On the Town
Wednesday, Aug. 23, 1989
Section
E
KU legal office offers students housing advice
by Dick Lipsey Kansan staff writer
Signing a lease sometimes turns out to be a significant emotional experience for students who don't understand what they are doing.
"A common problem is that students want to get out of their lease, but don't understand the ramifications," said Kevin B. Wickliffe, a staff attorney of legal services for students.
Legal services for students is a program of the KU Student Senate that assists students with legal problems such as landlord-tenant relations. Its offices are in the Burge Union.
"Problems of landlord-tenant relations are pretty frequent," Wickliffe said. "They are probably 35 percent of our case load."
What can you do if your roommate drops out of school a month into the semester and moves out of the apartment?
"You can go to small claims court," Wicklife said. "Your roommate is still responsible until the end of the rental agreement. The problem is when they move to California."
Susan Gomez, a counselor for the Consumer Affairs Association, 819 Vermont St., said 30 percent of the complaints she handled involved disputes between landlords and tenants.
puts them.
"Normally, two or more people renting together will all sign the lease," she said. "But if one termites before the end of the lease, the others are still liable. The landlord can sue the one who leaves, but usually doesn't." So the remaining roommates can sue the other cue for damages."
The Consumer Affairs Association is a non-profit agency established in 1972 as a University of Kansas student organization. It receives most of its financing from the United Way and the KU Student Senate and serves both students and the general public, Gomez said.
public, Gonnie said. To be on the safe side, try to prevent roommate problems from occurring, Wylie said.
"Know who you're going to live with." Wickliffe said. "It's hard to draw up a contract, but it's not a bad idea."
Disputes over security deposits are another common problem.
depart.",
"We always urge the landlord and tenant to make an honest effort to work out the dispute," she said. "The law is a last resort, but the complainant is never without a remedy."
"After check-out, the landlord has a minimum of 14 days and a maximum of 30 days to return the security deposit." Gomez said.
Again, it's best to take action ahead of time to prevent a dispute
6NT
Association
Normally, two or more people renting together will all sign the lease. But if one terminates before the end of the lease, the others are still liable.'
Susan Gomez counselor Consumer Affairs
counselor, Consumer Affairs Association
over the security deposit, Wycliffe said.
These disputes usually arise over the condition of the apartment. Kansas law requires the landlord and tenant to make a joint inventory of the premises within five days after the tenant moves in. Doing so helps to protect the student later.
Wickliffe suggested some other points to remember before signing a lease.
"Know how long you are going to be there," he said. "If you plan to leave in May, don't sign a 12-month lease.
"Shop around. There are more apartments in Lawrence now. Shop the landlord as well as the apartment. Make sure you get along with the landlord."
"Be realistic about what you can spend. Many people over-extend themselves. If you have a $500 budget, you can't spend $400 on rent.
Gomez said unpaid phone bills were frequent problems for housemates.
"If the phone is in one name and the other person runs off, the only recourse is small-claims court," she said.
Kansas law specifies basic health and safety standards that landlords must maintain. For example, the kitchen must have a functioning sink that provides hot and cold water, and plumbing must be kept in good condition.
"Violations of these standards should be reported to the city housing inspector." Gomez said.
Students who need legal advice may call legal services for students, at 844-5665, for an appointment. Legal services for students have three attorneys and five interns. The interns are law school students. Brochures describing the services available and summarizing the Kansas Landlord Tenant Law are available at the office.
The Consumer Affairs Association publishes a rental housing handbook which gives detailed information about tenants' rights under the law. The handbook also has sample forms that the tenant can use for such purposes as demanding a return of the security deposit or requesting repairs. It is available to students for 75 cents.
The Oread neighborhood features many historic homes.
Residents want change in Oread
by Laura Graham
Kansan staff writer
Many of the houses are run-down and many of the residents do not care.
care.
Parking is a problem and has been for as long as anyone cares to remember.
