THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN

APARTMENT GUIDE
C
O
V
E
R

I
L
L
U
S
T
R
A
T
I
O
N

C
O
U
R
T
E
S
Y

O
F

C
H
R
I
S

B
A
K
E
R
8C
CLEAN UP ON AISLE 3
Even after four years living on her own, one student still
hasnt mastered the art of grocery shopping. Kansan
correspondent Lauren Debiak shares her experiences.
3C
PREPARE TO PARTY
Youre throwing your first college get-together. Be sure to
have plenty of the essentials: music, drinks and planning.
2C
KNOW YOUR LEASE
Before signing the lease on that great apartment you
found, be sure to read the lease. You may be agreeing to
terms you wont be able to live with.
8C
DECORATE YOUR SPACE
Living on a budget doesnt mean living without
furnishings. Lawrence stores offer alternatives to
spending a lot on home decorating.
SPECIAL SECTION MARCH 16, 2005
apartment guide 2C the university daily kansan wednesday, march 16, 2005
If you are moving into your first
apartment, the last thing on your mind
is who owns the place. Once you get
the lease signed after checking it
with Legal Services for Students
you would probably expect to never
see the landlord again. Unless your
rent is late.
Here is the catch. Things can, and
usually do, go wrong in apartments.
The bathtub might not work, the toilet
might not flush or the dryer might catch
your clothes on fire. It has happened.
While landlords are required by land-
lord/tenant laws to keep the basics,
such as the toilets and sinks, in working
order. If they know you and recognize
you, theyre more likely to make sure it
gets done efficiently.
Keep an open line of communica-
tion, Michelle Luna, Shawnee sopho-
more, said. If they like you, theyre
more likely to help you when some-
thing goes wrong.
When moving in to an apartment in
August, remember, that is the time
when most college students are moving
in. Thats usually when things go wrong.
You find out the closet doors do not
stay on the track or the dishwasher is
not actually washing dishes.
In the first few weeks, after filling out
a repair request form, there is one thing
you must do: Be patient.
If you find a few things wrong in the
apartment, there are probably a handful
of things that need to be fixed in every
other apartment. As long as the repair
wait is not keeping you from being
clean, it will be fine if it takes a few
days.
I would report problems that come
up as soon as possible, said Nguyet
Nguyen, Shawnee senior.
According to the Off-Campus
Living Resource Center, Lawrence
has a list of requirements that deem
an apartment or house livable. The
list includes a working lock, stairs in
good condition and a railing wherev-
er there are more than four stairs and
a water heater cannot be in a bath-
room or bedroom. Overall, there are
about 50 guidelines set by the city of
Lawrence.
The resource center also recom-
mends creating a Move-in
Checklist, which should be com-
pleted within a week after you move
in. Take note of damages already
present in the apartment so you do
not lose part or all of your security
deposit after you move out. Taking
pictures of especially significant
damages is recommended.
In keeping communication with the
management company with which you
have a lease, you are entitled to con-
tact information of both the manager
of the specific apartment and the
owner of the company. It is a good idea
to have a list of contact numbers for
specific incidents that occur outside of
business hours, such as a locksmith or
plumber.
Check out more information from
the resource center about leases, renters
insurance and for a list of housing and
building codes.
Edited by Kendall Dix
Moving into an apartment requires patience
BY BAILEY DEREUS
correspondent@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
Imagine living in an apartment for
weeks with stinking, sopping-wet car-
pet caused by a sewer backup. You
complain to the apartments manage-
ment, and a maintenance man arrives
days later to clean up with just a
house fan and a can of Lysol.
Delia Kimbrell, Wichita junior,
faced this situation last year while liv-
ing in North Wind Apartments locat-
ed on Second and Michigan streets.
Unsatisfied with the apartments
maintenance job, she requested for a
professional to clean her carpet. The
apartment complex sent her the bill.
My roommate and I were just
sophomores, and this was the first
time wed lived on our own like that.
We didnt know what to do, she
said.
Kimbrell did not think she should
be the one to pay the bill. After seek-
ing advice from both KU Legal
Services for Students and her room-
mates cousin, who was a lawyer,
Kimbrell said that she learned that
North Winds was not providing the
safe, sanitary environment that the
Landlord and Tenant Act guaranteed
her. Kimbrell said that she was able to
get North Winds to admit its fault and
pay the bill, but she did not receive all
of her deposit money back upon mov-
ing out. Kimbrell said she left the
apartment cleaner than when she first
moved in.
We left it alone. Normally, Im
not a person to give up, but I was
exhausted. It was a never-ending
nightmare with these people,
Kimbrell said.
Jo Hardesty, director of Legal
Services for Students, said that land-
lord-tenant complaints constituted
about 15 to 20 percent of its business.
Among the most common problems
students have are not receiving secu-
rity deposit refunds, maintenance
issues and breaking leases, Hardesty
said.
Diana Garcia, Lewisville, Texas,
junior, always asks her mother, a
commercial realtor, to look for
restrictions or weird charges in her
leases before she signs them. By
closely reading her lease, Garcia said
that she and her roommate found a
questionable environmental fee in
one lease for lawn maintenance and
ambiguous phrasing about who was
responsible for damages to the walls
in the house.
Hardesty knows students often
want to sign a lease on the spot
because they are excited or the land-
lord is making a hard sell, she said,
but she recommends that all students
carefully read their leases before sign-
ing.
I know its been said before, but
its always better to be safe than sorry,
she said.
Students can make appointments in
with Legal Services for Students to
discuss personal tenant-landlord
problems. Because Legal Services for
Students is funded by a portion of the
required campus fees, all students are
entitled to free services.
BY CHARISSA YOUNG
correspondent@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
House of headaches
Legal Services for Students
provides help for new tenants
Before you sign your lease
See the actual residence, not just the model
housing. You have a right to see the condi-
tion of the residence. If the residence is cur-
rently occupied, the landlord only needs to
notify the current tenants before being able
to show it to you.
Make sure application fees are refundable if
you dont end up signing a lease with the
place in question. If you do sign the lease,
see that the application fee applies to the
first months rent.
Before signing a lease, take a copy of it,
and ask for the Rules and Regulations,
usually a 10-page document in addition to
the lease. Often when you sign a lease, you
are agreeing to these rules and regulations,
but the document is not always included.
Look for an automatic renewal clause in the
lease. If there is one, you must let your land-
lord know by the date specified in the lease,
or the lease will be automatically renewed
for the following year.
Check the sublease policy. Many leases will
not allow you to sublease your residence
without the landlords permission. Keep in
mind that when someone subleases from
you, youre responsible for the person living
there unless that person is put onto a new
lease.
Choose your roommates wisely and discuss
noise, guests and food issues before moving
in together. Most contracts are joint leases,
meaning you are responsible for your room-
mates if they dont pay rent. Some landlords
offer separate leases, such as Jefferson
Commons, but be aware that the landlord can
replace tenants at their choosing.
Really do the check-in routine.
Photograph or videotape any damages in
the residence prior to moving in. By docu-
menting these damages, you can prevent
being charged for those damages when
you move out.
Remember: Always ask to negotiate the
details of a lease, regardless if youre work-
ing with mom-and-pop landlords or a com-
plexs management.
Source: Jo Hardesty,
Director of KU Legal Services for Students
Photo illustrations by Janette Crawford/KANSAN
Casey Thornburgh, Lenexa junior,
celebrates after signing her lease at the
Eck Real Estate Services management
office, 915 Louisiana St. Eck Real Estate
manages 150 housing units in Lawrence.
Garber Property Management
5030 W. 15th, Suite A
Lawrence, KS 66049
785-841-4785
