University of Tennessee Knoxville - Volunteer Yearbook (Knoxville, TN)

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choosing a lifestyle . . . APARTMENT Since UT housing only accommo- dates one fourth of the student body, a large number of students must try their luck at apartment living. Choosing an apartment without expe- rience is like ordering from a French .menu without understanding the lan- guage. Not even the landlord knows forsure. Unless one lives alone with a maid, certain adjustments must be made. One rents not just an apart- ment; one acquiresawhole new life- style. Considering the poor reputation of youthful tenants, it is no surprise that managers take a dim view of college students. th0 lease, eh? The attitude of the landlord may sometimes vary, according to the demand for his housing. West-side owners must be polite, at least, to fill their compart- ments; if a Fort Sanders Ieaser, though, bothers to paint the walls, or even smile, he is doing it out of the kindness of his heart. lYes, landlords do have heartsl There are usually two patterns of acquiring roommates. One individual may take the initiative to get the apartment, and then ask a friend to share it, thinking that a good friend makes a good roommate. Many good friends have been lost in this manner. Alternately, two dorm roommates may decide to move into better quar- ters. Certainly they are accustomed to 28 LIVING tolerating one another, and may even be friends anyway. Nevertheless, the greater responsibilities of apartment livingecooking, cleaning, rent-can make close friends too close. Acquiring a new pet for an apart- ment, or a new apartment with the pet, may add a new realm of experi- ence to any tenantls life. Having hid- den the animal from a resident advi- sor, he may then have to hide it from a superintendent. The owner may dis- cover that his roommate hates the pet, and may even be allergic to it. The problem, usually, is that the room- mate likes pets in general, but despises this particular pet, even to the point of encouraging it to play in the street. Apartment owners probably prefer plants, because of obvious advantages over pets. Plants may soil the carpet, but in a pleasanter way than pets. Plants donlt bark, or fly away, or have litters at inopportune moments. A burglar may not fear a house plant, but even a stationary cactus is better protection than the typical pet. Plants, however, like pets, have an owner who will usually consider them before a roommate. Except in the university-owned complexes, there is no guarantee that neighbors will be students. Middleaged or elderly neighbors might object to activities and sounds that the younger generation would tolerate, or even en-

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Associations: Humes Hall Resident's Association sponsored many activities throughout the 75-76 school year. Several of these activities were shared with Reese Hall Resident's Association. One of the biggest events was AII-Sing in which Humes and Reese won first place. Reese and Humes also sponsor a Beer Bust and formal each year, which is always a success and draws a big crowd. Humes participated in Homecoming along with the whole West Area. Other activities included Ice Cream Sprees, ice skating parties, and game shows such as the Roommate Game and College Bowl. Carrick Hall Resident's Association's activities for the year included movies, bowling, billiards, ice cream sprees, bingo, ice skating and roller skating parties with beer busts, and a cram house. Special events for Carrick for the year included AII-Sing, College Bowl, Carrick's annual Art and Photo Contest, and Carnicus week, which in- cluded the Dating Game, a male beauty contest, and a Talent Show. Humes - Carrick 27

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joy. However, the older ones are often quieter than students; after living in a dorm, or in the city, some peace is welcome. If the apartment is far from cam- pus and friends, entertaining might be a little more difficult to arrange, but the extra room for partying probably compensates, and certainly the social life is more flexible if there are no parents, hours, and male guests that need to be escorted. Regardless of roommates, DCtS, neighbors, or social life, the individual can gain or lose a great deal in apart- ment living depending on his attitude. One can become a good cook, or ac- quire a taste for Hamburger Helper, and feel he,s coped with the larger problem. Fastidious cleaning and ar- ranging is fine, or the tenants can adopt a iileisure living attitude iiipar- don the mess, but we're studying for examsi'i. But, the overly neat tenant with inadequate time, mores, or skill to keep the place clean-or who has a roommate with more practical stan- dards-should go back to the dorm or to his mother. Apartment dwellers are often en- vied by those who live in residence halls or at home because of ignorance of the role a tenant plays in this un- usual living environment. Prospective tenants must realize that the apart- ment dweller is in an island; there is no iiproperty , only rented walls and streetlights glaring in at night. The tenant must handle salesmen, man- agers, and those littleiH bugs that ap- pear at night and during parental visits. Nevertheless having an apart- ment gives a bit of independence and, occasionally, privacy that home and hall never offer. In the end, the tenant is still able to say, Hthis is my apart- ment. After all, the university cannot throw him out at the end of nine months. 29