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Apartment

Guide
Presents
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
February 20, 2012
PAGE 2 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
PAGE 3 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
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Table of Contents
6 Worst roommates
7 Living alone
8 Healthy recipes
9 Quick alfredo recipe
10 Know about utilities
11 Living at home
13 Sharing a bathroom
14 What do you think?
15 Picking roommates
16 Living with pets
17 Budgeting
18 What do you think?
19 Lost your keys?
20 Puzzles
21 Working out at home
22 Know your landlord
PAGE 4 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
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During my freshman year of college, I lived
in a residence hall with my randomly assigned
roommate. At frst, I was excited to meet her
and make a potential, new friend. Tis excite-
ment turned into disappointment.
My roommate liked to stay up until 3 a.m.
playing Dungeons and Dragons, use my
things without permission and have her boy-
friend over 24/7. But, the biggest problem was
that I was a neat freak, and she was a slob.
We could never work out a system that
suited both of our needs. Everytime we tried
working things out, we would both be frus-
trated.
My sophomore year was even worse. I
was assigned two roommates I didnt know.
Tese two girls went to the bars four nights a
week and would come back late at night. Tey
would stumble into the dorm and turn on all
of the lights while I was sleeping. Needless to
say I didnt get much sleep that year.
Afer two years of living with my room-
mates in close quarters, I realized two things:
I wanted to fnd an apartment and pick my
own roommate.
Now, I live in an apartment, and I con-
sidered my roommate very carefully. When
youre looking for a roommate you need to
realize that you are sharing a space. Not ev-
erything can go your way. You need to pick
a roommate who will listen to you and who
can work out problems with you if/when they
By Kayla Banzet
kbanzet@kansan.com
arise.
My roommate and I have split all of the
chores around the apartment. We clean the
living room and kitchen together. We also
split the cost of groceries. We have worked
out a system and things have gone pretty well
this far.
Even if you pick your roommate(s), prob-
lems can still pop up every now and then.
Make sure to voice your issues with your
rommate(s) quickly instead of letting your
anger get the best of you.
And, since its the season to start looking
for new living situations and new roommates
for next school year, be sure to read Dylan
Snyders article, Tricky living situations can
arise, on page 6.
Editors Note
mEEt thE StAff
WRItERS
Michael Clark
Avalon Cole
Elly Grimm
Stella Liang
Mike Montano
Victoria Pitcher
Rebekka Schlichting
Dylan Snyder
Anna Wenner
NEWS mANAGEmENt
Editor-in-chief
Ian Cummings
managing editor
Lisa Curran
Special sections editor
Kayla Banzet
Copy chiefs
Marla Daniels
Jennifer DiDonato
Alexandra Esposito
Dana Meredith
ADVISERS
General manager and news adviser
Malcolm Gibson
Sales and marketing adviser
Jon Schlitt
ADVERtISING mANAGEmENt
business manager
Garrett Lent
Sales manager
Korab Eland
PAGE 5 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
PAGE 6 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
February has arrived and the time has come
for many to make a commitment. This commit-
ment is not one associated with Valentines day,
though it does entail a bit of love and devotion.
For those who currently live in an apartment
or townhome its time to start thinking about
whether or not you will renew your lease or
begin to search for a new place. Or if you cur-
rently live in the dorms, its time to start thinking
about what you want from a place to live.
This decision can often be stressful and time
consuming. There are several factors that must
be considered: price, location, square footage,
and pet restrictions to name a few. Although
these details cannot be overlooked, it is impor-
tant to remember they all come second to the
granddaddy of leased living, the roommate.
Your choice in roommate will undoubtedly
influence a large part of your lifestyle for the
rest of your year.
A good decision may lead to friendship and
another year of cohabitation, while a bad selec-
tion can end in a castle of dishes and a great
sum of debt.
To those of you who have been there before,
and for those of you who live alone, you will
find humor in the stories that follow. For those
of you in the process of selecting a roommate for
the first time, read carefully and choose wisely.
DYLAN SNYDER
dsnyder@kansan.com
tRIcKY LIVING SItUAtIoNS cAN ARISE
Roommates
The good The bad
The ugly
Alexa Bergmeier, a freshman
from Fort Collins, Colo., began her
first semester here with a randomly
assigned room in McCollum Hall
with a roommate that she had never
met before. She, like many other
dorm dwellers, had decided to go
potluck.
We were talking and I just didnt
think that it would work out,
Bergmeier said.
With this realization she made
the decision to get out. Bergmeier
called the housing department and
requested a change. She was then
transferred to Corbin where, by coin-
cidence, she was assigned to a room
with a girl that she knew from high
school. Bergmeier now lives with two
roommates whom she considers to be
very good. For Alexa, a good room-
mate is a clean person who commu-
nicates well and is very considerate
of others.
To Elliot Wood, a sophomore from
Denver Colo., a good roommate is
someone who works with you to get
things done in the house. Theyll pay
for groceries, theyll help cook, theyll
help clean and theyll take care of
themselves and their own space.
Unfortunately, this semester Wood
has found himself living with a bad
roommate. After living together in a
house last year, Wood and two of his
four roommates decided to live togeth-
er again, this time in a three bedroom
townhome.
It didnt take long for Wood to real-
ize that he didnt know one of his
roomies as well as he thought he did.
He spends most of his time with his
girlfriend, but when hes at the house
he complains about everything, Wood
said. Earlier in the semester he took
the TV and the cable box into his room
and expected us to pay for it.
Finally we come to the story
of Laurie Winkel, a senior from
Topeka. Winkels ex-roommate is
the type of roommate that should
be avoided. After abandoning
his pregnant cat, Winkels room-
mate disappeared from the house,
returning only once to complete
a one night stand before sneaking
off again the next morning. When
her roommatess cat gave birth to
four kittens he was nowhere to be
found.
I sold off his DVDs for cat food
and litter, then tried to find them
new homes, but 3 of the 4 kittens
died, Winkel said. My roommate
never asked about them, or returned
to the apartment. Depressing.
edited by Katie James
PAGE 7 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
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Life with roommates can be fun, stressful,
downright awful or a combination of the three.
For students who choose to live alone, no
roommates means no drama.
I personally prefer it, said Taylor
Leibbrandt, a senior from Bird City. I really
like the fact that if you have a TV you can
watch whatever you want whenever you want.
You can cook whatever, you can make messes,
and pick up at your own pace. You can deco-
rate. You can have a cat if you want to. You can
do all that stuff that sometimes having a room
mate can make difficult.
For Leibbrandt, the positives outweigh the
negatives, no matter how much it hurts his
pockets.
The only thing is it can become a little
expensive at times, Leibbrandt said. Youre
not splitting the rent or utilities, obviously,
which can be a downfall. And also, just being
by yourself a lot. If you arent someone who can
be alone all the time then sometimes you need
a roommate to chat with.
Living with a roommate has its advantages
as well, including saving money, having com-
pany and the conviencence of having someone
