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2 • thegazette • Friday, November 21, 2014

CROSSWORD By Eugene Sheffer

The Cryptoquip is a substitution cipher in which one letter stands for another. If you think that X equals O, it will equal O throughout the puzzle. Single letters, short words and words using an apostrophe give you clues to locating vowels. Solution is by trial and error.© 2002 by Kings Features Syndicate, Inc.

Table of Contents4 - Gazette Tested: Neighbourhoods to live in London

5 - Decorating your room/Choosing furniture

6 - Cheap student meals/Cleaning your place

8 - Housing’s innovative campaign/H2H: on vs off-campus

9 - Essentials for your house/Knowing your rights

10 - Living with your SO/Living with pets

11 - Living at home/Where to live in London/Partying bylaws

Preventing student break-ins

Brent HolmesDEPUTY EDITOR@BrentAtGazette

With Christmas just around the corner, London Police Service are readying for increased reports of break-ins that regularly occur in student neighbourhoods.

“When the opportunity is there, criminals will take advantage of it,” Constable Ken Steeves, media rela-tions for the LPS, said.

In October, the University Students’ Council distributed materi-als via social media reminding stu-dents to “Lock your fucking doors” to help prevent break-ins.

USC president Matt Helfand offered tips on preventing break-ins, noting, “The first one, the most sim-ple one, is lock your fucking doors.”

“We say that with the utmost seriousness because often students who are living in houses that have a lot of different people don’t neces-sarily think twice when they hear somebody walk in.”

With many students leaving to go home for Christmas, Steeves noted that people should take precautions.

“Criminals don’t want to get caught so if you give the illusion that somebody is home, there’s a good chance that they might move onto another residence,” Steeves said.

Helfand noted criminals are looking for specific kinds of houses to break into — places that are not well-lit, have unshovelled pathways or are near walk paths between houses that can provide escape routes are often targeted.

He also encouraged students to avoid making their homes look like a student residence.

“Having flags in the windows, having beer and alcohol bottles in the windows are a clear identifier that it is a student house,” he said.

Steeves noted that burglars are most interested in student houses because of electronics.

“Take as many valuables as you can home with you,” Helfand said. Computers, cell phones, televisions and video game consoles are all popular items for criminals to steal.

After the Christmas break, Helfand and Steeves recommend breaking down boxes of large gifts rather than putting them on the curb.

“Break down the box and put it all away into a bag because [with]a brand new TV box out there — they’re going to know that there’s a brand new TV in there,” Helfand said.

Helfand insists that the com-munity needs to do their part in prevention.

“As a community we can all make efforts to try and prevent this sort of thing.”

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thegazette • Friday, November 21, 2014 • 3


Near the Gates

Pros:There’s nothing quite like sharing a beer — or a few — with your best friends-turned-roommates on the lawn of your first home. This area is the hub of activity every Homecoming and St. Patrick’s Day.

This neighbourhood sees houses full of friends sharing a family home. It also boasts a short walk to campus.

It can contend with downtown for the most fun neighbourhood and it’s almost all students. You’ll be able to bond with your neighbours much like you did in first year. Floor parties will morph into house parties.

Another major perk is the Gibbons Park trail. It boasts gor-geous views in the spring, summer and fall. Running along the river feels tremendous after being cooped up in residence all year.Cons:They don’t affectionately refer to this place as the “student ghetto” for nothing. Homes are typically bungalows designed for single fam-ilies. They aren’t equipped to handle a group of six-plus students. Neglect by landlords and years of destructive tenants often leave the dwellings themselves in disrepair.

Another issue is transportation. Come the first snowfall, you’ll want to take the bus. The problem is that the Richmond Gates area is so far North that the 6 Richmond buses are already full of downtown students.

Getting groceries is also a trek. The Masonville Loblaws, Adelaide Metro and Richmond Valu-mart are all a 15–30 minute commutes by bus.

• Megan Devlin

West of Campus, off Sarnia Road

Pros:West of campus lies probably the most ideal place to live for the stu-dious student. The streets off Sarnia Road are nicer neighbourhoods with a variety of students, young families and elderly living in the area.

The community is safer — fewer students mean less risk of burglaries and less noisy, out-of-control house parties. Forget traditional student areas — live here and you’re on the straight-and-narrow to all A grades.

Sarnia Road also has three bus routes that run toward to campus — the 9, 10 and 31 — making get-ting to-and-from campus incredibly easy.Cons:For those students looking to party, west of campus will not suit your needs. Getting downtown requires hopping on the 9 or making the hour-long walk downtown. If the 6/9C isn’t running, you’d better be cool with paying through the nose for a cab. Hope your friend is cool with you crashing on their couch or you’ll have to become the ultim-ate badass by walking home in a drunken stupor.

Getting anywhere aside from usual student hangouts is a hassle.

Also, the region is very hilly. Bikers: be prepared to struggle up steep hills. Pedestrians: be prepared to slide down Castlegrove when there’s ice on the sidewalks.

• Brent Holmes

Richmond Row

Pros:Budweiser Gardens. Victoria Park. Jim Bob’s. Downtown London is a lush orchard of amusements, and when students reside by Richmond Row, all those fruits are at their finger-tips. Although the Central Library at Citi Plaza is a great place to study, anyone smart enough to read a book knows that the whole point of living DT is to facilitate partying. Cabs are expensive, buses are inconvenient, but stumbling out the front door of a central apartment and stroll-ing two minutes to the Ceeps is, at worst, a manageable inconvenience for the genuinely lazy, and, at best, a drunken pleasure. The Forest City has a distinctive pulse that becomes the soundtrack to your life when you live in the heart of town.Cons:“Ain’t no love in the heart of the city” – Jay Z. Mr. Z was smart enough to figure out how to marry Beyoncé, so if he believes living downtown is problematic he must have a point. Until scientists figure out how to grow money trees, living by Richmond Row will be too expen-sive for many students. Taking a bus to class everyday is a pain and polishing off an essay to the tunes of roommates playing beer pong is a true test of character. There’s also the annoyance of having to constantly beat back friends and wannabes set on taking advantage of your central location to set up a pre-drink. Downtown is a tempting mistress but she’ll snatch your wallet and break your heart.

