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Kansas graduates often forced to sever financial ties with parents
By Kristen Coughenour Special to the Kansan
When Jen Wintermute graduates from the University in May, she has three choices: She can live with her sister without paying rent, she can live for free with her uncle or she can return to her old room at her parents' home.
Graduation means severing financial ties with parents, and sometimes relationships become strained while students learn what it takes to live independently.
"This is an emerging problem," Spano said. "Graduates are facing problems unique to this generation that were not there before."
"I could live at home, but I'd probably slit my wrists," said Wintertime, Chicago senior. "So I'm living with my sister in Minnesota. All my parents are giving me is a car and a kiss goodbye."
For students graduating now, it can take two or three tries to become financially independent, said Rick Spano, associate professor of social welfare.
The amount of support given to college graduates varies from family to family. Parents often wonder where to draw the line on involvement with their children's financial affairs.
Ann Spikes, a KU graduate, works as a part-time nanny in Lawrence. Spikes graduated from the University in May 1993 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and has been job searching since then.
"My parents don't want me to get in a rut," Spikes said. "They want me to have time to
make the best decision for me."
Spikes said she knew of graduates whose parents would not help them out. These students felt pressured to get jobs and ended up in careers that they did not like, she said.
For many students, living at home after graduation is a way to save money. Living at home can create tension for families, also. Some problems that arise concern curfews and drinking, along with any other habits that students pick up at college, Spano said.
Olders siblings seem to set the standard for the amount of support parents give after college. Wintermute knows support from her parents will be minimal because her older sister became independent immediately after college, she said. She said her parents had slowly weaned her by having her pay for clothes, shoes and trips.
Jamie Kasher, Omaha, Neb., senior, said, "All of my brothers and sisters have gotten jobs right out of college, so I've always known I'll have to. My parents have instilled the work ethic in me and geared us toward being independent."
Even parents of graduates who are financially independent after college sill can feel obligated to be involved with their children's money situation. But, Spano said, students able to live independently don't have to defend themselves very often.
"There may be the occasional question like, 'How can you afford to buy a $150 skirt, when you can't pay student loans?'," Spano said. "But usually there are not that many problems that arise."
Reaction to alcohol ban on campus mixed
By Chris Doyle Special to the Kansan
Graduation is a time to down a few drinks and celebrate, right? But be cool, the cops are watching.
"If they don't comply with the laws, they're not allowed in the stadium," he said.
Maybe they do it before they go. It could be that they hide it under their gown. Some sneak it on the side while others do it right out in the open.
Police are ready for anyone who might drink on the hill.
Officer Cindy Alliss, KU police, said alcohol offenders were the minority
Jim Scaly, co-chair of the commencement committee, said that when police spotted students with alcohol, the police took it away or asked them to dump it out. If students refused, they would not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony.
KU graduates violate a Lawrence city ordinance if they sneak a drink while walking, or stumbling, down the hill during commencement ceremonies.
rather than the majority.
"Typically we don't have a problem," she said. "People are there to enjoy graduation activities."
In fact, since the law hit campus early last year, Alliss said KU police had
found less alcohol on campus.
Shawn Lerner, a KU graduate who walked down the hill last May, said he was upset that he and his friends could no longer drink on the hill for football games or at graduation last year.
"I think it's been a pretty big tradition for a hell of a long time," he said.
Lerner said that despite the ordinance, people had found another way to honor tradition. Some brought champagne in plastic cups, and some just did their drinking somewhere else.
"I think a lot of people drank on the way," he said. "That's what we did. We were pretty lit by the time we got there."
CONGRATULATIONS KU GRADS! GOOD LUCK IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS!!
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GRADUATION • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN • May 2,1994