The Argonaut | 2024 Housing Guide Insert

Housing Guide 2024

On-campus Housing Guide

Most first-year students choose oncampus housing for their first year.

“We encourage [first-year students] to apply as soon as possible,” Lillyanna Green, the Housing Office Manager, said.

Many things can be frightening about the housing process, but many of these housing options come with Resident Assistants and support services for transitioning from living at home to on campus. Random roommate assignments can also be worrisome, but the way housing selects your roommate is by having you take a quiz on different qualities you have and finding the best match.

“Our application process is kind of like online dating,” Green said. “Through the application process, they are able to build their roommate profile and answer the questions as best as possible. Our system tries to match them with someone else who has selected the same answers.”

Choosing where to live can be hard, but this guide will break down each option by prices and amenities.

These prices for the 2024-2025 years have not yet been listed so all prices will be from the 2023-2024 year.

Students and families can expect a 3-6% increase in these prices and to check the housing website frequently for any updates.

The Theophilus Tower.

The Tower is an 11- story building which is the most popular choice for firstyear students and the cheapest.

The Tower costs $2,425 per semester and $4,850 per year.

The rooms have a twin XL bed along with a microwave, minifridge, desks, vanities, sinks and wardrobes.

Each floor has communal bathrooms and are not co-ed.

There are washers and dryers located in the basement of the Tower.

There is also a game room, private study rooms and a computer lab for residents.

The eighth and ninth floor of the Tower are reserved for specialized communities.

Wallace Residence Center

Wallace Residence Center is a popular option for both first-year and upperclassmen students. First-year students exclusively live in the Ballard, Wiley and Gooding wings.

For a double room, it costs $2,425 per semester, and $4,850 for the year.

A Stevenson Single costs $3,625 per semester and $7,250 for the year.

Each room comes with a twin XL bed, a desk, a wardrobe, storage, a vanity, a sink, a minifridge and a microwave.

There is also a private bathroom shared between roommates and suitemates. There are different specialized communities on some floors that change from year to year, so any interested student can look at the housing website for more information.

The laundry room is located in the basement, along with a computer lab, recreation center and support services.

The McConnell Residence Hall

This option is available to non-first year students. These are single rooms and are marketed as a “quiet” and more “private” environment.

It is $3,410 per semester and $6,820 for the year.

The basement is co-ed, but the other three floors are not. Each room comes equipped with a twin XL bed, a wardrobe, a dresser, a sink, a vanity, a desk, a microwave and a mini fridge.

The building also has a laundry room.

The Living Learning Communities

The LLCs are comprised of eight buildings for specialized communities or years in school. Only two of the LLCS,

Upham and College of Natural Resources (CNR), allow first-year students to reside there. The rest, Gem, Syringa, Sage, Gault, Engineering and Scholars are for secondyear students and above.

Each floor plan for the LLCs varies between buildings and floors.

The majority are single room options, but there are doubles as well, and typically, there are around five total people living in a suite.

A community double room is $2,775 per semester and $5,550 for the year.

A community single room is $3,625 per semester and $7,250 for the year.

The suites come with a furnished living room, a full-sized fridge and microwave in the kitchenette, a restroom and sometimes a separate shower area. The rooms come with a twin XL bed, desk, bookshelves, closet and three large drawers. There is a full-sized kitchen on the first floor, along with study rooms, a recreational area and a laundry room.

The North Campus Communities

The newest addition to the housing options is available for transfer and returning students.

The NCCs cost $2,425/semester and $4,850 for the year.

The rooms come with a twin XL bed, a desk, a wardrobe, air conditioning, a minifridge and a microwave.

The bathrooms only have to be shared among roommates. There is also free parking in the NCC lot for residents.

Greek Life

A large part of the campus is involved with Greek Life.

Recruitment for Greek Life usually begins before and during the Fall Semester, but many people join mid-year as well. Every sorority and fraternity is different and comes with different amenities, and they are worth looking into individually. While Greek Life is

considered on-campus housing, there are separate areas that make it more difficult to access information.

Interested students can go to the Greek Life website at UI for more information.

The Elmwood Apartments

The Elmwood Apartments are only available for non-first year students.

These apartments have three different options.

There is a studio which is $4,085 per semester and $681 per month.

The one bedroom is $4,180 per semester and $697 per month.

The loft is $5,335 per semester and $978 per month.