The Ored neighborhood, bordered by Ninth Street on the north, Massachusetts Street on the east, 17th Street on the south and the University of Kansas campus on the west, has seen many changes throughout the years.
Crime may not be as pronounced as used to be, but it is still a concern to many residents.
Although its residents still deal with some of the same problems they have dealt with for years, many seem confident that things
are improving.
The University of Kansas accepted its first students in 1966, but no residence halls were constructed until 1923. As a result, the Gread neighborhood was home to many students because of its close proximity to campus.
The neighborhood is still home to many KU students, and many of the housing structures are not well-kept because owners can rent them to students at low rates.
them of Oklahoma. Eric Cleveland, president of the Oread Neighborhood Association, said this was one of the factors that contributed to the problems the neighborhood faced.
He said the number of transients and the high number of residents living in the neighborhood all played a role in Inurea's crime rate
and parking problem.
"I think we've seen some improvements," said Marc Franciese, past president of the association.
The association is composed of more than 100 residents of the neighborhood, Francisco said.
"It's a way for neighbors to get together and work to solve problems or to work on projects to enhance the neighborhood," she said.
He said members were working to increase the amount of lighting in the neighborhood, improve the condition of sidewalks and otherwise enhance the area.
Cleveland said the association continued to seek improvements in the neighborhood.
Their efforts may be paying off
as many new residents have moved into the area in recent years.
"There certainly are some problems, but we really like where we live," said Marcia Epstein, who moved into the Oread neighborhood about a year ago.
Epinest reid many houses in the 1000 block of Tennessee Street, where she lives, have been well-kept or restored. She said there was a sense of community in the neighborhood and that it offered numerous benefits.
"I like the mix of people, back-grounds and economic levels that you find in Oread," Epstein said.
"Very positive things will continue to happen in Oread," he said.
Cleveland said the neighborhood has, "a lot of energy in it."
Booze and minors don't mix, police say
Alcohol-related offenses can result in fines, criminal records, traffic school, jail
by Heather L. Anderson Kansan staff writer
One swig at the wrong time or in the wrong place could mean a fine and a police record.
Alcohol. Anyone under the age of 21 who is caught with it or who drives under its influence is asking for trouble.
Lt. Mike Reeves of the Lawrence Police Department said that minors cannot consume, purchase or serve alcohol or cereal malt beverages in Kansas, under state law.
Kimba, this law. The law includes not only alcohol served or sold in bars, restaurants and liquor stores, but also at private parties or anywhere else alcohol is served.
Minors can enter bars that have a restaurant license, but if a minor is caught with alcohol, they could be cited for violating the law or arrested and taken to jail. Reeves said.
and took over the job.
Lisa French, spokesman for the Alcohol Safety Action Project, said that minors found guilty of possession of alcohol would attend the Youth Alcohol Information School as part of their rehabilitation.
The school is a four-week program that meets for 1 ½ hours one night a week. Films and police officer lectures are used to educate the group about the hazards of drinking and driving, French said.
diving. Because the program is court-ordered, attendance is required to meet sentencing requirements.
Laws that apply to both minors and adults prohibit open containers of alcohol in vehicles, public consumption of alcohol or operating a vehicle under the influence.
Penalties for violating these laws include fines, community service, a suspended or revoked driver's license and time in jail.
Donald Strole, a Lawrence attorney who specializes in alcohol-related cases, said increased public awareness about alcohol and alcohol abuse had resulted in stricter laws.
He also said there was stricter
enforcement of the laws. A police officer who suspects that a driver has had too much to drink is more likely to pull over the driver and question them than in the past.
Strole said he was disturbed by the attitude of many minors who are taken to court on alcohol-related offenses.
"They don't think it's any big deal because they get such a light fine and maybe some community service work. They look soley at the financial impact, not the fact that they are pleading guilty to a misdemeanor," he said.
When minors are caught buying or consuming alcohol, police officers generally hold them until identification is produced, he said.