to help with chores around the house.
Without a roommate a student must pay for
full rent and utilities, spend a lot of time by
themselves, and do not have someone to rely
on for tasks like feeding pets or watering plants.
For Natalie Meyer, a senior from Wichita who
lives alone, the drama of living with another
person is not worth the benefits.
Ive lived by myself since August, Meyer
said. I hated my last roommate. She was a
slob.
Now that she lives alone, Meyer said she
likes that she does not have to plan her home-
life around somebody else.
I dont have to clean up after anyone,
Meyer said. I dont have to fight for the wash-
ing machine, I can study at home. Its quiet.
Meyer says the only disadvantages she has
experienced from living alone are the added
expenses.
Erin Lavin, a senior from Gardner, had a
roommate who had to move out before their
lease was up. Her roommate still pays half
the rent, but because she got a job in Kansas
City, she no longer lives in the apartment this
semester.
It was kind of a weird deal, Lavin said. We
were going to sublease but didnt find anybody
in time so it didnt work out. You cant really
upset your roommate. I mean, if youre messy
or you want the TV to yourself thats pretty
much up to you.
Lavin said that if she could manage it, she
would continue living by herself even if she had
to pay full rent.
I think I probably prefer living by myself,
but I dont mind living with people, Lavin
said.
Like most parts of apartment life, the deci-
sion of whether or not to have a roommate must
be made on an individual basis. Leibbrandt,
Meyer and Lavin all agreed that they preferred
living alone because the drama was not worth
the advantages living with roommates offered.
Edited by Max Lush
Living alone is preferable, some students say
roommates
ANNA WENNER
awenner@kansan.com
tRAVIS YoUNG/KANSAN
Without the drama that comes with a roommate, living alone can be very peaceful. Living alone does come
with the disadvantage of having to pay rent without the help of a roomie.
PAGE 8 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
Students no longer need to fear the expen-
sive cost of healthy eating. Te myth that eating
right costs extra money causes some students
to turn to processed, unhealthy items. Afon
Kissinger, a junior from Overland Park, said
its disappointing students dont eat healthy be-
cause of the price.
Some people think its more expensive,
but it really just depends on where you get it,
Kissinger said. Eating healthy is as expensive
as you make it.
Smoothies are an inexpensive way to get nu-
trients. Kissingers favorite recipe is a Green Tea
Spinach Smoothie.
Another way to eat healthy
and keep costs low is to
buy in a bulk, a tip Ann
Chapman, a dietician
at Watkins Health
Center, recom-
mends.
Buy a large
package of chicken
breasts and freeze
them. Buy larger
containers of rice
and pastas, which are
usually cheaper than
small packages, Chap-
man said. Shop at Sams or Costcos and split
food items with roommates or friends.
Chapman also suggests snacking on things
such as almonds raisins, and grapes. Tese
items are all found in local grocery stores and
are typically cheaper than a candy bar.
Sarah Klehm, a sophomore from Chicago,
said she cuts up carrots or apples before head-
ing to class so she can grab them when shes in
a rush.
Eating healthy needs to become a habit, not
something you feel like you have to do, Klehm
said. By cutting up fruits and vegetables ahead
of time, its just as easy for me to take carrots to
class instead of a bag of potato chips.
A quick, 20-minute recipe Klehm loves
making for dinner is chicken and
stir-fry.
Te recipe calls for: two
chicken breasts, two car-
rots, yellow pepper,
red pepper, green
pepper, about 1/3 cup
bean sprouts, 1 tbsp.
soy sauce and egg
noodles.
Simply boil noodles
until sof and slice veg-
etables and chicken.
Place the onion into a
separate hot pan, then add
chicken and vegetables. Cook
for a few minutes, then add noodles. Top with
soy sauce and enjoy.
Not only is this recipe cheap and easy to
make, but the ingredients can also be used
for other meals, like Chapman suggested. Te
chicken can reused the next day for a chicken
sandwich on wheat bread, and the veggies can
be used as mid-day snacks throughout the
week.
Edited by Gabrielle Schock
Food
Trim your budget and stock up on healthy food
AVALoN coLE
acole@kansan.com
GrEEn tEa Spinach
SmoothiE
inGrEdiEntS:
2 cans of fresh spinach
1 scoop protein powder
cup green tea
2 apples
inStructionS:
Put all of the ingredients into a blender
and blend until smooth.
All of these ingredients can be found at
a local grocery store. There is no need to
go to expensive health food stores, such as
Whole Foods, where the prices are unneces-
sarily higher.
chickEn and
Stir fry Salad
inGrEdiEntS:
2 chicken breasts
2 carrots
yellow pepper
red pepper
green pepper
200g bean sprouts
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 package egg noodles
inStructionS:
All you need to do is boil noodles until
soft, slice vegetables and chicken, place
onion into a separate hot pan, add chicken
and vegetables, add noodles, add soy sauce
and enjoy.
PAGE 9 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
a simple ChiCken alfredo reCipe
A while ago I was planning my weekly
menu and grocery shopping list and had one
more day to plan. I couldnt think of anything
to make. Then, all of a sudden, the idea hit
me Chicken Alfredo.
The night came that I had planned to make
the dish, and preparing everything was fun. I
have always enjoyed cooking since I was a kid
in my moms kitchen and making this meal
was no exception. Another thing that made
it nice was that one of our Kansan photog-
raphers came over for company, so I didnt
have to eat the meal alone. My cat was also
helping, trying to get me to give her some
of the scraps.
Preparing the meal went very smooth,
which made me happy. The chicken breasts
and noodles I used didnt burn, and the sauce
didnt curdle. Finally came the time to eat and
this Chicken Alfredo was, without a doubt,
the best thing that I had ever made for myself
and my photographer guest. The chicken was
cooked to perfection and the sauce was nice
and creamy.
My experience cooking this meal was so
fun, here is the recipe and instructions if
youd like to try it too.
ingredients:
2 thawed out small boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 jar of Ragu light parmesan alfredo sauce
Egg noodles- amount based on your appetite
a tablespoon of canola oil to help keep the chicken from boiling
instruCtions:
Start out by making the sauce frst.
1. Cut up the chicken breasts while your frying pan heats up on medium setting and pour the
oil in the pan.
2. After you are done cutting up the chicken put the chicken chunks into the heated oil and let
them fry until they are fnished cooking. A way to help them cook a bit faster would be to have a lid
over the pan so the steam is trapped in and helps cook the chicken.
3. While the chicken is frying get the Ragu sauce and pour it into another pan and put that
pans burner between the medium and low settings so the sauce doesnt burn or curdle. After
youre done pouring the sauce, use a little milk to help clean out the jar a little more. Also, this
helps make the sauce a bit creamier.
4. Around this time the chicken will be done cooking so carefully drop the cooked chunks into
the sauce and then stir everything around. After this, turn the burner down to low so the sauce
will simmer properly. The sauce is now done!
5. Now is the time to get the egg noodles going. Get a pot and fll it about 2/3 with water. The
burner you put this on will need to be on the high setting. Wait until the water is fully boiling
to put the noodles in. After the water is boiling, pour in as many noodles as you like and then let
them boil for 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes drain the noodles with a colander bowl and then
congratulations, youve just made a delicious and inexpensive meal.
RECipE
ALfREDo: qUIcK, EASY AND DELIcIoUS
ELLY GRImm
egrimm@kansan.com