Elmwood’s has a kitchenette with a refrigerator, oven and stove. There is also a dining and living area along with a bathroom. Internet, water, trash and sewage are included in the price, but residents pay for electricity.

The South Hill Apartments

These apartments have many different options and are available to third-year students and above.

The one bedroom is $3,960 per semester and $660 per month.

The two bedrooms are $4,180 per semester and $696 per month.

The three bedroom is $4,680 per semester and $780 per month.

The four bedroom is $5,865 per semester and $978 per month.

Like the Elmwoods, everything is included except for electricity which the resident must pay. There is a kitchenette with a refrigerator, oven, stove and garbage disposal. The apartments also have living and dining areas along with the bathroom.

The South Hill Vista Apartments

These apartments are only available to undergraduate students with dependents or graduate students.

Andrea Roberts ARGONAUT

The LLCs: a place where community takes root

Community, engagement, and fun experiences happen in the LLCs

Sierra Rode ARGONAUT

When I applied for the University of Idaho, I already knew where I wanted to live on campus.

However, the housing I wanted had a limited space for incoming first year students.

In the end, I barely managed to secure a double room in the first Living Learning Community (LLC) building, Gem 1. The LLCs are a group of smaller residence halls with more privacy. I am not really a people person, so it was immediately apparent that the LLCs were the place for me.

Each building, or community, has

a similar floor plan with a few minor differences. They are meant to specialize in housing for students pursuing similar majors. These provide residents with the environment best suited for combining their studies, social life and leisure.

The LLCs can house close to 600 residents, with about 75 students per community. Because of the increase in incoming freshman class, Gem one was opened for housing in addition to Upham four and the limited space in the CNR building.

In all, the communities consist of Gem, Syringa, Sage, Upham, College of Natural Resources (CNR), Gault, Engineering and Scholars.

In the center of the communities, there is a courtyard and one side of it is an area for residents to hang up hammocks.

“The hammocks are really chill and really fun,” said Jaylee Phillips, a secondyear criminology major who lived in the Gault LLC. “I get food and sit down with my friends, listen to music and just talk

Letter from the Housing Guide editor

Housing doesn’t have to be stressful and there are ways to navigate it

Andrea Roberts ARGONAUT

Moving away can be extremely stressful and disheartening.

In my experience, moving more than 1,500 miles away from home was one the hardest things I ever had to do.

Even so, my housing situation was easier than I expected for college.

Whether you want to join Greek Life, move into the dorms or even offcampus, there is a place for you.

You don’t only move in for housing, you move into a community.

There are always events going on, and you will make friends easily. This

is mainly because everyone is in the same boat as you.

Adjusting to college life can be difficult, but it feels like a second home once you do.

I moved into a Wallace double for my freshman year, and I have had many experiences and memories, some good and some bad, but I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything.

I am set to move into my sorority next year, and I am excited for the new road ahead.

This guide will help you navigate your housing options and hopefully, make the act of choosing where you will live less daunting.

You will hear this often, but college life is always what you make it, and I hope it will be a positive experience for you.

and vibe.”

Another thing about the LLCs that made me fall in love with them is the interior setup of the buildings. Each one is nearly identical, providing private study rooms, a lounge, a restroom, a game or family room, a community laundry room, a community kitchen and co-ed floors with gender-specific suites. The lounge is a great space to relax and hang out with friends.

In the Gem community, there is a bathroom across from laundry room and family or game room. The laundry room has four washers and four dryers for the whole building to use, so make sure to set a timer to get your things on time.

The kitchen is a resident favorite. With lockers assigned per suite to store cookware lining the wall, the kitchen also includes two stove ovens, two toasters, two microwaves and an island counter with a built-in cutting board. Many residents will make meals here and there

is plenty of room for company.

The floors of each LLC are co-ed, but the individual suites are gender specific. Each suite has a slightly different floor plan but still has all the same amenities.

In most suites there are four bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchenette, and a furnished living room, but in others, like my suite, there are only three bedrooms. Either way, one bedroom is always a double room.

Each single room holds a desk with mobile drawers, a wooden chair, a fullsized wardrobe, a dresser that can be dismantled into under-the-bed-storage drawers, a small bookshelf and an adjustable twin XL bed.

The double room is larger and contains two of each item.

Occasionally, a double room has a twin XL bunk bed, rather than two separate beds. My double room is one of the ones with a bunk bed.

