By Sidney Birkett

October 7, 2015

Whitewater’s annual Housing Fair, co-sponsored by the Whitewater Student Government and University Housing, will occur from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 7 in the University Center’s Hamilton Room.

This event is designed for students looking at off-campus living, particularly for first-time renters.

“It’s a really casual event,” said Tyler Frigo, Financial and Entrepreneurship Director for Whitewater Student Government. “Kind of like a meet-and-greet so that students – especially first-time students – can really take a little bit more time to find out what the details are and what it’s like to actually be off-campus and on your own.”

The event is good for anyone who has questions and is looking for answers about off-campus living, especially students looking to take advantage of sophomore exemption, Frigo said.

“This event, especially in the last couple years here, has become extremely important,” he said. “And the reason for that is because of the record attendance.”

With Whitewater’s record-breaking student population, off-campus living may be encouraged to make room for the bigger and bigger freshman classes in the dorms. The housing fair is a good introduction into alternatives to dorm life, Frigo said.

Students can come and be introduced to local landlords, where they can gain information on off-campus living. Vendors at the fair will be there to help students understand renting and the process clearly, as well as to offer living options.

“It’d be really nice to see a lot of students take advantage of it because it is very helpful,” Frigo said. “Students really know what they’re getting into before it’s too late or before they realize it’s something that they may or may not want to do.”

This year’s Housing Fair is also introducing new vendors. With more landlords, the event itself has expanded along with Whitewater’s student population. Frigo said this year there is more interest and willingness to participate than last year’s event.

“It’s great to see the community throwing stuff up and not just saying, ‘Hey, I will rent you this property!’ but also going through the process with them and explaining to them all the finer points and details of it,” Frigo said.