• Conrad Floryan

Oxford & Wharncliffe

Pros:While I don’t live at Wharncliffe and Oxford, I have to acknowledge that it’s an awesome place to live.

Located within walking dis-tance of not just a McDonalds, but a Starbucks as well, make this locale immediately appealing. If fast food isn’t your thing, there’s also a Metro close by to stock up on groceries.

If you’re taking the bus then you’re in luck. The 2 Dundas runs right through this neighbourhood every five minutes, ensuring stu-dents are easily connected with campus and downtown. Unlike the 6 Richmond, this route comes very frequently and provides an easy link to major parts of the city for students.Cons:The area is definitely a comprom-ise in a sense. There likely won’t be many things that will make you say, “wow!” about the neighbourhood. Rather, Oxford and Wharncliffe satisfies enough categories well.

For example, the main gates area is closest to campus. If you want to be near Richmond Row then you live downtown. While Wharncliffe and Oxford is a short bus ride away to both, it’s at least a 20-minute walk.

Also, the houses near this area probably won’t be beautiful like the ones you could expect on Central Avenue. Nor will they be brand new like those that could be found in the Masonville area.

Furthermore, there are a high mumber of break-ins in this area. So lock your doors!

• Bradley Metlin

Around Masonville

Pros:Restaurants, theatre, gym, grocery stores, banks, the mall and pretty much everything you need is at walking distance if you live around Masonville.

You wouldn’t have to worry about making treks for groceries like your friends — there is a Loblaws right across from the mall.

The Masonville bus stop con-nects you to pretty much the whole city and the buses are very frequent.

If you don’t prefer the crowded campus Rec Center for your workout, there is a less busy 24-hour Goodlife Fitness at a three-minute walk from Masonville. To unwind on the week-ends, there is a SilverCity and plenty of restaurants very close by.Cons:If you like living among lots of fellow students, you’ll be disappointed if you choose to rent a place around Masonville.

If you’re on campus late, the buses heading for the mall are much less frequent than the ones heading to other surrounding places around the university. Masonville is also def-initely not a daily walking distance from campus, especially in winter.

On average, the housing around Masonville is pricier than in other places that are also much closer to campus.

The downtown and its bars are much further away from Masonville. If you plan on getting drunk and being out til late, the taxi ride on your way back will not be cheap.

• Hamza Tariq

Students looking for a place to live for the first time have a lot to consider when they are deciding to sign a lease. Being close to friends, cost or safety may all be concerns students have while arranging showings with landlords. But finding a place to live is all about location, location, location.

London has a number of different neighbourhoods surrounding Western where students might choose to find a basement unit, apartment or house, all with their own pros and cons.

Do you elect to live among your peers in the student ghetto? Find a scenic location west of campus? Make your home in the heart of the city on Richmond Row? Or ven-ture north of campus to the Masonville area?

Wherever you choose, it will influence everything from how much money you spend on rent and transportation, the bus routes you take — and the number of buses that drive past you — or even determine how you spend your nights out — no pressure.

This week, Gazette Tested raises the roof, reviewing popular neighbourhoods for student housing in London.

Gazette Tested: The neighbourhoods of London


Dwelling on dynamic decorating decisions

Conrad FloryanARTS AND LIFE EDITOR

@ConradAtGazette

A little interior decorating can make the difference between a delightful dwelling and a shithole. Students have little free time to spare and beautifying a living space seems daunting but there are some helpful guidelines to follow.

Julie McIntyre, coordinator of interior decorating at Fanshawe College, stresses that functionality should be a primary consideration when designing a student living space.

“Usually students have a lot of belongings in a small space so any-thing that has storage built in, whether it’s an ottoman that has storage inside it or drawers under the bed would def-initely work,” McIntyre said.

She also recommends students have fun with decorating because they will most likely only be living in their dwelling for a relatively short time so they should relish the oppor-tunity to express themselves.

While many students relish in architecting a unique personal image encompassing everything from fashion to having a cool Facebook profile, when it comes to interior decorating often budget-ary restrictions limit creative possibilities.

“Students and anyone really needs to be on a budget when decorating,” McIntyre commented. “Sometimes you can’t buy exactly what you want.”

McIntyre recommends a do-it-yourself approach. Students could frame an interesting piece of wallpaper or fabric. They could have a painting party with splatter paint and go nuts on some inexpen-sive canvases from the dollar store. Budget-friendly retailers like Ikea are a great place to look for materials. Instead of splurging on a large area rug, Westerners could double-tape together several smaller rugs from

Ikea in a fun and unusual pattern.The Internet hosts a slew of

sites with helpful decorating ideas. McIntyre particularly recommends Pinterest and Houzz.

“Look at what your friends have done,” McIntyre suggested. “If you see something in a restaurant that you think is really interesting and unusual, try to make it yourself.”

Repurposing old furniture from family members or up scaling items from garage sales results in original furnishings that won’t break the bank.

Before planning the design of their bedroom, students need to reflect on spatial considerations. What works for a small room won’t necessarily be suitable for a larger space.

“The size affects choices in terms of colour and pattern,” explained McIntyre.