The living room has a couch that seats two, a coffee table and two more cushioned chairs. The kitchenette is equipped with a full-sized refrigerator, microwave, sink and a counter with drawers for storage.

The bathroom is generally split into three parts: the shower, the vanity and the toilet. The shower and toilet each have their own rooms.

“It’s a nice set up and I get to have my own space but also have roommates, which is nice,” said Emily Abramson, a third-year student who lived in the Scholars LLC.

There are many housing events that take place in the LLC area that allow students in these communities to grow connections with each other and have some fun.

“It’s good for students to meet others if they don’t already have a community or group of close friends,” Abramson said.

The housing rates from this year for the Living Learning Community double room were $2,775 per semester and $5,550 per academic year.

The rates for the Living Learning Community single room were $3,625 per semester and $7,250 per academic year.

Prospective housing applicants can expect a 3-6% increase in costs for the 2024-2025 academic year.

If you would like more information, you can check out the housing portal on the University of Idaho website for updates to the official prices.

John Keegan | Argonaut

A group of students playing with a football in front of the LLC’s

Many options for off campus

An in-depth look at housing offcampus

Andrea Roberts ARGONAUT

Trying to find housing off-campus can be difficult, but there are many apartments near the University of Idaho’s campus that offer affordable housing.

The Empire

Located in downtown Moscow, the Empire claims it’s only “1000 steps” to UI’s library. The Empire is pet friendly with trendier “designer” rooms. The Empire has a courtyard with a grill area, sports courts and individual balconies.

Other community amenities include a laundry facility, on-site parking, package receiving and on-site maintenance. Apartment amenities include a balcony, hardwood floors, air conditioning, a convection oven and water, sewer, electricity and garbage included in the rent.

A studio apartment starts at $995 per month.

A one-bedroom apartment starts at $1,095 a month.

The Grove

Only a couple-minute drive from campus, the Grove has many amenities. Community amenities include a 24/7 fitness center, study spaces, clubhouse, basketball and volleyball courts and a pool. Apartment amenities include private bedrooms, walk-in closets, fully furnished rooms, laundry and highspeed internet.

A two-bedroom and two-bathroom apartment starts at $759 per month.

A three-bedroom and three-bathroom apartment starts at $689 per month.

Hill Rental Properties

These apartments are locally owned and are a close drive to campus.

Apartment amenities include water, sewer and garbage in the rent.

A one-bedroom apartment is around $604- $704 a month.

A two-bedroom apartment is around $700- $836 a month.

A three-bedroom apartment is around $850- $935 a month.

The Republic on Main

These apartments have a close proximity to the UI campus. Community amenities include private packages lockers, a fitness center, rooftop lounge, study areas, complimentary coffee bar and a game room. Apartment amenities

An RA’s Perspective

Advice, point of view and suggestions for freshmen

Andrea Roberts ARGONAUT

Having a Resident Assistant can be an enormous benefit, especially if you are a first-year student trying to navigate living on your own for the first time.

RAs receive many benefits for working for University of Idaho such as free room and board, a $50 book scholarship and more.

“In the beginning and even now I do it for the people,” Elizabeth Bourassa, an RA said. “I plan on working as a high school theatre teacher some time in my life so I feel a strong connection to being able to watch over others and help with issues that may arise, as well as be able to learn new things on top of it all.”

Most first-year students will likely have an RA on their floor if they live on-campus.

“The purpose of an RA or Resident Assistant is to basically make the transition of family/home/childhood to living more alone/adulthood hopefully easier in some ways especially for our younger students and to be there for

them and our older students,” Bourassa said. “We are there to be mediators, voices in some cases and resources when necessary.”

When asked about common mistakes first-year students make, Elizabeth responded that it is forgetfulness.

“Quite recently the main issue is not putting water in food,” she said. “We’re human. We all forget things, but the amount of times that something important that can cause a problem that might escalate seems to usually be concentrated in the younger years.”

Bourassa ended with her advice for first-year students.

“I’d say advice for upcoming freshman living in dorms is just come to college and, especially dorm life, with a certain amount of patience on some things, and if you need help or resources or if there is an issue, don’t let it escalate. Find someone to help.”

include hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, in-unit laundry, a 50 inch TV and the rooms are fully furnished.

Two-bedroom and two-bathroom apartments are $869 per month.

