How the heck do I park on campus?

In picture: DUC (at left), Parking Garages (at right).

In addition to offering undergraduates and graduates a wide variety of degree programs, WKU prides itself on maintaining the great American tradition that so many historical campuses have played a pivotal role in: not so awesome parking.

Most of you will be familiar with the situation of campus parking, generally speaking, so I assume you're really looking for information on parking permits and lots. Graduate students need to get commuter passes (Yellow, if you're looking on the color-coded map).

• You can find all the information you need at the WKU Parking & Transportation website, plus you can order your parking pass online.

• For a map of which parking lots you can use, click here.

Luckily, WKU has recently been investing in expanding parking, including a new parking garage near DUC.

For hopping around campus to run errands (such as getting your new ID, returning books) there are several short-term parking areas. These are metered spots that will allow you to park for up to 30 minutes. Assuming you've got some coins in the car, these can be much more convenient than parking in distant lots and walking around the hill.

Big Investments: Book buying

In all seriousness, buying your textbooks each semester does not have to be such a heartbreaking event. There are, of course, the same options you probably had at your undergraduate university.

• Buy 'em at [Insert Name of Local Bookstore]. If it's what you want, you can certainly go this route. We have several local bookstores that specialize in textbook sales, used and new. The official WKU bookstore is located in DUC (Downing University Center), about half way down the hill from Cherry. There are also three other textbook stores, one of which is about a two-minute walk from the WKU bookstore.
  

• Buy 'em online. As you've probably discovered, buying used books online can sometimes be the most cost efficient route. The con is that you have to order them in advanced and can't run by the store to pick them up. If you're new to online textbook purchasing, here are some sites you might consider trying:
  
• Amazon.com
• Half.com
• Bookthief.com

If you want to go ahead and check out the reading list for a class you're taking next semester, you can do so online:

1. Go to http://www.bookstore.wku.edu/ and choose the semester and course number of the class.
   
2. Once you get the list of books, copy/paste the ISBN number into whichever site you're shopping with. This will ensure that you get the correct edition, as opposed to using the title or author only.

Night Life...

(Note: Not actual image from Bowling Green, or any place remotely accessible.)

As a graduate student, I really haven't placed a priority on my social life. Since you've taken the initiative to embark on post-baccalaureate education, I can guess that bar hopping isn't too high on your list of interests. These things notwithstanding, taking a break from studying, reading, writing, and reading some more can be a necessity. Bowling Green offers a variety of bars most of whom cater to a collegiate crowd. This basically means that on any given night you may find one or two of them offering some sort of "All You Can Drink" special. If you enjoy loud music, mostly belligerent people, and a crowded, smoky room, than these are the nights you should venture out into. Personally, I tend to seek respite from school in other environments.

While Bowling Green is not a mecca of art and culture, we do have fantastic opportunities to watch and/or listen to various talented people in the community, including Western. Our department of theatre and dance works hard throughout both semesters and usually puts on at least two or three shows per semester. We also have the Public Theatre of Kentucky whose company is small, but productions are usually pretty great. Also, the theaters in Nashville provide larger productions with discounted tickets for students.

As you settle into your new home in Bowling Green, you may notice many people discussing Nashville. Nashville is only 45 minutes to an hour away from Western and offers a slew of things to do. The city's selection of bars, dance clubs, restaurants, shopping, art, culture, and music is tempting, accessible, and a relief to those who may feel B.G. is too small. Vanderbilt University, located on the West Side, is a great place to see even more drama, dance, and art. If you like malls, Nashville has four ranging from typical to high-end. Most of the 'fancier' chain restaurants like P.F. Chang's, Ruth's Chris, J. Alexanders, Cheesecake Factory, and Olive Garden are located in Nashville. It's a great city that's relatively safe, affordable, and accessible.

Finally, finding things to do in B.G. is made a lot easier when you're a G.A.. We tend to flock together periodically for dinner and conversation, which makes it easier to cope with homesickness, boredom, or fuzzy eyes (from reading so much). Again, if you're looking for something else that we haven't discussed on here, let us know!

Where is my office?

When I began as a G.A., I had basic questions like: Where is my office? When can I move in? Where do I get my keys? When do I talk to the professor I'm assisting? When do I start? So, in the true spirit of websites, this post will take on a 'Q and A' design. Please comment with more 'basic' questions you may have for Tara or me.


Where is my office?

Your biggest allies in the English department when you start are going to be Kimberly Boswell and Tomitha Blair. Kimberly is technically the assistant to the department head; Tomitha's official title might be office manager. Both are great at guiding new G.A.s in their quests for placement. It was Kimberly who gave me the information about my office location sometime in early August. You will need to go down to the key shop located in the weird and wild basement of the old parking structure. On the map, it's the structure that is to the right of Diddle Arena when standing on the inner campus. Once ascertaining said keys, it's alright to go check out your new space.

Most likely (in fact, it is almost certain) you will be sharing your office with another G.A.. This may seem awkward at first, but most of the time you will be on different schedules. And when you're in there together, it's nice to have someone to talk to. The offices run from mid- to closet-sized. Some have more furniture than floor space. As is specified in your letter, the department will provide you with access to a computer. This normally works out to one PC per office. Most of the offices I've seen come with at least one book shelf. Keep in mind that this is the world of academia: windows, carpet, new furniture, non-florescent lighting, and comfortable seating are not priorities. The space is yours (and your officemate's). Adding rugs, pictures, books, and lamps are all things other G.A.s and profs have done to make their spaces more comfortable.


