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MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 2007 | BACK TO SCHOOL | WWW.KANSAN.COM THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN | 27
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NSAN FILE PHOTO
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by Ben Smith
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
atmosphere.
Books help students prepare for college life
BY BEN SMITH
bsmith@kansan.com
Walking into Oread Books in the Kansas Union, students see a display table of books geared towards surviving freshmen year.
Their colors are a rainbow of gold, orange, blue, green and black. Titles range from "A Complete Idiot's Guide to College Survival" to "The Naked Roommate."
The goal of these books is to give new students information and advice as they begin their academic careers.
Picking up a copy of "The Naked Roommate" by Harlan Cohen from the table, Ruth Lichtwardt, an Oread Books employee, talks about the various books that have been popular in the last few years, including one for parents of college students titled "Learning to Cope."
"A few years ago it was recommended by student orientation as a good book for parents," Lichtwardt said.
A graduate of the University recently published one of the books on the display table.
Maxwell Minor, a former communications major, authored and self-published the book "Inside Lawrence" in August 2006. The book is a registry of what Minor calls "the institutions" around Lawrence.
"When I first came to the University I was from Minneapolis," Minor said in a phone conversation. "I'd literally only shown up in town for the three days of orientation and then I was there in Lawrence."
Minor explained that in his years at the University he grew to love the city of Lawrence so much that he felt the need to help out other students starting out just like him.
"I felt that for just a normal, out-of-state student there needed to be some sort of guide to help them get out and learn their way around," Minor said. "It is a glorified phonebook with kind of a humorous spirit."
The first edition of the book is broken up into four categories: food, shops, booze and miscellaneous. Each entry features a Lawrence establishment, giving the address and phone number as well as a paragraph or two describing the locale's atmosphere, distinctive qualities, and quirkiness.
As an example, Minor's entry for the Red Lyon Tavern begins:
"Come for the free popcorn, stay for the .free popcorn."
Nothing to Eat," was penned by Jody Johnson, the associate director of the Freshman-Sophomore Advising Center.
Another entry for the Eldridge Hotel says:
"Proving yet again that historical and creepy are eager bedfellows, The Eldridge Hotel is kind of cool in a 'The Shining' meets 'Disney's Tower of Terror' way."
Another book available at Oread Books, "All Grown Up and
The cookbook, published in 2000 is geared toward college students and young professionals. It offers a range of recipes from the simple to the
Johnson said that cooking, especially with friends, could be therapeutic.
more complex.
"Part of my approach is to encourage people to have their friends come over and help shop at the store and then prepare the meal," Johnson said.
"It provides some social time, stress relief and time away from studying."
Ryan Campbell, Olathe sophomore and new student orientation assistant, said that while he was sure books like "The Complete Idiot's Guide" would prove helpful to some incoming students there was more to me
college than anyone can be prepared for.
"I think you have to learn from experience," Campbell said. "There are some things books can't tell you."
— Edited by Maggie VanBuskirk