s
t
e
p

1

s
t
e
p

2

s
t
e
p

3

s
t
e
p

4

d
o
n
e
photos by travis Young/kansan
PAGE 10 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
If you are like most college students, youre
probably looking for ways to save some cash.
For students living on their own, cutting costs
on utility bills can be easy and ofen free.
What to look for:
Finding ways to save money starts before
you even move in. If you are apartment hunt-
ing, there are important things to consider.
Ideally utilities would be included,
Chelsey Warner, a junior from Minnesota
said.
Warner didnt have the time to be picky
when she was searching for an apartment, but
she was able to fnd an apartment complex for
students where the only utility she pays for is
electricity.
Tomas Hoppough, a junior from Fair-
banks, Alaska, and his girlfriend Erin Carr,
a sophomore from Kansas City, moved into
their apartment in January afer searching for
a couple months. Hoppough said the most
important thing he looked for was an apart-
ment with utilities included. During the win-
ter months when utilities tend to be higher,
Hoppough and Carr found they had diferent
expectations for utility use.
Im trying to save money, and shes trying
to stay warm, Hoppough said.
Students should also look for energy-ef-
cient appliances within the apartment and
check with their electric provider for the av-
erage monthly utility cost.
What you can do now:
You may be surprised how little efort sav-
ing money on your energy bill can take.
Warner lives with three roommates and
said its important to pay attention to how
much electricity you are using.
We are really careful about shutting lights
of before we leave, Warner said.
Warner said she runs the dishwasher only
once it is full.
Te winter weather has been fair since
Hoppough and Carr moved into their apart-
ment in January, , but Hoppough still keeps a
close eye on the thermometer.
If I turn it up, he turns it down, Carr
said.
Hoppough said he keeps the thermometer
at room temperature and makes sure to turn
the heat of before he leaves the house.
Te little steps you take to be more con-
scious of energy use can save you big in the
long run.
Edited by Max Rothman
VIctoRIA PItchER
vpitcher@kansan.com
Minding utility costs can save students money
finance
No Cost ENERgy saviNg tips
Turn off everything not in use -- lights, com-
puters, etc.
avoid phantom load by unplugging appli-
ances such as TVs and DVD players, or char-
gers for electronics like cell phones and hand-
held games, which still consume power when
plugged in but not turned on.
Reduce the time spent with your doors and
windows open when you are heating or air con-
ditioning.
in the winter, let the sun shine in by open-
ing window coverings. Be sure to close them
at night.
Lower your daytime thermostat in the win-
ter, maintaining 68 to 70 degree fahrenheit
temperature.
Throw an extra blanket on the bed and lower
your nighttime winter thermostat setting.
increase daytime thermostat in the summer,
maintaining a 78 to 80 degree fahrenheit tem-
perature.
inspect, clean or change furnace flters
once a month.
Wait until you have a full load to start the
dishwasher and clothes washer.
Use pots and pans that ft the burners; small
pans on small burners.
Use countertop-cooking appliances when
possible. a toaster oven or microwave will cost
less to operate than heating a large oven.
Keep light fxtures clean. Dust can obstruct
light output by as much as 25 percent.
source: Westarenergy.com
tRAVIS YoUNG/KANSAN
Saving electricity is a great way to save money on your utility bill. Some apartment complexes include utilities.
PAGE 11 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
ELLY GRImm
egrimm@kansan.com
Money key reason why
students live at home
home life
There are several reasons a student may
choose to remain living at home with their
families. Sometimes its the state of their
finances, sometimes its just more convenient,
they might not feel like being part of the
dorm life or maybe a student just isnt entirely
ready to be on their own in an apartment.
For Benjamin Taylor, a freshman from
Lenexa, it was the financial argument that
helped him fully make his decision to remain
at home as well as other reasons.
Its about $4000-$5000 cheaper to live at
home than in the dorms or my own apart-
ment, he said. That and if I need financial
help my parents are right there.
Taylor also talked about some of the ben-
efits hes noticed from staying at home.
I dont have to pay for food, still have
access to a car and I really only have to pay
for my gas, he said.
However, Taylor said hes also noticed some
small downsides to remaining at home.
Its pretty detached from campus life and
the commute can be annoying sometimes,
he said.
But before he had fully made his decision,
Taylor had checked out some other living
situation possibilities around the area.
I did check out the scholarship halls, he
admitted.
For Shayna Goodson, a freshman from
Lawrence, there were a few factors that helped
her make her decision.
Ive lived here for so long and I was
already pretty comfortable and I didnt want
to completely uproot so overall it was just
