Volume 125 Issue 75
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
kansan.com
SCRUB-A-DUB-DUB
A HANDY WAY TO AVOID THE FUJI
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2013
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SAFETY
PAGE 7
RENTERS SHOULD CONSIDER SECURITY A TOP PRIORITY
HALEY FRANCIS
editor@kansan.com
Comparing home security in the residence hall, apartment and rental house
Deciding where to live during college can be a royal headache, especially when the process is new. From the roommates to the location, there are many aspects to consider. While many students live on-campus for at least their first year, the question of where to reside next soon arises. Is it best to stay in a residence hall on-campus? What about an off-campus apartment or rental house? Each option has its pros and cons and it is important to weigh the options in order to find the best fit for you. So what about safety? How important is home security when selecting a place to live?
Living in a KU residence hall has its obvious perks: faster commute to classes, the convenience of nearby student resources and the opportunity to meet new people. The included safety benefits are also noteworthy. According to the KU Department of Student Housing, all residence halls ensure personal support, including nighttime hallway security rounds, 24-hour card swipe security and patrolling video cameras in the buildings and parking lots. Talk about a home security system.
If you're itching for some independence and a bathroom with a two or three-person occupancy, a rental house is a common off-campus option. But with freedom comes more responsibility. Landlords provide basic safety, but at the expense of cameras and security officers."
All of our houses have outdoor lighting. Some have motion sensor lights, some do not. They all have deadbolts and good locks on the doors," said Chad Glazer, owner of Glazer Properties LLC. Glazer also advises his tenants to get renter's insurance. "It's really, really cheap and you can get most or all of your stuff covered. It's as cheap as $5-$10 per month." If any tenants still wanted more safety, Glazer said he would allow tenants to install their own security system if they covered the expense.
Sgt. Trent McKinley from the Lawrence Police Department said overall, alarm systems are of great help.
"They help to keep people out of your house, at least for long periods," McKinley said. "If it's something that doesn't make a lot of noise, dispatchers are notified in at least five minutes, so the person can't spend 30 minutes walking around your house."
Some landlords do not allow tenants to add their own security instillation. In this case, McKinley suggests students take a few easy precautions of their own. He recommended barring the door to prevent someone from
coming into the home while you are there as well as locking the doors when you leave.
Edited by Laken Rapier
Another possibility for off campus freedom is one of the numerous apartment complexes in town. Similar to the residence halls, many complexes include safety features. Eddingham Place Apartments, located near West Campus, provides standard safety. Property manager Cindy Harnett said all of the apartments have deadbolt locks, each building has two outside lights and there is hallway lighting as well as a light on either side of the apartment front doors. Although there are no parking lot video cameras or patrol, there is lots of light-ing.
RHIANNON ROSAS/KANSAN
Some apartment complexes have security systems that require a passcode for entrance.
The possibilities are abundant when choosing a place to live. Wherever you choose, it is important to feel safe, even when you are not there. McKinley advised students to be careful when they leave town, whether they live in a residence hall, apartment, or house, and ask someone to periodically check up on their place. From picking up the newspaper and turning on lamps to changing the arrangement of the blinds and playing music, he said to be sure to leave no sign of absence. Such precautions can limit the chance of break-ins and burglaries
TUCKAWAY, HAWKER,BRIARWOOD 785-838-3377
HUTTON FARMS 785-841-3339
TUCKAWAY AT FRONTIER 785-856-8900
VARSITY HOUSE 785-766-6378
TREY CONRAD/KANSAN
entirely, Iowa and Bob Billings will be reduced to one lane. Commuters should expect delays during construction and are recommended to follow detours or avoid these streets while access is limited.
The city's streets won't be alone in construction. The University will begin its own construction of Jayhawk Boulevard this summer, breaking the project up over four summers until 2016.
"Jayhawk Boulevard is a centerpiece of the new KU historic district," said Paul Graves, Deputy Director with the University's Office
ramps meet current accessiony standards.
According to conceptual designs, 60 canopy trees will be planted, paying homage to when jayhawk Boulevard was lined with American elm trees that were decimated by Dutch elm disease.
While the streets are unpaved, water lines will also be replaced in order to update to current standards, and storm water drainage will be installed in all areas.
Finally, the construction has been designed to be as consistent as possible with the University's
levard will never be entirely closed down.
"The pavement will be smoother and more durable so, whether walking on the sidewalks, bicycling down the street, riding a bus, it's going to be a safer and more convenient trip," Graves said. "Ultimately, it will also have a nicer appearance. With time, as the additional trees mature, it will be more shaded and more pleasant to walk along, especially in the heat of summer."
- Edited by Paige Lytle
KNOW WHEN THERE WILL BE CONSTRUCTION ON WHICH ROADS:
SUMMER 2013
MAY TO AUGUST
NOW TO DECEMBER
MARCH
Index
CLASSIFIEDS 7
CROSSWORD 5
CRYPTOQUIPS 5
OPINION 4
SPORTS 8
SUDOKU 5
contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2013 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
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