Now leasing for fall. 3 bdrm, 2 bath
townhomes on Adam Avenue.
Call for specials. 1,700 square feet.
Fully equipped kitchens, W/D hook-ups,
swimming pool. No pets. For more info,
please call 841-4785.
Stone Meadows South Townhomes
Kitchen
8`5"x 9`5"
Family
Room
11`6"x 15`0"
Breakfast Area
9`0"x 9`0" Bedroom
12`0"x 12`6"
Living Room
13`0"x 13`6"
Two-Car
Garage
17`6"x 19`0"
Bedroom
11`6"x 13`0" Bedroom
12`0"x 12`5"
Family Area
9`6"x 11`0"
Laundry
Room
5`0"x 8`6"
Storage
Room
57 sq. ft.
Meadowbrook Apartments
Visit our website:
www.meadowbrookapartments.net
842-4200
15th / Bob Billings Pkwy
The Ultimate in Luxury Living
Luxury 1, 2, & 3 BR apts.
Full size washer and dryer
24 hour fitness room
Computer Center
Pool with sundeck
1/4 mile west of Wakarusa
5000 Clinton Parkway
www. pinnaclewoodsapartments.com
785-865-5454
EAGLE RIDGE APARTMENTS
530 Eldridge Street
STONECREST TOWNHOMES
1000 Monterey Way
1 & 2 BR Apartments
Rents from $410
Small Pets Welcome
Grocery/Restaurants/
Post Office Adjacent
Furnished/Short-Term Available
Microwaves/Dishwashers
2 & 3 BR Apts. & Twnhm.
Rents from $550
Washer/Dryer Hookups
Fireplaces
Adjacent to Perry Park
KU Parking Pass (1 per apt)
Small Pets Welcome
Office: 530 Eldridge St., Suite L 1
Phone: 785-749-1102
E-mail: ResourceManagment@sunflower.com
842-8665
2858 Four Wheel Dr.
LAWRENCE
AUTOMOTIVE
DIAGNOSTICS
INC.
apartment guide wednesday, march 16, 2005 the university daily kansan 3C
10 tips
for living
on your own
Living on your own for the
first time? Some tips, from
personal experience:
Plan ahead. Buy a toilet
plunger before some-
thing goes wrong.
If you drive a nice car,
full coverage insurance
is a must especially if
you live in a high-traffic
area.
Find out from your land-
lord whether city utili-
ties water, trash and
sewer are included in
your rent.
Listen to any advice your
parents give you. They
speak from experience.
Pick roommates that
you know well and trust.
Bum as many kitchen
accessories as possible
from your parents.
Take photos of anything
broken on the day you
move in. Keep them as
insurance for your secu-
rity deposit.
Buy plastic weather-
proofing for your win-
dows it will save you
serious money on your
heating bill.
Make friends with peo-
ple who own pickup
trucks.
If youre strapped for
cash, spend the summer
scouring for discarded
furniture. You can find
some good stuff, and
theres often nothing
wrong with it.
James Foley
So, youre finally living on
your own. You can walk around
naked. You can eat nothing but
cereal and ice cream. Hell, you
can even throw a party.
Throwing a party can be a
blast. Whats more fun that
spending an evening with your
friends drinking, dancing and
having a ball? There are, howev-
er, plenty of things that can go
wrong. That is why its important
to prepare and plan, so that mass
chaos doesnt break out, turning
your amazing evening into a
nightmare.
There is quite a bit to keep in
mind in order to have a success-
ful party. Perhaps the most essen-
tial thing is planning. How big do
you want it to be? Will you be
providing alcohol? If so, what
kind and how much? Do you
know what to do if the police
show up? Are you going to trust
a bunch of strangers around your
valuables? You need to have
answers to all of these questions
so that you can prevent things
from going wrong.
If you want people to come to
your party, you need to spread
the word at least a week in
advance. Billy Bernardo,
Lakeville, Minn., senior, said
that if you were trying to get
something going for Saturday
night, and it was Friday. no one
was going to come.
You have to sell it to people.
You want them to choose your
party over a bar, Bernardo said.
To keep most partygoers
happy, good music and good
drinks are a must. Gibson said
selecting music that appealed to
the masses and was easy to
dance to.
Pick songs that everybody
likes, not just you, Gibson said.
Its also a good idea to offer
more than a keg of cheap beer to
your guests. Bernardo said the
key to a successful party was a
variety of alcohol. He suggested
jungle juice, a fruity punch usu-
ally spiked with vodka, as a
good addition to the standard
keg of beer.
If you are planning something
epic, Delta Force vice presiden-
tial candidate Stephanie Craig
suggested having a large space
for a dance floor. She also sug-
gested inviting all of your neigh-
bors so that they would know
ahead of time about the party.
If your party gets too loud or
too big, the police will inevitably
show up. According to the
Lawrence Police Departments
Web site, it is against the law to
participate in a party that is
excessively noisy. If the police do
show up, be very nice, they just
want people to leave, Craig said.
The Web site states that police
officers can order everyone at
the party to leave in lieu of
being charged.
Craig also suggested taking
anything valuable and locking it
in your bedroom prior to your
party.
If your door doesnt lock, put
a couch in front of if, Craig said.
As long as you plan every-
thing out, your party will run
smoothly. Once your plans are
set, put on your best dancing
shoes and get ready to have a
good time.
Edited by John Scheirman
BY JAMES FOLEY
correspondent@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
House parties need planning, booze
Kansan file photos
KU students collaborated for several classic keg stands last semester at 13th and Ohio streets. Though students love to party, neighbors have
growing conerns about the noise, trash and property damage that is associated with house parties. When throwing a party, be conscientous
about neighbors. Stephanie Craig, Delta Force vice presidential candidate, suggests inviting all your neighbors to your party so they know its
coming.
kansan.com
Thestudent newspaper of theUniversity of Kansas
the student perspecive
Front Page News Sports
Arts Opinion Extra
apartment guide 4C the university daily kansan wednesday, march 16, 2005
Creating a great home, everyone
knows, is about color, space and light.
Its about choosing the right furniture,
fabrics and accents.
But more and more, people are
using fragrance to evoke experience,
express individuality, and set the right
mood in their homes.
Its not only a question of personal
style. A growing body of research tells
us that pleasant scents can make us
happier, relaxed and more alert.
There are about 86 active studies
validating the effect of odors on
mood states, says Alan Hirsch, a
neurologist and the director of the
Smell and Taste Treatment and
Research Center in Chicago. He has
studied how odors can affect percep-
tion of room size, aid learning and
arousal, and reduce
the desire to eat.
Noting that last
years Nobel Prize
in medicine went
to researchers
who discovered
how olfactory
receptor cells
enable humans
to recognize
and remem-
ber 10,000
d i f f e r e n t
o d o r s ,
Hirsch says,
I think we
are just on
the cusp of
what is
going to be
a huge trend
t o w a r d
using smells
functionally
in the
home.
I think
were going to be seeing interior deco-
rating with smells in the future, the
same way we do with color.
Already, says Terry Molnar of the
Sense of Smell Institute, which funds
olfaction research and educates the
public about scent, researchers are
working on fragrance-infused fabrics
for home decor.
The technology is there to
microencapsulate fragrance into fab-
ric, so that every time you open your
drapes you will get a whiff of scent,
Molnar says.
For now, the growing ranks of the
scent-conscious are snapping up can-
dles, room sprays, and plug-ins that
diffuse fragrant oils and solids.
According to the Consumer Specialty
Products Association, whose air-care
division represents more than 200
companies, including the makers of
Glade, Renuzit and Airwick air fresh-
eners, home fragrance products
brought in $2.7 billion in sales in
2004. Thats projected to increase to
$3.6 billion in 2006.
There has been significant growth
in recent years as the type of product
has changed along with consumer
demand, said association spokesman
Bill Lafield.
Not only have the scents them-
selves changed, so have the delivery
systems. Among the new products: a
revamped version of Glade PlugIns
that allows consumers to customize
scents. And Proctor & Gambles
ScentStories, introduced last year.
The device plays disks that cycle
through five scents meant to evoke
experiences such as Relaxing in a
Hammock and Exploring a
Mountain Trail.
And then there is the burgeoning
high-end home fragrance market,
with consumers shelling out for $38
bottles of Cucina kitchen spray, in
scents of fig and fresh herbs or ginger
and Sicilian lemon, and $76 flasks of
Alora Ambiance air freshener.
The latter, touted by Oprah Winfrey
in O magazine, comes with bamboo
sticks that act as wicking devices for
the fragrances. Among them: gardenia
