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College at 17: Three students share their experiences
▶ FOREST LASSMAN
@Forest Lassman
Katie Oliver started at the University in 2008, an election year. She was asked numerous times if she had registered to vote, but every time, Oliver said "No." This is because Oliver started at the University when she was 17.
Oliver was given the choice to take full-time college classes as a senior or graduate a year early. She felt unchallenged in high school, and thought the University offered more engaging classes. Oliver decided to graduate early and study pharmacy.
Oliver, a 2014 graduate, is not alone in starting college earlier than most. In December, Alina Zheng became the first student to graduate at 16 since 1995, said Andy Hyland, assistant director of strategic communications at the University. Hyland said the University has an average of three full-time students under the age of 16 each semester.
During high school,
"For once, I felt challenged and just had so many new opportunities to get involved on campus," Oliver said.
was what it was. I graduated from high school and it was time to go to college," Templin said. "I just happened to be younger than the average student."
Students have been coming to the University at an early age for decades.
Katie Oliver came to KU at age 17, earlier than most.
Mitra Templin started at the University in 1986, two days before she turned 17. Templin, like Oliver, also graduated early from high school.
"I don't think that my early age was necessarily helpful or unhelpful; it
Templin said that coming to the University early did have it's own challenges, however, and she felt that the University did not help her adjust to college life.
"They absolutely gave no support," she said. "I don't even think they knew I was younger than my peers."
Being under 18 can also make paperwork challenging. Grant Earwood, who started at the University in 2014 at the age of 17, was unable to sign documents like his housing agreements without the signature of his parents.
ALEX ROBINSON/KANSAN
"Technically I wasn't an adult so I couldn't legally sign for myself," Earwood said. "That was kind of a challenge, but it wasn't too bad. It only happened once or twice."
Now, Oliver works at a pharmacy, and said she's glad she started college at a younger age.
"I became extremely independent maybe a little bit earlier. [It] ultimately helped make the transition after college a lot easier," Oliver said. "It taught me a lot."
- Edited by Madi Schulz
Former KU GTA Orion Mark Graf transferred to state custody to serve prison sentence
VICKY DIAZ-CAMACHO/KANSAN
VICKY DIAZ-CAMACHO/KANSAN Former University graduate teaching assistant Orion Mark Graf at a hearing this summer to withdraw his no contest plea to charges of rape. The prosecutor told Judge Pokorny that Graf had still been sending letters to the alleged victim in the case.
▶ MATT OSTROWSKI
@matto1233
Former University graduate teaching assistant Orion Mark Graf was officially released Tuesday morning from the custody of Douglas County and transferred to state custody where he will serve his prison sentence, said Kristen Dymacek, public information officer for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
Graf, 39, was sentenced to 18 years in pris
on last week for attempted rape and attempted aggravated criminal sodomy, according to Douglas County court records.
In June of 2014, Graf was sentenced to probation for two counts of breach of privacy after he hid cameras in dressing rooms of downtown Lawrence department stores, according to official complaints filed with Senior Assistant District Attorney Amy McGowan.
counts of attempted rape and attempted aggraviated criminal sodomy. In July, he withdrew his no-contest plea. Graf was sentenced Jan. 15.
Upon release, he will spend 36 months under supervision and will register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
Then, in May 2015 he pled no contest to
Edited by Sarah Kruger