THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2006
NEWS
3A
》 HOUSING
Student homeowners save on rent
Investment properties allows families to control rent prices, expect profit after graduation
BY MATT ELDER
While many students shun the idea of adding more responsibility to their academic workloads, two KU students have welcomed real estate ownership as an investment during college.
Jesse Conrad, Libertyville, Ill., junior, co-owns his house at 901 West 22nd St. with his father. Conrad began looking at houses in Lawrence for investment property while he lived in McCollum Hall during his freshman year. After sending pictures and information to his father in Libertyville for approval, Conrad made the decision to purchase his house located near Alabama Street.
"I pretty much did all the work except pay for it," Conrad said. "I didn't have the credit to buy it just under my name and now I'll have a better credit score when I get out of school."
Conrad has been able to pay the majority of his mortgage payment during the past year and a half by charging his roommates rent. When he graduates from the University, Conrad will sell the house. Ultimately, Conrad could have lived in Lawrence after his freshman year for free.
"Anything you can save living out-of-state obviously helps," Conrad said. "In the long run that's the plan."
The investment property Jason Flohrs' family purchased at 1812 Maine St. came with a greater responsibility.
Flohrs, Overland Park senior, spent more than three months renovating his one-bedroom, one-bathroom home on Maine Street that was built in 1906. Flohrs that was to live in the front half of his house while the back was gutted during the renovation.
"For the first month I was there I didn't have cold water," Flohrs said. "My kitchen sink was my bathroom sink and bathtub, like half a step above roughing it here."
The house has been expanded to include three new bedrooms and bathrooms, a kitchen and a laundry room after more than $40,000 in renovations.
Flohrs has since moved elsewhere in Lawrence, but his sister Jennifer is living in the renovated house with two roommates. The family originally purchased the house using college funds saved for both Jason and Jennifer, and their father paid the remaining amount. The Flohrs plan to sell the house in August 2008 and expect to make a profit. The good news for Flohrs is that a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home a few doors down recently sold for $175,000. He hopes the renovations and the house's location near campus will help it sell for a larger amount. If the Flohrs' house were to sell for the same amount, the family would split $40,000 in profit after renovation costs.
But playing landlord doesn't come without worries for students investing in real estate properties. Conrad said collecting rent checks from friends — or roommates who have become friends — can be rough.
"We try to keep track of who we're inviting and letting in," Conrad said, "especially people I don't know or trust."
He also said he had to be more careful with college guests, as the owner of the home, than if he had been renting a home.
But for Marcus Walker, Hays junior and Conrad's roommate, the personal relationship with his landlord has offered several otherwise unavailable amenities.
"Jessie e-mails my dad at the end of every month with the bill, and reminds him about the payment," Walker said. "That way we haven't run into any problems."
Kansan staff writer Matt Elder can be contacted at melder@kansan. com.
— Edited by Derek Korte
PEOPLE
O.J. Simpson's new book causes uproar
TV interview will promote 'If I did it,' which details how he would have killed his ex-wife if he were guilty
BY ERIN MCCLAM ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — O.J. Simpson created an uproar Wednesday with plans for a TV interview and book titled "If I Did It" — an account the publisher pronounced "his confession" and media executives condemned as revolting and exploitive.
Fox, which plans to air an inter
view with Simpson Nov. 27 and 29, said Simpson describes how he would have committed the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman, "if he were the one responsible."
Denise Brown, sister of Simpson's slain ex-wife, lashed out at publisher Judith Regan of ReganBooks for "promoting the wrongdoing of criminals" and commercializing
abuse. The book goes on sale Nov. 30.
She added: "It's unfortunate that Simpson has decided to awaken a nightmare that we have painfully endured and worked so hard to move beyond."
Regan refused to say what Simpson is being paid for the book but said he came to her with the idea.
"This is an historic case, and I consider this his confession," Regan told The Associated Press.
Simpson was acquitted in 1995 of murder after a trial that became an instant cultural flashpoint and a source of racial tension. The former football star was later found liable for the deaths in a wrongfuldeath suit filed by the Goldman family.
ORGANIZATIONS
Funds allow program to expand its scope
Community colleges to reap benefits
BY COURTNEY HAGEN
Alicia Lopez has had the opportunity to experience a wide range of social and cultural events as a member of the University of Kansas Multicultural Scholars Program.
"It's definitely opened me up to more experiences that I probably
She said the KU program would begin gathering data and information from itself and would meet with the community colleges next semester. The first pilot programs are slated to run in fall 2007.
wouldn't have had otherwise," Lopez, St. Louis senior, said. "It's networking and meeting people on campus — like speakers — the average student wouldn't have the ability to meet with."
"It just doesn't seem like there is much social and support activities at community colleges."
The programs would follow much of the University's model, which pairs student participants
Now these
MARCUS ROQUE
Overland Park junior
Now these opportunities will be available to more students across the state, thanks to a $515,157 grant the KU Multicultural Scholars Program just received from the Department of Education. With the money, the program will begin research and preliminary work that would help community colleges begin similar programs at their own schools. The money will also pay to establish these programs.
