The Breeze Off-Campus Supplement

Lease signing tips

p. 15

Locations to live p. 10

Houses with names?

p. 4

OFF-CAMPUS LIFE GUIDE

2 Thursday, November 18, 2010 breezejmu.org OFF-CAMPUS LIFE GUIDE

What’s insideStudents pass down creative house names

Some complexes to offer all-inclusive rents

Housing locationssurrounding campus

Feeling broke? Jamie Lose shares money-saving tips

What to look for whensigning your fi rst lease

G1 Anthony-Seeger Hall, MSC 6805 James Madison University Harrisonburg, Va. 22807PHONE: 540-568-6127 FAX: 540-568-6736

MISSIONThe Breeze, the student-run newspaper of James Madison University, serves student, faculty and staff readership by reporting news

involving the campus and local community. The Breeze strives to be impartial and fair in its reporting and fi rmly believes in First Amendment rights. Published Monday and Thursday mornings, The Breeze is distributed throughout James Madison University and the local Harrisonburg

community. Comments and complaints should be addressed to Katie Thisdell, editor.

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breezejmu.org OFF-CAMPUS LIFE GUIDE Thursday, November 18, 2010 3

The LOCAL Chop & Grill House welcome all JMU students, faculty and administration to cel-ebrate the spirit of the City Produce Exchange

with menu featuring LOCAL ingredientsand fresh flavors.

- A Chop House with a Fresh Innovative twist.- We strive to support our LOCAL farmers and growers.- Handcrafted cocktails, small batch brewery beers and spirits. We also feature a wine list that includes biodynamic, sustainable and organic wineries.- Live music and darts in the LOCAL Bar.- Dinner Tuesday - Saturday, starting at 5- Dinner Tuesday - Saturday, starting at 5- LOCAL Bar opens at 4- Call 540-801-0505 for reservations and directions

We hope you will join us to experience and enjoy the wonderful flavors of freshly prepared LOCAL foods.

56 W. Gay St. Harrisonburg | 540.801.0505 www.localchops.com

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4 Thursday, November 18, 2010 breezejmu.org Off-campus life guide

every home has

The Funk House, located on South Mason Street, is known for its handprint sunroom. Since the mid-‘90s, visitors and tenants have left their mark on the Funk House with a handprint, their name and the date.

Located on Mason Street, the house was named after Coldwell Banker Funkhouser Realtors more than 10 years ago, accord-ing to junior communication studies major Annie Lawrence. “We like to be funky and crazy and have fun, so I guess it partially describes what our house is like,” Lawrence

said. “The house isn’t really about the actual house. It’s about the people in the house and our love for each other.” Currently, nine girls live in the house. “I see funky as kind of crazy, not necessarily typical, but in a good way,” Lawrence said. She thinks the house describes the girls well.

The Funk House

Many off-campus houses have adopted distinctive coloring, names and group affiliations. Many have been around for about 10 years — and some for even longer. The following is a guide to several of these houses.

aFia ukor / THe Breeze

By Kaleigh sOmers | The Breeze

a perSonaliTy

breezejmu.org off-campus life guide Thursday, November 18, 2010 5

Appropriately named because it’s big and white, the house is located on South Main Street. According to junior physics major Nathan DiDo-menico, all of the rooms are named after rooms in the actual White House, including the Oval Office, the China Room and the Grand

Library. DiDomenico said he and his roommates all took pictures in 17th century-style white button-up shirts and wigs to look like George Wash-ington. Past roommates also took similar pictures, and all of them are hung up on the walls. The house got its name more than 10 years ago.

“The idea is talking about how each of us are different, how we’ve been made different — how God has made us different — but together we can work through our differences and use our differences to help each other and live comfort-ably together in unity,” said senior psychology and interdisciplinary liberal studies major Juli Tschinkel. Each year, the eight housemates have

the chance to repaint their room a different color. Tschinkel’s room is cornflower blue, but before that it has been lime green, hot pink and a deep red. The name originated more than eight years ago and is written on a sign in front of the house and several other places inside. The house is located on Mason Street.

The Crayon Box

The White House

pHoTos By meredyTH kimm / ConTriBuTing pHoTograpHer

pHoTos By Brandon payne / THe Breeze

6 Thursday, November 18, 2010 breezejmu.org off-campus life guide


Located on West View Street, this house was named for the Bible verse Psalm :, according to senior computer information sciences and media arts and design double major Phil Ernst. � e inspirational passage reads, “� e Lord is my rock, my refuge and my deliverer. My God, my

rock, in whom I take refuge.” � e house has a rock on the front lawn and the verse is framed above the front door. � e house was named in by the original housemates. Right now, seven men who are all members of Campus Crusade for Christ live in the house.

