[lorend]

Article Rewind: Living Off-Campus

A lot of students are about to be moving into their off-campus homes for the school year in a few short weeks, while some students are still looking for a place for next year (I just signed a lease myself yesterday!).

If you have found a place, you need to start thinking of what you will need to bring to outfit your space. We've got articles that cover the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, front closet, common areas, and of course your bedroom. If you think we missed anything please post your ideas to help other users!

If you're still looking for a place to live, you want to look at where the different locations are in Hamilton, what to look for when you check out a place, and some tips when you are about to sign a lease. You can also read Usman Yousaf's recent article on how to find a place.

Check out listings on the Off-Campus Resourcre Center (OCRC) website, or at their office in the basement of MUSC. Don't forget to check out evaluations of different landlords and houses at MacShare! You can also consult with sites like craigslist and kijiji, or even the classified ads of the Hamilton Spectator.

Once you've got your housing situation settled, there are several other things you should take into account that MacInsiders has covered. Have you ever lived with other people before? If you haven't, check out our article on how to survive your roomates. If you've never lived in Hamilton before there is also some important information on Hamilton's One + ONE policy that you need to know. There are also the inevitable creepy crawlies that come with basements that you may want to learn to deal with!

We have also written articles that get you out of the McMaster bubble and check out some off-campus dining options, and reviews of some local pubs and clubs. We also have twenty-four reviews by MacInsiders users on local resteraunts and a couple on local clubs and bars. If there is a place you love (or hate) post a review for other users! Don't forget to check out the forum discussion on places to go/see in Hamilton as well.

Lastly, as an off-campus student you may want to get involved with the Society of Off-Campus Students (SOCS), who have lots of events during the year. You can also check out the Pop the Bubble Blog, set up by the Office of Community-Service Learning & Civic Engagement (OCSLCE), which has tons of ideas and information on what to do off-campus. The Off-Campus Experience (OCE) website was recently launched, as a partnership between the Off-Campus Resource Centre (OCRC), the Society of Off-Campus Students (SOCS) and the Student Community Support Network (SCSN).

Living off-campus can be an amazing experience. But make sure you take the time to seek knowlege and advice from all of the resources available to you.

[SusT]

The Judicial Affairs office also has a new web page with lots of links useful to help you get involved at Mac and in the community. . . www.yruhere.ca