Panther Village rates released

Recontracting for all University of Northern Iowa students began Jan. 18. To aid in the decision making, the Department of Residence released the proposed rates for the new Panther Village apartments. However, the Board of Regents must approve the rates before they are official; this will be done by April.

The rates for Panther Village, without a meal plan added, lie between the rates for ROTH (without a meal plan) and the residence halls (meal plan included). According to Carol Petersen, the interim executive director of residence and director of dining services, the proposed rates were based on what it would cost to maintain and operate the building.

Lyn Redington, the interim dean of students and director of residence life, said the proposed rates also take into account the number of students who will be living in Panther Village.  

"We are presuming, this first year, we'll have 204 people in that building," Redington said. "There are 204 beds. We're presuming 100 percent occupancy."

A four-bedroom apartment in Panther Village is projected to cost $5,960 per person without a meal plan.

So, what will a potential Panther Village resident get for that price?

For one, a brand-new building to live in.

"On our campus, we don't have brand-new housing often," Redington said. "In fact, the last time we opened a new building was ROTH, and that was in 1994."

The apartments include a kitchen with a dishwasher and a garbage disposal, single-occupancy rooms and one bathroom for every two people. The apartments are also completely furnished.  

"You don't have to buy any furniture, or lug any furniture in, or move furniture," Petersen said. "We've purchased some really nice furniture for the apartments, so I think that the students will really like the furniture."

New furniture was also bought for ROTH to match what was purchased for Panther Village.

Another thing Panther Village boasts is its "soundproofed" rooms.

"There was time and attention and money put into (Panther Village) to make sure that the noise would be reduced traveling between different places, and I think that was really, really important," Redington said.

Both Petersen and Redington stressed that Panther Village is different from other apartment options because it is on campus.

"I think that's what makes living in PV special," Petersen said. "You have that apartment feel, but you're also really close to everything that's happening here on campus and can be involved."

Those who are worried about construction noise from Phase II of Panther Village, which will add 246 beds to the Village, need not fret, according to Petersen.

"We were able to start on Phase II already, in November, and because we've had such a mild winter, most all of the heavy construction will be done by the time students move in," Petersen said.

Casady Myers, a sophomore criminology major, is planning on living in Panther Village with three of her friends.

"I want to have my own room and a kitchen. I feel that the rates are reasonable for what you get," Myers said.

Rachel Hayes, a sophomore Spanish education major, is opting to live in ROTH with five others.

"We wanted to get more of an apartment style, and we wanted to cook for ourselves," Hayes said. "We didn't want to pay for Panther Village."

Luke Peterson, a freshman math major, is planning on staying right where he is: Campbell.

"I enjoy Campbell; it's fun and has a good atmosphere," Peterson said. "I didn't really consider Panther Village because I didn't really think I had a good chance with the numbers. I'm looking at it more for next year, with the new phase being built."

Petersen said living choices depend on students' individual situations.

"I would say that it's just another different choice for students looking for different options depending on what your lifestyle is," Petersen said.