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.