Three-bedroom and three-bathroom apartments are $769 per month.

Four-bedroom and four-bathroom apartments can range from $684-$749 per month.

Five-bedroom and five-bathroom apartments are $674 per month.

Palouse Properties

These apartments are only a couple minute drive to campus. Amenities

for these apartments vary between the properties, but some of them include laundry facilities, dishwasher, garbage disposal, internet and air conditioning.

Apartment prices vary but they are typically around $645- $1425 per month.

Social Media

Social media is a great way to find apartment listings and potential roommates. Facebook marketplace is a common area students look to try and find apartments. Apartment buildings will also post often on all types of social media regarding room rates and more.

John Keegan | Argonaut

A row of apartments at Republic on Main near downtown Moscow

Brooklynn Jolley | Argonaut Kira Halie (right RA), Jacob Garcia (middle), Zach Callos (Left)

Residence Hall Association | Courtesy

Wallace: the complete dorm experience

Living in Wallace lived up to my expectations and surprised me

Brooklynn Jolley ARGONAUT

Living in Wallace wasn’t picture perfect like the movies show dorm life to be, but it wasn’t awful either.

I lived in Wallace during my freshman year and while it was a small space, it wasn’t a bad experience for me.

I had a great setup with my roommate and suitemate. I applied to the University of Idaho late, so I didn’t get to pick my housing, and I was just stuck in whichever room was available at the time.

I picked Wallace because my boyfriend was rooming there, and it was the cheap option without communal bathrooms.

It was $4,850 per year for my double room, which came out to $2,425 per semester.

There is also Stevenson wing, and it’s the only wing that offered single rooms that were priced at $7,250 per year ($3,625 per semester).

There is an estimated 3 to 6% increase in this price for the next year, and students are encouraged to look at the housing website for more information.

My R.A. was in the room next to mine, and that definitely scared me at first, but she was always very respectful of me, my roommate and our privacy and space. My roommate was an introvert just like me, so she never expected me to make or maintain conversations, and while I wouldn’t exactly have called us friends, we did co-exist very well.

She never posed any problems for me, and she made my freshman dorm experience pleasant.

I had a small bathroom that I shared with only my R.A. and my roommate, plus a full sink in my room, which was probably one of my favorite parts.

My dorm had plenty of storage space, and I never struggled with having too much stuff or not having enough space for everything.

The dorms came equipped with a microwave and a mini-fridge. That was awesome because they were two less items I needed to buy for my dorm, but having a very small fridge for two people was not ideal.

I ran out of room in the fridge quite often and quickly. I didn’t have many complaints about living in Wallace; it was a good space for me. I would consider Wallace the less communitybased option for freshman housing.

Even so, it’s easy to meet new people in Wallace, but only if you put yourself out there. There are plenty of places to hang out, like the floor lounges and the basement. The basement was a great place in Wallace for socializing and studying and a cooler place in the hot weather.

It had a kitchen, vending machines, a pool and ping pong table, plenty of comfy chairs and a TV area for watching movies or playing games.

It also had resources like the Student Success Program, and a computer lab with printers that was open almost 24/7.

The computer lab was a great place to get work done that was quiet and rarely busy. In the Wiley and Gooding wings of Wallace, the basement also had laundry rooms, which was super convenient because residents didn’t need to go off campus to do their laundry.

Ballard and Stevenson wings had smaller laundry rooms on a few of the floors, which was even more convenient for students.

Doing laundry was a bit of a struggle for me sometimes. It was often difficult to secure a washer, or people moved my stuff within one minute of it being done, even though I had more laundry to do.

Despite some struggles, I was just thankful that there were laundry facilities offered on campus, and even a laundry room directly on my floor.

Wallace was the best place to live for getting food and convenience of doing so. The Eatery was on the ground floor of Wallace, and it was nice to be so close to my primary place of getting food.

I would get tired of the food in the Eatery often, so I always kept a lot of snacks and meals that were “dormfriendly” to make in my room.

The Market in the LLCs was my saving grace for getting quick access to snacks. It was always well stocked, and although some of the prices were a bit high, it’s only about a five-minute walk away.

My experiences of living in Wallace my freshman year were almost all positive ones.

Many people might not say the same thing, but looking back on living in Wallace, I can only say that I loved it.

I’ll always remember my good memories like movie nights with my friends, cooking and studying in the basement, decorating my dorm.

