably right. But I know there are some of you out there who default to driving when walking is a perfectly viable option. And I know, there are plenty of logical explanations for why you shouldn’t drive to campus: paying for parking gets expensive, driving increases your carbon footprint, you could be saving the gas in your tank for more exciting outings, the list goes on.

But I’d rather opt for the emotional appeal because, at the end of the day, that’s what made me reconsider the pattern I fell into last year. It’s true, I may not enjoy my slog to campus each morning when

I wish I were still half-asleep in bed. But I’ve had some of my most beautiful, wow-I-reallygo-to-school-here moments on walks back from campus in the afternoons. Some of my best reflections and revelations have come from having that time to myself to process what I spent all day listening to in class. I’ve noticed new spots on campus and quite literally stopped to smell the roses, or in this case, the sweetgrass outside of Hillman. I run into friends and friends-offriends and class crushes. I see more dogs per week on average and definitely get sucked into a greater number of hacky-sack circles than I ever thought

possible.

This advice is about more than deciding whether to drive your car each day — it’s all the small decisions you make about how to spend your time. In this issue of Housing Guide, we pose the question, what makes a house into a home? I may be talking about a sprawling campus rather than a two-bedroom apartment, but what really makes this place feel like home is all those tiny things I only notice when I stop, slow down, and start to take it in. Put the car keys away. It’s worth the extra 15 minutes of your day. It just might end up being your favorite part.

ALIANA MEDIRATTA MANAGING NEWS EDITOR

My favorite part of the trek to Warerman, pictured before the sun started setting at 5 p.m. every day.

ALIANA MEDIRATTA | MANAGING NEWS EDITOR

ESSENTIAL DORM OBJECTS

Before college, my mom bought me a small electric kettle. I thought it would just take up space in my closet, but I use it almost every day during the winter for tea. Perfect way to feel cozy when I lived in a dorm without a kitchen!

A little electric fan that clips to the side of a dresser or bed frame. Sometimes the temperature in a dorm or apartment is weird. A little fan will be the solution to everything.

I knew I was going to use command strips in college, but I didn’t realize that they would hold my entire apartment together. They are easily one of the most useful things I own and elevte all of my decorations.

My little Keurig makes one mug of coffee at a time. Even though the coffee is not that good it takes up barely any space and saves me so much money on coffee.

An AeroPress coffee maker is so tiny and cheap and makes really good, easy coffee. I use it every day and love it (especially because campus coffee is so expensive).

Painter’s tape!

It’s mildly less effective but simultaneously less stressful to use than command strips (I feel like this is maybe a tiny bit crazy of me though lol).

Apple cider — I bought 12 boxes of 10 packets each in bulk from Amazon for like $25 my first year. Two years later, I’m on my last box. Bonus: it makes for a great gift!

I have this hot plate thing (which is probably not even allowed in the dorms lol) but I’ve cooked so many meals on it, which have been super delicious. Also cookies!!!! It’s multi-use. I love it.

Let me cook! Advice for managing your first kitchen

MATT EISNER JUNIOR SPORTS EDITOR

So, you’ve moved out of a dorm and into an apartment. Gone are the days of half-andhalfs from Bear’s Den (BD) and the convenience of Paws and Go. Now, you have to buy your own groceries, budget time for making dinners, and hastily try to replicate those home-cooked meals you’ve missed so dearly since coming to college.

Let me be the first to officially welcome you to adulthood. Isn’t this fun?

When I moved from the South 40 to an off-campus apartment, I was most excited to have the freedom of my own kitchen. I was never interested in cooking until my sophomore year when I grew tired of BD and wanted to eat healthier and better food. Even though I would cook once a week in the dorms, it was still challenging to transition to my own kitchen. Here are some tips and tricks to help you save money and eat well in your first apartment.

Marinades are your best friend

Some of the easiest dinners you can make involve drowning a piece of chicken in your favorite marinade, letting it sit in the fridge when you’re in class, and then cooking it when you get home. I love using the Tony Chachere’s chicken marinade, which is cheap and full of Creole flavor. You can also make your own marinade if you don’t like the selection at Schnucks. For chicken or beef, I typically use a mixture of soy sauce, lime, garlic, seasoning salt, and black pepper.

Every oven is different, but boneless chicken thighs are

usually cooked through after 20-25 minutes at 425 degrees.