She recommends sticking to lighter and more neutral hues with splashes of bold colour for smaller bedrooms. Fewer patterns and subtler design also compliments a small space, while the opposite is true for larger bedrooms.

While students have full creative control of their bedroom, it’s more challenging decorating common areas while avoiding arguments between residents of varying tastes. Still, all residents pay rent so they shouldn’t be afraid to stand up for their preferences.

“I think everyone’s personality should be reflected in the space they live in,” McIntyre.

Since it’s difficult to develop a cohesive design for common areas that pleases all dwellers, it’s best to settle on an eclectic mix. It’s key to be open-minded and willing to be inventive.

“There’s lots of great ideas out there and if you’re not afraid of a little hard work and getting your hands dirty you can really create a unique interior for yourself,” McIntyre concluded.

Finding your furnitureJennafer FreemanARTS & LIFE EDITOR

@JennaAtGazette

Finding an apartment or a house is a significant part of figuring out where to live, but furnishing can be another tricky job. Luckily there are plenty of places to find furniture for low prices and sometimes without any cost at all.

Western’s Off-Campus Housing Services website offers a Kijiji-like service specifically for Western students that can provide thrifty options for students.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you’re likely only going to be living in your new house for a few years. Students may also move around throughout their four years at Western, so finding furniture that’s moved easily is a smart idea.

Even though you’re broke, you don’t have to look like it. Resources like Pinterest and Tumblr can help you get some DIY inspiration to spice up your gently used furniture.

It’s a good idea to start by check-ing with family and friends to see what extra furniture they might have lying around. Often, parents have old couches sitting in their basement that never get used. If this is the case, they might be willing to put them to better by use by donating them to you and your roommates. Aunts and uncles can also be helpful. If you have some older cousins, chances are they’ve ditched their retired furniture at their parents’ house — just waiting to be picked up by you.

If you don’t have any luck with your relatives, it’s time to start look-ing for furniture on the side of the road. This may sound a little gross

and kind of desperate but it’s not nearly as bad as you think. Every year at the beginning of May, stu-dents haul unwanted furniture to the edge of the curb. A lot of the time it’s pretty nice stuff that’s still in good shape. Desks, tables and chairs are some of the best things that you’ll find. Unlike couches that may be stained or dirty, these items are easy to fix up and personalize with a quick coat of paint.

Finally, if you can’t find what you want for free, you can always try looking in thrift stores. Although it may take a few visits to find what you’re looking for, heading to stores like Talize and Value Village can often result in some great finds. Discounted items can also be found at different warehouse-type stores like the Sears Outlet or Liquidation World.

Kelly Samuel • GAZETTE


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To dine or not to dine? $15 says it all

Amy O’KrukNEWS EDITOR@AmyAtGazette

Whether you’re grabbing a bite on the run or cooking at home, many students will agree that the cost of food accounts for a big chunk of their monthly expenses. With fast food’s value meals, convenience and tasty menu options, some young people might argue that students are bet-ter off eating cheaply on-the-go than facing pricey grocery bills.

So which will get you further — a trip to a burger joint or a stop at the grocery store? I decided to test it out and spent $15 at each establish-ment. Here are the results:

The grocery store, by far, gives you more bang for your buck. Besides quantity, if you choose a var-iety of food groups you’ll be getting more vitamins and minerals and a substantial reduction in salt and fat.

While buying fresh produce can seem exorbitantly expensive in comparison to grabbing a bagel from Tim’s, savvy shoppers will use a couple of tips and tricks to keep their grocery tabs under control. I hit Value-mart on the lookout for sales, generic products and whole foods.

Buy on sale: While this advice

may seem like common sense, ditch the grocery list. Base your weekly menu not on a list, but what’s on special. Instead of picking up chicken week after week, take a look around. At Value-mart, lean turkey sausage was 30 per cent off, a healthy way to grab some protein without breaking the bank.

Buy generic: Admittedly, some generic versions of food products can taste a little wonky. Stick to staples, however, and most of the time shoppers can’t tell the difference. Pick up flour, sugar, salt and even cake mix, and most often you’ll only pay 75 per cent of the cost of their trademarked counterparts.

Buy fewer pre-packaged foods: Not only will you avoid preservatives and unnecessary wrappings; with a little elbow grease you’ll get more chow for your cash. Take vegetables for example. The carrots I bought were $1.99 for about seven whole carrots. Bagged carrots of similar quantities were on the self for $3.99 — double the expense.

So while a fast food burger may seem cheap and easy at the time, in the long run it’s better to make it yourself. Think ahead and clock in at the grocery store, your future bank account and body will thank you.

Dirty house? Time to get your clean on

Drishti KatariaGAZETTE STAFF

@uwogazette

You know that amazing feeling of going to sleep knowing your home is completely clean? If yes, then congratulations, you’ve achieved Maslow’s highly coveted state of self-actualization. If not, don’t worry — you’re only a mere muggle.

Along with increased independ-ence, living off-campus brings with it house cleaning responsibilities. To add on, if you’re living with unco-operative roommates that dare to surpass even your legendary slob status, it doesn’t get better.

The first step to a cleaner place is to stop watching Hoarders. It just brings to the unproductive realiza-tion that your space has a long ways to go before it’s actually dirty.

If you are living with other people, it would be most effective to assign specific house-cleaning dut-ies to all of your roommates. Pick a day on the weekend when all of you work together to clean and tidy your shared living space. You should also assign weekday duties, such as tak-ing out the garbage and recycling.

Make it a habit of cleaning up as you go. Don’t put it down, put it

away. Doing the dishes while you’re cooking, putting away your clothes as soon as you change or tidying up your bathroom as your bath is running are all little things that can make a big difference. If not, take at least 15 minutes a day to tidy your home to prevent it from looking as if Godzilla just waltz through.