John Keegan | Argonaut A typical Wallace residence Hall dorm room

John Keegan | Argonaut

The exterior of Wallace Residence Center

‘I don’t regret living in the Tower’

A firsthand account of living in the Theophilus Tower

Brooklynn Jolley ARGONAUT

“When I went to college, I wanted to meet new people, I wanted a random freshman roommate, I wanted that experience and I got that in the Tower,” Thomas Hubbell, a first-year student and a computer engineering major, said.

Hubbell enjoyed the social and community-based aspects of the Theophilus Tower a lot.

He and his roommate would leave their door open often, as did other residents, and people would drop by and make small talk on their way to and from their dorms.

“You can kind of just go around and talk to people and see what everyone is up to,” he said.

The Tower has a lounge on each floor, which prompted even more socializing and building friendships. People would hang out there, watch TV, play games and make new friends.

The Tower is the place to live for extroverts and social butterflies.

When picking his housing for freshman year, Hubbell was looking for the best place to make connections and have a large social atmosphere, and the Tower provided that.

He opted for a random person as his roommate, which made him nervous about what his roommate was going to be like and if they would get along.

“I was a little worried my roommate would be, like, stinky, or mean, or weird or something,” Hubbell said. “He wasn’t though, so I was good.”

He and his roommate got along very well and didn’t have any problems.

“I had a really awesome roommate. I know some people had a little bit of roommate issues, but it was mostly just, you know, drama, because you’re living so close to someone,” he said.

He always respected his roommate’s privacy, his space and his possessions, and his roommate did the same for him, so they never had any issues come up.

Living so close to a lot of people deters many from choosing the Tower as their housing option, along with the community floor bathrooms.

Hubbell said that he never minded the bathrooms and didn’t come across any issues with them.

“I was a little worried about the community bathrooms, but it was never an issue,” he said. “There was never, like, all the showers were full, or stuff like that.

The people that I’ve talked to that live in the Tower don’t seem to have an issue with it either.”

The bathrooms each have four showers and several sinks. There is also a community laundry room in the basement of the Tower.

Hubbell said that he never had issues with the availability of the washers and

dryers in the laundry room, especially once he learned the times that the room was the busiest.

The basement also offers printers and a lounge for students to hang out or study in.

For the year, the Tower was priced at $4,850 ($2,425 per semester), which is expected to increase about 3 to 6% next year. Interested students should check the

housing website for any updates.

Each room is equipped with a mini fridge and a microwave, and some floors even have academic themes, such as a computer science/engineering floor.

Hubbell said that despite the rooms being small, he never experienced any issues with storage or feeling like he didn’t have enough space.

For him, building a community was very easy to do in the Tower, but sometimes staying cool in the summer or warm in the wintertime was not.

“The temperature sometimes is rough,” Hubbell said. “The heater in my room didn’t always keep up with the cold, so a lot of times, we would wake up to some pretty cold mornings.”

Moving in for the fall semester posed a problem for him too because there were hot days and no air conditioning in his dorm.

“It was a lot of kind of just laying on top of my sheets and trying not to die of heat,” he said.

Hubbell combated the heat by getting a fan and regulating when his window and blinds were open, and that helped him keep cool most of the time.

Despite some minor inconveniences during his time living in the Tower, Hubbell didn’t regret his choice and he had almost all positive things to say about his experiences.

“I really enjoyed it,” Hubbell said. “I don’t regret living in the Tower.”

John Keegan | Argonaut A student walking around campus with Theophilus Tower in the sunset

John Keegan | Argonaut

A typical two bedroom dorm in Theophilus Tower

Greek Life from the top of the hill

An in-depth experience on living in a fraternity

Greek Row at the University of Idaho is one of the most energetic and electric places on campus.

The lively atmosphere of Greek Life brings in 20% of UI admissions each year, according to the UI website.

Greek Life is not the correct decision for everybody, but it could be the best decision of a lifetime for others.

Growing up, the first person in my family to go to a traditional college.

Greek Life seemed very intimidating, and I had no idea what to expect. All I knew about fraternity and sorority life was what I’ve seen in movies, but despite that, I decided to take part in rush. Little did I know I was making one of the most important decisions in my life.

Every fraternity is different, but on average, the Interfraternity Council fraternities cost around $3,500 per semester according to UI’s Greek Life website, but interested students should always check with the chapter leaders for specific fraternities’ prices.

