You think Athens is a dog-friendly place now? Ask anyone who lived here 30 to 40 years ago, and they’ll tell you that the city is now a veritable concentration camp for dogs compared to the old days.
It’s autumn in Athens, and as Ohio University upperclassmen know, the race to sign a lease for the 2010-2011 school year began at the same time that classes did.
Because good housing tends to get snatched up quickly in Athens, students often find themselves signing away a year of their lives without fully considering the pros and cons of their living arrangements.
Students can make good pet owners if they know what they're doing
Written by Chelsea E. Toy
Monday, 12 October 2009 09:12
Skeeter, a 6-month-old Australian cattle dog and boxer, chases other dogs around the Athens Dog Park on West State Street as his owner, exercise physiology graduate student Joe Kelley, sits on a bench studying.
"I try to get him out here at least once a day, and I take him on short walks, too," Kelley said as Skeeter followed two other dogs through the agility course at the park.
Rules for survival if you're the lone gal in the house
Written by Chelsea E. Toy
Monday, 21 September 2009 09:37
Somewhere between the empty beer cans, plastic bottles full of snuff and spit, and the beard trimmings on the bathroom sink, a female living with all male roommates often has to work hard to maintain her sanity.
While not all men chew snuff and leave beer cans and beard trimmings spread about the house, I can say from personal experience that I have never had these same problems when living with women. So, I'm dealing with it, and probably a decent number of other women in Athens find themselves dealing with many of the same problems.
Landlord passes on previous tenants' awful mess to the next group of tenants
Written by Megan Helgeson
Monday, 21 September 2009 09:35
A summer in Athens. We thought what could be better? It would mean experiencing the magical paradise that is Athens with beautiful skies, no homework, and a house to call your own. Every Ohio University student’s dream.
This was the excitement for juniors Ali and Lauren. They were going to work in Athens over the summer, not taking classes, and live in the enormous house uptown that they and six other girls leased for the coming year.
Here's how you can reclaim some of your closet space
Written by Athens NEWS Staff
Monday, 21 September 2009 09:33
Ask apartment dwellers one problem they'd most like to address about apartment life and you're likely to hear many, if not most, groan about their relative lack of closet space. While renting has its benefits, the dearth of closet space renters routinely must live with is one disadvantage they have versus their home-owning counterparts.
While renters might have limited options with respect to how far they can go to improve their closet space, there are ways to create more space in even the tiniest of closets. All it takes is some creativity to make the most out of existing closets.
Student recalls college rental problems, solutions
Written by Tyler Bell
Monday, 21 September 2009 09:30
This past summer, like many Ohio University students, I moved into a new apartment in Athens. Unlike most people, however, I quickly discovered that I was unhappy with my new environment.
Of course, it seemed like it would be a great place to live when I signed the lease near the beginning of the previous school year. However, that was after only a quick viewing, which is all that most students get to see before signing a lease.
Some words of wisdom about apartment living fees and fines
Monday, 18 May 2009 15:19
Fees will range depending on the rules set by a particular community, but as a general rule you will find the following fees in place at most apartment communities. Be sure and keep yourself a handy copy of your lease agreement as that little packet of paper should contain information on all the fees that you may have to watch out for. Here is a list of the most commonly seen fees and fines to put you in the know of where your money may go:
Students struggle to pay for high rents and living costs
Written by Dilynn Roettker
Monday, 18 May 2009 15:17
Many full-time Ohio University students work long hours earning money to pay rent and bills when financial aid falls short of their needs. Others choose to get loans instead of work, while some borrow money from relatives to defray the ever-increasing interest rates that come with student loans.
As of the 2008-2009 school year, the cost to live in the dormitory was $1,835 for a room along with $1,544 for a meal plan.
Students look forward to living off-campus for several reasons. First, it represents another element of freedom that they did not have in the dormitory, since there are no resident assistants to keep an eye on them. Also, they look forward to buying their own food, so that they can control the cost as it pertains to their budgets. Other advantages, such as being able to have their own rooms and front yards, add to the desirability of an apartment or house.
Some OU students who say they commute really don't
Written by Morgan Hoover
Monday, 18 May 2009 15:15
Ohio University freshmen and sophomores who officially claim the status of commuters while instead living off-campus with friends say their biggest motivation is money.
“It was a lot cheaper,” said one OU junior who’s majoring in engineering (whom we’ll call “Student A”). “I couldn’t beat it at all… The university doesn’t manage money very well, and that’s a cash cow for them.”
The university requires freshman- and sophomore-level students to live in the dorms and buy a meal plan unless they qualify for an exemption, such as a medical excuse or financial hardship. The most common exemption goes to students who say they’re commuting from their family home in the Athens area.
However, a number of local students and their parents sign the form saying the son or daughter is commuting, when actually the student plans to rent a house or apartment near the university. As a result, none of the students we interviewed who are doing this, or did it in the past, would consent to giving their names.
Signing an apartment lease — skimming the document is not enough!
Monday, 13 April 2009 07:09
The search is over and you are finally signing the lease for your new apartment. Just a few pen strokes are all that separate you from your new home. When signing a lease for an apartment, it can be tempting to merely skim the numerous pages of fine print before adorning each with your signature. After all, you have signed a number of leases in the past without a problem.
Fixing up an apartment can be a lot of fun with your landlord’s help
Monday, 13 April 2009 07:08
When you move into an apartment you are leasing, you may feel like you have every right to make changes so that you feel at home. But you need to check with your landlord to see if your changes are ok with him or her. Depending on the changes that are to be made, your landlord may offer to pay for the materials that you will need to complete the repairs and fix-ups. When making your request to make changes, it is best to make the request both verbally and written, keeping a copy of the written request so that it can be documented.
Residents and city strategize against over-occupied student housing
Written by Corey Ryan
Monday, 13 April 2009 07:03
Renters housing extra roommates may need to rethink their living arrangements. The Athens Neighborhood Association (ANA) is drawing attention to the problem of over-occupancy in mainly student rental housing in Athens.
One problem with enforcing zoning regulations against over-occupancy, however, is that the Athens Code Enforcement Office cannot inspect a house without giving a 24-hour notice. In addition, Code Enforcement previously posted an Excel spreadsheet listing each rental residence’s annual inspection date on the city Web site. That schedule will change this week, Code Enforcement Director John Paszke said.
Your circuit breaker, which is also referred to as a fuse box, is a special container that holds all of the circuit breakers for your home. This box can be located inside or outside of your home, but is generally found in a convenient location that makes it easy for you to access. This way, you can turn off electrical power as necessary when making household repairs.
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