Respect your kitchen. Never go to bed with a dirty kitchen, it’s like an angry girlfriend and it can quickly become an unmanageable mess. Clean out your sink and wipe down the counters after dinner every night.

Designate an entry area to your house/apartment/room to act as a “landing strip” for when you enter your home where you can put away your shoes, coat, purse and keys. This will avoid that infamous impromptu game of hide and seek with your keys or wallet when you really need to rush out the door.

Create a weekly cleaning sched-ule for more daunting tasks such as deep cleaning the bathroom, doing the laundry and mopping/vacuum-ing. Try and be more disciplined with this schedule than you are with your precious study schedule and you won’t feel ashamed inviting your parents.

The Grocery Store (Valu-mart) Fast Food Restaurant (Wendy’s)

Six large eggs ($2.09) Junior bacon cheeseburger ($2.19)

A package of rice ($0.99) Junior bacon cheeseburger ($2.19)

A package of dry spaghetti ($0.99) Junior bacon cheeseburger ($2.19)

Four whole wheat pitas ($1.49) Crispy spicy chicken wrap ($2.19)

Lean turkey sausage ($4.19) Small fries ($1.89)

Two heads of broccoli ($2.49) Small fries ($1.89)

A bunch of carrots ($1.99) 20 oz soft drink (1.79)

Six bananas ($1.63)

Total with tax: $15.48 Total with tax: $16.19

Kelly Samuels • GAZETTE

SUPERSIZE ME? Fifteen dollars was spent at Wendy’s (top) and Value-mart (bottom) in a test to see where shoppers get more bang for their buck. The grocery store yielded better quantity and quality; students on a budget are advised to hit the supermarket.

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3 UWO’s #1 rated off campus housing3 Best locations around campus3 Built with energy efficient technology

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London Property Corp., better known as “the Red Bricks”, has been providing premium off campus student housing to Western students for over 20 years. With the best locations for university students ranging from right at the gates, down-town, Masonville area, and everywhere in between, we are well-suited to meet all of your needs. Our various apartments and townhouses are famous for having spacious bedrooms with large double-door closets as well as spacious common living areas and modern style kitchens and bathrooms.

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We are happy to announce that this year we will be having a draw to win your rent FREE for the 2015/2016 year. Any student that signs a lease with London Property Corp. can then go to our website www.londonprop.com



thegazetteVolume 108, Issue 44www.westerngazette.ca

Contact:www.westerngazette.caUniversity Community Centre Rm. 263The University of Western OntarioLondon, ON, CANADAN6A 3K7Editorial Offices: (519) 661-3580Advertising Dept.: (519) 661-3579

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News Amy O’Kruk Hamza Tariq Katie Lear Olivia Zollino

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UWO Housing ads attract upper-years

Kevin HurrenNEWS EDITOR-AT-LARGE

@KevinAtGazette

Reminiscing about first year, many would identify residences as play-ing an integral part in shaping their freshman experience.

That experience, however, doesn’t have to be limited to first year, at least according to a new campaign from Western’s Housing and Ancillary Services. The cam-paign, which features minimalistic ads, is aimed towards highlighting the benefits residences have to offer upper-year students.

Appearing in The Gazette for the past few weeks, these ads are part of a larger push towards promoting upper-year residency.

Peggy Wakabayashi, director of Housing and Ancillary Services, explained this movement is a result of increased residence spaces.

“We’ve had a residence guar-antee for all first-year students for many years, so when we’ve had more incoming students we had to keep the demand for upper year students reduced,” she said.

But with the completion of Ontario Hall and the reopening of a renovated Delaware Hall next fall, the new school year will yield 5,300 available spaces. This means that, based on current figures of enroll-ment and residency, there are over 1,300 on campus options for upper-year students.

To increase interest in continuing residence beyond first year, the cam-paign uses humour, social media and building-specific taglines. An ad for Saugeen-Maitland Hall, for instance, reads, “1,250 people. One’s bound to be your soulmate #itsamatch.” Another for Essex Hall says, “3 minute walk from the gym. Still has a gym in it #swole.”

This unique approach was inspired by feedback solicited from students currently living in residence. Focus groups were

conducted by Housing to uncover what students wanted to see in a residence campaign.

“What the students told us in the focus groups was that they wanted to see less purple, less cor-porate, something that was funny and maybe something that spoke more specifically about the build-ing rather than general residences,” Wakabayashi said.

From there, the Housing and Ancillary Services marketing team created taglines and hashtags for each of the residences, also prompt-ing students to tweet their own ideas once the campaign got underway.

Lina Wang, director of marketing and communications for Housing, hopes to keep this momentum going.

“From a marketing perspective, we’ll leverage this type of com-munication by continuing to speak the same type of language that the students are familiar with,” Wang, who worked with a group of part-time students and residence staff to create the ads, said.

But clever hashtags aren’t the only way Housing hopes to entice upper-year students. By sending in building choices before December 18, students will automatically receive a $200 food credit.

Participants, Wang explained, will also be able to choose not only a residence, but also the specific room in which they’d like to live.

Though no firm deadline for upper-year residency is in place, both Wang and Wakabayashi hope students take advantage of these early-bird incentives – warning that waiting longer may limit some of the choice.

Wakabayashi believes that the benefits of living in residence go far beyond incentives — citing meal plans, regular cleaning and leadership opportunities as major positives regardless of year.

“The thing about Western, it’s a really good landlord,” she concludes.