Strobe said the typical punishment for a first-time offender was a fine of $100 to $200 and an average of 20 hours of community service work.
Bar checks are unannounced visits to bars by police officers to insure that minors are not consuming alcohol. Bar checks last spring semester led to several student arrests and citations given to bar owners.
Strole questions the constitutionality of bar checks.
"Certainly a person has a right to sit and not have to worry about being confronted by just being there." Strole said. "There is a strong right to privacy that should be protected."
Most minors will not try to fight an alcohol-related charge because they don't believe the crime is very serious. Strole said.
He said most minors do not understand that a guilty plea becomes a part of their permanent records.
"Odds are that there will never be any problem with it, but there are rare cases when someone is applying for a job or if something else comes up." Strole said. "Take fake I.D.s for example. I certainly wouldn't want one of those on my record because it's a clear indication of a person's willingness to violate the law."
Lawrence resident Bill Garrett takes a break during a busy day.
Farmers' Market is a fresh alternative
Homegrown or homecrafted, merchandise sold at bazaar
by Barbara Kollmeyer
by Barbara Kollmeyer Kansan staff writer
The Farmers' Market has provided Lawrence with a shopping alternative for more than 14 years.
Sweet corn, tomatoes, breads, pastries and pies, large sacks of freshly picked apples, bird cages, dried flowers and pottery are among the goods offered at the Farmers' Market, in the 1000 block of Vermont Street, three times a week.
from may to October. The manchester's first location was in front of the Manchester Fire Department at 4th and Vermont streets, on Saturday mornings. Later, the Lawrence Fruit and Vegetable Association began sponsoring a separate market at 11th and Massachusetts streets on Wednesday evenings.
The market is sponsored by the Downtown Lawrence Association and began with a group of farmers who wanted to sell their goods. It runs from May to November.
Four years ago, the DLA began sponsoring one market instead of two. The market is open 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday's and Thursday's and 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday's.
The market attracts people of all ages and tastes. Kayla Patterson, market manager, said one requirement for the vendors was that everything they offer be homegrown or homemade.
"We have farmers and backyard gardeners, people selling ethnic foods and health goods," Patterson said. "There are no crafts per se, but there are plants, flowers, wall ornaments and
Some people, and a lot of students, want organically grown food. Vendors have tricks, like planting marigolds beside tomato plants to keep the aphids (small insects) off and some even handpick the pests off.'
— Kayla Patterson Farmers' Market manager
pottery."
Patterson said that a market specialty was that many of the vendors had not use pesticides or herbicides on their fruits or vegetables.
"Some people, and a lot of students, want organically grown food," she said. "Vendors have tricks, like planting marigolds beside tomato plants to keep the aphids (small insects) off and some even handpick the pests off."
Rosetta Lee, 65, has been selling at the market for 12 years. Lee, North Lawrence resident, begins her day at 4 a.m. preparing for the market when she bakes bread. Lee said she was
Many Oriental students come to the market to buy vegetables, such as kohlrabi, and other produce that is difficult to find in grocery stores, Peterson said.
"Lots of students come to the market because they can find things to fit their lifestyles," Kathy King said.
John and Kathy King, who live near Olathe, drive 45 minutes to sell their goods. They offer an assortment of flavored vinagers, sourdough breads and homemade cheeses.
very conscious of what goes into her goods.
Lee had sold all of her pies and cinnamon rolls, which she said were not artificially sweetened, an hour after arriving at the market.
"I use the best there is with less shortener and less calories." she said.
Patterson said that almost all fruits and vegetables were available according to season.
"In August you can find all melons, tomatoes, sweet corn, zucchini and eggplant, among others," she said.
"September is a good month for squash, acorn pumpkins, fruit pie, and apple cider."
At the peak of the market, there are as many as 40 vendors.
Helen Martin, Douglas County resident, who has been selling pottery at the market for two years, said that many of the vendors were her good friends.
"It's all very casual," we're just real basic, down-to-earth people," Martin said.