and tuberose, and a muguet, lemon
and sandalwood combo.
But the biggest phenomenon in
this pricey realm is essential-oil-
scented cleaning products. The cate-
gory, pioneered by the Good Home
Co. and Caldrea, which makes pro-
prietary brands for Williams-Sonoma,
includes products for home and laun-
dry fabric softener, detergent, dish
soap, cleanser, stainless-steel spray
all in exotic scents of green tea
patchouli, cucumber mint or lemon-
grass.
Though sales figures are not avail-
able for this segment of the industry,
the Good Home Co. claims more than
$4 million in sales last year.
And a Caldrea representative says
that, since the company's launch in
2000, it has sold more than eight mil-
lion of its products. They come in six
different aromas, with names that
sound more like health foods than
cleaning fluids energetic Citrus
Mint Ylang Ylang and enlivening
White Tea.
People are stressed out and multi-
tasking, says Molnar, of the Sense of
Smell Institute in New York. They
don't just want to wash the dishes.
They want it to relax them, too.
Nesting
by the nose
BY EILS LOTOZO
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
VIA KRT CAMPUS
Every guy who is single is aware of the
rules of early bachelor living thou
shalt have at least one piece of home-
made furniture, thou shalt use any avail-
able floor space as overflow closet, thou
shalt mount an animal head on the wall,
and thou shalt recycle pizza boxes as
place mats.
But single guys also know or
should know, anyway that when col-
lege or trade school ends and gainful
employment begins those rules go out
the window, along with the moose head
and the pizza boxes.
But since the odds these days are that
bachelors will remain so longer than in
the past, its imperative that they live well
now instead of waiting until they are
married or settled down, experts say.
The life cycle of the bachelor is get-
ting longer, says James Heidenry, execu-
tive editor of the men's magazine
Maxim. Men are waiting to get mar-
ried now, especially on the coasts. ... So
it is worth taking the extra time to make
sure you are living in the right setting.
The keys to living right? Paying atten-
tion to style, location, practicality, enter-
tainment and comfort, Heidenry says.
Milwaukeean Chad Curran, 30, seems
to have captured all five of those ele-
ments in his sophisticated and design-
savvy bachelor pad.
For Curran, manager of an automotive
dealership, outfitting his 1,900 square-
foot condo in the old Nelson Brothers
Furniture building downtown was a
labor of love.
All the condos in the building are loft
style with hardwood floors, exposed duct
work and original Cream City brick.
I decorated my condo with a lot of dif-
ferent prints. Most of them have a party
or automotive theme to them, he says.
I have a pretty cool martini print above
my bar/wine rack that seems to evoke a
lot of conversation and gets everyone in
a good mood.
Curran got outside advice when deco-
rating and outfitting his place. Look and
space were more important to him than
the latest gadget ... except, of course for a
good dishwasher and washer/dryer set.
I have found that as I get older, the
ability to have a good place to entertain
is more important than having the loud-
est stereo, he explains. My condo is
very open and can and does com-
fortably entertain 75 people.
Don't be afraid to ask for advice, he
says. Bottom line: You pay the bills and
have to live in it.
Short on space? If you have a tiny apartment, no one appreciates your
plight more than Nick Scotti, producer and host of the Style Network show
New York Nick.
Scotti, a model/actor/artist offers these space-saving tips:
Consider a Murphy bed, which folds up into the wall. Scotti, who lives in a
small apartment in Queens, N.Y., recently added a Murphy bed that when
folded acts as a shelf and mini-bar on its backside and frees up more than 80
percent of his floor space.
Buy furniture that doubles as storage space. Scotti has a leather-topped
wooden bench that can provide seating or serve as a coffee table.
If you can afford it, get a flat-screen TV that mounts on the wall. You'll save
a couple of feet of floor space by not having a traditional entertainment cen-
ter.
Replace clunky furniture the kind you bought right after college with
large Japanese style sitting-pillows or several small square ottomans. They
create a bohemian look.
James H. Burnett III
capitalize on your space
In bachelor pads,
chic replaces cheap
BY JAMES H. BURNETT III
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
VIA KRT CAMPUS
Photos courtesy KRT Campus
Cleaning products are using scent to
convey a sense of self and status. Above
is a bottle of meyer lemon ironing spray
sold by Restoration Hardware, and
below is a bottle of rose anise home fra-
grance by Caldrea.
apartment guide wednesday, march 16, 2005 the university daily kansan 5C
DETROIT Aaron Bennicks
room is clean.
While that may seem unusual
for a 19-year-old college student,
Bennick is paid cold, hard cash
to motivate him to keep it that
way.
Bennick and his University of
Michigan roommate, Eric
Romain, are receiving $100
apiece this semester to let
prospective students and their
parents take a look at their West
Quad dorm room three days a
week.
The sophomore engineering
majors are among 18 students in
nine residence halls participat-
ing in the Michigan Campus Day
tour program, according to
Randi Johnson, U-M housing
outreach coordinator. The tours
include lunch at a residence hall
and a peek inside a typical dorm
room on the Ann Arbor campus.
The rules for U-M students
participating in the program are
pretty simple.
They must be dressed and out
of bed, if they are home, and
allow the tour groups to see their
room from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
on Mondays, Thursdays and
Fridays, Johnson said.
Technically, a clean room isnt
required, but the occupants cant
display anything thats illegal,
banned like hot plates or
offensive.
Most of the students pick up
their rooms because they know
people are coming, Johnson
said. Parents are used to seeing
rooms at home that are not per-
fectly clean. But I tell parents
they may see things in the resi-
dence hall they will not see at
home, although we have not had
complaints about anything out-
rageous.
U-M is beginning a 10-year,
$280 million renovation of its
15 aging residence halls, which
house nearly 10,000 students,
mostly undergraduates. The
newest hall, Bursley Hall on U-
Ms North Campus, was com-
pleted in 1968. Officials plan
to open a new $138 million,
500-bed hall in 2008 that also
will feature classrooms and
community space.
Bennick and Romain have
arranged their loft beds to fit
over the desks in their fifth-floor
West Quad double room. On a
noontime visit last week, their
blue rug was free of stains and
crumbs.
A clean beige love seat with
light-blue accent pillows faced a
television, two refrigerators and
a bookcase filled with laundry
supplies and food.
Clothes were actually hanging
in the closets, the doors of
which were closed. The beds,
however, were not made.
Last semester, the room was
not as neat, conceded
Bennick, who is from Saginaw,
Mich. My dad asked me if I
was sure I was going to be able
to do this. We pick up if we
know a group is coming, clean
off the desks and get things off
the floor.
The room passed muster with
Clark Iverson, 44, of Royal Oak,
Mich., who was on the Friday
tour with his son, Geoffrey, 18, a
senior at Royal Oak Dondero
High School who has been
admitted to U-M.
Its cleaner than a 15-year-
olds room, Clark Iverson
noted.
Johnson said no one has ever
been thrown out of the campus
tour program for having an
unacceptable room.
But apparently, not everyone
can get in.
We applied to be part of the
program, but we never got a
reply, said Natalie Wowk, 19, a
sophomore from Sterling
Heights, Mich.
They probably thought no
amount of money could improve
this room, joked her roommate,
Adele Coehlo, 19, a sophomore
from Abu Dhabi in the United
Arab Emirates.
Coehlos and Wowks West
Quad room, not far from
Bennicks, has Christmas lights
strung around the perimeter,
clothes piled on the bunk beds, a
futon and a papasan chair in the
middle of the room. Toiletries
covered both desks, and the
beds were unmade.
Our room is a little messier
than the average room, Coehlo
admitted. The more comforta-
ble I am with roommates, the
messier I am.
The following are two excerpts
from Ruminations on College
Life by Aaron Karo, 25, a New
York City-based comedian and
author. For more on Karo, check
out aaronkaro.com.
On laundry and the dining hall
I have no idea how to do laundry.
No, no, not like I have some idea
but just don't know how much fab-
ric softener to use, I mean I have no
idea how to do laundry. I just had