Formal Rush at UI has a lot of energy to it.

Going through Rush gave me the opportunity to see what Greek Life had to offer, and I saw a completely

different side to the Greek community. It’s such a strong and uplifting community to have on campus, and it drew me in like a moth to a light.

Rush helps you meet all the affiliated chapters on campus and make connections that will last a lifetime.

When I opened my bids and saw that Delta Tau Delta was at the top, I knew I had found my family.

“Going Greek” as some would say, opens you up to so many different

experiences and opportunities: scholarships, leadership opportunities and a support system that helps you stay accountable.

All these opportunities are a possibility, but in Greek Life, it all depends on you and the work you put into yourself and your chapter. Your chapter will help you balance your social life with your school life, keeping you accountable for your schoolwork and responsibilities.

Joining Delta Tau Delta was the best decision I have ever made. Living in a gigantic mansion on the biggest hill on campus with all my new friends seemed like an easy decision to me, and with the price being comparable to the dorms, it made sense.

Every chapter on campus has extracurricular spaces, whether it is movie rooms, or something bigger like a basketball court. Every house has a recreational space. Almost every house on campus comes with a sleeping porch. Whether it is an all-member porch or a sleeping porch for individual grades. Going into Greek Life, sleep was my biggest concern, but the sleeping porches turned out to be one of the best parts of being in a house. Not every house has sleeping porches, but I think they’re a fun aspect to Greek Life.

My favorite part about living in the chapter house is our basketball court and our day rooms. There’s nothing like coming back from class and seeing all your friends outside having fun.

A lot of chapters on campus have day rooms for the members that live on the porch. Everyone’s day rooms are free to decorate and make yourselves to show your own personality and what you like. Individual rooms come with a desk and a closet area with shelves.

Every chapter house has storage space and there’s room for all your things.

Another plus to Greek Life is every chapter on campus has an in-house chef. Our chef at Delt works so hard and puts so much time and effort into making lunch and dinner for us every day, and it is always amazing.

Since my first year, I have experienced so many good things I can only attribute to my chapter.

I have gone camping in northern Idaho, helped with many community service opportunities, raised money for so many philanthropic events, attended formal dances, made banners and lived with some of the best people I have ever met.

Greek Life is a strong community with a lot to offer and can be a great choice for someone wanting to find their people in college.

Tristan Edgerly ARGONAUT

Otto Waddell | Argonaut

A sunset sky behind the Theta Chi house on UI campus

Otto Waddell | Argonaut

The inside of the Theta Chi house on UI campus

My experience joining a sorority

Sophia Newell ARGONAUT

Some may think living in a house with 60 girls is a punishment, nightmare or a scary story.

In reality, it is an opportunity for growth, opportunities and a forever home.

The common stereotypes for Greek Life is that they like to party, they put little effort into academics and only care about what they look like or have no depth in character. In reality, no girl I have met is the same.

I am a freshman of the sorority at the University of Idaho called Delta Zeta and while I have not been here for a full year yet, I have learned that there is so much more to joining a sorority or fraternity than just getting an awesome chef and living in a house with 30 rooms.

First off, there is an executive board. In a sorority, there is a form of government that is established called the executive board. This board establishes rules, organizes schedules and regulates the entire house as a team.

There are other lower positions established for other jobs that help the house become a working community. In doing so, members gain experience and practice in developing professionalism and socialization for when they graduate to become functioning adults.

Instant new friendships are obtained. Being a member means making immediate new friends who have similar goals, values or personality traits to you.

Living with 60 girls automatically means convenient friends who are always there for any situation that might occur.

Being away from home for the first time can be difficult, but joining a sorority helps someone not feel so alone or scared.

Community is a vital part of sororities. The work and participation of members contribute to creating a community. Participating members gain opportunities and rewards for their work. Each house has what’s called a philanthropy, which is something to promote and give donations to.

For Delta Zeta, it is hearing and speech. As a house, we are constantly doing something, whether it is working for our own philanthropy or contributing to another sorority or fraternity for theirs. It creates a community in the entire Greek neighborhood full of support.

You are committed for life. It is an oath for life, like marriage, only instead of another person, it is an entire organization.

Having the support system, a sorority offers guidance and conformity as not only a new adult, but also as a student away from home.

