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HOUSING GUIDE 3
4 RAs tell allThe untold stories of WKU’s RAs
8 Greek livingInside WKU’s Greek houses
12 RoommatesThe good, the bad, and the best
18 Dorm decorTips to brighten up your space
21 Roommate quizWhat type of roommate are you?
22 Don’t be dupedTips for living on campusC
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11 Living on campusThe benefi ts and exceptions
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WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY4
In-charge:The untold stories of
WKU resident assistants
Story by Sydney Jones
Going on his second year as a resident assistant for WKU’s Housing and Residence Life, Clarksville junior Jeff rey Silvers refl ects
on a memorable experience he had while working in Barnes-Cvampbell Hall. (Photo Illustration by Phoebe Alcala)
HOUSING GUIDE 5
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Some of the unsung heroes of WKU housing are the hard-working, ever-vigilant resident assistants. Because they work around the clock, they often have some memorable stories to share. Whether the stories are funny, awkward or nightmare-ish, these three RAs — Theresa Whelan, Jeffrey Silvers and Olivia Santangelo — have lived them.
Nightmare on Gilbert third-fl oor
A few years ago, Walton senior Theresa Whelan was doing her rounds in Gilbert Hall when she decided to check the third-fl oor kitchen. She checked to make sure the stove was off, letting the door close shut behind her with a thud. Once she had confi rmed that the stove was off and all was well, she turned back to leave.
Only she couldn’t. Whelan couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw the door, without a doorknob.
She tried to open the door by pulling on it. That didn’t work. Then she shouted, thinking maybe one of her residents would hear her and rush to her aid. They didn’t. Finally, Whelan remembered that she had her phone with her and texted one of her residents, who came to her aid. She opened the door from the outside, freeing Whelan.
However, before Whelan could ask her savior if she knew where the doorknob was, another resident ran
down the hall toward them, hand raised high in the air, the doorknob held in her fi st.
“It was a confusing night,” Whelan said, recounting the story. “But be careful. I heard that that doorknob still falls off even to this day.”
Strange noises and a misunderstanding
Clarksville, Tennesee junior Jeffrey Silvers recalled an evening that he thought was just like any other. He was walking up and down his hall in Barnes-Campbell Hall when he heard strange noises coming from the community bathroom. He could see under one of the stalls that there was one person on their hands and knees and a pair of shoes pointing the opposite direction.
Confused, Silvers called for the two people to come out, but when the stall opened, there was only one, very sick, very embarrassed man.
“As it turns out, he was in there alone throwing up, and the shoes were his,” Silvers said. “He had removed them because he had thrown up on them.”
Silvers explained what he had thought was going on to the man from the bathroom stall, and they both had a laugh about it. Silvers said he sometimes still wonders if that man ever got the smell out of his shoes.
Bonding in the ERA few years ago, Villa Hills senior
Olivia Santangelo was out with some other RAs on a Thursday night. At around 1:30 a.m., she got a call from a panicked resident. The resident told Santangelo that her friend, another of Santangelo’s residents, was having trouble breathing and was starting to lose consciousness.
Santangelo also began to panic, so her fellow RA rushed her back to campus. After quickly parking near the Pearce Ford Tower courtyard, they ran over to fi nd the two residents.
Santangelo asked every question that was on her mind, trying to understand the situation. The residents said they had been at a party but hadn’t been drinking. The resident in distress had been feeling dehydrated and couldn’t fi nd water.
“She couldn’t speak more than half a word at this point,” Santangelo said. “She looked like she was about to pass out, wobbling back-and-forth and unable to focus on anything, when sure enough she drops like a stone.”
Luckily for the resident, the other RA was standing right behind her and caught her before she hit the ground. Amidst the chaos, Santangelo called the campus police and explained the situation while the other RA helped the resident to the ground.
As a crowd began to form, Santangelo ordered another resident to keep them moving. About half of the girls from her fl oor had formed a protective circle around the three of them.