more economical for me to stay at home, she
said. Also, I am going to school here and the
commute isnt terrible.
The pros Goodson has noticed while stay-
ing at home are indeed ideal for any student
and have helped her.
Im less tempted to go out so I study
more, she said.
But like Taylor, she has also noticed some
downsides to remaining at home.
Its mainly dealing with the parents and
theres an overbearing feeling, she said.
However she did also try out and explore
other living options.
I lived in the dorms and also looked at
houses on Kentucky and some other streets,
she said.
For Luke Rhodes, a freshman from
Lawrence, it was also the financial argument
that helped him decide.
Its way cheaper for me to live at home, he
said. Also, being a music major I can practice
in my home environment.
Rhodes also discussed the pros of him liv-
ing at home, including the convenience of
not having to deal with dorm life and he says
it has helped his studying habits and even
his diet.
Its quieter so I can study, he says. And I
have a healthier diet because I have access to
a fridge at home.
Rhodes also discussed a con of his situa-
tion, which was the missing sense of com-
munity.
I feel like theres a community Im missing
out on, he said.
While there are several reasons that a stu-
dent might remain at home, be it financial or
otherwise these students have not only made a
huge decision, they have even benefited from it.
Edited by Caroline Kraft
Pros and Cons of
living at home
Pros:
1. Free rent and utilities
2. Home-cooked meals
3. Clean environment
4. Fewer laundry problems
5. Easier to study
6. No roommate issues
Cons:
1.Parents still have control
2. Keeping a social life and
sex life is diffcult when you
share walls with mom and
dad
3. I live with my parents is
not the best pick up line.
4. Always ending the night
at your parents house.
5. Responsible for house-
hold chores and any project
your parents come up with
6. Family drama
PAGE 12 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
mIKE moNtANo
mmontano@kansan.com
Covering all the bases while renting property
insurance
chRIS bRoNSoN/KANSAN
Three spectators look on as frefghters work on a house fre at 303 13th street Monday evening. The fre broke out around 5:30 P.M.
A fire or a theft can leave one feeling vul-
nerable. It can also leave some serious debt
behind if you dont have insurance. It may be
your first time living on your own. A signed-
lease later and youre good to go, right? Not so
fast. A lease means that you agree to rent from
a landlord or property owner, pay rent and
not destroy their property. In turn, they will
make sure the conditions are livable through-
out your occupancy. What happens if the
property becomes unlivable and is damaged?
Thats when insurance kicks in.
The Kansas Insurance Department reported
claims totaling more than $1 billion last year.
Renters insurance helps mitigate the prob-
lems a renter may face, but its up to the renter
to get the proper coverage.
Theres really nothing that isnt covered,
said Jenny Hohman, an agent from State Farm
Insurance.
Renters insurances protect people from
damage done by fire, hail, wind, glass break-
age, theft, riots, and impact by an aircraft.
It sounds a lot like homeowners insurance,
though the difference is that renters insurance
covers belongings while homeowners insur-
ance covers belongings and the actual home.
Students are usually tenants of an apartment
and not owners of an entire complex.
The average cost of insurance per month
for a student can range from $10 to $20 no
matter the insurance company students go
through, but the exact cost depends on a
number of factors. The most common factors
used to determine insurance rates include
age, gender and location. According to a few
apartment complexes in town, if a student
signs a lease and does not get insurance, their
belongings are not covered. That new com-
puter you got this year? Gone. The big screen
all the guys came over to watch the big game
on? Gone. Items can start to really add up
when you consider your computer, television,
clothes and other electronics. Depending on
the insurance company you go with, cover-
age can range from $20,000 to $25,000 at the
bare minimum. This means that if a natural
disaster were to occur, the insurance company
would pay that amount to get you back on
your feet and recoup your losses.
But how do students prove what they own?
I always recommend that people do some
type of documentation for themselves, not for
the insurance company because in the event
of an incident, the individual needs to com-
pile a list of everything they own, Hohman
said. Were going to replace everything you
own, DVD by DVD title.
An insurance company is not just going to
hand over a check for the maximum coverage
you have. The company requires proof of these
items. There are laws that prohibit insurance
fraud and this is one way to follow the rules.
Whether you photograph, videotape or keep
your receipts, its important for students to
know what they own before its too late.
Edited by Max Rothman
chRIS bRoNSoN/KANSAN
Firefghters exit a burning house at 303 13th street Monday evening.