this vision that there would be some
cute chick in the laundry room every
time I went there who would show
me how to do it. Dreams die hard,
but I have no underwear.
Campus is really a communist
society. I own nothing, it all belongs
to the university. I have no money,
its all my parents. My meals are
served in little square portions at
one brick building only during cer-
tain hours of the day! Is this college
or the Soviet Union?
I love the concept of the dining
hall. Because before you get to cam-
pus for the first time and you're
deciding which meal plan to sign up
for, older kids will always say the
same thing: The food is terrible but
it's more of a social thing for fresh-
men. So we know going in that the
food sucks! Its like were saying,
Hey mom, Im going away to college
but I dont really know anyone. So,
could you throw me a few thousand
dollars? Its for peanut butter and
jelly sandwiches and some friends.
Are you good with names? I for-
get them as soon as I hear them.
Might as well not tell me at all! I
have no idea what anyone's names
are except my own, the kids I went
to high school with, and that one
hot girl who I have never spoken to
but stalk from afar.
My friend Dan, like me, has no
idea how to do laundry. One day,
hes out of underwear, the girl down
the hall wont do it for him anymore
and hes desperate. So he decides to
give it a try. He goes down to laun-
dry room in the basement of the
dorm and tries to figure it out. He
puts his clothes in the machine, puts
the detergent in, puts some quarters
in, but the thing is not working. He
tries everything but its just not hap-
pening. Completely bewildered, he
sees a little red help button right
next to the machine and presses it.
Unfortunately, it was the emergency
alarm. Sirens in the dorm start blar-
ing, red lights are flashing every-
where, cops are on the scene in min-
utes and my friend has to sneak
back to his room amid all this chaos
wearing only a towel. He never did
his own laundry again.
On small dorm rooms
When winter comes around,
bringing increasingly cold weather
and increasingly packed frat parties,
students become faced with the par-
adox of clothing. If you dress warm-
ly for the walk to the party, youll
sweat to death inside the frat. But if
you dress lighter, youll freeze to
death before you even make it in. So
really the question is, before you die,
wouldnt you rather have a couple of
beers first?
Have you ever noticed that in
every TV show and movie made
about college the dorm rooms are
huge? Kids are throwing parties in
there, they have couches, its ridicu-
lous. Lets set this straight once and
for all: College kids live in what
amounts to a glorified closet. We
have to put our beds on cin-
derblocks just to have room for our
clothes. Prisoners don't even have to
do that! I literally had to velcro my
TV remote control to the wall
because there was no place to put it.
Still, you know what the great
thing about college dorms is? If
youre lucky enough to have your
own bathroom or for guys, a sink
will do its the only time in your
life when you will have every neces-
sary amenity in one room. You can
have a bed, TV, toilet, refrigerator
and desk all within five feet of each
other. Im so lazy that I went out and
bought a nice desk chair on wheels.
By the end of the semester I didnt
even get up anymore, I just swiveled
and rolled.
No matter how small your dorm
room is, though, it is where you will
have some of your best college
moments. Its where you will pre-
game with your best friends. Its
where you will boot when youve
had one tequila shot too many. Its
where you will fight with your room-
mate about his terrible taste in
music. And it is where you will hook
up with the girl down the hall and
then try to avoid seeing her for the
rest of the semester. And by the time
you move out of the dorm youll
realize, for a tiny room, you really
got a lot of use out of it.
School pays cash, students clean up act for dorm tours
BY MARYANNE GEORGE
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
VIA KRT CAMPUS
BY AARON KARO
VIA KRT CAMPUS
Book celebrates, admonishes college life
Photo courtesy KRT Campus
The cover art of Ruminations on College Life by
Aaron Karo, which was released in 2004, depicts the
stereotypical college student.
ON KU BUS ROUTE
2 LAUNDRY ROOMS
SWIMMING POOL
SMALL PETS WELCOME
SOME AVAILABLE WITH
WASHER/DRYER HOOKUPS
CURRENTLY LEASING FOR SUMMER AND FALL 2005
Its not too early to put down a low
deposit for summer or fall on extra-large
1 & 2 bedroom apartments that will be
held for you until the date of move-in!
CALL OR STOP BY TODAY!
9A3, 2401 W. 25th
842-1455
WHEN SCHOOLS OUT IN MAY,
DONT BE LEFT HANGING!
842-3040 village@sunflower.com
Various styles available
to fit your needs
Now Leasing for Fall
Located at 9th & Avalon
Located at
14th & Mass.
*under new management
Now Leasing for
Spring & Fall
- water is paid
- all electric
- some furnished
* Not actual KUID and not affiliated with the KU Card Center
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
The student voice. Every day.
apartment guide 6C the university daily kansan wednesday, march 16, 2005
Schol Hall Land appeals to many
Close-nit sholarship
hall system unique
in area universities
How to...
Unclog a Toilet
1. Once you notice theres a
problem, big or small, use the
toilet as little as possible. This
will help prevent overflow
and water damage, which can
be costly.
2. Insert a plunger into the toilet,
making sure the rubber globe,
or cup, is fully seated over the
drain opening.
3. Push down on the plunger
handle with firm but careful
strokes. Rough, careless use
can damage the toilet bowl.
If the clog isnt too tight, these
bursts of increased water
pressure will probably clear
the obstruction.
4. Consider a drain cleaner only
as a last resort. Make sure that
any product you use is
specifically marked as safe for
use with porcelain, and follow
the manufacturers directions
carefully. Never mix any of
these chemical agents, as
dangerous reactions could
occur.
5. Flush the toilet several times to
remove the drain cleaner and to
check the flow.
Treat a Spill on a
Keyboard
1. Unplug keyboard.
2. Place keyboard upside-down on
an absorbent cloth.
3. Leave overnight.
4. Dry with a hair dryer
5. Plug it in and test it.
De-Stinkify
a Refrigerator
1. Empty fridge.
2. Spread baking soda in shallow
pans and leave in fridge
overnight.
3. If smell persists, let fridge air out
and repeat.
Source: ehow.com
Compiled by Betsy McLeod
A sign hanging in the foyer of
Margaret Amini Scholarship Hall
reads, Margaret Amini: A Home
Away From Home. Past this facade
is a close-knit family of 50 women
living in suites who never have to
shop for groceries or pay monthly
bills.
These women are among the
500 residents of the scholarship
hall system at the University of
Kansas. Schol Hall Land
spreads from Lilac Lane behind
Fraser Hall to the 13th block of
Louisiana Street. This small com-
munity offers an array of opportu-
nities and benefits for academical-
ly-focused students.
Many KU students know little
about the scholarship halls outside
the fact that their residents take up
parking spaces around The Wheel
or the stereotype that they are all
just a bunch of nerds. But the halls
residents have a different perspec-
tive.
The scholarship halls are the
best kept secret at KU, Anne
Kretsinger, Emporia freshman, said.
According to the All
Scholarship Hall Council Web
site, Schol Hall Land began way
back in 1926 with the gift of
Watkins Scholarship Hall from
Elizabeth Miller Watkins. Miller
and Battenfeld scholarship halls
opened in 1937 and 1940. The
1950s added Pearson, Sellards,
Stephenson, Douthart and Grace
Pearson scholarship halls. K.K.
Amini and Margaret Amini halls
were added in 1992 and 2000.
The newest addition to the sys-
tem, Rieger Scholarship Hall, will
open its doors to 50 women this
fall.
The University is unique for its
flourishing scholarship hall system.
Boasting its soon-to-be-11 scholar-
ship halls, the Universitys system
surpasses that of many other
schools. Kansas State has only two
scholarship halls, while most other
universities, including Missouri,
have none at all.
So what makes Schol Hall Land
so desirable?
There are so many benefits of
living here, said Becca Evanhoe, all
scholarship hall council president.
Topping Evanhoes list is the loca-
tion.
The women of Miller and
Watkins are the only students at KU
who dont have to walk a hill to get
to class every day, she said.
Evanhoe also pointed out the finan-
cial convenience of the halls. She
said its about $1,000 cheaper than
living in a residence hall, and schol-
arship hall residents dont have to
pay monthly bills. We dont even
have to go out and buy toilet paper!
she said.
Ali Bannwarth, ASHC social