When the paramedics arrived,
they put the resident on a stretcherand took her to the hospital, withSantangelo and three of her residentsfollowing them there.
“It was a busy night, apparently,and the staff was stretched thin,”Santangelo said. “We spent a solidhour and a half in the waiting roombefore they would allow us to go backand see her.”
Santangelo’s resident had suffereda heat stroke and was severelydehydrated, but she eventually awokeresponsive and smiling. They weretold that the resident could leave onceshe had gone through her whole bagof fl uids.
The group spent the next few hourswith her, wrapped in med-blankets,laughing, sharing stories and eatingchocolate pudding.
“It’s weird how something so scarycould have turned into one of the bestbonding sessions I have ever had withresidents, but there it is,” Santangelosaid.
Around 6:15 a.m., as Santangeloand her three residents said goodbye,she pulled the nurse aside and askedif she could get doctor’s notes forher residents, excusing them allfrom class. They had all had a long,emotional night, and needed to getsome sleep, she explained.
“She obliged, and with notesin hand, we piled into one of myresident’s cars, made a detour at aMcDonald’s for some breakfast andshuffl ed back into the residence hall,”Santangelo said.
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WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY8
Living like a Greek: 5 things you didn’t know about living in Greek housing
Story by Chloe Benningfi eld
Have you ever wondered what it is actually like to live inside those grand brick houses? The reality of living in a sorority or fraternity house is probably different than you may imagine. Here are some unexpected truths about sorority and fraternity living.
1. COMMON SPACES ARE SHARED WITH EVERYONE
Greek chapter houses at WKU can
accommodate anywhere from 8 to 24 people. You might think having 20 roommates is a lot, but imagine having 150. Living in a sorority or fraternity house means sharing the common spaces with the entire chapter. Anyone involved in Greek life most likely has the code or key to their organization’s house and is able to go in anytime.
“We always encourage chapter members to come by the house to hang out with others and promote brotherhood,” said Will Harris, a Glasgow sophomore who is a member of Phi Delta Theta.
2. GREEK HOUSES ARE NOT WILD PARTY HOUSES
You have probably seen movies like “The House Bunny” or “Neighbors” that depict Greek houses as a place for throwing wild ragers, but that is not the case. At WKU, sororities and fraternities aren’t allowed to drink alcohol in their houses. Chapter houses are utilized for chapter meetings, philanthropy events and other sober events. Sorority and fraternity houses are technically on-campus, so any events with alcohol must be held at a separate location off campus.
Lexington junior Connor Roberts and sophomore Hannah Blankenship of Coal Grove, Ohio, laugh in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon
house on campus. Roberts, vice president of SAE, has lived in the house for two years. “That’s why it’s so awesome because
normally you’re with your pledge class, and you’ll get super close with people,” Roberts said. “I can count on them to do
anything.” (Photos by Grace Pritchett)
Shelbyville freshman Vincent DiMercurio (from left), Skylight
freshman Nick Walz and Skylight junior Lucas Walz watch TV in
the Phi Delta Theta house after classes with other members of
the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
HOUSING GUIDE 9“We have really high expectations for
ourselves,” said Michaela Brangers, a Chi Omega junior from Elizabethtown. “We always keep the common spaces clean and have rules enforced by our housing board.”
Many sorority houses also have regulations about male guests, like restricting them to common spaces, which allows for more bonding between chapter members.
3. IT IS VERY CONVENIENT
Since many activities are held at the chapter house, residents can simply walk downstairs to attend a chapter meeting or an early morning recruitment workshop. They also get to enjoy leftover food from events hosted at the house.
Living in a Greek chapter house is also one way to be exempt from WKU’s two-year housing agreement. Since Greek houses at WKU are right beside campus, the walk to class is relatively short, providing the on-campus feel without the small living space of a dorm.