According to junior social work major Anne Curtis, the name for the house was proposed two years ago as a joke, but it stuck with the housemates. “Livin’ the Dream” is painted on the dining room wall with rhinestones for added � air. � e dining room is painted pink, though the rest of the house isn’t. Five of the nine housemates are volunteer leaders for Young Life.

CONTACT Kaleigh Somers at [email protected].

Barbie Dream Mansion

The Rock HouseEBEN KNOWLTON / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

KATIE BAROODY / THE BREEZE

KRISTIN MCGREGOR / THE BREEZE

The Rock House, annually hosts a Crusade Super Bowl party. Last year, then-senior Meg Allin and juniors Colleen Hogan, Juli Tschinkel, Jason Brown, Heather Gallagher and Stephen Gassaway celebrated that Sunday night after receiving notifi cation that school would be canceled on Monday due to snow.

Two years ago, the original housemates were the fi rst to name the Barbie Dream Mansion, which is located on Paul Street.


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NATALIYA IOFFE / THE BREEZE

By EMILY WINTERScontributing writer

In an effort to help residents and attract more renters, some o� -campus housing loca-tions are switching to an all-inclusive rent. “All-inclusiv e” means an apartment’s electric-ity, water, cable, internet and trash are covered by each roommate’s monthly rent. In fall , Ashby Crossing, � e Mill and Pheasant Run will make this change.

“� e key was basically convenience and to eliminate roommate disputes,” said Kim Young, the owner of Pheasant Run. “We surveyed our current residents and overall the response was really positive.”

Dave Melendez, a senior quantitative � nance major who lived in Pheasant Run last year, doesn’t think it will be less expensive, but does see bene� ts in the change.

“I think it was cheaper in Pheasant Run when it wasn’t all-inclusive,” Melendez said. “But it is

also more convenient to write one check now that I’m at a di� erent location [Stone Gate].”

The Mill has also had problems between roommates concerning utilities. In � e Mill, one resident is required to sign up for an account with Harrisonburg Electric Commis-sion and this can pose problems, according to manager Ron Turner.

“In most instances that worked � ne, but in some cases there was one irresponsible room-mate who wouldn’t pay,” Turner said. “So far, people seem to like the idea of having their util-ities included.”

� e Commons, North , South View and Stone Gate already include utilities in their monthly rent. Residents are given a monthly cap that averages $ per person for electricity and $ per person for water, which is based on each company’s lease agreement.

“We do a lot of laundry and watch a lot of TV at our apartment [in Stone Gate] but have yet to go over the cap,” said Bethany Reeve,

a sophomore social work major. “Part of me wonders how much our rent would go down if we had separate bills and tried to control our

water and electricity usage, but one bill is � ne with me.”

Some students would rather have one base rent and not worry about getting money togeth-er for separate water, electricity, cable, Internet and trash bills.

“It’s convenient and more e� cient to have a � xed rate,” said Ryan Pelais, a sophomore health services administration major. “College kids have so many other things to think about besides paying bills.”

When choosing which o� -campus location to live in, the concept of an all-inclusive rent was, for some, a deciding factor.

“I would much rather know what I’m paying then have to think about it,” sophomore psy-chology major Sarah Cover said. “All-inclusive is more appealing to renters, and that is part of why I chose Pheasant Run for next year.”

CONTACT Emily Winters at [email protected].

� ree complexes to switch to all-inclusive rentAll-inclusive rent covers water, electricity, Internet, trash and cable in one bill. Locations making the switch include:

Ashby Crossing The Mill Pheasant Run

The Commons, North 38, South View and Stone Gate already include utilities in their monthly rent.


Mapping Off-Campus LivingA visual breakdown of

Harrisonburg with off-campuscomplexes highlighted.

APARTMENTS

TOWNHOMES/CONDOS

* areas are approximate and do not reflect exact property boundaries.

CAMPUS:QUAD, VILLAGE,

LAKESIDE, HILLSIDE

Port Republic Road

Sout

h Main

Stree

t

Cantrell Avenue

Neff Aven

ue

Reservoir Street

University Boulevard

CAMPUS:ISAT, ECL, SKYLINE,FESTIVAL, E-HALL

I-81Route 33/East Market StreetTHE MILL

CAMPUS VIEW/MADISON SQUARE/MADISON GARDENS

NORTH 38

STONE GATE

ASHBY CROSSING

THE COMMONS

SUNCHASE

CHARLESTON TOWNES

COPPER BEECH

PHEASANT RUN

SOUTHVIEW

FOX HILLS

SQUIRE HILL

HUNTER’SRIDGE

FOREST HILLSMANOR

FOREST HILLS

URBANEXCHANGE

DOWNTOWN &COURT SQUARE

THE PARKAPARTMENTS

HARRISONBURG CROSSING

VALLEYMALL

865 EAST


SECOND SEMESTER LEASES STILL AVAILABLE!!

