March/April 2012
In This Issue:
- FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER!
- OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING 2012 SURVEY
- SAFETY TIPS FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS
- THE DOS AND DON'TS OF MOVING OUT
- ONLINE GARAGE SALE
- DON'T NEED IT? DONATE IT! NEED IT? TAKE IT! FURNITURE DEPOT
- SUMMER SUBLETS
- FIRE SAFETY TIPS
- AVOIDING FINES ON ST. PATTY'S DAY
- ENVIROWESTERN CAMPAIGN
- THE NEW USC PRESIDENT
- STUDY TIPS
- RELAY FOR LIFE 2012
- SHAMROCK PANCAKES
- SUMMER JOBS
- NOMINATE YOUR NEIGHBOUR
- MARCH/APRIL QUIZ
- NEED HELP? HAVE QUESTIONS? ASK US!
- CONTACT INFORMATION
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER!
Like our Facebook page, Western Off-Campus Housing to get daily tips & information about off-campus life.
Follow WESTERNOCHousing on Twitter to make sure you receive quick tips & information from the Off-Campus Housing world at Western.
OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING 2012 SURVEY
Congratulations to the ten winners listed below who filled out our Off-Campus Housing Survey. We had over 2000 responses and we want to thank everyone who participated. Our hope is that by doing periodic surveys, we will be able to provide a better service to students in the future.
Beki Van Horik
Devin Hall
Hong Bich Hoang
Daniela Tarantelli
Katrina Pasierbek
Evan Wright
David Howard
Jordan Patterson
Matthew Corbett
Chrysi Bogiatzi
Winners will be contact directly as to how to claim their prize.
Off-Campus Housing Services
SAFETY TIPS FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS
By Ally
Summer is quickly approaching, and as you become more excited to head home, it's important to consider some safety tips before you leave. A majority of WESTERN students head home for the summer, making student areas vulnerable to break-ins. Here's your top safety tips for the summer months when no one will be home:
- Take any expensive and important belongings home with you
- If you plan to leave a TV or any other expensive items, lock it inside a bedroom for extra precaution
- Make sure that all windows and doors are locked properly
- Close any blinds so that people cannot see inside
- Make sure to make arrangements for your grass to be cut (Did you know that if your grass reaches a height over 8 inches that you may be fined hundreds of dollars by the City of London?)
If you're planning on staying in London this summer, and will be living by yourself, here's some extra tips to consider:
- Make sure you have bright exterior lighting for when you come home at night
- Never leave any windows open when you're not home
- Lock all windows & doors when you go to sleep or leave the property.
- Don't leave expensive items lying around where they can be seen through the windows
THE DOS AND DON'TS OF MOVING OUT
By Jenelle
The end of the year is coming upon us, and for many students this means it is time to move. Whether you are graduating, or just changing houses, moving out can be a stressful time. Here are some pointers to get you well on your way.
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DON’T |
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ONLINE GARAGE SALE
The two purposes of this site are to give students a chance to either sell off items they no longer need (or cannot move) and pick up a bit of extra cash or to allow students that may need a few items and could pick them up at a reasonable cost.
Items to be accepted on this page include; furniture, clothes, small appliances, electronics and other. Note that cars and houses will not be accepted. If you have more they one type of item to sell, it might be best to submit different ads in different categories. Web site: offcampus.uwo.ca/garagesale.htm
DON'T NEED IT? DONATE IT! NEED IT? TAKE IT! FURNITURE EXCHANGE
Consider donating unwanted furniture to other students who can use it, instead of throwing it out! The Furniture Exchange is accepting reasonably good furniture which will be available to Western students. Donations can be dropped off at the EAST LAWN BESIDE ALUMNI HOUSE & PLATT'S LANE ESTATES PARKING LOT or the item can be picked up if necessary by calling 519-661-3787 for an appointment.
- Furniture Exchange
- Location: East Lawn beside Alumni House & Platt's Lane Estates Parking Lot
- Open: April 23rd to May 2nd, 2012
DUMPSTERS will be placed from April 23rd - May 2nd on the East lawn beside Alumni House student residence, in the parking lot of Ross Park & the parking lot at King's Library, near the corner of University Cres. & Patricia St, and in the Platt's Lane Estates Parking Lot. These are to accommodate students moving out on dates not coinciding with scheduled garbage collection.
PLEASE DO NOT PUT OUT YOUR GARBAGE ON THE WRONG DATE!!