Bradley MetlinSPORTS EDITOR@BradAtGazette

For most first-year students, this time of year makes an interesting transition. There’s an implicit notice buzzing throughout social circles — start looking for off-campus housing because you won’t be living in residence again.

As someone who is now spending a third year in residence, this pressure never seemed to pierce my consciousness. It always made a lot of sense to stay on campus. The location can’t be beat. As someone who had to commute for over an hour to get to high school, I was not too keen to spend another four years on public transportation. At Saugeen-Maitland Hall for example, I have timed the walk to the University Community Centre: It’s about four minutes on a good day.

I have to address the elephant in the room before I go any further — price. I’m well aware that the cost of living as an upper-year in residence is expensive. If you want a meal plan you’re lo oking at around $11–13,000 and without a meal plan, it’s around $8,000.

While this seems expensive, to live downtown in a one-bedroom apartment, Western’s Off-Campus Housing Services pegs the average price of rent at $1,038 a month, inclusive. Living in a house with three other people cuts that average in half.

Pricing can prevent some from deciding to live in residence again but I believe there are many positives that outweigh the cost.

Firstly, there are a ton of leadership opportunities that allow you to live in residence again. Sophing, Resident’s Council and residence staffing are all great ways for professional and personal growth. As someone who has experienced all three, I can say that they’re not just resume padding, but rather, experiences that helped me grow as a person.

Academically, there are also benefits to living in resi-dence. There are heaps of studies (Bliming & Alshuler, 1996; Inkelas, 1999; Welty, 1976 — take your pick) that show students who live on-campus do better than their peers off-campus — some research even suggests there’s a difference of 10 per cent!

Similar research also suggests similar outcomes when it comes to the social benefits of living on-campus. Usually, students in residence report that they enjoyed their experience for the year in higher numbers than those off-campus.

Beyond all of these more quantifiable, concrete posi-tives, there are also the small benefits. With a meal plan, you don’t have to go to the grocery store every week. Nor do you have to prepare your meals and then wash dishes. Forgot that assignment that was due today? No problem! Just take a five-minute walk.

With everything so far, the cost has to be weighed against the things you get in return. Is the personal growth worth the higher price? Are the social benefits worth the added costs? Is my academic success worth much money?

I believe the answer is a resounding yes. I’m always asked, “But don’t you want to live in a house?” I’ll have the rest of my life for that, but only have a small window of time to experience residence life. Why not make the most of that time?

Robert NanniSPORTS EDITOR

@robertnanni

As we near the end of first term, many students are starting to consider where to live next year. As adver-tisements for residence staff, sophing and off-campus housing flood campus, there are many different routes to contemplate.

Living on campus certainly has its perks, I can’t deny that. While I certainly have moments of nostalgia on my daily bus ride past Ontario Hall, I can’t help but realize how coddled living in residence made me feel.

From cooking your food to taking out your garbage, residence does it all. Toilet clogged? Call maintenance. Burnt out light bulb? Call maintenance.

There comes a high degree of responsibility and independence with living on your own. Putting out my garbage and making my first pot of pasta were probably the most adult I’ve ever felt in my life. While seemingly small and insignificant, these are real life skills that you’ll need to apply after you leave residence.

Although dealing with a landlord can be a problem-atic encounter for students in off-campus housing, it also provides crucial experience in communication and dealing with others – two things that many people could surely improve on.

While you won’t gain any of these much-needed skills in residence, you will gain an extra 15 minutes of sleep before class as you’re already on campus. Undoubtedly a pro for living in residence, but hardly the selling point. Scheduling my day around bus times has certainly con-tributed to my ability to manage my time, as I have had to plan my trips accordingly.

If anything, the main draw that being a residence advisor or residence soph provides is the leadership role. You unfortunately can’t put “lived in my own house” on a resume, but a residence role would definitely look pretty impressive. However, it comes at a cost.

The 2014–15 residence room rates range from $6,180 to $8,500, depending on which residence you live in and your number of roommates – and that’s for an eight month period! At best, you’re looking at $772.50 per month, which is much higher than the $500–$550 approximated from the Western Off-Campus Housing Service website. While being a residence advisor does subsidize this cost through a salary, it hardly covers the full ride.

And, whether you’re an RA, a soph or just a student, you will be subject to the great joys of guest registration and fire alarm tests. Along with your private affairs being made public, your general residence presence is highly monitored.

While Western hardly encourages alcohol consump-tion, it is a large part of student life but you can consider it very limited in residence. The only exception to alco-hol restrictions are rooms in London Hall, which rank cost the most at a whopping $8,500 per room.

Despite the unquestionable perks associated with residence life, it definitely has some missing qualities that can only be attained off campus. The independence and truly adult notion of living without the support of residence staff has no equal – go sign that lease and start being your own person.

HEAD TO HEAD:On Campus or Off Campus?

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Essential things for your new placeSuhaib Al-AzemGAZETTE STAFF

@uwogazette

Life loves throwing curve balls and we try to be as prepared for them as we can. A roommate leaves their rice on the stove too long, your razor blade cuts a bit too deep when shaving, or just pulling the curtain hanger down from the wall (by acci-dent!) — when life’s mishaps start to catch up with you, there are certain key items that you need to have on hand.

The first item that needs to be within arm’s reach is a fire extin-guisher, especially in the kitchen. It doesn’t matter how ‘fireproof’ you are, there is still a chance that some-thing will go terribly wrong. Being unprepared for a disastrous fire can leave you penniless and homeless if things spiral out of control. So this is

why the small purchase is required. And as a bonus, the large bulky tin can double as a defensive weapon if buying a fire extinguisher left you too poor to buy a lock for your front door.

