Monday, May 10, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 9
KU seniors prepare to leave college living communities
By Warisa Chulindra Special to the Kansan
Graduation is marked by change. For some seniors, this means leaving the comfort and familiarity of organized living.
Whether it is a residence hall, scholarship hall, fraternity house or sorority house, graduating seniors are in their last weeks of being part of a special community.
While it is uncommon for seniors to live on campus, those who choose to remain do so because of the sense of community and their involvement in that community.
Jessica Perkins, Burnsville, Minn., senior, has lived in University residence halls for four years. She said she would remember four years of fire alarms and the experience of living in a community of 950 people.
"When I had a question about anything, there was always someone who knew the answer," she said.
Perkins lived in Ellsworth Hall her first two years at the University of Kansas and has lived in McCollum Hall for the past two years.
As a freshman, she was a floor representative for her hall. When she was a sophomore, she worked as a desk assistant and security monitor and was publicity chain for Ellsworth Hall and the Association of University Residence Halls.
Perkins has served as vice president of programming for AURH for the past two years.
"Living in the residence halls is the best-kept secret," Perkins said.
Brandon LaBarge, Overland Park senior, said it was his involvement in the scholarship halls that kept him at the University for four years. He has been active in his hall government and All Scholarship Hall Council.
"I also have a really good group of friends here," he said.
Dinner banquets are a common way for living organizations to recognize its seniors. Awards are given out, and seniors are usually given the opportunities to speak.
"Living in the residence halls is the best-kept secret."
Jessica Perkins
senior
In the scholarship halls, each individual hall honors its seniors at dinners.
At Douthall Hall, seniors receive gifts at the Farewell Banquet, which is held at the Ekdahl Dining Commons banquet room. Seniors submit ideas for gifts they would like to receive.
Cheryl Hill, St. George senior and fourth-year resident, asked for kitchen appliances and a vegetarian cookbook that the hall frequently uses.
"I asked for kitchen appliances, because I don't own any and it's something that I need," Hill said. "I asked for the cookbook because it will remind me of Douthart."
This will be the first year that the Sigma Nu fraternity has a dinner planned by the seniors' mothers.
"The moms are planning the menu." Chuck Henderson, Overland Park senior, said. "Our moms are all friends, and they wanted to do one last get-together. Hopefully, this will start a tradition around here."
The Chi Omega sorority has a formal dance and a dinner honoring their seniors at the end of the year. Out of the 152 members this year, 39 are seniors. For the formal, the seniors put together a slide show and share their favorite memories.
"We kind of try to embarrass each other," said Sarah Lamberton, Tulsa, Okla., senior. "The underclassman finds it amusing."
A committee of underclassmen plans the dinner. One of the members' favorite meals is prepared. Seniors talk about their plans after graduation and are granted alumna status.
After the dinner, everyone gathers around the Chi Omega fountain. The seniors release cardinal
and straw balloons, the colors of the sorority, into the sky. Then they make a wish and toss a penny over their shoulders into the fountain.
"I wouldn't have traded this experience for anything." Lamberton said. "I've gotten to know a diversity of people in the house."
Some sororities and fraternities informally plan senior trips, particularly during spring break. Delta Delta Delta went to Las Vegas for a weekend in January. Chi Omega and Sigma Nu went to Jamaica during spring break.
Because not all the seniors choose to live in the sorority house, the trip gave them the opportunity to spend time with each other, said Kelly Oakleaf, Overland Park senior and member of Delta Delta Delta.
Each sorority has its own activities, spanning from videos and dinners to senior trips, said Taylor Gill, Wichita junior and Panhellenic Association vice president for recruitment.
The residence halls do not have a dinner for its seniors, but Perkins has been working with the Department of Student Housing in hopes of establishing a tradition for seniors who live on-campus.
Seniors who have been active with the department for four years, either as a desk assistant, security monitor, or serving on hall government in their residence or scholarship hall, will receive crimson and blue cords to wear at commencement.
"It's designed to recognize people who have worked hard in housing." Perkins said.
Some seniors said they would miss being part of a living organization but look forward to the new experience that awaits them.
I'm excited," Henderson said. "I've never lived in an apartment on my own. It'll be good to get out of organized living. I enjoyed living in the house, but it'll be nice to have a change of pace."
Lawson said he would be sad but that he was ready to move on.
"If you're good enough friends, you'll keep in touch," he said.
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