chairwoman and Independence jun-
ior, is also fond of the system.
The schol halls combine a lot of
things together; theres an academic
focus, yet theres a great social
aspect and we do a lot of commu-
nity service, she explains.
One of the unique aspects of the
scholarship halls, and the reason
they are so affordable, is the week-
ly shifts performed by residents.
An average of five hours a week is
dedicated to cleaning, cooking
and/or phone duty for most hall
residents.
A negative opinion of the
Scholarship Halls is hard to find
within the system. The Kansan sent
an e-mail to all scholarship hall res-
idents through a ListServ asking for
any negative opinions. One student
replied.
Liz Winkler, Omaha, Neb., soph-
omore, is planning to move out of
Margaret Amini Hall next year
because it isnt the right living
arrangement for her. She chose the
halls for their affordability but has
realized that she would rather do
her own cooking and cleaning, and
have her own room.
Winkler appreciated the schol
halls closeness to campus but will
maintain her short walk to campus
by moving into an apartment com-
plex across the street from Margaret
Amini Hall.
Duensing is a resident of
Margaret Amini Scholarship Hall.
BY KIMBERLY DUENSING
correspondent@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
Brian Lewis/KANSAN
Julie Holborow, a St. Louis sophomore, and Jade Martens, a Salina sophomore, both exit their campus residence, Margaraet Amini Scholarship Hall. Both
said they enjoy the living arrangement and were elected social chairs for the hall.
Admittedly, this guide does not cover the many great
privately-owned rental properties in Lawrence. Rather than
single out several of them we decided to focus on the many
commercially-owned, student-frequented apartment
complexes that Lawrence has to offer. Hopefully the tips
offered here will help all students transitioning to life off
campus, whether in a privately- or commercially-owned
apartment complex or house.
Do you have any questions or comments about this
section? E-mail special sections editor Janette Crawford at
jcrawford@kansan.com.
Happy apartment searching!
about this section
HOLIDAY APARTMENTS
NOW LEASING FOR SUMMER & FALL
1 BDR $450
2 BDR $510
TOWNHOME $750
3 BDR $690
4 BDR $840
*starting prices
NICE QUIET SETTING, ON KU
BUS ROUTE, SWIMMING POOL,
LAUNDRY FACILITIES, WALK-
IN CLOSETS, PATIO/BALCONY,
ON-SITE MANAGEMENT
785-843-0011
MON-FRI 9-6
LOCATED JUST BEHIND THE HOLIDAME
Meadowbrook Apartments
Visit our website:
www.meadowbrookapartments.net
842-4200
15th / Bob Billings Pkwy
843-6446
STOP
$99 Deposit Special
And 1 Month Free
Rents Starting at $499
Just West of
Iowa on 26th
apartment guide wednesday, march 16, 2005 the university daily kansan 7C
How to...
Hide/fix a Hole in the Wall
1. If the hole is above waist-high, cover with a picture or
poster.
2. If the hole is below waist-high, cover with a piece of furni-
ture.
3. If hole is the size of your fist or smaller, tape newspaper
over it.
4. Mix together flour and water to form a paste (or if you
have money buy some spackle)
5. Spread paste over the newspaper and allow to dry.
6. Repeat until newspaper is no longer visible.
7. Use fine-grain sandpaper to smooth out the newly fixed
hole.
8. Paint if necessary.
Fix a Blown Fuse
1. Open the door to your service panel and examine it with a
flashlight to identify the blown fuse. Typically lights are on
15-A circuits. Receptacles may be either 15 A (for 14-
gauge wiring) or 20 A (for 12-gauge wiring). A large fixed
appliance, such as an electric range or a water heater,
should be on its own circuit, protected by fuses as speci-
fied by the appliance manufacturer (see the appliances
rating plate for amp requirements). In addition, one or
more main fuses protect service lines coming from your
power utility.
2. For light and receptacle circuits, look for a break or black-
ened area visible through the glass of a screw-in plug
fuse. If all the fuses look good, identify the fuse according
to the circuit label (map) printed on the door or next to
each fuse.
3. If the circuits are not mapped, locate the fuse by trial and
error: Remove the fuses one at a time and either insert a
new fuse to test the circuit, or touch the pointed probe of a
continuity tester to the fuses tip and the clip to its thread-
ed shaft. If the tester does not glow, the fuse is bad.
4. For fuse blocks, which protect an electric stove and the
main circuit, pull straight out on the handle, then remove
the individual cartridge fuses from the block using a car-
tridge-fuse puller. Test the fuses with a continuity tester by
probing the two ends.
Remove a Carpet Stain
1. Use an absorbent cloth to soak up excess spillage. Do not
scrub; it will set the stain into the carpet.
2. Pour large amounts of club soda or water onto stain and
repeat step one. Repeat steps one and two until stain is
gone.
3. If stain persists, mix three tablespoons water with one
tablespoon baking soda and apply to stain. Wait until mix-
ture is dry, then vacuum.
Reset a Circuit Breaker
1. Turn off the light switches and unplug appliances in the
room that has lost power.
2. Find your circuit breaker box and open the cover.
3. Locate the tripped breaker. Circuit breakers are small, usu-
ally horizontal switches labeled by the areas of the house
they serve (for example, kitchen, bathroom and so
on). The tripped circuit breaker will be in the off position
or in a middle position between on and off.
4. Reset the breaker by moving it to the full off position
and then back to on. That may clear an overload and
return power to the room. If the breaker re-trips, you may
have too many lamps and appliances plugged into the cir-
cuit; a damaged cord or plug; a short circuit in a recepta-
cle, switch or fixture, or faulty wiring.
5. Identify and correct the malfunction before resetting the
breaker.
Get Rid of Ceiling Stains
1. Make sure the leak is fixed before removing a ceiling stain.
Lay a drop cloth or a plastic sheet below the stained area
of the ceiling to protect your carpeting or floor from drips.
Standing on a stepladder, wipe the stained ceiling surface
clean with a damp rag.
2. Apply a pigmented stain blocker such as Kilz or Bullseye
on the stained area using a paint roller (for center stains)
or a paintbrush (for corner stains). Paint 6 to 12 inches (15
to 30 cm) beyond the stains edges.
3. Let the ceiling dry for one to 24 hours (follow the manu-
facturers directions).
4. Apply a coat of ceiling paint. Let dry. Repeat if necessary.
Source:: ehow.com. Compiled by Betsy McLeod
When most people imagine
life in a sorority house, flashes of
rooms full of pearl studs, pointed
pumps and party pics spring to
mind. Movies such as Legally
Blonde and Sorority Boys
have created these images,
declaring pink the primary color
and every night a slumber party.
Although partially true, making
the transition to live-in is
exciting but it may lend a few
surprises.
Living in a greek house is
exactly what it sounds like. The
University of Kansas is home to
13 sororities, and while no two
are identical, they all contain
similar living environments.
Each house is a home to any-
where from 40 to 90 women. The
house not only serves as the
structure in which a student
functions while at school, but
also as a home away from
home where the residents
develop into a family. Living
with 80 other women may sound
overwhelming and was a top
concern when Joanna Kirby, a
junior Kappa Kappa Gamma
from Leawood, moved in.
It sounds a lot bigger than it
really is, she said
Living with so many girls is
convenient and provides great
opportunities. Someone is
always willing to catch a movie
or go out. And someone will
always stay in if with someone
not feeling up to a night on the
town. On the other hand, the
many available opportunities
can create difficulty when trying
to study.
You cant get anything done
in the house. You must leave to
study, said Kaase Kilian, Hays
sophomore in Chi Omega.
Theres always someone dis-
tracting you.
The transition from university
housing to a greek environment
not only requires an open mind,
but in some cases, an open closet.
Get ready to share, said
Jaime Lowry, an Overland Park
sophomore in Kappa Kappa
Gamma. In case preschool did-
nt train you well enough, youll
soon learn that when you live
with that many women, its
inevitable that people will bor-
row your things. Though wear-
ing your roommates pair of
Sevens to the Hawk on Friday
night may sound like fun, it
occasionally causes problems.
Jess Elkouri, a sophomore Chi
Omega from Wichita, was sur-
prised to find out how inconsider-
ate some girls are when it comes
to borrowing, or simply taking
your things without asking.
Be ready for people to
assume its OK to borrow, she
advises.