i always recommend that


people do some type of
documentation for them-
selves.
Jenny HoHMan
a state Farm insurance agent
insurance can protect
renters from accidents
PAGE 13 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
During the middle of the night in Oliver
hall, David Stone had been awaken by a call of
nature. He walked down the hall, toward the
bathroom shared by his floor. He made the
trip in his socks, thinking everything would
be fine. Stone pushed the bathroom door
open and immediately stepped in a puddle
which soaked his sock. Looking down with
groggy eyes, he faced a pile of red puke.
I was upset and mad but it was direction-
less anger. There was no one to be mad at,
Stone, a sophomore from Olathe said.
Sharing a bathroom in a dorm can be hor-
rific.
There were multiple times when there was
puke everywhere, nobody flushed the toilets,
and nobody aimed. There isnt much you can
do. You just shake your head and deal with
it, Stone said.
Its easier to avoid these situations in an
apartment, although, they are not always
inescapable.
I was sharing a bathroom with a girl for a
while so there was always stuff in there that I
wasnt used to, said Foy Copp, a senior from
Overland Park, The worst time was when she
got sick and I walked in and saw her throwing
up. I definitely saw things I cant un-see.
When sharing a bathroom with a room-
mate, it is important to be aware of the little
things you do.
My roommate didnt really care about
things like water spots on the mirror. I cant
stand that, Jon Coffee, a second year grad-
student from Knoxville, Tennessee said.
When you drop toothpaste on the counter
top, it gets hard and sticks. I would always
find that kind of stuff and it kind of drove
me crazy.
Time management is often necessary for
college students, even when it comes down to
using the bathroom.
Waiting on someone can be really hectic
especially if youre a girl and youre sharing
with another girl because youre trying to get
ready, said Sarah Plake, a senior from Kansas
City said, Thats why I made sure to get my
own bathroom.
If you and your roommate have conflicting
schedules, Maruel Urein, a senior from Ewa
Beach, Hawaii advises, Manage your time
well. Sharing a bathroom gives you more
responsibility.
More responsibility can be a good thing
if it is a shared responsibility. If you share
responsibilities for cleaning, its not just one
person. We also share the supplies so one per-
son doesnt have to pay for everything. Urein
said, Its also cost efficient.
Edited by Katie James
REbEKKA SchLIchtING
rschlichting@kansan.com
HElpful advicE on
sHaring a batHroom
Try to keep your stuff separate and
have at least some kind of schedule in the
morning. It can get pretty wild in there. Try
to get in there frst and be as quick as you
can.
foy copp, senior from
overland park.
If the roommate would clean the bath-
room, you could split it up. Its hard to
communicate if your roommate isnt going
to clean anyway.
david stone, sophomore
from olathe.
If whatevers happening really is a
problem or if its unsanitary or unhealthy,
then you should defnitely bring it up with
your roommate. Try to work something out
together.
mike tamburelli, sophomore
from st, marys.
Clean up after yourself, if everyone
did that then there wouldnt be a prob-
lem. When you brush your teeth make sure
you wash off all your tooth paste off the
sink. Dont leave your hair stranded every-
where.
Julie schiller, sophomore
from leavenworth.
compromises are key when sharing a bathroom
shareD lIvIng
tARA bRYANt/KANSAN
liz Marsh, a freshman from Chanute, and lindsey Daley, a freshman from haysville, cram for mirror space that is hard to come by in a small bathroom.
tARA bRYANt/KANSAN
Beauty supplies clutter a bathroom counter. Taking responsibility for your own possessions and messes can
save you from conficts in the long run.
PAGE 14 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
ELLY GRImm
egrimm@kansan.com
EntErtainmEnt KiCKEr
What do you think?
Kaarin Hoogstraten
Kansas City sophomore
the frst week we lived there there
was this bad storm and the power
went out so everyone went and hung
out outside.
Whats the craziest thing thats happened at your
apartment?
ZaCH rebarCHeK
bonner springs senior
We have people tear down our lights
every Friday.
Jerome gosCHa
salina junior
theres a beer bong that starts and
goes down from the 3rd foor of our
building.
Dallas Williams
marion senior
Property destruction began by park-
ing space issues.
JosepH ramireZ
Kansas City junior
all of the crazy parties that go on.
emily lavenDer
overland park sophomore
People like to walk into our apart-
ment randomly. People have just ran-
domly come in and caused trouble.
PAGE 15 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
Student apartments, scholarship and residence
halls, off-campus apartments and Greek housing
are easy options for student housing while getting
paired with a roommate that you get along with
isnt always as easy.
There are 25,332 students enrolled on the
Lawrence campus this spring and the residence
halls house about 20 percent of these students.
Corbin, the Universitys first residence hall built
in 1866, Ellsworth, where each floor is named
after a notable University figure, and Hashinger,
which houses a small theater, are just some of the
halls where students can choose to reside.
My freshman year, I had three roommates
and we all lived in a four-bedroom apartment,
Lindsey Mitchell, sophomore, said. One girl was
a bit of a klepto and would try on my underwear,
purses and take them without asking. I had to
talk to the residential adviser.
Naismith Hall is located on campus across
from Oliver Hall, but it is private student hous-
ing. Naismith is an apartment complex located
on campus. If students prefer a university-man-
aged dorm, there are residence halls all over
campus.
The first time I lived with a roommate was
my freshman year, Nick Harbert, senior, said. I
lived in Ellsworth in a four-bedroom suite. Two
of us still talk, while the other one we nicknamed
creeper because he would always be Facebook
stalking.
A roommate is a word that is common with
college students and while many do not have the
luxury to live alone, some would still prefer to
not live alone.
I think an advantage to having a roommate
is that you always have someone to talk to, said
Dustin Pickett, a freshman that lives in Lewis. It
helps when meeting people too. I didnt know
any of these guys before but we all get along
great.
Living with a roommate can be tricky, but just
know that there are many options to live next
semester. Freshman year marks the beginning of
a four-year roommate stint that can build lasting
friendships, but college is about experiencing
life.
Edited by Pat Strathman
mIKE moNtANo
mmontano@kansan.com
Life with roommates can be unpredictable
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tRAVIS YoUNG/KANSAN
sharing a dorm or an apartment with somebody else can be unpredictable at times. The relationship you build with your roommate can decide how the rest of the
school year goes.
PAGE 16 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
