Volume 124 Issue 75
kansan.com
Thursday, December 8, 2011
APARTMENTS IN DECAY
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
ADAM STRUNK
astrunk@kansan.com
The thermostat reads 82 degrees. A rice cooker steams dumplings in the corner of the kitchen. The Wens apartment feels comfortable on a brisk, December night. But when the dumplings are gone and the temperature drops, the costs come out in their home at 1810 Bagley Drive, in the Stouffer Place Apartments.
When winter comes to Stouffler Place, residents — especially those living in the non-renovated apartments — do what they can to keep warm. Some put tin foil, duct tape, blankets or saran wrap over their windows. Others huddle around secret space heaters that Student Housing, which operates the complex, prohibits.
Shirong Wen takes four steps to cross the tiny apartment he shares with
his wife and son. He squats down by a closed window and places his hand next to visible gaps. Night air rushes over his hand. Wen said he pays $150 gas bills in the winter months to keep his family warm.
Shirong, whose wife Fengli is a doctoral student in physics at
the University, has lived in 11 different apartments since coming to the U.S. from Beijing, China. These places include student housing at Louisiana State University and Kent State.
Stouffer Place is "the worst, absolutely," he said
SEE HOUSING PAGE 3
HANNAH WISE
hwise@kansan.com
As the Scheweda-Stoskop family climbed out of their sedan, the kids begged to go to the pool later that day. Their parents simply said they would talk about it later. This situation is not uncommon for families. The only difference some people may see is instead of a mom and a dad,the kids are talking to their two dads.
Evan and Ken Scheweda-Stoskopf dated for two years and then married in Iowa this May. The couple did not have much choice about where they would be married because Iowa is the only state a reasonable distance from their home in Overland Park that will recognize and perform same-sex marriages.
"The way that we tell other people is that we met online," Evan said. "It turned out that we had one date and we've never really left the other person's side since then."
SEE MARRIAGE PAGE 4A
HEALTH
Sex cells: selling body fluids
ALEXA RUSH
arush@kansan.com
Empty pockets, wallets and bank accounts signal the end of the fall semester. Taking a job over break or spending less money on gifts tend to be common ways to solve a cash shortage, but there is another, rather unorthodox, solution. Although controversial, selling one's body cells can ease financial woes.
Donating sperm, ova and plasma are ways students can earn money doing little work, while also helping someone in the process.
Reproductive Resource Center, located at 12200 W. 106th St. #120 in Overland Park, offers a program in which healthy women ages 21 to 33 can donate ova to benefit infertile women. Donors must not smoke, be of healthy body weight and have regular menstrual cycles. They undergo pre-screening and medical reviews, which can take a few weeks.
Once the eggs are harvested and approved for donation, donors can receive up to $4,000 compensation. The donated ovum is then matched with a recipient and is fertilized in vitro. meaning the eggs are fertilized in a laboratory before being placed into the mother's womb.
Katie Yohe, a sophomore from Mulvane, said donating ova can be a good inove, but not just for the sake of money.
"I definitely want to have kids in the future, and if for some reason I couldn't, I know that I would definately appreciate someone donating so that I could have kids," she said. "The money wouldn't be the biggest reward for me. It's the fact that I'm helping someone."
Nursing supervisor of Student Health Services, Patty Quinlan, said that although donating reproductive cells may help individuals get pregnant who otherwise are unable, there are risks involved. "It can be time consuming with the medical screenings, and there can be multiple short-term risks as well," Quinlin said.
Men over the age of 18 have the option of sperm donation. Clinics and sperm banks have different requirements as to who can donate, but usually men must be at least 5-foot-9, currently be attending or already graduated from college, and be in good health and at a healthy weight, since these qualities usually correlate with healthy sperm. Donors must also agree to testing for sexually transmitted diseases and other illnesses. When donating sperm, a $50 to $100 compensation for each specimen is the average.
"I feel like it'd be kind of strange not being able to father a child that's biologically mine," said Whitaker. "But, I imagine if a couple can't have children by other means, then it seems like a good cause. I would probably lean towards adoption personally though, since there are already children in need of loving parents."
When asked if donating sperm is a viable financial option for male students, Kyle Whitaker, a junior from Shawne, said that he didn't feel it was something he did.
Quinlan cautioned students to think about the full implications of donating sperm and ova. Of course, money talks, but other issues such as custody agreements, anonymity, and the fact that you may have a biological child should be considered thoroughly before taking action. Researching the clinic's requirements about anonymity, custody agreements and other legal matters is essential.
Yohe, on the other hand, didn't think that confidentiality or custody issues would be a concern of hers.
"I suggest that an attorney be involved when donating," Quinlan said.
ZLB Plasma, located at 816 W. 24th St., offers a less controversial way to earn easy money by donating plasma. Plasma cannot be manufactured or created in a lab and it can take more than 1,000 donations to supply one adult with enough plasma for a full year, making peoples' donations crucial. The compensation for donating plasma ranges from $25 to $40 per visit. People can donate up to two
"I don't feel like it would really be my child. It would be theirs, because they carried it, had the sperm to go with it, and they are the ones that would raise it," she said. "It's like when you give someone blood, you don't say, 'Well, that's my blood, so I'm part of you'."
times a week. Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds, be at least 18 years old, live within 125 miles of a donation center and have proof of identity. The donor cannot have a tattoo or piercing newer than 12 months old.
Quinlan said there are potential side effects such as fatigue, vomiting and fainting associated with donating plasma. But it can also be a greater social good.
"When you donate plasma, you're donating for someone else's medical needs," Quinlan said.
Edited by Lindsey Delter
CLASSIFIEDS 9B CRYPTOQUOPS 6A SPORTS 18
CROSSWORD 6A OPINION 7A SUBOKU 6A
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2011 The University Daily Kansan
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Today's Forecasts done by University students. For a more detailed forecast, see page 24 HI: 37 LO: 20 Weather At least it's the last day of class
No class tomorrow.
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sea page 2K At least it's the last day of class.