4. THERE IS VERY LITTLE PRIVACY
In many Greek houses, especially sorority houses, people share rooms and bathrooms with at least one other person, if not more. Living
with a dozen friends can feel like a never-ending slumber party, but it also means having very little privacy. On the bright side, there is always something going on or people to hang out with in the house.
“You have someone to eat with for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” said Ashley Perschbacher, a Kappa Delta junior from Thompson Station, Tennessee.
So even though residents might have to walk to a study location on campus to find a quiet space and some privacy, loneliness or boredom rarely strike while living in a sorority or fraternity house.
5. IT FORGES DEEP BONDS
Living with roommates is one thing, but living with roommates that double as sorority sisters or fraternity brothers is another. Chapter housemates are more than just roommates since there is a shared connection as members of the same sisterhood or brotherhood. Since everyone goes to chapter meetings and other events together every week, housemates will grow to feel like family.
“After you graduate, you’re going to have experiences where you can live with other women again, but it’s never going to be people you’re
connected with at this level, and it’s never going to be this many girls,” said MaryCarol Kuhn, a Prospect sophomore who is a member of Kappa Delta.
Living in the house also means being involved in most things going on in the chapter. House residents live, eat and breathe their Greek organization. Being constantly surrounded by other members of your sorority or fraternity makes it hard not to become deeply invested in the chapter and fellow housemates.
The commercial-grade kitchen at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house (left) and the home-like kitchen at the Chi Omega house (right) are two of many common areas in Greek houses which are shared, not
just by the members who live in the house but, by many other individuals in the chapter.
A photo in the Chi Omega sorority house shows past
members of the chapter. Sophomore Katie Wheeler of Marion
who lives in the house said, “When I fi rst moved into the
house I thought the coolest part was seeing all of the history
in it because I could see all of my sisters who have lived here
since 1965 through now and all of the trophies that we are so
proud of are here.”
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HOUSING GUIDE
With few exceptions, freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus at WKU. Housing and Residence Life believes students will benefi t from living on campus for their fi rst two years of college, according to the HRL page on the WKU website.
HRL is dedicated to doing what is best for WKU students. The HRL page also said HRL has collected conclusive research that shows living on campus for two years yields a positive outcome. Data collected shows that freshmen students who live on campus are nearly 10 percent more likely to return for spring classes and nearly 7 percent more likely to return for the following fall.
Never sign a lease off campus assuming you'll recieve an exemption from the two-year housing agreement; chances are you won't.
Here are four benefi ts to living on campus for two years:
A common sentiment about college is it is where you fi nd your lifelong friends. Living in a residence hall for two years can help you fi nd your best friend, whether that is your roommate, the girl you study with downstairs or the guy who always shares his snacks with you.
“Meredith Hall allowed me to meet my best friend, Brae Fredericks,” Versailles freshman Turner Reynolds said. “She always makes our room smell good and shares her sweets with me.”
Living in a dorm means living close to your classes — most likely much closer than you would be living off campus. Gas is expensive, and walking to classes saves money.
We have all heard the saying “sharing is caring.” Although some people view sharing in residence halls as a negative thing, it can be a positive thing too. For instance, sharing one larger fridge in your room takes
up less space than having two separate mini fridges.
Moving from a home with parents and rules to a dorm without parents is a huge transition. Newfound freedom is one aspect of college, but too much freedom can sometimes lead to reckless actions and consequences. Living in a residence hall helps to maintain some structure in students’ lives by providing a community of peers and residence assistants to help students adjust.
Living on campus for two years still leaves two years to live off-campus in an apartment or house of your choosing. The key to making the most of the housing situation you are in, residence hall or otherwise, is to maximize the advantages and opportunities available.
Students study on the second-floor lobby of Southwest Hall on Feb. 19. The lobby area includes tables, a couch and a kitchen.