animals
thE coSt of A fURRY fRIEND
ANNA WENNER
awenner@kansan.com
Buying a pet might be the perfect way
to add entertainment and comfort to your
apartment life. However, before getting your
own cat or dog, its important to know if you
have the time, space and money to accom-
modate your furry, new roommate.
A dog is going to need to be taken out and
get adequate exercise, said Mary Thompson
from Potwin Pet Clinic. Kitties need to have
enough space for a litter box and there should
be one litter box per cat.
With both dogs and cats, the amount of
exercise they need depends less on the size
of the animal and more on his or her energy
level. Its possible to have a large dog who
requires only short walks, but also possible
to have a small dog who needs long walks.
Similarly, cats can be naturally active or natu-
rally sedentary. Much like people, it depends
on the personality of the pet.
Mindy Pressman, a student from San
Diego, has lived in both an apartment and a
house with her dog, and has noticed a differ-
ence in the time she spends with her.
Whats interesting is shes an inside dog, so
in the house I can just let her out, Pressman
said. But in an apartment, going to the bath-
room was a walk, so she actually spent a lot
of time outside.
Cost is a huge factor to take into consid-
eration. According to Potwin Pet Clinic, vac-
cinations for a dog can cost about $78 each
year. Flea, tick and heartworm preventative
shots or medicine cost between $13.50 -
$14.79 for both dogs and cats. While these
preventatives are not required to have a pet
in an apartment, without them an unwelcome
infestation can occur.
Food costs are also something to keep in
mind. According to Hills Pet Nutrition, the
cost of food for a dog is about $73.00 per year
for a 5 lb. dog and $467.00 for a 100 lb. dog.
For a 5 lb. cat, food costs about $91.25, and
for a 15 lb. cat, around $149.65. The price of
food changes depending on the type, but be
prepared for the unexpected. For instance,
if your animal develops a health issue and
requires a particular type of food, it can be
more expensive than the average brand.
Along with these minimums, there are
many accessories that cats and dogs require
Collars, leashes, scratching posts, carriers
and a litter box are just a few necessities a dog
or cat needs. All together, these can cost any-
where from $166.00 to $450.00. In general,
the larger the animal, the more it will cost. A
large animal will eat more food, need bigger
toys to play with, and will need larger doses
of medicine if he or she gets sick.
With apartments, its also important to
remember that as much as you like your
furry companion, there are many apartment
complexes that do not allow pets. Also, most
apartments require a deposit and often do
not allow certain types or sizes of animals.
Lastly, responsibility is important to
remember. You must be home to feed a pet,
keep a water bowl full and spend time with
him or her. Similarly, you must clean up after,
bathe and pay for any messes a pet causes.
Edited by Gabrielle Schock
chRIS bRoNSoN/KANSAN
morgan miller, a senior from Wichita, hangs out with her dog, Toby. students need to consider cost and space
when considering a pet.
chRIS bRoNSoN/KANSAN
Pet supplies, including collars and leashes, can cost
up to $450.
chRIS bRoNSoN/KANSAN
some apartment complexes
require deposits for pets, so
dont forget to look over your
contract.
Pets create a sense of home in an apartment, but require responsibility
PAGE 17 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
finance
financial pains can be
avoided with budgeting
Money is an important factor for students
to consider when living off-campus. There
is rent to pay and food to buy. It can be hard
to juggle all of these expenses and make sure
that there is money left over.
Some University students have found a
solution: budgeting.
I started my budget last January when I got
an engineering co-op, said Kasey Knight, a
junior from Unionville, Mo. I calculated how
much my rent and car payments were and
added on about what I thought I would spend
on gas, food, etc.
Kelly Welch, a University professor of busi-
ness, said a budget should include a close
estimate of expenses and income for the next
month, or whatever time frame is chosen.
I recommend starting by tracking ones
monthly expenses in a few broad categories
including income, rent, utilities, food, trans-
portation and entertainment, Welch said.
The categories depend on ones circum-
stances. Items like scholarships, grants, loans,
tuition and books are more lumpy and might
need to be planned for
on a different frequency
than monthly.
There are many ways
to write a budget. If
there arent many fac-
tors, some simple math
and a note pad can be
sufficient. For more
complicated situations,
computer programs like
Quicken, can help. The
more difficult part of
the process comes after the budget is set:
keeping to it. Once a budget has been written,
discipline is required to follow through.
When school started up, I had money
saved but it was going fast so I made another
budget, Knight said, I work part time at
Hy-Vee now to help.
Living within ones means isnt always easy.
Falling outside a budget can be especially
discouraging, and it can cause one to give up
entirely on a budget, Welch said.
To make a budget successful and easier to
follow, certain precautions can be taken.
Be sure to budget in a bit of a slush cat-
egory, if at all possible, Welch said. So few
are able to deal with unexpected costs, or
even spur-of-the-moment purchases. Also,
one should realize that surpluses one month
may be offset with deficits another month.
Also, building up an emergency fund is also
a key item.
Having a budget doesnt mean there is
no money for having fun. It just means that
the amount spent on it is accounted for and
tracked.
I do recommend for all students to set
a budget by calculating about how much
you have to spend every month and put the
rest into savings, but also allow yourself to
go out and have fun
every once in a while,
Knight said.
Having a budget can
be beneficial. It is less a
restriction than a way
to prioritize and con-
trol where money is
being spent.
A budget allows
one to identify where
the cash flow sources
are, where the cash
outflows go and, most
importantly of all, how to prioritize the
expenses, Welch said. Choosing tradeoffs
carefully helps each of us gain control of our
personal finances.
Not setting a budget, or just not know-
ing where money is going can have serious
repercussions.
Failing to budget can often result in exces-
sively large additional expenses, which on
a personal finance level include high credit
card interest, lots of bank fees for insufficient
funds and frequent transactions and problems
with collection agencies, Welch said.
Not having a budget isnt going to always
translate into these problems, but for some
students it can be very helpful in fighting
against financial problems.
Budgeting can be a tedious exercise, but
it provides extraordinary insights, and helps
individuals prioritize, Welch said.
Edited by Ian Cummings
StELLA LIANG
editor@kansan.com