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By JAMIE LOSEThe Breeze

Raise your hand if you’re broke and starving. O.K., that was too dramatic, but truthfully, who wouldn’t mind a couple of extra bucks to splurge on the inch with extra cheese?

After moving o� campus my junior year, I found myself surprised and appalled at the fact that food, evidently, costs money. What? But it’s a necessity. If I ran the country, all necessities would come free.

Some of you may be tricked into believing you aren’t actually spending money when you swipe your JACard. Don’t feel bad; I was deceived too. � e di� erence in living o� campus is that I actually see my money disappear this time rather then drain quietly and invisibly from school funds. Not only am I more aware of how much I’m spending on late night Campus Cookies runs, but I’ve also begun to realize how much crap I actually put into my body for no reason. It’s awful in every way.

I was discussing my concerns with a good friend when he came up with his solution for money saving eating habit: hot dogs. He may be on to something.

But here are my penny-pinching remedies for skinny wallets in hungry pockets.

Redefi ne your food pyramidPop-Tarts and Ramen are two

of the four basic food groups. � e other two are obviously beer and cheese, which are essential to college students’ survival. Don’t skip meals, and don’t cut corners. A little Ramen goes a long way, folks. You

can buy it with buttons and gum wrappers in certain food stores and it will last you through the winter. Sodium levels be damned.

Take advantage of D-HallMake use of that all-you-can-

eat bu� et you’ve already paid for. Slide a little Tupperware under a sweatshirt, grab a little of this, a little of that and hustle your butt home to your refrigerator before it goes bad. Voila — dinner for later.

Use all those coupons JMU bombards you with

Have you ever seriously looked at them? � ey’re amazing. I got a large Domino’s pizza, two chocolate desserts, cheesy bread and early onset heart failure for like bucks. � at’s what you’d pay for one margarita at Chili’s. While we’re on that …

Pre-game, pre-game, pre-game

Especially before going to the bars. I thought turning would mean I’m extra cool and would get to sit mysteriously in dim lit bars sipping from girly cocktails. Do you have any idea how expensive that lifestyle is? Buy a handle of Aristocrat and a liter of Dr Pepper and you’re set. No need to go crazy on the fancy hangovers just yet. Let’s wait until we’re required to wear ties and closed-toe shoes before our money goes to aged wine and Scotch.

Always go family-size when ordering Chinese

You’ll be full in two seconds anyway and want to lay on your

carpet for the rest of your life. � is means you’ll have plenty left over to snack on when you’re hungry again in approximately minutes. Ladies, don’t o� er it up to any guys when they come over. � ey’ll eat it all and then all your precious cheese wontons will be gone along with your cash.

Try to shareIf you give up some of your

popcorn, hopefully your roommates will feel obligated to split their Ben & Jerry’s and together you will make a complete meal full of carbs, dairy and Tums. Also attend as many potluck dinners as possible.

Invest in a coffee makerFor ca� eine addicts like me, this

is my main priority when factoring my nutrients for the day. I’ll admit I’ve had my fair share of mocha-choco-lala-yayas, but eventually had to sell my soul and left kidney to keep it up. Buying your own co� ee and co� ee maker is the most economical way to keep that buzz going all day.

As I sit here guzzling my third homemade cup of co� ee of the day I feel … content. Not rich, and I could certainly go for Outback Steakhouse, but I’ll just have to reason that my day soon shall come. In the meantime, keep punching out those Dining Dollars Gold and dreaming of that � anksgiving feast just around the corner.

Jamie Lose is a senior media arts & design major and a humor columnist at The Breeze. Contact her at [email protected].


Remedies for ‘skinny wallets in hungry pockets’ JAMIE LOSE | keep the good times rolling

Jamie Lose suggests ordering family-size meals from restaurants to get the best deals and make every dollar last longer.

NATE CARDEN / THE BREEZE

Suggestions for surviving off campus include buff ets, coupons, pre-gaming and of course, eating lots of Ramen.

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Open Thanksgiving Day “JUST FOR YOU!”Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Plus much more

$10.95 + tax per person12:00am - 7:00pm

Make your Reservation: 540.438.8881 or Walk-Ins Welcome

10% Student Discount

Devon Lane and Foxhills - We have a variety of Devon Lane and Foxhills townhouses for rent! Number of bedrooms, pricing, and locations may di�er, but these units will go FAST! Walking distance to JMU, central heat/AC, furnished or unfurnished. Call for details!!

501 South High Street – Walk to Memorial Hall! This 14 bedroom, 4 bathroom house can be rented as a whole, or divided into three completely separate apartments with separate kitchens and bathrooms! Large rooms and hardwood �oors! Across street from Greenberry’s! $325/bedroom.

