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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 7, 2004)
Reserve Now for Fall Beautifully Remodeled 3 Bedroom Apartments _1560 Alder_ Upscale Living at Moderate Prices $950/mo. • 1/2 Block To U of O • On-Site Laundry/Parking FREE HIGH SPEED INTERNET I'n >/U f i\ M<niu'/i ifh /ii lt( til I 1339 Oak St., Suite 1 434-9340 fter a year in the dorms, a house or the quads, #lsome students look for a change in scenery or a more spacious living environment. Many students find what they're looking for in complex es like the University Com mons, Duck's Village, Chase Village and McKenna Estates. These places fulfill the "niche" for newer student housing in Eugene, Duck's Vil lage Leasing Agent Cathy En gebretson said. "The places near campus seemed small with little win dows," junior Liz Rice, a Uni versity Commons tenant, said. "These are big and bright." Rice said the complex is the best deal for her money. Sophomore Jamie Acker man agreed, saying the ameni ties made the apartments an even better deal. "I looked for a furnished apartment and couldn't find one anywhere else," Acker man said. Furnished apartments are a major draw for Duck's Village and University Commons. "Off-campus housing of fers more amenities as far as pools, hot tubs and free tan ning," Chase Village Leasing Manager John Sanford said. These complexes boast pools, computer labs, workout facili ties and free parking. Howev er, these options vary by y\ MCKENNA ESTATES 1& 2 Bedrooms Now Available! Save with no application/screening fee. 2 Bedroom Executive - $850 • Custom 2-level floor plan • Huge master bed & bath • 2 full baths • 1400 sq. ft 2 Bedroom Deluxe -$795 • Unique 2-level floor plan • Walk-in closet • 2 full baths • 1200 sq.ft. 1 Bedroom - $650 • 850 sq. ft All Units Include: • Air conditioning • Gas fire place • Laundiy hook-ups • Oak cabinets • Balcony • Extenaed basic cable Plus: • Community Center • Exercise room • Sports court • Covered, lighted parking How far is too far away? Duck's Village, University Commons, McKenna Estates, Chase Village and Park Grove Apartments are all located on a direct bus route to campus. Most of these complexes are already furnished, which is one of the big reasons so many students choose to live there. For those students who are looking to live near campus, there are several pros and cons to consider. Because there is such a high demand for GIVE ME 5! Run your “for sale” ad (items under $1,000) for 5 days in the ODE Classified Section. If the item(s) doesn’t sell, call us at 346-4343 and we’ll run it again for another 5 days free! 011572 3450 McKenna Drive, Eugene (off Kinsrow, east of Autzen Stadium) 342-5735 For more info and floor plans visit www.mckennaes tates. com 013889 Club Mill 1255 Mill Street, near UO • 2 bedrooms with balcony • Dishwasher/range/refrigerator/garbage disposal • Landlord pays water, sewer, garbage & expanded basic cable TV • Updated carpets & on site laundry • Off street parking & summer pool • Very nice apartments with competitive pricing www.KeystoneHome.net information, call KEYSTONE real estate 746-1402 M-F 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Weekends by appointment Across the river Apartment complexes near Autzen Stadium are more spacious, but they also have a few drawbacks By Ashley Griffin • Freelance Reporter party scene at these complexes, although neither was too bothered by it. Ackerman said she found her complex to be quieter than she'd expected. While Rice said there are a lot of parties, her location at the back of the complex allows her to shut her door if she needs to take a break from the party scene. The management at these complexes seek to improve on these criticisms and continue doing the things that have gar nered them praise. "We try to offer a pleasant, clean and well-kept environ ment along with the best cus tomer service," Engebretson said. Duck's Village provides maintenance, on-call man agers and clubhouse events. "They are constantly doing upkeep on the hot tub, the pools and the lawns," Acker man said. Most complexes do request ed maintenance repairs on a daily basis, and most are suc cessfully completed within a 24-hour period. Rice didn't have quite the same experience with the man agement. She said she faced untimely maintenance repairs and was also bothered that the management didn't provide complex recycling. Ashley Griffin is a freelance reporter for the Emerald. complex. Students would be wise to check with current res idents and the management about the availability, variety and upkeep of the advertised amenities. And, for some residents, something can be said for liv ing away from the University. "It's nice to be able to get off campus," Ackerman said. "Last year I felt like I was trapped on campus." Rice agreed. She said living across the river puts a nice sep aration between school and social life. While some things about the location are good, resi dents warned about a few drawbacks. The distance from classes and on-campus housing is by far the biggest complaint. "It's hard to get home after dark," Ackerman said. "And friends don't want to come over here because it is too far." In addition, many residents have to