One of the most popular places to live after freshman year is a little bit west of campus, in the East 14th Avenue and Hilyard Street area.
Here are a few tips to survive your year(s) in the West University neighborhood.
- Earplugs. If you are a light sleeper at all, invest in some earplugs before you even move in.
- Extra keys: Making copies of your keys is a must. It’s almost a guarantee that you’ll lock yourself out within the first few days of being in your new residence.
- A flashlight. The power goes out in the area west of campus more often then you would think. Be prepared and store the flashlight in a place you can get to easily.
- Bike locks. No matter how safe you think your bike is parked on your porch, you should definitely invest in a bike lock to be sure.
- Getting groceries. Not everyone has a car. If you can, try and plan trips with your friends or neighbors to go to the grocery store at a time convenient for everyone.
- Lock your doors. It may not seem like an issue to leave your doors unlocked, but even during the day it’s necessary. Make sure that you have a key when you leave, and lock your doors at night.
- Conserve energy. Almost every tenant is responsible for electricity and water bills, so make sure that you shut off lights and conserve the amount of water you use daily.
- Don’t walk alone. Always have someone to walk home with, and never walk alone at night. There have been many incidents of assault on or near campus at night.
- Keep the area clean. Though you may not mean to make a mess of your front porch (or of someone else’s), keep in mind that people are all around you.