The first semester moving in is
the hardest, but youll more than
likely learn to love it. All of the
girls interviewed said they
enjoyed their experiences so far.
Lowry said that over winter
break, she was ready to go
home to Kappa.
Emily Quy, Hays sophomore
in Kappa Alpha Theta, said, Its
hard to adjust at first, but enjoy it
while it lasts because youll
never have another chance to
live with 90 other women.
So even if members might
share similar tastes in fashion,
living in a sorority house may
not be as clich as you might
imagine. Blair Winum, a sopho-
more Kappa Kappa Gamma
from Glenwood, Iowa, was sur-
prised to find out how regular
it all is.
I expected it to be much
more stereotypical. Some fit the
part, but its much narrower than
you think, she said. Of course,
with so many college women liv-
ing together, youre bound to
find an Elle Woods or two if you
search hard enough.
Proffitt is a member of
Kappa Kappa Gamma and
will live-in for the first time
next year. Edited by Kim
Sweet Rubenstein.
BY BETSY PROFFITT
correspondent@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
What about the
fraternities?
No, we didnt forget
about the Universitys male
greek counterpart. But this
section is about transitions
in living situations, and
most men in fraternities
live-in their first year, rather
than moving in later as
women in sororities do.
Last year, Nick Drake
made the transition from a
residence hall to fraternity
house.
Drake, a sophomore
member of Sigma Chi,
lived in Oliver Hall last year.
Despite the lack of privacy
at a fraternity, he still said
he thought the benefits out-
weighed the sacrifices.
The fraternity offers a
structure that doesnt exist
in the residence halls, he
said.
You have to hold your-
self accountable to other
people, he said. That has
helped with my grades, my
self esteem and even my
campus involvement.
Though Drake enjoys
fraternity living, he admits
that not everyone shares
the same opinion.
Its not for everyone
and its not supposed to
be, he said.
Lindsey Martin
Ups and downs of sorority life
Courtesy of MGM/UA
Reese Witherspoon portrays Elle Woods, a stereotypical sorority girl in Legally Blonde. Movies such as this give a sometimes
false perception of what its like to actually live in a sorority. Its hard to adjust at first, Emily Quy, Hays sophomore, said, but
enjoy is while it lasts because youll never have another chance to live with 90 other women.
Be ready for
people to assume its
OK to borrow.
Jess Elkouri
Wichita sophomore in Chi Omega
NewApartments
1&2Bdrms
CabIe/Internetpaid
$700-$870
BrandNewDupIexes
$895-$1,150
SummerTreeWest
Townhomes
2Bdrms$550-$650
(785)840/9467
CatsAccepted
841-6868
AVE
YOUR
MONEY
Only $400/month
Nice, well kept 2 bed
room apartments
Low utilities
Appliances & CA
Quiet & Homey
And MUCH More !
On KU bus route
No smoking/pets
Now signing one
year leases beginning
in May, June, July
and August.
$VPDOOHUTXLHW
FRPPXQLW\
Spacious 2 bdrn. units
New washer/dryer rental available
Dishwasher and disposal
Central air and heat
On-site mgmt./maintenance
On KU bus route
Swimming pool
Affordable rent and deposit
Sorry, no pets please
CaII or stop by today!
630 Michigan 749-7279
kansan.com
apartment guide 8C the university daily kansan wednesday, march 16, 2005
One would think that after nearly
four years of college I would have
learned the essentials of grocery shop-
ping. Unfortunately, I am still a novice
when it comes to paper or plastic
and organizing my pantry. With all the
mandatory classes that the University
of Kansas offers, I would choose
Grocery Shopping 101 as the latest
addition. Even with the guidance of
my friends and family, I cannot seem
to perfect the art of food purchasing.
There are certain individuals, howev-
er, who have grocery shopping down to
a science. They pull into the hot spots in
the parking lot with confidence, snag
the well-oiled shopping carts and skill-
fully move through the express lanes.
Of course, what supermarket trip
would be complete without an
encounter with an angry shopper?
These individuals can be irritated moth-
ers, frustrated fathers or sassy senior cit-
izens. One thing is for sure: They share
a striking resemblance to Supermarket
Sweep contestants, violently throwing
elbows to be the first customers to greet
the butcher with a long list of fish and
meats. These customers have supermar-
ket madness and spare no mercy for
onlookers or stragglers. They are not
difficult to spot, either. They dash
through the aisles tossing rice cakes and
soda into their baskets with a child in
one hand and a cell phone in the other.
When I arrive at SuperTarget, my
grocery store of choice, I walk in with
an open mind and an empty stomach.
That may be my first mistake. Although
I never seem to have time to make a list
or cut coupons, I do my best to main-
tain a level of objectivity when pur-
chasing the bare necessities Smart
Ones meals, pickles and wheat bread.
Strolling down the aisles when I
should be pacing the perimeter, I imag-
ine myself preparing gourmet cuisine
that would make Martha Stewart weep
for joy. How I habitually end up with
the same microwavable meals that take
10 minutes to cook and even less time
to consume is beyond me.
I have found that grocery shopping
is a fascinating way to discover a per-
sons preferences and personality
traits. Impulse buys, such as a hanging
plant or a delightful scented candle,
may demonstrate an individuals spon-
taneity, whereas Save Brand basics can
indicate a more conservative approach
to life. The decision between creamy
and crunchy peanut butter can be diffi-
cult, but the determining factor is how
the shopper handles that situation.
Maybe when I am older, and hope-
fully wiser, I will have acquired the skills
needed to be a Grade A shopper. For
now, I think college students should
have their own formula. For instance,
some students prefer hand-held bas-
kets, to maneuver easily through aisles.
I am more of a shopping cart girl,
myself. I like knowing that if I needed to
race a motorized cart to the checkout
lane, it would be available. Also, while
many shoppers appreciate the food
samples provided, I try desperately to
dodge the friendly faces behind the
booths. I have no idea how long those
tiny hot dogs have been sitting out, and
I am not willing to take that chance.
Grocery shopping is entertaining, but
I suppose it is a good thing that pizza
delivery remains a reliable option.
Debiak is a Lenexa senior in
journalism.
Moving into a new house or apartment
is like having a blank canvas waiting to be
painted. The problem is that most students
find their canvas a little bare either because
of lack of money or ideas. The solution lies
in a little creativity, not lots of money.
A simple way to cover up dull, white,
wall space is with a can of paint. Home
Depot, 1910 W. 31st St., sells gallons of
interior wall paint ranging in price from
$18-35 and spray paint for as little as 99
cents. Painting is a quick and easy way to
brighten up a room, but make sure to check
with your landlord before you paint. Even
though most complexes repaint the walls
after each tenant, they might not be too
keen on using 10 coats of white paint to
cover up the midnight black color you used
in your room.
Kyle Gorynski, Topeka sophomore,
and his roommates decorated their house
with paint they found in the basement
when they moved in. They all chipped in
to make the kitchen several different col-
ors.
I like the way we did our kitchen,
Gorynski said, because it is a unique
thing we all took part in that makes it feel
like home.
The house Gorynski lives in on
Mississippi Street has been rented by stu-
dents for years. Gorynski said that by
adding his own artwork in the kitchen he
would be passing down something to the
houses next tenants.
If you live in a complex that doesnt
allow you to paint or you fear getting paint
on your Uggs, many Lawrence stores offer
great alternatives to a simple paint job.
The Third Planet, 846 Massachusetts
St., is a unique shop that has been a
mainstay downtown for many years.
With such popular items as tapestries,
posters, vintage metal signs and Buddha
statues, theres a good chance you can
find something funky and affordable to
decorate your place with.
Some students take a more relaxed
approach to decorating than the usual, and
try to work with what they and their room-
mates already have. Layla Habibi, Wichita
sophomore, lives with three roommates in
Jefferson Commons, 2511 W. 31st. St., and
enjoys the unique items each person
brought from her former residence.
I have my entire life to match and live
in a picturesque living room, Habibi said,
but since I am in college I really just want
to have a bunch of cool stuff, whether they
match or not.
For decorations, Habibi shops at Wal-