When can I move in?

As soon as you get your keys, it is okay to start settling in your office. Kimberly or Tomitha can provide you with the name of the person with whom you will be sharing space. My advice would be to meet with him or her to discuss moving things around and establishing what desk area/ space will be whose. If you are moving into an office already embodied by a G.A. (I, for instance, have an empty half), it would probably be a good idea to meet with him or her before taking over what might already be claimed.


When do I talk to the professor I'm assisting?

At least two of you will be assigned to a certain professor who oversees a special project (one for the Victorian Newsletter and the other for the Writing Project). These positions just so happen to be previously held by Tara and me, respectively. E-mailing your new quasi-boss would be beneficial, and I suggest mid-August as a good time to contact him or her. He or she will get you acquainted with your job, duties/tasks, and 2nd office (bonus individual space for these 'special' positions). Also, contacting the person who previously held these positions is a good idea. He or she will be able to give you any tips, tricks, or advice for getting through the year. Most of the time, the G.A. knows more about what duties you will be performing than the professor because the professor has not done them since before he or she required an assistant.


When do I start work?

The first week of class. I know, it will be overwhelming, but everyone here (including the professors and especially Dr. Oakes) knows and understands the chaos that is the first week of Fall. If you take care of settling the keys to your office, moving some things in, and familiarizing yourself with the building and campus, the duties and details of beginning work won't seem as bad.

Again, I tried to think of some of the basic questions I had when I began. Ask us via the comments options if you have any more inquiries that most of us forget we even had.

Apartment Shopping in Bowling Green

When it comes to finding an apartment here, there are three routes to discovery:

1. Scour the Bowling Green Daily News classifieds.
   
2. Word-of-mouth
3. Drive around looking for "For Rent" signs

Option three is no doubt the most expensive of these options, so I suggest #1 and #2. As for well-known apartment areas in Bowling Green, there are a few different types. Because Bowling Green is a college town, there are tons of megaplexes. These are generally four-bedroom suite apartments where each tenant has their own lease to their bed-and-bath suite. The common area - kitchen, living room and balcony - is shared with three other roomates who you choose or who are chosen for you. Some of these megaplexes are The Gables, The Registry, Western Place and Campus Pointe. Most of the occupants tend to be undergraduates, generally sophmores to seniors, and the buildings are known for their noise levels. There is some good, some bad.

Pros of the megaplexes:

• Cheap, quick and easy. You walk in any day of the week and leave an hour later with an apartment. No need to worry about roomates, hookups, etc.
• Flat, single-person rent rate, generally between $300 and $385 per month.
• All utilities, internet and cable are included in the price.
• Fully furnished with bed, couches, dressers, etc.

And the cons would be:

• Little choice in roomates, unless you already know three other people in need.
• Tendency toward loud, partying neighbors.
• Limited to little parking.
• A hermit experience. (Personally speaking, when you live with three people you don't know well, you wind up using the common area less and spending more time in your suite. This ends up feeling like a very expensive dorm room.)
• STERILE. The apartments feel like doctor's offices, usually. (Campus Pointe's not so bad.)
• Not always so condusive to studying.

As far as word of mouth, you can definitely shop around via other people's experiences. I've lived in several different apartments over here and am finally happy with my current place. My landlord/property manager is awesome. Not only do they have great properties at good prices, they're excellent managers who are flexible with leases. Best of all, they respond immediately to any phone call you have about the apartment. In the past, I've called them for a broken toilet lever and messed up central heat and air unit. Each time, they came over and fixed it within 45 minutes. Recently I contacted them about our dishwasher not cleaning well, and they replaced it the very next day. Of all my property managers, they're the most respectful I've ever had. (At my old place on Nashville Rd., the landlord would key into the apartment anytime he wanted. It was knock-knock, pause for 25 seconds, key in.) Plus our apartment is a great place. We have a large, spacious two-bedroom within walking distance of campus for $485/month. I've paid more for a lot less in Bowling Green.

If you want to contact my property managers about available places, call Ms. Kim/M.L. Management at (270)535-0128.

Other options are generally grouped by areas of apartments.

• Downtown/Around Campus: This includes most addresses on numbered streets (13th St., etc.) plus a variety of other names like Chestnut and University. Generally any "street" (rather than "way" or "avenue") addresses around campus are in this location. These are all old structures, as there's little to no new construction in this area. These apartments tend to be either recently renovated, or not, which you can interpret. Their are definitely radically different possibilities for this location. I don't mean to discourage; my friend has an amazing apartment in this area. Generally speaking, you can gauge the apartment's place on the spectrum based on price.
• Downtown/Around the Square: These tend to be really nice, really expensive loft aparments. If it's in your price range, you definitely won't be disappointed. Be warned, however, that they do carry heft rent prices, generally starting at $600-$700 per month and up.
• Around the Mall: There are a lot of complexes around the mall. You'll recognize these in the classifieds because they usually boast the proximity of shopping. These places can be good because they're generally pretty nice, convenient for newcomers who only know the main roads and, as promised by the advertisement, they're near major stores. However, if you plan on a daily trip to campus, the traffic can be a dillemna. If you get caught during lunch or commute hours, it may take you twice as long to cross town.

And, of course, there are other areas that I haven't mentioned on here. Generally speaking, though, these are the most apartment-populated areas. If you have found something in the newspaper that you'd like more information on before you come to Bowling Green, just send me an email.