VARIOUS HOUSES (Downtown and Old Town Areas) - Call us for details! Houses, townhouses, duplexes and apartments in the Downtown and Old Town areas of Harrisonburg! Walk to JMU Campus or Downtown shops and restaurants! Prices vary by address, and availability is limited! Call for more information!

Hillmont Apartments- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom and 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartments o� of Reservoir Street across from Copper Beach. All appliances, two independent wall units for heat/AC, lots of closet space! Great location! $525/month for 1 bedroom or $700/month for 2 bedrooms!

The Denton Building (Downtown) – NEW NEXT YEAR! Step out onto Court Square from these one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments in the center of Downtown Harrisonburg. ONLY $450/ month with appliances! On-site laundry, parking, secured-access, and elevator service to upper �oors. DOWNTOWN LIVING AT A GREAT VALUE!

NOW RENTING! CALL EARLY FOR THE BEST SELECTION! SOME PROPERTIES ARE FILLING

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JM’s Apartments- 1, 2, 3, and 4 bedroom apartments minutes from the JMU campus and Downtown Harrisonburg! Big bedrooms, electric baseboard heat, and unbeatable location and price! Rents start at $175/person! Call for more details!

RENTALSRINER rinerrentals.com504.438.8800

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Spacious Bedrooms

Sparkling Pool with Built in Jets and Sundeck

Clubhouse with Fitness Center

www.sunchase.net 540.442.4800

-24 hour Fitness Center-24 hour Business Center-Game room in Clubhouse-Internet/Cable included in rent with access in each bedroom-Pet Friendly

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By JEFF WADEThe Breeze

With standard lease agreements sprawling with legal information, it’s natural to � nd that the particulars quickly fade from memory.

Ashby on rulesSection 18.

“You and all guests and occupants must comply with any written apartment rules and community policies, including instructions for care of our property. Our rules are considered part of this Lease Contract. To the extent permit-ted by applicable law, we may make reasonable changes to written rules, if they are distributed and applicable to all units in the apartment com-munity and do not change dollar amounts on page of this Lease Contract and you have been given reasonable notice of the same.”

Section 33.“Neither we nor any of our representatives

have made any oral promises, representations,

or agreements. � is Lease Contract is the entire agreement between you and us. Our repre-sentatives (including management personnel, employees and agents) have no authority to waive, amend or terminate this Lease Contract or any part of it unless in writing and no authority to make promises, representations or agreements that impose security duties or other obligations on us or our representatives unless in writing.”

In other words: � e rules are the rules, except when they aren’t the rules. � en they’re the rules.

Charleston Townes on mysterious disappearancesSection 10 d.

“Tenant shall give Landlord notice of any anticipated extended absence of Tenant from the Dwelling Unit in excess of seven () days. During such absence of Tenant, Landlord may enter the Dwelling Unit at times reasonably nec-essary to protect the Dwelling Unit. If Tenant fails to give such notice, Landlord may recover from

Tenant any actual damages sustained, and shall have all other rights provided in the VRLTA. If Landlord cannot determine whether Tenant has abandoned the Dwelling Unit, Landlord may serve written notice on Tenant requiring Tenant to give Landlord written notice within seven days that Tenant intends to remain in occupancy of the Dwelling Unit. If by the end of such seven-day period Landlord has not received such notice or has otherwise determined that Tenant has aban-doned the Dwelling Unit, the Dwelling Unit shall be presumed abandoned and this Lease shall be terminated as of such date.”

In other words: If you go missing, so does your apartment.

South View on staying safeSection 8.

“We may at any time, enter the premises for any reason we or the manager deem to be reason-able. � e entry can be gained by use of a pass key or other means, to include disarming any intru-sion alarm, if applicable, or by breaking a window

or other means if locks have been changed in vio-lation of this Lease, and you will be responsible for any damage caused thereby.”

In other words: If it means keeping the unsa-vory types from breaking in, we reserve the right to break in.

Squire Hill on petsSection 3.

“Tenant agrees to pay a $ nonrefundable fee if an unauthorized pet is determined to be staying in Tenant’s apartment. Additionally, Ten-ant agrees to pay $ monthly per rent, retroactive to Tenant’s move in date, if an unauthorized pet is determined to be staying in Tenant’s apartment.”

In other words: Pets pay rent, too.

CONTACT Jeff Wade at [email protected].

Keeping an eye on the fi ne print in leases

Check out our latest

Quadtalk to hear some entertaining roommate stories at

youtube.com/breezevideo

FACEBOOK.Find us on

16 Thursday, November 18, 2010 breezejmu.org off-campus life guide

Documents

The Breeze Off-Campus Supplement