Although not as important as your fire extinguisher, make sure to save a place in your cupboard for a first-aid kit. Living by yourself for the first time means doing things that you might have never done before, especially without adult supervision. This can be anything from cooking your own meals to sewing ripped jeans. When the inevitable prick of the finger occurs, be sure to have that Band-Aid and Polysporin ready to prevent any unnecessary infections.

The next must-have item is a screwdriver. Of course, you could also spring for a standard toolbox to the same effect, if you have that kind of cash. If your home is rented, you have to make sure that the property doesn’t suffer any noticeable dam-age while under your watch. This sometimes means getting your own hands dirty and fixing the

damage yourself — provided it’s small enough that you don’t need to call your landlord. You not only save money this way, but you also gain a sense of pride when you accomplish something brand new. Which is why a screwdriver set is a required item for any household.

There’s no way around it: the longer you stay in your house, the more it starts to stink. This can be an embarrassment if you’re think-ing of bringing a friend or significant other over for the night. That is why any form of fragrance is needed in your home. There are many different types you could buy; Febreze, Bath and Body candles, or Green Earth incense sticks. Of course, if you live with roommates you have to be sure that any scents you bring home will be appreciated. But nonetheless, they’re a key item in a home-away-from-home set.

The last item you absolutely need is a clothes iron. Whether going out on a hot date or trying to look fabu-lous to rock that job interview, you’re going to want to look your best — and that means no wrinkles. Even

though it’s not life saving or as versa-tile as the other items, the iron is still essential for a complete set. You’d be surprised how often an iron comes in handy — when your roommates are desperately looking for an iron, be the real MVP and show them you’ve brought your A-game.

With this list under your belt, you can move into your new home without a care in the world, knowing that you’ll be ready for any curveball or road bump that life throws in your way.

Know yourtenant rightsFor first-time tenants, renting a house or apartment can be an easy transition if you know your rights and responsibilities.

One must first establish what law pertains to them. There are two laws that govern rental agreements — residential tenancy act (RTA) and contract law.

Contract law pertains to when the tenant shares a bathroom or a kitchen with their landlord, or shares the space with a member of the homeowner’s immediate family.

“The biggest difference is that under the RTA you have certain rights and responsibilities protected by law. Even if you sign a lease that is contrary to the law, the law would override the clause,” said Glenn Matthews, housing mediation officer for Western University and Fanshawe College.

This includes a variety of clauses, including commonly used penalties for paying rent late — landlords can-not charge late fees by law.

“If you’re not under the RTA but under contract law, you virtually have no rights,” Matthews said. “The landlord can dictate or do whatever they want.”

The RTA dictates that tenants are responsible for cleanliness, to repair damage they cause to the unit, are not allowed to alter locks, and refrain from harassing their landlord.

“A lot of students think that land-lords must clean the place, change the locks and shampoo the carpets or repaint the place,” Matthews said. However that is not the case. “We encourage to get it written into the lease if the landlord is willing to

offer that.”Landlords, however, are

instructed under the RTA to abide by several responsibilities. Among them include that it is their respons-ibility to repair essential services.

This would include heat, hydro, a stove and a fridge. Non-essential services, such as laundry, could be retracted for various reasons, such as if the washing machine breaks.

Landlords are also required to not interfere with tenant enjoyment under reasonable circumstances, or enter a unit without written notice.

Margaret Capes, review counsel at Community Legal Services said it is important for students to know their rights under the RTA.

“All students should become well versed in their rights so as to avoid being stuck in substandard tenancy situations.”

For students living in basement apartments, they should ensure that they have appropriate exits. In case of emergencies, the law requires that residents have a second way out.

Matthews said the biggest com-plaint tenants encounter with their landlord is that they promised main-tenance wise.

In order to avoid this, Matthews encouraged students to have every-thing written into the contract.

“Verbal is useless and non-en-forceable,” he said.

If you have questions or an issue about their rental situation, off-cam-pus housing offers free services to students, such as reviewing leases before they sign, or on-call advising throughout the academic year.

• Olivia Zollino

ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 It’s time for you take action, Aries. Your energy level is perfect for getting things done at home and at work. The faster you go, the more you can accomplish.

LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 You may get some excellent career news this week, Libra. It is just the type of information that you have been seeking and could provide the boost you need to make some changes.

TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 You could be prone to panic this week, Taurus. Settle down as best as you can and take a few deep breaths. Lean on friends if you need a little extra support.

SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Relationships with family and friends are thriving this week, Scorpio. You may have found your niche and all things fall into play. Enjoy this renewed sense of camaraderie.

GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 It’s been difficult keeping in touch with a friend who lives far away. Make an effort to reconnect and plan some time to get together and enjoy each other’s company.

SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, obstacles are cleared this week and you have an entirely new perspective on your love life. Put that information to use with a romantic date or by engaging in a couples’ activity.

CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, the value of your portfolio may increase considerably this week. Keep your eyes on your accounts and the market. Fortune awaits.

CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, money matters should be going well for you, so much so that you can make one of those big-ticket purchases without much hesitation. Enjoy the results.

LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, communication needs to be open between you and someone you love to avoid conflict. Set aside some time when the two of you can talk this week.

AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Relationships of all kinds are strengthened this week, Aquarius. Whether you hang out with friends or go on a date night, you will enjoy the experience immensely.

VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Many things are looking up for you, Virgo. This week could be the catalyst for positive change. Keep an open mind as you forge ahead in all you do.

PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 Your imagination is soaring this week, Pisces. Keep your feet a little closer to the ground so you do not get carried away.

This horoscope is intended for entertainment purposes only.