Security on campus

“The Mission of the University of Idaho Campus Security Team is to create and maintain a safe, secure campus and to provide a safe educational environment through a community approach to security as well as the promotion of personal safety and awareness and the deterrence of crime,” is a statement made by Campus Security team on its website.

“We know that the safety of your student while they are at the University of Idaho is a priority for you. We want you to know that it’s a priority for us, too,” according to the UI Student Affairs website. “We provide a number of programs and resources for our students to keep them safe and give them the skills to be proactive in protecting themselves.”

There is a wide range of services that Campus Security provides. Safe Walk is a number that any student, employee

or visitor can call if they feel unsafe and need an escort to where they are heading.

A member of Campus Security will walk the student to their destination with no questions asked. This is available at all hours on any given day.

The Safe Walk number is 1-(208)885-7233.

Campus Security also will provide jumpstarts on cars, provide a loaner gas can and assistance when getting locked out of a dorm or building.

Campus Security patrols the campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week and continues during holidays and breaks.

The duties of Campus Security

include watching for any crimes or any dangerous situations around campus. They also report any damage to buildings or maintenance issues by partnering with UI’s Facilities Department. Moscow police maintain a 24-hour presence on campus

Campus Security works closely with the Moscow Police Department, the Fire Department and the Paramedics team.

For any questions, students can contact campus security at 208-885-7054, or campus-security@uidaho.edu.

For emergencies and other situations, there are always numbers to call on their website that have people available 24/7.

Kappa Delta | Courtesy

A group photo in front of the Kappa Delta house on UI campus

Andrea Roberts ARGONAUT

Housing Guide 2024

NCC offers dorm convenience off campus

A great choice for returning, graduate and international students

My journey to the University of Idaho was slightly unconventional.

I went to an international college in South Korea for two years before transferring to the University of Idaho.

Because I went abroad for university, I did not know what to expect when I transferred to UI, especially regarding housing. I was late to the on-campus housing application, so I scrambled around looking for another option off-campus. I ended up applying to one of the apartment complexes UI recommended in their emails for students on the waiting list.

I had not heard back from the apartment complex when UI notified me that I was accepted to their newest option—the North Campus Communities. The North Campus Communities is a housing option UI opened last minute before the Fall 2023 semester to fit more students into “oncampus” housing.

UI leased the building from FairBridge Inn and added dorm furniture to the rooms. Most of the students are sophomores or above, including graduate students and international students.

Despite being an untraditional choice, NCC students still have resident advisors (RAs), Community Assembly and a resident director. This means there are still opportunities to engage with the student community, despite not having large common rooms.

I chose to withdraw my off-campus apartment application and move into the North Campus Communities, even though there was not a lot of information about it at the time, mostly because of the location.

As a student, I felt the most important aspect of where I lived would be accessibility to campus. So far this has held true.

The walk to and from the North

Campus Communities is around 10 minutes to The Eatery and 20 minutes to the Administration Building.

Personally, I enjoy this distance of walking, and I feel my health improved as a result.

The biggest issue I have faced in the North Campus Communities is that you must cross and walk alongside the Pullman-Moscow Highway.

While crossing the highway with the approval of the “walk” sign, some cars turn into the lane students walk in and can create unsafe situations.

I have had similarly unsafe situations when walking on the sidewalk past Tri-State Outfitters or Zip’s Drive-In, where cars turn into the parking lots without looking.

Even if I am being vigilant in looking before crossing these sections, there are still hazardous moments.

Other problems that occurred this year included losing hot water twice

due to water boiler failure. Hopefully, if the lease to keep the NCCs is renewed, a backup water heater will be installed.

Of all the on-campus dorms, the NCCs are the most affordable option.

In the 2023-24 academic year, it costs $2,425/semester or $4,850 for the academic year. Additionally, parking in the NCC lot is free for residents who register for the NCC parking permit.

Idaho Eats also caters for a small grab-and-go breakfast selection in the lobby in the mornings.

It is unclear whether the NCCs will be an option for next year, but the NCCs were included as an option in email about the housing application process for current and transfer students sent in March.

As a transfer student, I think this is a great option. You are still close to and involved with campus and have a meal plan. That makes things very

convenient as you get adjusted to a new school. It is also a quiet building with students in similar positions.

It is conveniently located between the UI campus and the Palouse Mall and is about a 30-minute walk to downtown Moscow.