Studying in the dorm is part of Katelyn Latture’s routine. “It’s hard to fi nd a space for a big group of people to do homework,”
Latture said. “So, Southwest lobby is a good place to go.” (Photo by Hayley Watson)
11Surviving and thriving during your
underclassmen yearsStory by Abbey Norvell
Five exemptions from the two-year housing requirement:
• Veterans of military service (181 days or
more)
• If you’re married or the primary caregiver for
dependent children
• If you're 21 years of age or older before
classes start
• Members of fraternities or sororities living
in the chapter house (two semesters on
campus and 30 credit hours earned)
• If you're commuting from your parent or
guardian's permanent home (50 miles or less)
2. Proximity to classes
1. Meet friends
3. Sharing
4. Transitional period
WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY12
Gibson Brueher, Cassidy Townsend, Jacob McAndrews and Griffi n Rae (not
pictured) live together off campus at the Registry. (Photos by Phoebe Alcala)
HOUSING GUIDE 13
Choosing a college roommate can be stressful. The time and energy spent searching can be wholly rewarded or rendered useless. WKU students shared their best and worst roommate stories — and how they were changed for the better from both.
The Registry roomies
Cassidy Townsend, Jacob McAndrews, Gibson Brueher and Griffi n Rae live in an apartment at the Registry. Townsend, McAndrews and
Brueher talked about the benefi ts of an apartment compared to a dorm.
“We can choose when to hangout with one another,” Townsend, an Erlanger junior, said. “Like if I wanted to lock myself in my room for 48 hours, I have every option to.”
Townsend said her caring roommates would check on her prior to this elapsed time, but the apartment layout is benefi cial in terms of privacy.
“It defi nitely is nice having both a public space and a private space,” McAndrews, a Villa Hills junior, said. “It makes your time in the public
space much more enjoyable.”The four roommates do genuinely
like being around each other, Brueher, a Franklin, Tennessee junior, said.
“I feel like we spend a lot of time together for how busy we are,” Brueher said. “We do spend a lot of time in the common space, even though we do have our own private spaces. When we’re all out here, it’s always a party. We’re always doing something crazy, like playing chess.”
Each of the Registry roomies have different reasons why they enjoy living together.
“My favorite thing about living with this particular group is our morning routine when it works,” McAndrews said. “We sometimes wake up early and eat breakfast and work on our homework before class.”
Brueher said that McAndrews denied his breakfast and homework offer that particular morning.Nonetheless, they remain friends.
“My favorite thing about living withthis group is, beyond the apartment stuff, there’s always someone to chat to,” Brueher said. “If you’re ever feeling like you’re bored, you can
Story by Abbey Norvell
The Good
The Bad
& The Best
Roomie Stories
WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY14
come out and chat.” Townsend agreed that the four
roommates have meaningful chats, and said they also get competitive with board, card and video games, like Mario.
Townsend said they all get along and rarely argue because they’re all level-headed and mature. They all attested to the fact that any confl ict is easily resolved because they live together.
The Registry roomies are obviously very funny, laid-back and enjoyable people. Amidst all the jokes and anecdotes, they mentioned how much they would miss rooming together next year.
First impression gone wrong
Editor’s note: The source of this bad roommate story requested to remain anonymous. She wants to keep her relationship with her old roommate as professional as possible.
Anonymous met her roommate at H4, an Honors retreat, prior to the start of freshman year. They became friends and decided to room together last minute.
“I regretted it from the moment I said yes, but it was just a year,” anonymous said. “I knew I was in for it when her mom indicated to me that I needed to mother her while she was
at school.”From the beginning, anonymous
could tell that her personality clashed with her roommate’s. She expressed the stress that her roommate would force on her.
“She didn’t know how to handle being away from her family even as a sophomore and just kept defl ecting her anxiety onto me,” anonymous said.
Her roommate would have panic attacks about procrastinating on assignments and release that panic as anger onto anonymous.
“I’d say I’m pretty good at time management, and she would literally get mad that I had free time to the
point of yelling her frustrationsand having regular panic attacks,” anonymous said. “I didn’t have much sympathy for her because she wasconstantly putting off studying until the last minute.”