stay on campus all day for classes and breaks. "You just can't go home in between classes to grab a book," Rice said. Rice and Ackerman also mentioned the noise level and »♦***» * W44* *♦4* 44 •••.DO THE HOMEWORK •Apartment complex workout rooms are sometimes open at odd hours, and some of the machines don't operate correctly. •The people who lead the site toirs are usually not the same people tenants deal with for rent, maintenance and other concerns. •Talk to current residents to get an accurate description of the living situation. •The walls in some apartment complexes are thin, allowing residents to hear noise from the rooms above and belcw. housing, the best and cheapest houses get taken early in the house-hunting season. The Lane Transit District has bus routes all over Eugene, many of which provide quick, direct service to the University and Lane Community College. For this reason, many students choose residences a bit farther away from campus. Spanish major Megan Grillo lives on East 21st Avenue and Hilyard Street, which is about 11 blocks from campus. "I have never minded living far away from campus, but I did realize how nice it would be to walk there one day when I rode my bike and got drenched from the rain," she said. The weather can present a problem for those students who rely on bikes for trans portation, but alternate trans portation can almost always be found, by way of bus, car or carpool. Gabe Winfrey, a senior busi ness major, lives in South Eu gene on 48th Avenue and Don ald Street He said he would not want to live so far from campus if he didn't have a car. "The bus comes near my house, but it takes nearly an hour to get to campus, so I rarely take it," he said. In the spring and summer, Winfrey rides his bike, but he said it is not feasible to ride in the rain, especially up and down the hills of South Eugene. "It is nice to live far away from campus because of the mellow atmosphere of the neighborhood, he said. "Plus the area is really beautiful, un like some of the areas closer to campus," he said. — Athena Ehnot DISTANCE continued from page 9B by the University, Vanderkar said. "The program deals with ac ademic elements, such as how to receive credit being abroad, as well as health and safety, cultural adjustment issues and conduct," she said. "It also provides workshops for begin ning and advanced travelers, how to live with host families, the logistics of traveling and other helpful information." In addition to this general orientation, all students must attend specific orientations for their country or program. "We also invite internation al students and former stu dents from the programs," she said. "Students can get a great wealth of information from those students who have al ready done the program as well as individuals from that country or region." Senior Sonja Handy, a 21 year-old from Troutdale, trav eled to Bergen, Norway, for five months last winter. She said the best way to prepare for life in a new country is to research the place before you leave. "Get a map of the city you'll be in so that you know where you're going when you get there," she said. "Find out the country's policies on currency and money. Know what the climate will be like there." Vanderkar agreed with Handy that being informed is one of the best ways to prepare for an overseas experience The University's Overseas Study Pro gram encourages students to do their own research and become as informed as possible on the country by taking advantage of the many resources available, Vanderkar said. "Students are encouraged to read about the country and get an idea of it in their mind," Vanderkar said. Blanton, Handy and Van derkar agreed that with pack ing, less is more. "You don't have to bring toi letries and other basic prod ucts because they will have them there," Blanton said. "They won't have everything you expect, but you can easily compromise and make do." Handy said the point of studying abroad is to get a dif ferent experience. "If you bring what you're comfortable with, you miss half of the point," Handy said. Handy found the university system to be a new experience. "College is free there, so they have a lot less resources available to them because ed ucation is nationally funded," she said. "The academics are a lot more laid-back." Students also experience many day-to-day challenges when living abroad for the first time. Handy described the challenge of dealing with the time change, as well as learn ing how people in a new coun try interact. "It's hard learning how to look at things in a Norwegian perspective at first when you always want to look at it in an American perspective instead," Handy said. "It's about finding an alternate point of view." One of the best ways to adapt to moving abroad is to become informed, Vanderkar said. "Be a mini-anthropologist," she said. "Learn about the culture." Another way to adapt to a new country is to make a com fortable home. "Bring a picture of your house with you to show peo ple where you live and where you are from," Handy said. "I wish I had done that. I brought pictures of local things from where I'm from. It gives others a better idea of who you are." Noe Baker is a freelance reporter for the Emerald.
