OBAMA TAKES OATH AT INAUGURATION
Americans witness history in Washington. ELECTION 200813A
THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
IVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM
CAMPUS
Museums cut hours to reduce spending
VOLUME 120 ISSUE 82
BY AMANDA THOMPSON athompson@kansan.com
In an effort to conserve energy and cut spending, the Spencer Museum of Art and the Natural History Museum have reduced their hours of operation.
The art museum began closing its galleries an hour earlier each day beginning Jan. 12. The Natural History Museum has been closing its galleries on Mondays since late December.
Jen Humphrey, communications director at the Natural History Museum, said cost was the driving factor in the decision to cut hours, but she said museum administrators also considered the environment.
HOUSING WOES
"Anything that helps us keep our energy bill low and reduces the footprint of the University is welcomed." Humphrey said.
Humphrey estimated the Natural History Museum would save $10,000 each year in salary and utility costs.
SEE MUSEUMS ON PAGE 6A
NATURAL
HISTORY MUSEUM
Monday: closed
Tuesday-Saturday: 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
Sunday: Noon to 5 p.m.
SPENCER
MUSEUM OF ART
Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Saturday: 10
a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday: Noon to 4 p.m.
Potential licensing fee plan could be implemented for housing more than 50 years old
BY MIKE BONTRAGER mbontrager@kansan.com
mbontrager@kansan.com
Students living in old rental houses and apartments could see an increase in housing costs if new legislature passes in February. Lawrence's Planning and Development Services Department will propose a new licensing plan to require all rental properties more than 50 years old to be licensed citywide.
Currently, only rental properties in zoned areas within the city require licensing. The proposed program would add an estimated
2,500 rental properties to the licensing grid.
Brian Jimenez, code enforcement manager of Planning and Development Services, said the goal of the program was to ensure safe living standards for renters and help maintain property values around the city. Jimenez said the fee increase would be used to fund three city positions: two housing inspectors and one licensing and inspection coordinator. Each rental property must be inspected at least once every three years.
Ryan Keast, Olathe junior, has
had plumbing problems as a tenant before. Keast heard about many problems in older Lawrence apartments from others, including a friend whose apartment burned down because of electrical problems. Keast said he didn't think the proposed plan would cause problems.
"It makes sense and it's really not a huge increase assuming the tenants do pay for it." Keats said. "I mean, they increase our rent 1 to 2 percent every year."
The fee for licensing will increase from $25 per rental property to $60. For rental properties
that don't currently have license, they will be required to pay the new $60 fee. This fee increase is the concern of many local land-lords, such as Pedi Blevins, who owns properties in Tennessee.
"It's pretty crappy." Blevins said.
Blevins said she already paid a licensing fee for her rentals and thought the state of the economy put a strain on her expenses.
Candice Davis, another local landlord, said she supported the proposed expansion. Davis said she did not currently license any of her rental properties but supported the plan because of her concern about the safety issues in older Lawrence apartments.
"If you are a landlord, you are in a business and you have obligations to meet certain standards," Davis said.
Landlords price their rentals competitively with those of newer apartment complexes and fear that a licensing fee increase, which might not affect newer apartment complexes for years, could affect their business.
Apartment complexes older
SEE RENTALS ON PAGE 6A
LAWRENCE
Co-ops offer students unique residential options
Ben Jefferies, Tonganoxie junior, replaces an old stair railing with a rope version as nontraditional student Josh Peterson watches. Jefferies has been a resident of the Sunflower House, the largest of three cooperative housing provided by the KU Student Housing Association, for more than a year.
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
BY KAYLA REGAN
kregan@kansan.com
Sam Gleeson was one of the approximately 21,500 KU students living off-campus in 2007. Unlike the majority of renters in Lawrence, he lived in a place where he determined his own rent, as well as how much it increased the next year.
Aaron Paden, executive director of the University of Kansas Housing Association, said he expected cooperative housing to become a popular choice for students because of the state of the economy and the increasing cost of rent.
Gleeson, Lawrence senior, lives in The Olive House, the oldest of the three student-led housing cooperatives in Lawrence.
THE SUNFLOWER HOUSE
Maximum Occupancy: 30
Rent: $250 to $350 per month
Responsibilities: 20 coordinators oversee the upkeep of the house. Such positions include repair coordinator, food coordinator or mail coordinator.
Tenants must also complete six hours of chores per week.
Location: 1406 Tennessee St.
"I like the idea of group housing and being able to meet new people," Gleeson said. "And it's pretty cheap."
cooperative living in Lawrence
THE AD ASTRA HOUSE Maximum Occupancy: 10 Rent:$315 to $335 per month Responsibilities: Roommates hold specific job titles and complete a rotating list of household chores. The jobs include anything from gardener to treasurer to "re,"meaning "reduce, reuse and recycle educator."
"Co-ops originally came about because of the depression." Paden
Location: 1033 Kentucky St.
THE OLIVE HOUSE
THE OLIVE HOUSE
Maximum Occupancy: Eight
Rent: $305 to $325 per month
Responsibilities: Three officers are responsible for money, dealing with the KU Student Housing Association and recycling. Each roommate rotates among cleaning the kitchen, living room, porches, bathrooms, hallways, and stairways.
Location: 1614 Kentucky St.
said. "And we're nowhere close to that, but I definitely think at a time when the economy is down, co-ops do well."
Tenants are responsible for pay
ing property taxes, making repairs and budgeting living expenses out of a communal fund. Paden
index
SEE CO-OP ON PAGE 6A
Classifieds...3B
Crossword...4A
Horoscopes...4A
Opinion...5A
Sports...1B
Sudoku...4A
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2009 The University Daily Kansan
NADAL ROLLS IN AUSTRALIA
World's No. 1 tennis player dispatches first-round Australian Open opponent with ease. **SPORTS | 4B**
weather
TODAY
52 27
Parti du jour
THURSDAY
Partly cloudy
6127
Mostly sunny
FRIDAY
4214
Mostly cloudy
weather.com
15