Please visit the City Garbage Collection web site to learn your collection days for your area: http://www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Garbage/zonemap_pdf.htm
SUMMER SUBLETS
By Ankur
A lot of students end up signing leases beginning May 1st, but don't intend on staying in London during the summer. However, that's four months of rent being paid during which you won't be using the house. A potential way to recuperate some of this money is by subletting for the summer.
A sublet is an agreement between the tenant and the sub-tenant (the person wishing to stay in your rental over the summer). Bear in mind, the main tenant is legally responsible for the property and any damage caused by the sub-tenant. If a sub-tenant does cause problems or leaves damage, you may hold them liable for damages through Small Claims Court.
rental law oversees the rights and responsibilities available in a landlord-tenant relationship. Since a sub-tenant is a tenant of a tenant (i.e. a “sub-tenant”), the RTA does not apply for a sub-tenant and tenant relationship. Western's Off-Campus Housing Service offers a Sublet Agreement you may download and have your sub-tenant sign: http://offcampus.uwo.ca/sample_sublet_form.pdf
Where to find sub-tenants? A good way to do this is by advertising on Western's Off-Campus Housing Service web site at https://www.has.uwo.ca/housing/offcampus/self-admin/. Full-time Western students are allowed one free advertisement; this may be used to advertise a summer sublet. Another way is simply by word-of-mouth: if you know someone who will be working in London for the summer or someone who has a lease beginning in September, they will likely require a place to stay. The competition for summer sub-tenants is quite high in London, so you may not be able to sublet your rental accommodation. We do recommend that you try and sublet to people you know and trust.
Important points:
- You should download our Sublet Agreement (listed above).
- You cannot charge the sub-tenant more rent than you pay.
- Best to sublet to people you know and trust.
- You are liable to the landlord for any damages, disturbances or unpaid rent caused by the sub-tenant.
FIRE SAFETY TIPS
By Kevin
Here are some spring tips to help prevent a fire in your rental accommodation!
In the Kitchen:
- Use appliances that have an automatic shut-off.
- Keep a timer handy to remind you when oven and burners should be switched off.
- Clean appliances properly and regularly so that no particles get caught near heat sources.
- Do not leave cooking appliances unattended.
- When cooking do not wear loose fitting clothing or have material that could easily catch fire near the heat source such as napkins.
Living Room/Common Areas:
- Do not put too many plugs in one outlet/power bar.
- If you have radiators, do not put flammable items near them.
- Make sure all cigarettes and fireplaces are put out properly and there are no lingering embers.
Bedrooms:
- Do not leave space heaters/fans on overnight.
- Do not leave candles unattended.
Bathrooms:
- Make sure curling irons, blow driers, straightening irons are unplugged when not in use.
- Check for combustible cleaning products and make sure they are away from heat sources.
Make sure you have at least one smoke detector on each floor and outside bedrooms, a carbon monoxide detector and a fire extinguisher in case of an emergency. Have your landlord inspect them all once a year to ensure they are working properly. As well make sure you have at least two exits from every bedroom (either a door or a window).
AVOIDING FINES ON ST. PATTY'S DAY
By Lauren
The OCA's want to remind you of the major City bylaws and provincial liquor laws to take into consideration before you make your St. Patty's Day party plans. Hopefully you can save the last of your depleting bank accounts for more important things, like food.
Keg Parties
It's no surprise that it is illegal to sell alcohol out of your home. Don't think you are fooling the police by selling the cups and giving the beer for free. Did you know that you can get charged with two fines by doing this instead of just one for selling alcohol in the first place? Avoid the superfluity of fines by reading this article to find out the costs and consequences of other violations.
You can be charged for having an open bottle of alcohol in your possession on the front lawn of a private property or in the hallway of an apartment building. Being on a private property on the front lawn will not save you from a public drinking ticket, and so it is recommended that you move to the backyard and keep in mind the noise bylaw.
We want everyone to have fun on St. Patty's day, and so this brings us to the liability issues. You may be held responsible for people who became intoxicated at your party and then became injured or involved in an accident after they left. This also means that your guarantors who signed onto your lease with you may be liable for any such incident and can be called at any time.
Mischief
Anyone who willfully destroys or damages property, or interferes with the lawful use and enjoyment of property, may be charged for mischief. Mischief charges are large and can get as high as $5,000 and a court appearance.
Noise
London's 24/7 noise bylaw can result in a $200 ticket per occupant of a rental accommodation, even if some tenants are not present at the time of the charge. Best to be mindful of your noise levels and keep your gathering inside to avoid upsetting your neighbours.
Note that the police can, and have, laid multiple charges against roommates for the same party, even though only one roommate was responsible for the gathering. If you plan to have a party, it is a good idea to notify your neighbours and get them to call you and give you a warning before they call the police.
