Volume 124 Issue 61
kansan.com
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
MAKING MONEY
THE PARKING MARKET
IAN CUMMINGS
icummings@kansan.com
Students living near the north and south ends of campus make money and learn lessons in raw capitalism as they sell parking in their yards and driveways during football and basketball games.
In November, the market for basketball parking is just gearing up on the south end, while opportunities to sell football parking dry up to the north. Each area is home to an informal economy of parking and dollars where student renters and landlords exist in a state of tension.
That tension sometimes comes from competition. Ashley DeSandre, a senior from Pocono Lake, Pa., said she didn't appreciate competing with a local landlord as she sold parking spots on the 1800 block of Maine Street before the basketball game against Fort Hays State last Tuesday. The landlord she referred to owns two duplexes and 14 parking spaces at the north end of the block.
"We don't like him," she said.
"This is for students. This is paying my bills."
Gretchen Windholz and her husband own these duplexes at the north end of the block. She sold spaces for $15 and said she, too, expected business to pick up as the season progresses. She said she paid each of the tenants, who are mostly students, 10 percent of the proceeds.
Students selling parking may be amateurs, but they do take into account the weather, supply and demand, and the competition when setting prices and negotiating with customers.
DeSandre stood in the rain on Tuesday, more than an hour before tipoff, selling spaces for $10. She affixed numbers to a sign with Velcro to allow price changes as she advertised parking to cars stuck in heavy traffic on 19th Street. She had 10 parking spots to sell and said she expected more business as the season picks up steam and bigger teams come to town.
"The goal is to sell all of the spots, and we try to keep our
prices under the parking department," DeSandre said of their parking competitors.
KU Parking & Transit advertises parking for $20 in the lots just up the block from DSeandre, south of the Robinson Health and Physical Education Center and across the street from Allen Fieldhouse. Most lots in the area are reserved for permit holders.
Prices varied between $10 and $15 along 19th Street on Tuesday and Friday nights, before the games against Fort Hays State and Towson, respectively.
Alise Bennett, a University alumna from Kansas City and Lawrence resident, sold spaces in her driveway for $10. She has sold parking at this and another nearby location in previous years, and said the prices depend on a variety of factors that include weather, the significance of the game and location. She said some visitors probably consider difficulties getting into traffic after the
SEE PARKING ON PAGE 3
A house located at 920 Illinois St. fills its yard full of cars for Saturday's football game. Students and Lawrence residents take advantage of the heavy traffic on game days to make a little extra cash.
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN
FOOD AND DIET
Thanksgiving without turkey?
Vegans and vegetarians work to enjoy a usually meat filled holiday
MAGGIE YOUNG editor@kansan.com
This Thanksgiving, Kim Sherman, a senior from Eudora, will celebrate the holiday in a typical
manner, with her family gathered around the table making expressions of thanks. But when the group digs into the food, the fare will be anything but typical. Sharmail
"It's fun when nontraditiona the holidays."
holidays," Cunningham said. "American culture is a melting pot and bringing in new vegan food helps to remind us of that diverse culture."
people bring food into
JOHN CUNNINGHAM Vegan Resource Group consumer resource manager
Parendi Birdie, a vegan junior
two-year vegan, plans on serving Tofurky, in lieu of the traditional turkey.
John Cunningham, the Vegan Resource Group consumer research manager, and vegan himself, said that many traditional foods can be made into vegan options with simple substitutions like margarine for butter or soy milk for milk. Stuffed acorn squash and colorful cranberry bread are some of Cunningham's favorite vegan picks for Thanksgiving.
"It's fun when people bring nontraditional food into the
"People think that if you are vegan or vegetarian you have to eat all of these crazy foods," Sherman said. "In reality, you can eat most Thanksgiving dishes made with alternative ingredients and it tastes very similar."
As a vegan, Sherman abstains from eating any form of animal product, from meat to milk. This lifestyle forces Sherman and other vegans to come up with creative ways to make the most of their Thanksgiving spread.
from Lawrence,
is the president of Compassion For All Animals, a student group with the mission of creating peace for animals.
Birdie comes from a faux-
ABBY DAVIS/KANSAN
The Merc, located on Ninth and Iowa streets, offers a whole Tofurky line, catering to those looking to celebrate a meat-free Thanksgiving.
meat-loving family. In fact, they order their mock meat from a specific company in New York City. Birdie says that her family usually eats a basic faux meat and vegetable meal for Thanksgiving.Birdie has tried Tofurky, a meat that imitates turkey, and said that the taste varies depending on where it is produced.
