- Ann Frymark,
Sophomore sociology student
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Brooke Terranova, an ISU junior, set up tent Tuesday in the parking lot next to Young American Reality at 311 S. Main St. in Normal. Terranova, who was last in line at the time, was hoping to get a house on Cypress Street. (Photo by Nathan Kelly / Staff Photographer) |
Ready, set, sign! The annual open leasing day for apartments is steadily approaching and students are preparing to get the apartment they want at no cost.
With tents raised high, beer bong in action, and the smell of charcoal nettled right underneath your nose, one would think that this could be the setting of a camp out in the woods; instead, students are camping outside the largest realty company in Normal, Young America Realty, Inc.
Open leasing for student apartments officially starts on Sept. 29 promptly at 8:30 a.m. for every leasing agent in Normal. According to property manager Anthony Bufka, this phenomenon has been taken to another level and become an annual spectacle for the town.
“This actually started three to four years ago by the students themselves. Each year it seems to get bigger and better with the amount of people camping out and the different games they incorporate to make the time go by,” he said.
On open leasing day alone, Young America signs the majority of their leases for the upcoming school year. According to sophomore sociology major Ann Frymark, it is the only way to ensure the quality of an apartment.
“It’s pretty intense! People are consumed on getting the best apartment and I am one of them,” she said. “Why not work a little harder to get what you want. If you wait at the last minute you are stuck with the bottom of the barrel apartments and will be spending more time calling maintenance than enjoying your place.”
With the line standing at 75 strong at the time of this interview, Bufka projects that the line will increase by the end of Young America’s business day and as the date gets closer.
“This is the largest amount of people that we have seen actually camp out for more than two days prior,” Bufka said.
Though open leasing day is quite an anticipated day, many are not too keen about how desperate students are to get an apartment instead of going to class and/or work.
“Last year, we were contacted by ISU partially due to their observation that class attendance for students was low on the days prior and before open leasing started, “Bufka said.
Young America understands why university officials are concerned, but Bufka said that they never encourage students to miss class.
Young America, nevertheless, has helped with the waiting process by having their staff monitor campers throughout the night, carry on conversations and even help feed campers. “We’ve only come to make sure students are comfortable and safe,”Bufka said.
“Previous years they served us hot cocoa. Yesterday, they got us pizza and it really makes the whole experience so much better,” Frymark said.
Young America thinks that this event has become extremely popular primarily due to how students and people in general somehow need to be emotionally attached to an apartment.
“Apartments are like people’s best friend and people just don’t choose everyone to be their best friend. One must be attached deeply and this is no different,” Bufka said.
Whether it’s an emotional attachment or quality, one thing is quite sure, open leasing will continue to be one of the most exciting events to the campus and the town.