Code of Conduct
So far I've just talked about tickets, but depending on how outrageous you get on St.Patty's it may cause you some grief at school as well. The university has something called the Western University Code of Conduct and this applies to all students whether they live in residence or off-campus. It may apply to off-campus students if they are part of a school team, academic group or a club and their actions have a negative impact on the University community.
Please be safe, and don't drink and drive.
ENVIROWESTERN CAMPAIGN
Are you a travel mug user who doesn't want to be left out during Tim Hortons' Rrrrroll Up the Rim to Win? Despair no more! EnviroWestern is pleased to announce the return of the Refill to Win campaign this month. By refilling your travel mug you save hundreds of the approximately 3,000 paper coffee cups that Western students throw in the trash every single day. These paper cups come at a large cost! Millions of trees are cut down each year to make them, destroying the natural environment and removing important carbon sinks from the planet. Bring your travel mug and give it some loving attention during the Refill to Win contest from March 5th to April 6th for the chance to win some great prizes! Help us stop the destructive paper cup trend and move towards a reusable future.
YOUR NEW USC PRESIDENT: ADAM FEARNALL
By Ally
After a hacker, re-vote and an extra two weeks of waiting, Adam Fearnall was announced as the new USC president. Over 10,000 students re-voted this year, showing strong support for the USC. Here's some highlights from Fearnall's platform, and the changes we can expect to see next year on campus:
- Increasing the presence of Western students' art - specifically through a new initiative titled Western Art Collective, which focuses on providing professional and financial assistance to artists interested in using art to tell the story of Western students.
- Purple Opportunities Program - an initiative that connects Western students looking to volunteer with non-profit organizations in the London community.
- Reality Checks - USC grants to students who pursue research and attend academic conferences during their undergraduate degree.
- Mustang News Hub - a program designed to help students break out of the Western bubble that includes free national and local newspaper as well as coffee between 6 a.m. - 8 a.m. every morning.
- Mustang Central - rebranding and renovation of InfoSource to better connect students with the USC.
- A free shuttle to and from the main transportation hubs in London such as VIA rail station, the London International Airport and Greyhound bus station during peak travel times.
- Occupancy Ratio at Libraries - will allow students to view the amount of people in the libraries online. This will enable students to make decisions about seat availability before they make the trek to campus.
- Path behind Talbot College to Health Science Building.
- Transparency - all the salaries of USC Executives will be posted online along with the USC budget.
- Fearnall's Merit Based Pay - he plans to allow students to decide whether he receives 90 or 100 percent of his salary based on his performance.
Fearnall has clearly put a lot of thought and effort into creating his platform. He has planned and created many new initiatives that have the opportunity to greatly benefit campus life at Western.
STUDY TIPS
By Jenelle
It may be a little early for exam stress tips, but before you know it finals will descend and will leave you wondering: Where in the world did second semester go? And it is true - most likely because of Reading Week, second semester does go by a lot faster. Exams seem to come out of nowhere. Here are some ways that I like to de-stress during this time:
Therapy dogs - I am a huge animal fan and interacting with these loving creatures sends your stress levels plummeting. Keep an eye out for what goes on at the UCC, as therapy dogs were there during the December exam period. If you miss that, most residences bring therapy dogs in to interact with the students!
Work out - Exercising is often a great way to let off steam. Work out your frustrations with your courses by attacking that elliptical machine. Or a swim is always a refreshing way to clear your mind. If you play intramurals, do your best to attend the games, as they are an excellent way to release energy you've built up from sitting in the library all day.
Eat - There are two kinds of people in the world: people who binge eat during exams, and people who don't eat at all. Don't be either of these people! Just eat three healthy meals a day. DO NOT skip breakfast, it can be the worst thing you do. And when you're up for breakfast a little early, that is the best time to study, as your brain absorbs more information.
Study with friends - This can have its ups and downs. Rather, it should be study with friends who aren't distracting. Studying in a group is a good way to motivate yourself and de-stress. Study groups also make studying a communal activity; two (or three, four, five...) minds are better than one!
Share these tips with your friends and any others you come up with. Your exam studying this year may not feel like one of the most difficult times of the semester!
RELAY FOR LIFE 2012
By Ankur
The Relay for Life is a charity event held annually across the country, from which benefits go directly to the Canadian Cancer Society. Western's own Relay for Life is taking place in the UCC, on March 24th from 7 p.m. until March 25th at 7 a.m. After registering a team of 10-15 people, the goal is to try and have at least one team member walking in the relay for as long as possible. You are also encouraged to get others to pledge money to your team. Lots of other activities are also available, including:
- Minute To Win It
- Yoga
- Film Viewings
- Live Music
Come out and participate in the relay, activities or have some food! All the money benefits cancer research across Canada, and it always turns out to be a great time. Your support, monetary or through attendance, will be quite welcome and essential in reaching this year's stated goal of $70,000. You can sign up your team at: http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR?fr_id=10708&pg=entry - come out and show support for those who have fought and are fighting cancer.
