Eugene has many off-campus housing options
Take the time to learn
about renters rights
before signing a lease
By Anry Golslhammef
'rs£pr js/fi £nB3/r
Finally out of ‘'dormland."
many students choose to live off
campus during the school year,
and the campus community pro
vides many housing options for
those ready to be on their own.
“During our training week, we
were told of all the people who
drop out of school. Forty percent
drop out because they don’t have
any intimate friends.' said Bren
da Wood. University Rental In
formation Office coordinator.
“They don't feel connected to
their community."
Where a student chooses to
live has a large effect on his or
her happiness. Wood said.
‘You should hear some of the
stories people tell about horrible
roommates and scary landlords."
Wood said. “It's hard if you are
not in a happy place."
There are many possibilities
for students looking for a place to
live other than the residence
halls, she said. However, when a
student starts looking for a place,
he or she needs to take into con
sideration the amount of time it
will take to look for a new place
as well as the money and the
pure luck of finding a place with
a perfect roommate. Wood said.
"I feel freshmen should live in
the dorms their first year." Wood
said. "It's so overwhelming to all
of a sudden have to cook, clean,
pay your rent, figure out how to
live off campus and do that kind
of stuff.”
The Rental Information Office
in the EMU maintains bulletin
boards that are updated daily
with rental listings. These beards
include available studios, du
plexes. apartments, houses, co
ops. rooms for rent and room
mates wanted.
“Students out of town have the
opportunity to look at all the list
ings available via the Internet.”
Wood said.
Students just moving out of the
residence halls may want the ul
timate freedom of a big house
with a group of friends, but don't
realize the responsibilities of the
lawn, the grounds and dealing
with the angry neighbors. Wood
said.
“It's an individual thing,”
Wood said. “It is more work, but
some people have no problem
mowing the lawn."
Micki ]osi of the Student Coop
erative Association said a good
alternative to living in an apart
ment or house right away is to
move into a co-op.
“It is a really good transition
coming straight from the dorms.”
Josi said. “Students are not faced
with all the responsibility they
would have if they were Living
on their own. but still have a
handful of obligations"
The co-ops are student-owned
and run. Students make all the
decisions, the rules, and are re
quired to do work ranging from
deaning or maintenance to food
preparation or making grocery
lists. )osi said.
“Students are still able to meet
a large range of people from grad
LAURA GOSVEmeraki
Dakota Elder and Adrian Bergeron prepare a turkey dinner for residents of the Cambell Club Co-op.
uate students to freshmen,” she
said. "We are very student cen
tered.”
Another reason potential
renters may look into a co-op is
because it does not go through a
rental agency, Josi said.
“I have heard good and bad
about even,' single property man
agement company," Wood said.
“Some companies are too busy
and treat students like a num
ber."
Students may prefer to go
through a private owner rather
than a rental agency. Wood said.
Privately owned establishments
tend to work out better for stu
dents because whoever is run
ning it may be somewhat flexi
ble, Josi said.
“If there is a student who can't
make our two payments a term,
we can work out a payment
plan,” Josi said.
Rooms for rent and roommates
wanted can work for some peo
ple, however, it may take a little
bit of time for the new place to
feel like home, Wood said.
Wherever a student decides to
live, he or she needs to be aware
of renters’ rights and laws.
“Students need to do a walk
through with the landlord,”
Wood said. “Renters need to be
aware of deposit refunds, access
abuse and smoke detector laws."
Students need to be very wary
of private owners who write up
their own lease. They need to
make sure everything in the lease
is legal, Wood said.
“Looking for a place to live off
campus is probably not going to
be the most positive experience,”
Wood said. “But it’s not going to
make you pull vour hair out.”
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