Renate Mai-Dalton, KU Multicultural Scholars Program director and founder, said the replication program would begin in Kansas City Kansas Community College, Colby Community College and Donelly College in Kansas City, Kan. More community colleges could be on the way.
Mai-Dalton said the programs would help community colleges make their students successful so they would be ready to transfer to four-year universities.
with faculty mentors in their areas of study. Participants meet with their mentors a few times per semester and attend monthly meetings and cultural
activities with other members of the program.
Marcus Roque, Overland Park junior, has participated in the KU Multicultural Scholars Program since his freshman year. Roque said the program was a valuable support and mentorship tool for him during his first few years at the University and he said it could be valuable to a community college environment as well.
"I think it would be great," Roque said. "I know I have a lot of friends at Johnson County Community College and it just doesn't seem like there is much social and support activities at community colleges like that to allow opportunities like this."
Kansan staff writer Courtney Hagen can be contacted at chagen@kansan.com.
Edited by Travis Robinett
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS
November 16,2006
GET CONNECTED
STAY CONNECTED!
ISRAEL
SHABBAT
Celebrate an Israel-themed Shabbat with Reform and Conservative minyan at the Burge Union, starting at 6pm. FREE kosher dinner with Israeli foods to follow.
Tomorrow, 6-8:15pm Burge Union, 2nd Floor
Tomorrow, 8:30-11:59pm
Fatsos
Keep On Dancing is a short film about a suicide bombing at a Tel Aviv nightclub. We will screen it at Fatsos followed by a night out to raise awareness for the group that made the film.
Student Senate
Make a difference today . Apply for the Student Senate Elections Commission. Applications are available in the Student Senate office, Room 410 (Kansas Union 4th floor).
Contact Andrew Payne at apayne@ku.edu if you have any questions.
Interested in the political process?
C.R.E.A.T.E.
Volunteer for C.R.E.A.T.E.
Community Resources Engaging in the Arts
Through Education!
Do art with kids!
Tuesdays, 10:11~10:30
Wednesdays, 3:30~5:00pm
Free food for KU Students and Their Families!
to volunteer and obtain location and project specific please email cmail@ucl.edu or call 1-800-254-9730
H.U.G
The Helping Unite Generations program places volunteers at various retirement areas and gives them the opportunity to come to the Government's room in the 6th Floor of the Kuala Lumpur University on Wednesday at 6pm.
Informational meeting for the H.U.G. volunteer program through CCO.
Come to '1921 Hilview tonight from 6:30 to 8pm for a free home cooked meal! Meal early stay late, leave when you want to Free wireless internet access available! Free laundry available first time.
UNIVERSITY CHURCH
We have created a community for everyone, including those not normally accepted at other churches - the sociolar postmoden agnostic, skeptical open minded, disinterested, individuals or families
www.doUC.org
Hawks 4 Health
Health Drive for Lawrence Community Shelf
Hawks 4 Health will be collecting band-aids, Tylenol, antacid tablets, First Aid kits and individual items, hand sanitizer, gauze, deodorant, dental hygiene products, blankets, etc.
All week long, 12-3pm in the 4th Floor Lobby of the Kansas Union.
10 items = 1 Rock Chalk Hour
Contact h4h@ku.edu if you have any questions
PAID FOR BY KU
KU Environs
KU Environs is hosting a public hearing regarding the proposed Holcombe power plants. Come be informed about the largest CO2 producer west of the Mississippi.
Tonight, 8pm
Mallott Room, 8th Floor Kansas Union
funded by:
SENATE
America Recyclcs Day 2006 Recycling Drive at Memorial Stadium Tomorrow!
8am-5pm, Bring your recyclables
With Dr. DARRYL HART author & church historian
Thursday, Nov. 16, 2004
7:30 p.m.
at the Duke Institute
Co-sponsored by the
interdiscipline Studies
institute and the Alton Forum
Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006
The Last Dance:
Why the Romance Between the Religious Right and American Conservatism May Be Over
ROBERT J. DOLE
INSTITUTE OF FOLLIGACY
The University of Kansas
Student Advisory Board
Senator Dole's daughter Robin will discuss her
Today 4:50pm
Dole Institute of Politics
Climate Action Community Outreach
Empowering, Empowering, Empowering
Students Tutoring for Literacy
Interested in tutoring kids and adults Volunteers are needed for Students Tutoring for Literacy Programs are available with groups or one-on-one throughout the Lawrence Community.
students Tutoring for Literacy (STU) help native and non-native English-speaking youth and adults obtain their GED, learn English in second language, read their first book, or fill out a grant.
Email edithku.edu if you are interested!
ku unicef
co-sponsors:
KU 4 Uganda ECM ISA F.I.G.H.T
STUDENT SENATE
The Student Senate is looking to fill the following empty senate seats: 1 Business, 1 Pharmacy, and 4 Graduate. If you are interested in filling one of these open spots, pick up an application in the Student Senate office, Rm 410 in the Kansas Union or online
1
studentsenate.ku.edu.
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