Come check us out in the UCC Atrium from March 12th-March 23rd!
SHAMROCK PANCAKES
By Lauren
If you have an exam the day of or after St.Pattys day, that doesn't mean you can't still celebrate a little bit! Enjoy a festive set of shamrock pancakes in the morning before hammering out a night of studying. After all, it wouldn't be very nice to let St. Patrick down, now would it?
Need:
- Pancake mix
- Eggs
- Vegetable oil
- Milk
- Green food coloring
- Plastic squeeze bottles
What To Do:
- Make pancake mix according to directions on package. Prepare batter using directions for 2 cups pancake mix. Add 6-8 drops of green food coloring and mix well.
- Pour batter into a squeeze bottle. Heat griddle to medium heat. Using the squeeze bottle, draw the outline of a Shamrock with the batter, quickly filling in the center areas. Batter will spread so don't add too much. When bubbles appear and the edges are set, flip the Shamrock pancake and cook for an additional minute or two for a pretty stack of pancakes, make varying sizes of Shamrocks.
SUMMER JOBS
By Kevin
If you're like me, you haven't gotten yourself in gear and still need to find a job for the summer. First here are some options to help you find potential summer jobs:
- Federal Student Work Experience Program (www.fswep.ca)
- WESTERN Career Central (careercentral.uwo.ca)
- Student Experience Program (www.gojobs.gov.on.ca/SEP.asp)
- E-mail professors about possible student assistant positions
- If you're really interested in working with a company or organization but can't find any employment opportunities show some initiative and e-mail them! They might appreciate your confidence and may even create a position for you if they like you enough.
If you want help with your resume or cover letter to give it that extra flare it might need, check out the Student Success Centre website below for tips or you can e-mail careercounsellor@Western.ca to set up an appointment.
Some General Tips to Consider:
- Consider tightening your privacy on your Facebook and other social media accounts as employers are likely to check those when researching you as a candidate.
- Make sure to ask your references beforehand if you can use them! There's nothing worse than a person caught off guard who has to vouch for you.
- Anticipate the different type of interview styles and how to prepare appropriately: is it a telephone interview where you will have to enunciate properly? If you're Skyping, do you have a fast enough computer that you won't experience lags? If it's a group interview are you making sure that you are speaking enough but not monopolizing the conversation?
Best of luck in the hunt Western Students!
NOMINATE YOUR NEIGHBOUR
Do you have an exceptionally kind neighbour? Here is an opportunity to nominate them to be entered to win March & April's Good Neighbour Award. Each month a new Good Neighbour will be awarded a $15 gift card to a Western on-campus service & be included in an article about their good deeds in the following month's newsletter. Email us back with your Good Neighbour nomination: oca@Western.ca.
MARCH/APRIL QUIZ
The answers to the following questions can be found in the March/April newsletter. Please submit your answers to oca@uwo.ca by April 11th, 2012 for a chance to win a $15 gift card to Western Food Services.
- What is the Furniture Exchange?
- What are the four main points that Ankur highlights in his article on subletting?
- What is Relay for Life and when will Western hold their event?
Congratulations to Eli York for winning the February quiz! Eli will receive a $15 gift card to Western Food Services, for use at most campus eateries. The February quiz answers are:
- When will the City of London start charging for hydro using Time of Use billing?
February 1st - Under the RTA, how much written notice must you give your landlord before moving out at the end of your lease term and which form is available for this purpose?
You must give your landlord 60 days notice. The Form N9 is available to do this. - On which date(s) are Western students able to vote for the USC elections?
February 14th and 15th
| NEED HELP? QUESTIONS? ASK US! |
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The Off-Campus Advisors are a group of Western students who are trained to provide advice for off-campus housing questions and concerns. We also strive to create a community atmosphere between Western students and London residents. Please contact the Off- Campus Advisors if you have any questions or concerns this year. Remember we are here to help, so make use of this great Western service! The Off-Campus Advisors are available during the following time periods: |
| HOW TO CONTACT US |
| Off-Campus Advisors and Housing Mediation Service The University of Western Ontario Room 102, Elgin Hall Phone: (519) 661-3787 E-mail: oca@uwo.ca Website: www.has.uwo.ca/housing/oca/ |