Meal plan!

Before you go to the supermarket, make a list of everything you want to cook during the week and the ingredients you need. This helps you cut down on food waste and overspending, while also holding yourself to a set plan for what you will eat each day of the week. You might find yourself spending a lot in the first few weeks of the year, but once you build up a pantry, the grocery list becomes shorter and shorter.

Related: It’s always nice to have a big spice cabinet. Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powders are classics, but coriander, cumin, and cayenne pepper are also nice to have.

Eat your fruits and veggies

Sorry for sounding like your parents, but you will truly feel better when you incorporate healthier ingredients into your diet. It can become really easy to eat frozen pizzas or Trader Joe’s orange chicken for every meal you cook — don’t get me wrong, those are good and easy meals — but it’s important to find your nutrients in other ways. If you really despise vegetables, keep your recipes simple by not adding too much salt and oil, or have your favorite fruit lying around for an easy snack.

Do the dishes as you cook

It makes your life so much easier when you don’t have to do the dishes after eating, especially in a time crunch. Done with a spoon or tongs? Give them a quick wash and dry so you don’t have to worry

The kitchen and the living room in the Lofts have an open concept floor plan.

about it later. While your food is in the oven or on the stove, there’s nothing else for you to do! You might as well get ahead of your chores now.

Buy and eat local

When you get your produce, mWhen you get your produce, meat, or other pantry items from local businesses, you get to support local farmers and know exactly where your food is coming from. The U-City Farmer’s Market, located behind Seoul Taco on the Loop and open on Saturday mornings, is a great place to find fresh produce during harvest season. Southern Illinois is well-known for producing rice along the Mississippi River, so I like to get higher-protein and non-GMO rice from brands like Cahokia Rice. Missouri also has some of the best barbecue sauces and spices in the country; I keep

Country Bob’s and Jack Stack’s in my pantry. When I cook with local products, I feel more connected to the land that we live on.

Make cooking fun

Cooking is technically a chore, but only if you treat it like one. I find it so relaxing to come home after a long day and make dinner. You have the power to make your kitchen your oasis! I love cooking with friends, so me and two friends have a routine of making dinner with each other on Monday nights. You should also get creative with your recipes. It’s good to have a couple of easy go-tos, but those get boring after a while. Experiment with different cuisines, combinations, spices, and proteins. If you are a new chef, you will be surprised that it is really easy to make delicious and easy dishes.

SAM POWERS | JUNIOR PHOTO EDITOR

What building would you want to live in on campus?

I would live in the Brown Library for so many reasons: there’s great natural light with big windows, it’s right next to the best food on campus (Hillman), the people in there are usually cool because they’re in the School of Social Work (automatically cool), there are tables with puzzles and crafts for stress-relief, and overall the vibes are very cozy and homey. The only issue is that it’s very quiet and I’m often not, but maybe it’d become a bit louder when I move in.

I would live in McMillan Hall. If you follow the stairwell to the top floor in the southeast corner of the building, there’s a nook with a window overlooking Mudd Field. It’s kept warm in the winter and is out of the way of students. There’s a sofa and some plants kept by the faculty who hold offices up there as well. McMillan Hall was originally the women’s dormitory on campus, and the office spaces could be converted back into residential quarters easily. It’s also not too far from the Metro.

Lily Taylor, Investigative News Editor

I am a really big fan of the balcony area of Lopata House Great Hall because people are almost never up there. It also has a really nice table and a super comfy armchair that I have definitely pulled an all nighter in to write an essay for my World War 1 history class. The balcony and the Great Hall fulfill all my Secret History/dark academia dreams which makes it my preferable place. I also really like the location of the Village in general.

Elizabeth Stump, News Editor

I would absolutely LOVE to live in Kemper. Not only would it make me like a James Bond villain because I could stare at art all day, but also, the Art Library in the basement is my new favorite place to study on campus, and I feel like I would be extremely productive and happy if my home was also my favorite place to study.

Lauren Smith, Special Issues Editor

Camden Maggard, Head of Social Media

The left tower of Brookings Hall: it is the tallest place on campus and so you get a fantastic view of all the academic buildings. Additionally, there is great ventilation because there is so much wind whistling through the tower. Most importantly, since the tower is so high up off the ground, I could have a Rapunzel moment whenever I wanted to. I know it is not a traditional answer, and while I have never been in the tallest tower of Brookings, I think it would be a comfortable and unique place to live.