The situation between anonymous and her roommate progressively got worse. They continued to clash, and her roommate continued to regularly break into a frenzy.
“She constantly wanted peopleto pity her and take care of all her problems and the breaking point was when I stopped coddling her,” anonymous said. “I experienced the most anxiety I had ever felt in my life — imagine not feeling welcome or safe in a small space that serves as your kitchen, study, living room and bedroom, as well as sharing it withanother person.”
Anonymous was typically a relaxed person, so this newfound anxiety was unnerving.
Anonymous talked about how annoyed and rude her roommate would become if anonymous would have friends over in their room. She said her roommate acted that way on multiple occasions, so she tried to confront her, but her roommate would not face the issue.
“The fi nal straw was when shewouldn’t respect even my friends that would hangout with me,” anonymous said. “I spent most of my nights with my boyfriend who lives off campus. I fi nally told my mom what was happening and she was appalled. She came up the next weekend, and I signed a lease that Sunday.”
Anonymous made the decision to move out for her health and sanity. She is now in a great roommate situation.
“My new roommate now is awesome. She and I are very much alike, and I admire how hard of aworker she is,” she said.
Jacqulyn Celeslie and Caitlyn Smith met using the Schools App and became quick friends after move-in day. The app matched the two based on a
personality profi le and a quiz. (Photos by Phoebe Alcala)
HOUSING GUIDE 15
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Making the most of PFT
Nashville freshman Caitlyn Smith and Chicago freshman Jacqulyn Celeslie are roommates residing among the 26 fl oors of Pearce Ford Tower. The two matched on the Schools App after describing their personalities and taking a quiz, then Smith messaged Celeslie on Instagram to start a conversation about becoming roommates.
They explained the dynamic of living in PFT in terms of space.
“We don’t really have enough space to be messy,” Celeslie said.
If there is a pile of clothes left on the fl oor, then space becomes even more limited than before. Smith said the advantage to this reality is that they always keep their room clean and organized.
Smith and Celeslie said they have one of the most lively dorms in PFT. They decorate their door and room for every holiday.
“Everyone is obsessed with our room because we have carpet, a Wii, television, decorations and four fans,” Smith said.
That list contains many useful items, but the decorations are what
make their room feel like a home. In early February their room had
red and pink signs on the door with XOXO balloons, a colorful heart blanket and a “Happy Valentine’s Day” pillow on the inside. When they rotate these decorations out, St. Patrick’s Day decorations will be set up.
“What I love about living with her is that we’re besties,” Smith said. “That makes it easier because we can just hang out.”
“You hear those stories about roommates that hate each other, and they hate being in their rooms,”
Celeslie said. “The only reason they’re in their room is to sleep. But for us, we spend the majority of our time here. We enjoy being together.”
They have already created traditions of eating at a Japanese restaurant every Monday or Tuesday, playing Mario Brothers and shopping for holiday decorations together.
Smith and Celeslie are living proof that the Schools App can work. WKU and the Schools App brought two people together that never would have met otherwise. They are now best friends and quite literally fi nish each other’s sentences.
Drawing from family tradition, Smith and Celeslie like to
decorate their room for each holiday.
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WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
1
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18
By Sydney Jones
A dorm room can sometimes feel like a prison. The gray walls, blinds that don’t always work and lack of space can make you feel like you’re suffocating. Lucky for you, there are countless ways to turn that cell into a palace, without going way over your budget.
The best way to brighten up any room, no matter how dull, is to literally brighten it up — with fairy lights! These lights come strung together and are
just delicate enough to make you believe that your room has actually been inhabited by the tiny flying creatures. They can be strung with tiny, clear Command Hooks; you can get a pack of 40 hooks for $5.59 at Target. T.J. Maxx has six-foot strings of gold, silver, bronze or purple fairy lights for $7.99.
In total, this easy and quick way to make your room a little happier will cost you $13.58.