chooing tradeoffs care-


fully helps each of us gain
control of our personal
fnances.
kelly welch
Professor of business
Budget tips
Start tracking monthly expenses
Place expenses into categories
Make a budget and stick to it
Try to build an emergency fund
know where your money is going
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PAGE 18 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
ELLY GRImm
egrimm@kansan.com
EntErtainmEnt KiCKEr
What do you think?
Tyler Wayne
Kansas City
Having a kitchen.
Whats your favorite thing about your apartment?
MiChael Mendez
Shawnee sophomore
Being close to campus. they have a
bus route so it was really easy.
Fran SoTo
leavenworth sophomore
Having my own space.
Jeannie Sullivan
Petluma, Ca junior
it has a washer and dryer so i dont
have to do laundry in the basement.
ChriS reynoldS
overland Park sophomore
i just like that its so close.
laura henry
olathe sophomore
i like that its off campus.
MaTT GerMain
lawrence freshman
my own abode, its all mine.
PAGE 19 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
Keep your keys in check, or be locked out
Locked out
ANNA wENNER
awenner@kansan.com
Perhaps the most exciting moment of getting
your frst apartment is holding the key in your
hand and knowing that it opens the door to your
very own home. In the beginning, its exciting
just to lock and unlock the door, but soon your
key becomes an aferthought. Its not that you
dont need it. On the contrary, you defnitely do.
Its just that the key tends to lose out to shinier,
more exciting parts of apartment life.
Unfortunately, taking your key for granted can
cost an exorbitant amount of time, money and
embarrassment.
Te last time [I locked myself out] it was
really inconvenient, said Kate Moneymaker, a
graduate student from Emporia. I had to get my
extra key from my boyfriend and then go back
and was almost late to class. Worse than that, the
frst day of freshman year I went to take a shower
and got locked out. I had to go down to the desk
in a towel.
Most of us, even the wisest of us, have lef our
key in some mysterious nook of our apartment
only to fnd it afer an extensive, time consum-
ing search. Similarly, losing your key can result in
fnes to replace it. To avoid the hassle of lost keys,
follow these two bits of advice.
Find your key a home
If your key is not attached to anything, it is very
easy to drop it somewhere, lose it in your pocket
and forget about it until you need it. It can take
anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours of
searching to fnd a lost key inside of your apart-
ment, especially if you arent sure when or where
you had it last. Dropping your key somewhere
can cost a lot more than time. Based on informa-
tion from local apartment complexes, including
Campus Court Student Apartments, the Reserve
on 31st Street and Legends, replacing an apart-
ment key in Lawrence can cost anywhere from
$5 to $50.
To avoid this problem, fnd a place that is just
inside the door where you can easily set down
your keys afer entering. Tis place can be some
sort of container like a bowl or a drawer, or you
can place hooks on your wall for your keys to
hang on. To make the location of your keys ex-
tra memorable, put some efort into making the
perfect nook. One creative idea for a key hook
was posted by blogger Sam Biddle on Gizmodo.
com. He suggested hanging a wide lego block on
the wall, then attaching smaller legos to your key
ring so that when you come inside, all you have
to do is stick the legos together to hang your keys
up.
Once you have a home for your keys inside the
apartment, fnd a way to keep track of them when
you are outside of the house. One of the easi-
est ways to do this is to attach a large, awkward,
or brightly colored key chain to your keys. Tis
can keep your keys from getting lost in the sea of
junk in a large purse or falling between the couch
cushions at home. Some people even wear their
keys by attaching them to lanyards or bracelets. If
you have an electronic key card, place it in a wal-
let or wristlet with your KU ID and your drivers
license so you will never leave home without the
essentials. Also, many wallets and purses have
key rings or clips attached to themso you dont
have to dig to fnd your keys.
Know what to do if
you are locked out
Getting locked out of your apartment is one of
those events in life that is only funny when it hap-
pens to someone else. Although everyone hopes
it wont happen to them, every day students get
locked out of their homes and have to seek help
to get back in. While some apartment complexes
say they have only a few lockouts each week,
Trista Hageman, Senior Community Assistant at
the Reserve on 31st Street, says that many ten-
ants regularly lock themselves out of their apart-
ments, at least like 50 per week.
For most apartment complexes if you are
locked out, it is ideal to have it happen during
regular ofce hours. At the Reserve you can get
a temporary key that will last until midnight if
you are locked out during ofce hours, but afer
hours you have to pay a $25 fee because some-
one must be called to make a new card. Te good
news is that most student apartment complexes
do have someone on call at all hours to deal with
lockouts. However, apartment complexes rarely
have the same system.
Tis is why it is important to fnd out what the
policy is for your apartment when you frst move
in. If there is a number to call in case of a lock-
out, make sure you program it in your phone.
Alternatively, Rent.com suggests that if your
apartment or place of residence does not have a
lockout procedure, make sure that you have the
number of one person who has a key (such as the
superintendent), the number for a locksmith, and
the number of the police in cases of emergency.
In addition, if you have or are allowed to make a
spare key, leave one with a close friend or family
member rather than a hiding spot. At apartments
there are few places to hide a key outside, and a
potential burglar will check them all.
While its good to know all of these pro-
cedures, whats most important is doing your
best not to get locked out in the frst place.
If you make an efort to always lock your door
upon leaving, having your keys in tow will be-
come second nature. If you continue to for-
get, stick a reminder, such as a post-it note, on
the door at eye level.With these suggestions in
mind, you might never get locked out again.
Edited by Anna Allen
1 2
1
2
PAGE 20 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
Sudoku
PAGE 21 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
Between going to class, doing homework
and having a job, it may seem impossible to
find time to go to the gym. So how can you fit
exercise into your life? Its as easy as starting
right in your own living room.
Mark Wolf, a personal trainer at Ambler
Student Recreation Fitness Center, said to
begin working out by stretching..
The stress of long days sitting in classes,
hunched over a computer can wreak havoc on
your body, Wolf said. As little as five to 10
minutes of simple leg or arm stretches a day
can prevent back pain caused by inactivity and
muscular imbalances.
Wolf also suggests using household items
as weights. Heavy cans, detergent bottles and
other objects make great weights for arm curls
and repetitions. Wolf said that doing three sets
of 10 repetitions with a heavy can will achieve
the same results as using a weight.
Exercise will literally improve every aspect
of your life, Wolf said. Not only will you
look better, feel better and manage stress bet-
ter, but youll also get sick less, and have more
energy.
Phillip Vardiman, assistant professor in
health, sport and exercise sciences, said that
having a limited amount of time is no excuse
to skip out on your daily exercise. He said there
are plenty of routines and workout plans that
are doable at home.
I would start off with two sets of 10 of either
lunges, squats, push-ups, jumping jacks or sit-
ups, Vardiman said. The key is progression.
Just gradually increase the intensity of weights
or repetitions as it gets easier.
Matt Cullinan, a sophomore from Overland
Park who is devoted to his daily exercise rou-
tine, said he enjoys turning his workouts into a
game. His favorite workout activity is the Card
Push-Up Workout.
The student shuffles a standard deck of
cards, flips the first card over and performs a
specific exercise. If he pulls a red card, he does
a push-up. If he pulls a black card, he does a
sit-up. If he flips over a face card, the student
does 20 reps of the exercise. The number on
the card denotes how many reps the student
performs of the specific exercise. Students can
adjust the type of exercise or number of repeti-
tions however they like.
I like this workout because I dont know
whats coming next, Cullinan said. It makes
working out fun and I look forward to doing
it.
Shannon ONeill, Fit class instructor at The
Rec center, said that she searches the web to
find workout videos. She said she is able to
achieve the same workout thats shown in
commercial workout videos without spending
the money.
You dont need to go anywhere or spend
money to get efficient exercise, Oneill said.
YouTube has great workouts, and there are
millions of exercise forums that give great
advice.
ONeills favorite video on YouTube is The
Best Home Workout- Exercise Routine. This
video focuses specifically on working your abs
and helping tone your stomach. Her favorite
cardio workout on YouTube is Eight Minute
Cardio Workout at Home, Exercise Routine
& Fitness Training for Fat Burning. Both are
fewer than ten minutes long and increase your
heart rate.
Edited by Christine Curtin
AVALoN CoLE
acole@kansan.com
Turning stress from school into sweat
ExErcisE
tRAVIS YoUNG/KANSAN
if there isnt enough time to go to the gym, working out at home can be a great way to relieve daily stress.
Different workout techniques can keep exercising at home interesting.
PAGE 22 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
Dont be shy with
potential landlords
VIctoRIA PItchER
vpitcher@kansan.com