Mart, 3300 Iowa St., and Target, at 3201
Iowa St., for the low prices. Habibi said
these stores were good alternatives to
places like Bed Bath & Beyond, 3106 Iowa
St., because she was short on cash.
If I had the money I would shop
there, says Habibi, because they have
some very unique items that not a lot of
people have, but sometimes they are too
expensive.
Wherever you choose to shop or what-
ever mantra you invoke during your deco-
rating endeavor, one simple rule can be
applied: Your options are limited only by
your own creativity. With a little imagina-
tion, some thorough shopping and some
initiative, anyone can have a superbly dec-
orated place without spending an exorbi-
tant amount of money, time or effort.
Edited by Jesse Truesdale
BY NATE MCGINNIS
correspondent@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
Grocery shopping with personality
Mission possible:
cheap, great dcor
LAUREN DEBIAK
correspondent@kansan.com
Sheena Jacobi,
Cedar Falls,
Iowa, junior, and
Janele Huelat,
Pittsburg senior,
shop for the best
price on laundry
softener last week
at Dillons, 1740
Massachuetts St.
Photo illustration by Janette Crawford/KANSAN
Kyle Gorynski, Topeka
sophomore; Tyler
Anderson, New York junior;
Drew McKay, Lees Summit
sophomore; and Andrew
Kissel, Montgomery, Ala.,
sophomore, talk in the
kitchen of their house, 1140
Mississippi St., Thursday. The
group decorated their
kitchen with paint found in
their basement.
Nicoletta Niosi/KANSAN
apartment guide wednesday, march 16, 2005 the university daily kansan 9C
apartment guide 10C the university daily kansan wednesday, march 16, 2005
J
osh Oaks, Horton sopho-
more, was having a party in
his apartment when an intoxi-
cated female guest flushed her
cell phone down the toilet.
The maintenance staff recov-
ered the ruined cell phone, but
the toilet was permanently bro-
ken.
Oaks said the worst part of
the ordeal was not the $120 he
was charged for the new toilet
but that the waterlogged phone
was left in the bathtub for him
to throw out.
O
ne night in February, Andy
Nissen, Hutchinson, Minn.,
sophomore, found a dead
snake on his kitchen floor.
The snake was about 5 inch-
es long, but it disturbed him
that it was inside his apartment,
especially during the winter.
I dont know how you find a
snake in February, he said.
L
ast year Kendall Dix, Prairie
Village senior and Kansan
copy editor, lived in a house on
Ohio Street with eight room-
mates. One night, his simian
roommate got so drunk he
karate-kicked out the triple-
paned glass of the houses front
door.
I dont think the guy could
have gotten his foot that high
ever again even if he was
sober, Dix said. A trash bag
covered the door for weeks.
Of course, the baboons leg
didnt even sustain a scratch,
Dix said.
A
carpet-cleaning
product salesman
took his act inside when he
used his product in the
apartment of Jake Hirsekorn,
Lenexa sophomore.
The salesman walked in
after Hirsekorn opened
the door.
We didnt invite him
in or anything, he said.
Hirsekorn said the man
thought the demonstration
would convince the students to
buy the product. Instead, he left
a disturbed and puzzled tenant,
skeptical of the salesman who
had just cleaned his carpet.
G
irl Scouts are expected to
show up at the front door
with cookies in hand. Older
men are not. Ahmad Al-Gibaly,
Lawrence sophomore, said a
man about 50 years old,
showed up at his apartment
and tried to sell him cookies.
S
cott Kvasnik, New Hope,
Minn., junior and member
of the Kansan advertising staff,
was planning to live this year
with his best friend, who hed
known since eighth grade. But
three days out, the roommate
called Kvasnik to say, By the
way, Im not coming to school,
I wont pay rent and I wont
pay utilities.
Kvasnik said his landlord
could still decide to sue,
because Kvasnik and his
almost-roommate didnt live up
to the contract they signed.
A
nja Winikka, Overland Park
senior and Jayply writer,
didnt face just the threat of
being sued she went as far
as representing herself in small
claims court.
Almost a year after living in a
two-bedroom apartment with a
friend, Winikka received a
notice in the mail that the for-
mer roommate was suing her
for abandoning her lease.
Winikka consulted Legal
Services for Students and made
sure all her legal bases were
covered. The two went to court,
and though Winikka had done
nothing wrong legally, the
judge split the difference of the
suit between the roommates.
Compiled by Catherine Odson
College is an important stage
in life. The experience of living
on your own, meeting new peo-
ple, finding a career path and
graduating are major highlights
of college life, but finding a
good roommate can be one of
the more important aspects.
Unfortunately, many KU stu-
dents have had bad experiences.
The University of Kansas
Student Housing Department
placed about 5,000 students in the
residence halls and Jayhawker
Towers this school year. Eric
Grospitch, assistant director of
Residence Life at the University of
Kansas, has seen many positive
and negative roommate experi-
ences on campus.
The main reason some room-
mates disagree with one another
is because of cleanliness, said
Grospitch.
Nicole Thomas, Kansas City,
Kan., senior and Jayhawker
Towers resident, can relate.
This year my roommate does
not clean that much; she only
cleans the dishes with a sponge
and with no soap."
The Student Housing
Department chooses roommates
randomly. The department does
take roommate requests and
even tries to accommodate late
requests, Grospitch said.
To eliminate friction between
roommates, student housing
makes each roommate sign a
roommate contract. The terms of
the contract is drawn up by the
roommates. If there is an argu-
ment between the roommates a
resident hall assistant will pull
the contract out, show it to the
roommates and try to mediate
the problem. If problems contin-
ue, the roommates may be
moved to another room or given
new roommates.
Rachael Miles, Lawrence jun-
ior, neede mediation with her
former roomate. Miles said that
she and the roommate had been
best friends since seventh grade.
We thought that being best
friends and roommates would be
a blast, and it was for awhile,
Miles said. But over time, espe-
cially in college, people change
and grow apart.
She said that her roommates
boyfriend came between the
two. He ate, slept, and showered
at their place without paying
rent or utilities, Miles said.
I told her he could stay if he
put some money on rent, utilities
and groceries, she said. She
really got mad at me and
stopped talking to me.
The last straw for Miles came
when she went to study abroad in
Mexico. Her then-roommate stole
her deposit check while she was
away. She took Miles half because
she thought that Miles should
have paid half of the utilities when
she was gone, Miles said.
I'm still angry about the
money situation, but I'm glad
that I saw her true side, and I
couldnt be happier that our
friendship is over, Miles said.
Grospitch advises students to
room with long-time friends if
they feel that their friendship
can live through rough and
changing times.
Being a roommate with a
close friend can be stressful and
difficult, but it all depends on
how close they are, and in some
cases it works out for the best,
Grospitch said.
When looking for a good
roommate one should look for
someone who is compatible, has
a sense of humor and is easy to
communicate with, said
Grospitch.
Edited by Lisa Coble-Krings
BY LATOYA BROWN
correspondent@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
Roommate issues: Solved
It could happen
to you...
Heardon the
Whats the worst experience
youve had with a roommate? hill
My
room-
mate is
really
lazy,
and
she's
kind of
rubbed
off on me we watch
a lot of TV.
Mary Melton
Leavenworth freshman
My room-
mate had a
really crazy
night one
night, and
when I got
home there
were four piz-
zas, all half
eaten, on the floor. In my
room, I found several pieces in
my bed. When I went looking
for him, I found him eating
pizza off the floor.
Denny Alfonsin
Overland Park freshman
My freshman
year, one of my
three room-
mates did laun-
dry almost
every day, and
she would put
her clothes in
the dryer on no
heat. She was in architecture
so she was never home, but
her clothes were always in the
dryer, making me wait to do
mine.
Katie DeCelles
Olathe sophomore
Broken toilets. Dead animals.
Random salesmen. These can
either be horrible or ordinary
occurrences, depending on what
constitutes ordinary. In the
spirit of Teen Magazines month-
ly Why Me? section, here are
a handful of KU students
college life horror stories.
Illustation by Scott Drummond/KANSAN
Compiled by LaToya Brown
Hutton
Farms
Kasold and Peterson
Brand New!
Gated residential
homes for lease
From one bedrooms
with garage up to
single family homes