Your Weekly Horoscope

The week of Nov. 23 – 29

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS NOV. 26 – Rita Ora, Singer (24) NOV. 23 – Oded Fehr, Actor (44) NOV. 27 – Jaleel White, Actor (38) NOV. 24 – Sarah Hyland, Actress (24) NOV. 28 – Judd Nelson, Actor (55) NOV. 25 – Nick Swisher, Athlete (34) NOV. 29 – Andrew McCarthy, Actor (52)

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Can SOs be roommates?Richard JosephGAZETTE STAFF

You’ve been dating for what seems like forever, you have a drawer full of your clothing at their place and you fight for the bathroom in the morning. Might as well go all the way and move in, right?

Well, no. First of all, there’s the issue of compromise. If you think you’re making a sacrifice when you let him choose Die Hard 5 on movie night, wait until you see the god-awful couch he wants to put in the living room. Living with some-one means constantly conceding to their desires or fighting for your own as you slowly find out their habits. Maybe you have different levels of cleanliness, maybe you want vastly different things from the grocery store and maybe your

partner refuses to acknowledge that Bruce Willis is the greatest actor of our time and an American hero.

Secondly, no matter how fond you are of your partner, it’s always nice to spend a little time apart now and then so you can miss them again. Moving in has the obvious side effect of seeing your SO all the time, every day, forever. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but the reverse is also true — when you spend too much time with anyone, you can forget to appreciate them, and their annoying habits come to the fore. Overexposure frays the nerves, and frayed nerves lead to arguments. After a while, the experi-ence is about as pleasant as walking barefoot over broken glass.

There’s an overarching trend here of a loss of independence. University is a time to socialize, make lifelong

friend, and explore, and it only lasts for so long — but you can move in with someone twenty, thirty years down the line.

Finally, there’s the most obvious problem: you break up, and you’re ejected from your apartment build-ing as permanently as Hans Gruber. Anyone in a healthy relationship has to consider the possibility that either or both members will grow and change. It’s a messy situation to deal with even in the most amic-able of break-ups, and best avoided altogether.

Having said all that, it’s not impossible to make it work — so if you’re committed to your partner as John McClane is committed to bald eagles and freedom, then yell “yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker” and go for it.

Living with your best friend(s)Hamza TariqNEWS EDITOR

@HamzaAtGazette

One of the benefits of living off cam-pus is that you’re allowed to keep your beloved pets.

Your landlord might tell you otherwise and they may have even include a clause in your lease agree-ment. But rest assured, in 2006, the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act voided the “no pets” provision.

That means your pet can stay with you and landlords cannot usually enforce a “no pets” clause by law. There are some exceptions, though.

“If you are renting in a condo where the RTA and Condo Act applies, a ‘no pets’ clause is lawful,” said Rachèle Marshall, off-campus housing coordinator at Western.

She added that if you share liv-ing space with the landlord or their immediate family, then they can also set rules regarding pets that you must abide by.

According to Marshall, under the RTA, the animal must not be dan-gerous, disturbing to other tenants or destructive to the rental property. If the animal doesn’t fall into one of these three categories, then tenants can typically proceed with keeping a pet.

If you’re living with other people, you should make sure beforehand that everyone will be comfortable with your pet. Unless you have a small aquarium with a goldfish in your own room, everyone in the

house in some way interacts with the new and non-rent paying mem-ber of the house.

There will most likely be fur all around the house or apartment if you have a cat or a dog. It’s hard enough cleaning after yourself while living the student life, and clean-ing after your pets is an additional chore. It may also take some time for your cat(s) figure out where the lit-ter box is and how to get to it. While you might find not see this as much of an issue, especially if you’ve had pets at home, be considerate to your housemates and tidy up.

Keeping a pet also forces you to learn one of the most elusive goals of university students — time management. You have to walk your dog, you have to feed your cat and you have to groom your horse. You

have to do this everyday, so your pets might just help bring order to your life.

They may also help you manage stress better. During exam time, therapy dogs attract more students than free food. Having a cuddly, furry friend at home will help relieve your stress while studying for those big assignments and exams. They may also help alleviate your home-sickness and cheer you up.

“The familiarity of having my cats brought a sense of ease and made living in London like a home away from home,” said Roxanne Hendrycks, a second-year student at Western. “The cats were also extremely helpful when exams came around by providing me and my housemates with some hilarious entertainment for stress relief.”


Bill Wang • GAZETTE

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Nusaiba Al-AzemOPINIONS EDITOR

@NusAtGazette

When we think about going to uni-versity, we think about teenagers transitioning into adulthood. Our picture includes flying the coop, taking on grown-up responsibilities of rent and groceries and figuring out how to be independent — after a few blunders of blowing rent on alcohol or making one too many budgeting errors, that is. But all in all, university is widely regarded as a unique opportunity to find your niche and personhood outside the parental system, to figure out who we are.

I know many people who grew up in the same city in which their university is located but when it came time to attend undergrad, they moved out of their parents’ home so they could gain the coming-of-age experience.

It’s true that the above quintes-sential university experience is one common way of maturation, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only way.

I live with my parents. I’ve lived with my parents since I was 14 days old when I was discharged from St. Joseph’s Hospital in London, Ontario. I’ve always had the same housemates (in my siblings and par-ents), give or take the same family norms, and wonderful family mem-bers who still to this day will drive me places or make me dinner.

Yes, that does mean I’m not experiencing the quintessential uni-versity lifestyle. But does that mean I’m not learning how to be an adult? That my experience is any less valuable?

Adulthood is full of a multitude of things. Paying rent and doing

groceries is only one of those things.Living with my parents into my

young adulthood has taught me invaluable lessons about family, loyalty, mutual respect, autonomy and negotiation. Do my parents and I agree on every single thing about life? No. But does that significantly impair our relationship? No.