"If you think about it, a vegetarian could eat most of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner," Chapman said. "If they have the traditional raal, it includes the green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, whipped potatoes, dinner rolls, and usually there is a fruit salad, tossed salad, corn and broccoli."
Ann Chapman, a registered dietitian, said that despite diet restrictions, a variety of foods are still available to vegetarians and vegans.
"Tofukyr has to be made well for people to like it," Birdie said. "I think it sometimes gets a negative reputation because people haven't had it prepared properly."
The Merc, located at Ninth and Iowa streets, sells a whole Tofurky line which includes Tofurky roasts, whole wheat bread crumb stuffing and gravy. Tofurky is composed of tofu, a soybean product. The store also offers vegan baking mixes and an alternative whipped topping for pie.
For many, Thanksgiving is a time of appreciation, family, friends and food. Food, whether it is vegetarian or traditional, is an important aspect of the holiday, Sherman said that as a vegan she has developed a new respect for food and where it comes from.
Edited by Adam Strunk
"You have a lot more value in your food, especially when you are trying to eat more vegetables and fruits," Sherman said. "You want to slow down and take the time to appreciate each bite."
NATURE
Enjoying the fruits of campus foliage
SARA SNEATH ssneath@kansan.com
In the front lawn of Skyler Adamson's home in east Lawrence stands a three-foot persimmon tree. Though surrounded by leaves, the tree has no leaves of its own. Referred to as a whip, the unbranched tree appears more like a stick in the ground than a rooted plant.
Adamson refers to the tree as his Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Halfway down the ChapStick-sized trunk is a small knot, bisected by a diagonal line. The bark above and below the knot is noticeably different in color. The knot is called a graft union, and according to Adamson the fruit-producing top portion of the tree, called the scion, was grafted from the persimmon tree in front of Strong Hall.
Grafting is the latest turn in Adamson's long relationship with the Strong Hall persimmon tree.
"I've been eating from it for about 10 years or so." Adamson said.
He said he's also gleaned from the pear trees near the Chi Omega Fountain and black walnut trees in Marvin Grove.
Adamson is not alone in his foraging of campus edibles. Kelly Kindscher, a professor in the environmental studies department, said there were between 30 to 40 edible producing plants on campus. There was a long history of eating from these plants, Kindscher said. Students and community members typically found the more easily identifiable plants — like the persimmon and pear trees — on their own. However, edible flowers and greens — like the viburnum and lambquarter — are more often found through word of mouth.
Adamson said he was able to identify persimmon trees by their trunks alone. He described the trees down to the white freckles that
TAKING PROPER PRECAUTIONS
"For facilities, the fruit comes down and makes a mess, like the pear orchard up by the fountain," Lang said. "It's great that people pick them up and use them as far as I'm concerned."
Kindscher said along with proper identification, it is important to make sure you have permission to take from the plant and to find out whether the plant has been sprayed with any chemicals.
In June, city ordinance 14-304 was changed to allow residents to pick fruit off public trees. Before the change, residents could pick up only the fruit and nuts that had fallen on the ground. Mike Lang-campus landscape maintenance project manager, said fruit picking was never been an issue on campus. As long as people did not endanger themselves or the plant, he didn't have a problem with it.
Eric Farnsworth suffered the consequences of eating a fruit without the proper knowledge. After hearing from a friend about the ginkgotree behind Strong Hall, Farnsworth attempted to harvest the fruit for himself. His friend told him to wear gloves, he said, and he thought this was because of the strong odor of the fruit's outer flesh. After cleaning the fruit, he found that the gloves
covered the smooth gray branches. Adamsson said he was familiar with most fruit trees; however, if he were unsure he would consult friends.
"There is quite a bit of knowledge that goes into gathering fruit and food in general," Kindscher said. "To use plants, people need to know their identification; some can be pretty tricky. So, you need to be careful."
Index CLASSIFIEDS 8 CRYTOQUIPS 4 SPORTS 10
GROSSWORD 4 OPINION 5 SUDBOK 4
SEE FRUIT PAGE 3
all contents, unless stated otherwise; © 2011 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
Watch the men's basketball game against Kentucky at 8 p.m.
Today's weather
Farecasts done by:
University students. For
a more detailed forecast,
see page 2A.
HI: 63
L0: 28
see page 2K
Mid-60s in Mid-November