Washer/Dryer

Alarm System

Fully Equipped
Kitchen

Pools

Hot Tubs

Fitness Center

Gated Entrance

Clubhouse

Walking Trail

Car Wash
(785) 841-3339
www.tuckawaymgmt.com
g v ~ tt
t
U | t w
apartment guide wednesday, march 16, 2005 the university daily kansan 11C
Each spring apartment man-
agers get offer signing bonuses
and unique perks to students to
get them to sign leases.
Apartments can start to blend
together in the minds of students
after they see six or seven, and
the deciding factor can be the
perks and bonuses some com-
plexes have to offer.
Signing bonuses are money
incentives that complexes can
offer you when you sign a lease.
Most commonly, they are a set
amount of money that goes
toward the first months rent.
The four-letter word that can
hook any college student is free.
Students who sign at Canyon
Court, Chase Court, Highpointe
and Parkway Commons, which
are all First Management owned
complexes, get free DVD rentals,
Williams Pointe and LeannaMar
Townhomes have free carports,
Jefferson Commons has free tan-
ning and The Legends has free
breakfast.
Pets are not welcome every-
where. Apartment buildings that
are pet friendly often put weight
restrictions on the animals.
Animals less than 30 pounds are
welcome at many complexes,
including Abbots Corner, South
Pointe Apartments, Stonecrest
Townhomes, Quail Creek,
Eddingham Place, Pinnacle
Woods, Pepper Tree, Parkway
Townhomes, Park 25 and
Canyon Court. Animals less
than 60 pounds are welcome at
other complexes, including
TrailRidge, Hawthorn Place
Townhomes, Hawthorn Houses
and Graystone.
Fire places, an elegant perk,
can be found at many complex-
es, including Chase Court,
Eddingham Place, Greens at
Alvamar, Highpointe and
Trailridge.
Many complexes have pools,
but Colony Woods and The
Legends have gone the extra
mile with their water perks. The
Legends has a beach entry pool
and Colony Woods has a heated
indoor and outdoor pool.
One of the most significant
signing bonuses is at Williams
Pointe Townhomes. For a limit-
ed time, every person who signs
the lease will receive a free desk.
Lorimar and Courtside
Townhome are offering an early
signing special on three-bed-
room townhomes for just $810 a
month if tenants sign before
April 1.
If residents of Jefferson
Commons refer a friend who
signs a lease, they receive either
$200 off of a months rent or a
gift certificate.
Potential renters who sign a
lease with Holiday Apartments
before the end of March, receive
free security deposit, which is
equal to one months rent.
This is just a taste of what
apartment complexes in
Lawrence have to offer. Signing
bonuses will expire so dont wait
to sign a lease and enjoy the
perks of your new complex.
BY LISA TILSON
correspondent@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
Signing bonuses may make decision easier
The University of Kansas has been
Malakai Edisons home since he was in
junior high.
While many upperclassmen choose to
live in an apartment or house off-campus,
Edison, Olathe senior, has lived in the res-
idence halls for the past four years. He
lived in McCollum Hall as a freshman and
has been a Hashinger Hall resident as a
sophomore, junior and senior.
I remember being in the eighth grade
and thinking, Living in Hash would be the
coolest thing to ever happen to me!
Edison said.
Edisons wish was granted his sophomore
year. He had enjoyed his stay at McCollum,
but he said that the atmosphere and the
community aspect of Hashinger made him
want to return year after year.
Roughly 15 to 20 percent of the
Universitys 3,500 hall residents are return-
ing upperclassmen, said Diana Robertson,
associate director of student housing. The
environment is one of the many factors
that attract upperclassmen to the halls.
The convenience factor is certainly a
reason to return, Robertson said. Dorms
are close to campus, close to activities and
close to other people.
Robertson also said that for many
upperclassmen, the location of the bus
route played a major role in their decision
to return. For students without cars, the
bus system is a large benefit of living on
campus. But location and atmosphere
arent the only aspects of halls that return-
ing residents look for.
Living in the dorms is very cost-effec-
tive, Robertson said. Between the con-
venience and the cost, you cant really find
a better value.
Beth Kimberly, Fairway senior, will be
graduating this fall. During her years at the
University, she has lived in four different res-
idence halls and also spent a semester in the
on-campus Jayhawker Towers Apartments.
The cost of room and board was the decid-
ing factor for Kimberly to stay on campus.
She lived in a single room at GSP-
Corbin Hall her freshman year.
My older sister had stayed in a single,
so I figured I would like it too, she said.
But Kimberly missed the community
aspect of dorm life.
I grew up in a family of six, so I was
always around other people, she said.
Kimberly returned as a sophomore to
the Jayhawker Towers with four other
roommates. She said it was the cheapest
living arrangement on campus.
Like Edison, Kimberly also enjoyed liv-
ing with other KU students.
Edison said dealing with the freshman
class required patience and an attitude that
was receptive to change.
Dont expect things to be the same, he
said. Theres a tendency to say things like,
This is how its going to be done, because
this is how it was last year. Dont push a
dynamic on new residents.
He also said that upperclassmen needed
to understand that freshmen desire to cre-
ate their own identity.
Its important to keep traditions, but
you have to let each new class come
through and build their own community,
he said. Take things as they come.
Both seniors said they would most miss
the atmosphere of community in the resi-
dence halls when they finally left the
University.
The whole place is my house, Edison
said. Its like a mansion. Two-hundred
fifty people live here and were all in the
same family.
Edited by Ross Fitch
Some upperclassmen
choose to live on campus
BY SCHYLER HOPKINS
correspondent@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
T
he convenience
factor is certainly a
reason to return. Dorms are
close to campus, close to
activies and close to other
people.
Diana Robertson
Associate Director of Student Housing
Lawrence apartment complexes
offering perks and signing bonuses
include the following:
Free DVD rental
Canyon Court (700 Comet Lane)
Chase Court (1942 Stewart Ave.)
Highpointe (2001 W 6th St.)
Parkway Commons (3601 Clinton
Parkway)
Pools
Colony Woods (1301 W. 24th St.)
The Legends (4101 W. 24th Place)
Free tanning
Jefferson Commons (2511 W. 31st
St.)
Fire places
Chase Court (1942 Stewart Ave.)
Eddingham Place (1501 Eddingham
Drive)
Greens at Alvamar (3700 Clinton
Parkway)
Highpointe (2001 W. Sixth St.)
Trailridge. (2500 W. Sixth St.)
Animals less than 30 pounds welcome
South Pointe Apartments (2166 W.
26th St.)
Stonecrest Townhomes (530 Eldrigde
St.)
Quail Creek (2111 Kasold Drive)
Eddingham Place (1501 Eddingham
Drive)
Pinnacle Woods (5000 Clinton
Parkway)
Pepper Tree (3100 W. 22nd St.)
Park 25 (2401 W. 25th St.)
Canyon Court (700 Comet Lane)
Animals less than 60 pounds welcome
TrailRidge (2500 W. Sixth St.)
Hawthorn Place Townhomes (Clinton
Parkway and Kasold Street)
Hawthorn Houses (3600 W. 24th
Street)
Graystone (2500 W Sixth St.)
Free carports
Williams Pointe (4410 Clinton
Parkway)
Leanna Mar Townhomes (4501
Wimbledon Drive)
Signing bonuses
Williams Pointe Townhomes (4410
Clinton Parkway)
Lorimar Townhomes (3801 Clinton
Parkway)
Courtside Townhomes (4100 Clinton
Parkway)
Jefferson Commons (2511 W 31st
St.)
Holiday Apartments (211 Mt Hope
Court)
Compiled by Lisa Tilson
Perks and bonuses
Kansan file photo
Nate Stafford, Overland Park sophomore, unloads his personal items from a box to decorate the room
he shared last year with Mark Brehm, Overland Park sophomore. Stafford and Brehm decided to live togeth-
er at Ellsworth Hall because they were friends in high school.
apartment guide 12C the university daily kansan wednesday, march 16, 2005
Individual Leases
Pool Plaza and Jacuzzi
Washer/Dryer in Every Apartment
Fitness Center
Cable with HBO, MTV, and ESPN
Lighted Basketball Court
Internet Access
Amenities, Rents and Incentives subject to change.
SCHOOLS REALLY TOUGH
IVE GOT SO MUCH TO DO.
WWW.JEFFERSONCOMMONS-LAWRENCE.COM
2511 West 31st Street Lawrence, KS 66047
785-842-0032
JPI

Now Leasing for
FALL 2005
Rents start at
$2
99
Great people. Fun lifestyle.