Avi Holzman, Editor-In-Chief

I would live in the Alumni House on the South 40. My friends and I started going there to study beginning our first year, and regularly spend several hours at a time there. There is a beautiful chandelier, comfortable office chairs to sit in, a nice outdoor area, and the whole building feels so homey. It gets great natural light during the day too, and is in such a convenient location, basically right next to the DUC.

Nina Laser, News Editor

I’d live in the top tower room of the Law Library — it’s cozy, quiet, and has an amazing view. My whole time at WashU, I’ve been plotting to watch a lightning storm at night from the top room (imagine the view! the vibes!), but unfortunately, the library locks at night, so I’ve not had the opportunity yet. Now, if I lived there, though — I’d have all the opportunities!

Tim Mellman, Managing Newsletter Editor

If I could live anywhere on campus, I would live in the Butterfly Garden. Imagine waking up every morning surrounded by a field of flowers … so beautiful! It’s the most peaceful place to do homework and ponder all of life’s biggest questions. It’s also so close to campus! While the lack of showers may be an issue, I’ll be living out my fairy dreams, which makes it all worth it.

Astrid Burns, Staff Writer

AMENITIES

Quartz countertops

Chrome finishes

Modern fixtures

Subway tile backsplash

Designer lighting

Stainless steel appliances

Large walk-in closets

Wood look plank flooring

Custom window coverings

Full-size washer & dryer in unit

Balcony (select units)

1st floor Target

Amenity deck with pool, lounge chairs

Grilling and gaming area

Amenity lounge with kitchen and TV

24-hour fitness center with cardio & free weights

Pet-friendly community with pet spa

Controlled access building & parking garage

On-site management & maintenance

24-hour emergency maintenance

Bike storage

Yum Corner: Easy, functional recipes for both off-campus and dorm living

HANNAH LA PORTE, ELIZABETH GRIEVE, AVI HOLZMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER, JUNIOR SCENE EDIOTR, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Spicy Peanut Ramen

Cook ramen noodles and drain the water. Mix peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, if you have it, and sriracha. Top with sesame seeds and/or green onions if you have them.

"Fancy" microwave mac and cheese

Buy some of the cheese from Paws and Go. Add it to your microwavable mac and cheese when you add the cheese powder, along with a bit of butter if you have it.

Spicy tuna rice

In a bowl, mix together one package of tuna — the Trader Joe’s purple can of white albacore tuna is the best in my opinion, but the wild skipjack tuna packs are slightly more convenient — with roughly a quarter cup of kewpie mayo (I usually eyeball this). Add a spoonful of soy sauce and a spoonful of siracha and mix (you can add more or less to taste). Then, make some rice — if you don’t have a rice cooker or access to a stove, there are instant rice packs that you can chuck in the microwave that are genuinely good. You can just eat the spicy tuna mix with plain rice, but I like to get seaweed packs and make little handrolls it’s super delish

Mug cake

Paws and Go avocado toast,

Assemble bread (toasted in an oven or in a toaster), avocado, and your choice of toppings, which may vary, but salt, pepper, and balsamic are good. You can also add sliced tomatoes and a fried or poached egg from the Paws and Go mini egg cartons.

I suggest breaking up a chocolate bar and rolling it in the premade crescent rolls from Paws before baking.

Add a splash of milk, a chocolate bar, and a spoonful of cooking oil to one Paws and Go mug cake mix. After mixing, add a broken-up chocolate bar in the middle and microwave until it's solid.

Copycat Hillman grilled cheese sandwich:

Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on some bread, and cook on low heat in a pan with a little bit of butter. Add a layer of cheddar cheese and a second slice of bread. You can use other kinds of cheese if you want; I like both cheddar and gruyere. Flip when your sandwich reaches your desired toastiness. Hillman’s secret sauce eludes me but the closest I can get is mayo and sriracha.

Chocolate-covered berries (discount TruFru):

Grab some berries from Paws and Go and a chocolate bar. Melt the chocolate bar. Dip the berries in chocolate, and put them in a fridge or freezer until hardened.