The rooms are decently sized, and every room has a bathroom you only have to share with a roommate. The laundry room is small and only has two washers and two dryers, but it is free and located in the same building.

What I have learned is dorm life is what you make it. Your level of involvement in community events influences your experience tremendously.

While off-campus life is better for building independence, there is something to be said for the community and benefits that can be found in the dorms.

Georgia Swanson ARGONAUT

John Keegan | Argonaut UI student Jayden Barfuss reading in his NCC dorm room

John Keegan | Argonaut North Campus Communities, the new student housing solution for UI students

Recruitment Week basics: what you need to know

Sorority perspective of Recruitment Week and how to navigate it

Recruitment for Greek Life isn’t called rush week for nothing. The recruitment process is chaotic, fastpaced and a little overwhelming.

It can be stressful to find your “forever home” in five days, and it isn’t easy for everyone.

Dress code is a large part of Recruitment. For the five days, there are themes for what outfits girls should wear each day. This means girls are doing more than just showing up,

hanging out and getting a house tour.

It requires recruitment to be taken more seriously because you are not just presenting yourself, but the best version that you can show.

The five prohibited B’s are also important. The whole purpose of Recruitment is to show who you are as houses show themselves to you, but with some regulations. These regulations are the five B’s, which stand for Bible for religion, Boyfriends for relationships, Ballots for politics, Bucks for financial situation and Booze for partying.

These are all seen as red flags for recruiters because they are considered biased.

Stress can also be a factor. The formality along with how the fastpaced Recruitment Week creates a lot of stress. There are decisions you must make that day based on the

conversations you had earlier.

In between houses, you highlight the last house and take notes, then rank them just based on the past hours you experienced.

“I remember calling my mom bawling because I just didn’t know which one,” freshman Timberlyn Legg of sorority Kappa Alpha Theta said. “They were all so good.”

Rho Gammas are a vital part of Recruitment. Going through Recruitment is fast and chaotic. Luckily, two sorority girls are with each group to help keep girls on track. Many girls like to think of them as “rush moms” and guardian angels.

“The most stressful part of Recruitment Week was getting to your house on time because you had no idea where anything was,” freshman Gracie Cooper of Delta Delta Delta said. “What really helped me was asking

for help with directions from my Rho Gammas.”

Difference in recruitment by gender is another part of Recruitment Week. The recruitment process is not the same for boys as it is for girls. It is more formal and taken more seriously for sororities. Girls get to know one another on a deeper level, yet have little leisure time. Guys, on the other hand, have what seems like a more laid-back experience with less formalities and regulations.

Most fraternities set up games outside, blast music and create bonds with more conformity.

Cooper said, “I was really frustrated with the way that the girls had to dress up every day and walk miles up and down Greek Row in heels, but the fraternities got to go to whatever houses they liked and just stand outside and play yard games.”

“I grew up in a house with brothers, so I definitely have more fun playing basketball or spike ball,” Legg said. “It was hard seeing the guys have fun and we are staying in a single file line, just wake up, eat and leave.”

The final day of Recruitment is called Bid Day and is the morning after a girl makes her final decision. The options decrease as you rank and get to know the houses and as they get to know you.

Once you choose that house, that house also must choose you back.

Imagine one room filled with hundreds of girls all opening their bids and immediately running outside to where all 10 sororities are waiting. All that work and anxiety of the week just brushes off as you run home with 60 new friends by your side.

“I wouldn’t change my decision for the world,” Legg said. “Theta feels like family.”

Cooper also shared to just savor the time you have and said, “Go into this experience with a good attitude and an open mind, and just to have so much fun and enjoy your time.”

Recruitment Week sticks. The memories gained from those five days are nostalgic for every step taken and every decision made that leads to finding a new home.

Sophia Newell ARGONAUT

Ben DeWitt | Argonaut

The inside of the Delta Delta Delta house showcasing its communal living space

Ben DeWitt | Argonaut

The Gamma Phi Beta house located along Greek Row at UI

Housing locations in Moscow The Hill

The Empire Republic on Main

John Keegan | Argonaut

The Hill apartments to the South of the University of Idaho campus

John Keegan | Argonaut

The Empire which is along the Moscow Pullman highway right off of the University of Idaho campus

John Keegan | Argonaut

Republic on Main which is near the Southwest entrance to the University of Idaho campus