Love and Congratulations to Lauren Ernst! Lauren Ernst Grandpa Izzy, Grandpa Larry, Grandma Carryl, Cousins Danny, Michael and Allison, Uncle Elliott and Aunt Lynn, Uncle Curt and Aunt Barb, Mom, Dad, Jeff and Wheaton L COLLEGE BOUND SMALL ROOMS page 83 "They are no longer just in college will mark the first places with a bed and a cafete- time they have had to share a ria," Mr. Brooks said. 'There are bedroom or bath facility on a reg- computer centers and class- ular basis. "There is a dramatic reduc- , rooms in most residence halls. tion in privacy," Mr. Levy, of U- It is not uncommon for students M, said. "We put them in a room to schedule classes in the same with a complete stranger, and building where they live." The added services are part of we ask them to get along for a national trend to make college eight months." resources more accessible to Mr. Levy noted that in 1968, when the last residence hall was busy students. That means on- sight academic advisers and built in Ann Arbor, students ar- rived at school with two suit- state-of-the-art computer sys- cases, making it easy to pack tems that allow students to tap into the campus library and them in dorm rooms. "Now," he computer network — and from said, "they arrive in a minivan there to the Internet — from pulling a U-Haul trailer." But students say the tight liv- their own dorm rooms. After a year or two, though, ing quarters are more than off- set by the technological most students are ready to leave the dormitory. What seemed a advances in dorm life. A Room of One's Own S Anthony Edelman We're Very Proud! Love, Mom, Neil, David, Alex, Vicky, Grampa Paul and Gratnma Edith Fraiberg C/) LU Cr) CC w LU f - - 84 Congratulations also to all members of the rZemple Col J4mi family .fics are graduating from local 2-ligh School igning a lease on an off- campus apartment or home is the first time many college students have signed a contract. The feeling of independence can be exhilarating, and also a little scary. Some schools, like the University of Michigan, help students with off-campus hous- ing by monitoring the practices of landlords who deal with their students. Even so, students entering into leases should follow a few common-sense guidelines to en sure they are not taken advan- tage of. The U-M housing office offers these suggestions: • Make sure you read the lease carefully, and that you clarify with the landlord and school housing officials any pro- visions that seem vague or un- fair. • The lease should list a-spe- cific commencement and ter- mination date, the amount of rent and when it becomes due, and should list the name of the landlord as well as the names of each and every tenant. • The lease should also list the specific charge for the secu- rity deposit and under what conditions the landlord may seize it. Under state law, land- lords may charge up to 1 1/2 month's rent as deposit. They must obtain a surety bond or de- posit the money in a financial institution and notify the ten- ant in writing where the mon- ey is held. Landlords must return the unused portion of the deposit within 30 days after the lease ends. Deductions may only be made for unpaid rent or utility bills or unusual damage to the apartment. Normal wear and tear and cleaning costs may not be deducted. • Choose roommates care- fully and discuss lease terms specifically, as most leases al- low the landlord to recover the entire amount of the rent from any individual tenant • Make sure the lease is clear on your ability to cancel or sub let the lease. You may, for in- stance, be able to obtain a "month-to-month" lease, in which you can cancel upon one month's notice, but this will like- ly cost you more Or perhaps, if you have a 12-month lease, you may want to sublet your room to a friend for the summer, an option that may not be possible if the lease forbids subletting. • Make sure the apartment or house is in excellent condi tion. when you move in_ You will be given an inventory checklist of household items at the be- ginning of the lease. If anything in the leased space is broken or damaged in any way, you must note that on the checklist with- in seven days of moving in, oth- erwise you may be charged for the damage when you leave. • Under the law, landlords cannot enter your apartment under most circumstances with- out advanced warning or per- mission. But tenants must generally give reasonable access for legitimate purposes. comfort when they first arrived on campus, can seem suffocat- ing after several semesters. Many students yearn for their own bedrooms — or may want to share that room with a romantic partner, not an as- signed roomie. And frankly, many students want less re- striction on their ability to so- cialize or drink alcohol than a college-run dorm affords. An apartment, house or perhaps a fraternity or sorority may sud- denly seem appealing. But here, too, having lived in a dorm pays off. Their residence- hall experience allows students to cultivate a network of friends from which they can then choose the people they may want to live with off-campus. ❑ Financial. Survival For Students First-year college students and their parents get a crash course in money management during ori- entation at the University of Michigan. Students pick up tips on cutting costs and paying bills so they don't "flunk tuition." Thom Johnson, U-M Office of Financial Aid suggests: • Setting up a bank account with a local bank. "In most college towns, it is virtually impossible to cash a check without a local ac- count." • Bringing cash to campus on the first day. • Pay attention. Make a mon- ey file. • Schedule high finance time. Balance your checkbook, pay bills, write home for more money. • Learn to budget. • You will suffer name loss; don't fight it. Put your social se- curity number or ID number on all your checks. • Buy used books on a 'lust in time" basis. You can save up to 20 percent on used books. Save your receipts so you can return unused books. • Read the book in the library if you are assigned only a few chapters. • Buy generic. Notebooks and pencils and blankets with school logos will cost you more. • Load up on necessities — shampoo, detergent, extension cords — before you go to campus. • Save on rent by living in an apartment or a co-op. • Book plane fares months ahead. • Use E-mail instead of the phone. • Get financial aid information for next year in the fall. ❑ Reprinted with permission from the U of M.