Another great way to make your dorm feel a little more like home is to hang pictures. One of the cheapest ways to do this is using yarn
and clothespins, as well as those trusty Command Hooks. If you don’t have any pictures to hang yet, do not fear! FreePrints is a photo app that allows you to print 85 pictures a month and sends them directly to your dorm, and all you pay is $1.99 for shipping!
Once you have your pictures, space out two Command Hooks on
the wall. Then cut your yarn so it is long enough to connect to the Command Hooks and tie each end of yarn to each hook. Michaels sells 10 yards of acrylic yarn in 14 different colors, each for $1.09.
Finally, you can use clothespins (Meijer sells them in packs of 50 for $1.79) to hang those pictures, making your wall feel a little less gray and a little more like home.
To make this project even more successful, you’ll have only spent $6.07 by the end.
The next option isn’t one you can make unless you want to learn how to use a loom: It’s a colorful blanket! This will add a pop of color to your room
and brighten the entire space in just one step, and it’s a cozy addition, too.
Target sells fuzzy throw blankets in several colors for $14.99, but if you’re willing to wait a few days, Amazon has a myriad of throw blankets in countless colors, starting at $8.97. You’ll feel warm inside when you see
this new, colorful addition to your dorm, and even warmer when you cuddle up with it!
You can’t scroll through Pinterest without seeing mason jars and ways to DIY with them. Well, you can’t read this list without that either! This
next trick to brighten up your dorm calls for one or two mason jars of standard size, acrylic paint — in a color of your choice — and a Bob Ross-positive
Dorm Decor: Five ways to brighten your
room on a college budget
Louisville freshman Julia Fry decorated her Gilbert Hall room on a budget by buying small items such as a tapestry, fairy lights and a colorful blanket.
(Photos by Hayley Watson)
HOUSING GUIDE 19
5
attitude. Target sells mason jars for $1.97 apiece, but if you are looking to go Pinterest-crazy on some projects, Target also sells them in bulk packs of 12 for $8-12, depending on the size.
Once you have your jar, use an acrylic paint to cover the inside. Michaels sells paint for 70 cents per two-ounce bottle and paint brushes in packs of fi ve for $2.20.
After the paint has dried, use your imagination! You can use this colorful jar to hold anything from makeup brushes to pens and pencils.
If it’s strictly decoration you’re after, you can purchase fake fl owers from Michaels in a pack of two for $1.
This project should cost you between $4.87 and $20.67, depending on how many mason jars you want!
My fi fth and fi nal suggestion to turn your dorm into your favorite place on campus is a wall tapestry! It doesn’t have to be a mandala
pattern that costs you an arm and a leg, but it can sure cover up some of that empty space on the wall. Amazon sells these hanging masterpieces from $12.99 to $19.99, and the pattern possibilities are endless.
If you don’t like patterns or you think a tapestry would ruin your vibe, look for a team fl ag instead. Support your favorite team, especially if it’s the Hilltoppers, and brighten up your wall space all in one step! Amazon sells fl ags from $5.99 to $29.95, depending on what you’re
looking for.Once you have your tapestry
or fl ag, you can hang it up using Command Hooks, or you can hang it on string, like the photos in Project 2.
The cost of this brand new look for your room will cost you between $11.98 and $39.62.
If you haven’t been inspired to brighten by now, then a minute or two on Pinterest should do the trick! There’s no telling the happiness your dorm room will bring you when you show it a little love.
Louisville freshman Julia Fry believes it is
important to have a cozy space to return
to every day to decompress. Fry has made
many of the decorations in her dorm room in
Gilbert Hall including her lamp shade, closet
curtain, wall-decor and many little plant pots.
“I did a large National Park puzzle, glued it
together and attached it to the wall over my
desk,” Fry said. “Although the dorm life may
seem dreadful, putting up some string lights,
a colorful tapestry, personalized posters and
paintings instantly give such a small room a
more homey feel.”