Senior Bridget Whittredge, has
had her share of unpleasant land-
lords, but she also understands their
side.
Landlords have to deal with a lot
of students who dont care about the
property, so they have to be tough,
Whittredge said.
Despite careless tenants, Mary
Gage, owner of Gage Manage-
ment Inc., said students are a great
population to work with. Gage,
who has managed property for 25
years, owns the company with her
husband, and currently, the couple
owns about 500 apartments and
single-home units in Lawrence. A
lack of communication can cause
conficts between landlords and
tenants, she said.
For a lot of [students], it might
be the frst time theyve ever rented,
Gage said. Educating them on how
it all works, it sometimes takes some
time. Brian Callahan, a freshman
from Bonner Springs, said students
shouldnt sign anything without un-
derstanding what they are getting
into. When Callahan received fnes
and had maintenance issues, he was
unsatisfed with how the manage-
ment dealt with them.
Defnitely negotiate the lease be-
fore you sign, Callahan said.
Details such as how a tenant can
be fned and how maintenance is-
sues are fxed may be outlined in the
lease. When it comes time to sign it,
Gage said students should read over
it carefully since it is a legal contract.
Gage has seen many students briefy
skim over the lease if that be-
fore signing.
Gage said students should pay at-
tention to things in a lease such as
the length of it and any additional
fees. If students dont take the time
to ask about the terms or the land-
lord doesnt explain them well,
problems can arise between land-
lord and tenant.
One of the most important things
that frst-time renters should do
is ask a lot of questions. Gage said
students should talk closely with the
landlords and ask exactly how their
leases work. All of the paperwork
involved in signing can be hectic for
both the leasing ofces and the ten-
ants, but if there are any questions
that arise, students should simply
talk to their landlord.
We like to work with people and
try to understand their concerns
and on the other hand, hope they
understand that we are trying to
run a responsible business as well,
Gage said.
Edited by Taylor Lewis
PAGE 23 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012
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PAGE 24 thE UNIVERSItY DAILY KANSAN moNDAY, fEbRUARY 20, 2012

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