According to theories of psycho-social development, the major con-flict people try to resolve during young adulthood is “intimacy versus isolation” — an attempt at forming loving, intimate relationships with others. A necessary component of forming loving relationships with people is having a sense of self and a good relationship with one’s par-ents — that’s all demonstrated in attachment theories of psychology. If you have issues with your family of origin, chances are that’s going to be reflected in all other relationships you form.

Living at home, I’ve been able to work out any of those kinks that may have been formed during the formation of my identity in adoles-cence. If anything, attending school while living at home has given me a profound appreciation for my par-ents. Every time I’m studying late, thinking about all my assignments and responsibilities and beginning to feel stressed out, I remember that my parents did this when my siblings and I were kids — and kicked ass at it.

I have just used my university experience to develop interper-sonal and problem-solving skills. My parents respect my autonomy and I respect and always consider their input and wisdom.

This doesn’t mean I don’t have responsibilities. I still buy grocer-ies, have a job, do my laundry, go to school, take the bus, do house-work and make my own decisions — I just happen to also be blessed with a phenomenal support system during a pretty stressful time in one’s life, hot meals to come home to and about half the educational price tag my peers do.

Living at home a rewarding experience

AbracadabraAl-Azem

Booze, noise and the partying lawsOne of the benefits to moving off-campus is finally taking your dorm room ragers out of Saugeen-Maitland Hall and into your own space. No longer will you have to worry about RAs watching over you. However, what many first-time tenants forget is that house parties means it’s a different authority look-ing over you.

In London, the noise bylaw dic-tates that “no person shall make, cause or permit an unreasonable noise, or a noise that is likely to disturb the inhabitants.” Specific to aspiring partygoers, any ampli-fied sound from sources such as televisions, stereos, speakers and amplifiers is prohibited at any time within residential areas.

According to London Police Service Constable Ken Steeves, since the start of the 2014 school year, London has had 1,047 noise complaints.

To make, cause or permit noise likely to disturb is worthy of a fine of $215. Most often, simply being aware of your proximity to your neighbours and being aware of how

much noise you’re making while being considerate of the hour will keep you safe.

On the other hand, if you’re hoping to submit a noise com-plaint, the manager of municipal law enforcement services, Heather Chapman, detailed how to file one.

“To file a noise complaint you can email [email protected] or you can call our call centre at 519-661-4660. If it’s occupant noise — such as domestic disputes or loud parties — that goes to the police department.”

As far as alcohol goes, you are entitled to consume alcohol in your residence so long as you are of age.

“The issue oftentimes we find with parties and such is when kegs are involved. The issue with that is not so much that you have a keg because it’s not illegal to possess a keg of beer or what have you, but the issue is when it starts being sold,” Steeves continued.

Steeves said that as long as stu-dents stay on private property while drinking, “they’re good to go.”

• Katie Lear

Keep calm and pick a placeConrad Floryan

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR@ConradAtGazette

Many students struggle just to remember to brush their teeth, so naturally it’s challenging for them to pick a place to live. When residence isn’t cutting it and living at home feels like Shawshank Redemption, it’s time to find an abode, but where do you start?

Western Off-Campus Housing Services is the place to go for all student off-campus living con-cerns. It’s located in Ontario Hall, room 3C1 and they have a com-prehensive website at offcampus.uwo.ca. Students can receive per-sonal assistance from Western staff members regarding rental listings Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Off-campus advisors are on call every day until midnight.

Glenn Matthews, housing mediation officer for Western and Fanshawe, understands that finding a dwelling is frustrating and often the process overwhelms students.

“They run around like chick-ens with their head cut off because they get so wound up about stuff,” Matthews said.

Matthews recommends setting the budget first because it narrows

down the options.“Second of all, we recommend a

roommate agreement even before signing a lease because it’s better to find out whether or not you can live with somebody and what ten-ets they have about having friends over, cleanliness, sharing costs, etc.,” added Matthews.

The next step is creating a list of pertinent lifestyle considerations — proximity to key destinations, bus routes, type of neighbourhood, if there’s laundry on site, etc. Certain people prefer the convenience of an apartment building while others favour a house with a private back-yard. Matthews recommends saving money by settling slightly further from campus and downtown.

“You may as well be close to bus routes because you take a 10-minute bus ride and you’ll save $100 a month,” he said.

It’s crucial to carefully read the lease agreement before choosing a place. In a group lease all signees are jointly liable, so if one resident fails to pay rent, everyone is responsible.

Often students forget to exam-ine the legality of their dwell-ing. Matthews suggests visiting London.ca to verify that a resi-dence is licensed and has had a fire inspection within the last two years.

Parents should double-check the paperwork. There are pros and cons to parents getting involved in finding a dwelling for their Mustang offspring.

“Sometimes the parent will have been through the renting process so they’ll have an idea of what to watch out for,” mentioned Matthews.

Many landlords ask for a parent guarantor, meaning the parent is responsible to pay rent if the student fails to do so. In these cases parents will often assume greater influence in the selection process. However, students and parents have diverging priorities and at the end of the day the student has to be happy with where they live.

“It’s totally up to the relationship between the individual and the par-ent,” said Matthews.

London has the second highest vacancy rate in the province so it’s helpful to relax and be patient when choosing a residence. Matthews reveals that students often settle on the first or second location they view while better options are just sitting around collecting dust.

“Slow down and do some of the small things first before you even go out there,” Matthews advised.

Kyle Porter • GAZETTE

housing special issue, friday, november 21, 2014

Documents

student houses

student residence

student neighbourhoods

christmas break

criminals dont

s t solution

president matt helfand

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