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HOUSING GUIDE 21What kind of roommate are you?
I spend in my bedroom.1.
A. All my time
B. Most of my time
C. Some of my time
D. None of my time
It’s your 21st birthday. What are you doing?2.
A. Having a nice drink by myself
B. Having some friends and family over
C. Hitting the town
D. Going out for the whole weekend
On the weekend, I’m usually out
until 3.
A. 10 p.m. - 12 a.m.
B. 1 a.m. - 2 a.m.
C. 3 a.m. - 4 a.m.
D. I don’t come home.
House fridge rules:4.
A. If it’s not mine I don’t touch it.
B. After 3 days anything is fair game.
C. What house fridge? I have my own mini-fridge in my room.
D. I take what I want.
Roommates are going to bed: I
should 5.A. Go to my own room and do what I’m doing quietly.
B.Keep things at a respectable volume wherever I am.
C. Just try to be quiet by midnight.
D. Who cares? They can wear headphones.
It’s finals week:6.
A. Let’s all go study on our own.
B. Let’s help each other study.
C. Let me bother you because I don’t want to work.
D. I’m throwing a party!
How do you get up in the morning?7.
A. I’m going for a run!
B. I wake up early with a cup of coffee.
C. I guess I’ll roll out of bed.
D. I’m skipping class.
AYou are likely quiet and content with your own company. You are likely a very considerate roommate who would inconvenience yourself before your roomies.
BYou probably are reasonably social, but enjoy the company of one or two close friends. You are a reasonable, easy to be around roommate, not inconsiderate or overbearing.
MOSTLY
CYou’re social, but probably not overly so. You value a good time but aren’t “on” all the time. You are probably energetic and a hassle when “on”, but with the right people, your place is always the place to be.
DYou are a social machine. Your roomates probably have a hard time keeping up. You need to fi nd the right kind of roomates, or consider tidying things up a bit!
Quiz by Sam Chumbley
YOUR RESULTS
WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY22
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defi nes affordable housing as spending no more than 30 percent of your income on rent and utilities.
To determine what you can afford, calculate your total income for the school year by estimating pay from any jobs, residual money from loans and scholarships and any other income you might have. Divide your total income by the number of months you’ll be renting, then divide that by three to estimate the max you should spend on monthly rent.
With the variety of apartments and rental houses in Bowling Green, choosing your fi rst place to live off-campus can be intimidating. From landlords with a single apartment for rent to complexes with hundreds of openings, there are a lot of options. Your housing hunt will be successful if you follow a plan to evaluate those options.
These tips were adapted from the Barren River Area Renters’ Handbook produced by the Homeless and Housing Coalition of South Central Kentucky. Find more tips and the full handbook at www.wkuapartments.com.
Don’t be duped:
Check the place out2.
Before signing a lease, always look at the place in person to be sure it is in good shape, safe and livable. Look for holes and stains on the walls, ceilings and fl oors, and make sure the plumbing and lights work correctly.
If you fi nd problems, think about renting somewhere else. A landlord who tries to rent a place before fi xing any issues may be a sign of bad things to come.
Once you’re moving in, document any pre-existing damages you come across. Take pictures of anything you fi nd, and compile them in a list signed by you and your landlord. If you don’t document damages, you may be charged for them when moving out.
1. Determine what you can afford
Under Kentucky law, the lease determines your rights. The landlord will write the lease to protect his or her own rights and money, so you should make sure you’re protected too. If the lease doesn’t include clauses to protect your rights, write them in, and ask the landlord to agree to any changes in writing. If the landlord won’t accept changes, that could be another bad sign.
3. Read the lease
Make note of when your rent is due, and pay it on time each month to avoid any late fees. When maintenance issues arise, alert your landlord immediately. Being a good tenant will benefi t you in the long run as properties you want to rent from in the future may contact your previous landlords for a reference check.
5. Be a responsible tenantDocument damages4.
Tips for living off campus
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