Lazy gnocchi

Gather your ingredients: premade gnocchi, parmesan, butter, garlic powder, and milk or cream. Cook the gnocchi. Put all the other ingredients into a bowl. Spoon the gnocchi directly from the boiling water into a bowl with the other ingredients. Let it sit for a hot second, then mix. The gnocchi mixture will make its own sauce and just like that, it’s magic.

Pesto Pasta à la Avi:

Take a pound of your favorite shaped pasta and dump it in a pot of water that is at a rolling boil. Periodically, basically every two to three minutes, take out a noodle and test it until the pasta is a perfect al dente. Once al dente status has been achieved, strain the pasta and proceed to dump an entire container of Pesto Genovese from Trader Joe’s. Then mix the pesto and the pasta and slowly add in some parmesan cheese until you feel satisfied. Once the cheese is melted, add the pasta to a bowl (maybe with some basil for garnish) and enjoy!

LAUREN SMITH | SPECIAL ISSUES EDITOR

Homemade chocolate croissant

FUNNY ROOMMATE STORIES

FUNNY ROOMMATE STORIES

My first year, I lived in Park and the fire alarm was really sensitive. One time, my suitemate overcooked a bag of popcorn by 30 seconds, and for some reason when he opened the microwave, there was a ton of smoke. He looked at me and said, “no way the fire alarm goes off.” Not ten seconds later, the alarm went off in the whole building. We all had to evacuate, and I ran off to a friend’s suite because I was so embarrassed. Apparently, the fire department walked out of the building holding the bag of popcorn and laughing.

My roommate freshman year decided to run a composting operation in our shared closet. He emptied the compost container weekly, and the whole room smelled like ripe sh*t for the whole semester. I moved out because of him.

I was sitting in my dorm when my roommate scurried in, panting. He looked frantic and began to gather his things, but before I could ask what was wrong, he fled the room. About an hour later, I heard a knock at the door — the police. “Is anyone else here?” they asked. “No,” I replied. “Is there a keg of root beer in here?” they asked. “No”, I replied. A few days later, my roommate received a conduct violation. The worst part is, I’m using no euphemism here. My roommate stole a keg of root beer — and got busted.

My suitemates used to defrost whole steaks, fish, and chicken from Costco in our shared sink. They also threw food away in the bathroom trash, so when the steam from the shower hit it, the whole place reeked of decomposing fruit and vegetable peels!!!

One day during my sophomore year, I came back to my dorm to see my roommates building a life-sized Michael Cera out of our broken lamp.

One of my suitemates texted our group chat last year asking to wash her shoes in the sink. We all were like “yeah, totally go ahead,” but then when I got home five hours later, the shoes were sitting in a lovely yellowed puddle in my sink instead of hers. It was just so unexpected.

My roommate and I sublet over the summer, and when we moved back in, my roommate found a vibrator and lube in her dresser drawer.

Signature Communities

• Studio, one, and two-bedroom floor plans

• Flexible lease term options

• Contemporary kitchens with light or dark finishes, stainless steel appliances, and quartz countertops

• Pool & spa with sun deck

• Fitness studio with TRX

• 1,600 SF bark park & pet spa

• Individual & collaborative work or study spaces

• Studio, one, two, and three-bedroom floor plans

• Flexible lease term options

• Contemporary kitchens with light or dark finishes, stainless steel appliances, and quartz countertops

• Boutique hotel-style pool & spa

• Indoor & outdoor fitness centers

• Two pet parks and pet spa

• Individual & collaborative work or study spaces

AMENITIES

7th floor sundeck with pool, jacuzzi, cabanas & grills

7th floor garden terrace

14th floor resident lounge with chef’s kitchen, open seating area with fireplace, serving counter and dining area

Fitness center with cardio & free weights

Pet-friendly community with pet park

Controlled access building, & parking garage

Smoke & vape-free community

Bicycle storage room

Co-working space and private meeting rooms

On-site management

24-hour emergency maintenance

APARTMENTS

Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows

High ceilings with exposed concrete

Matte black finishes

Modern two-tone cabinetry in kitchen

Quartz countertop and backsplash

Plank flooring throughout

Modern lighting

Amazing city views

Walk-in showers with tile surround

Stacked washer and dryer in unit

Corner pool deck patio*

Courtyard or pool patio*

Balcony*

*select units