Volume 125 Issue 87
kansan.com
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
KANSAN
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MARCH MADNESS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013
PAGE 11
GIVE-AND-TAKE
ACCOMMODATION HELPS REDUCE TENSION
KELSEY BARRETT
kbarrett@kansan.com
Living with other people can be complicated. Meshing lifestyles, different schedules, and sharing a common space can create issues between roommates and ultimately affect relationships.
"The toughest thing is it's really easy to get tired of each other and get too far into each other's space," said Emily Hines, a sophomore from Grand Blanc, Mich. with dorm and apartment experience. "There's always going to be somebody you just flat out don't get along with, with whom your personalities just clash and your ideal living conditions don't complement each other."
Many students enter a living situation expecting to become best friends with their roommates. However, some grow tired of working around the same people, and that can exude a negative effect on their experience.
"Try your best to just be flexible and tolerant of the other person," said Hines. "You have to go in with the mindset that you're not always going to get your way, but you can still both be comfortable and content. If an issue does come up, don't wait until you're about to tear your hair out to address it."
The dorms offer guidance from resident assistants. Their goal is to provide insight from another perspective in hopes of resolving the problem.
"The process is to try and sit down and talk to the roommates that are having problems," said first-year RA, sophomore Rachel Reardon from Leavenworth. "As the RA, we are to be a third
party that is unbiased who just wants to help the situation."
Discussing boundaries ahead of time can eliminate potential arguments in the future. It is important to know as much as possible about the person you will be living with because it allows you to know more about how to handle certain situations.
"I would say that you have to be open and respectful of your roommate. Be willing to get to know one another, but don't expect to be best friends with the person," said Reardon.
"You have to know yours and your roommates boundaries in order to live with one another." Despite the difficulties adapting to other people's habits, some find having a roommate beneficial. Anh Le, a freshman foreign exchange student from Hanoi, Vietnam finds comfort in his roommate.
"The best thing about having a roommate is to have somebody to share your thoughts and feelings with," said Le. "College life can be stressful, and having somebody there to share the pressures, as well as exchanging cultures, is a valuable and fun experience, especially when you are away from your family and friends."
Whether you are rooming with a childhood best friend or going 'pot-luck', you should remember to face the experience with an open mind and realize both parties will have to make compromises. Try to embrace the experience, good or bad, and learn from it.
Edited by Alyssa Scott
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72 hours
3. Background of Knowledge Across Fundamental Areas of Study
3 units
4. Cultural Understanding & Global Awareness
2 units
5. Social Responsibility & Ethical Behavior
1 unit
6. Integrate Knowledge & Think Creatively
1 unit
36 hours*
APHIC BY
EY CONRAD
*Students will need 36 hours if all units are satisfied by three-credit-hour classes. Some KU Core classes simultaneously satisfy major requirements. Students may elect approved learning experiences to satisfy some goals.*
ace a differ-
Core, which
ist, will help
The new KU Core will require all students to take 36 hours of general credits, which accomplishes six
CLAS students are required to take 72 general education credits, which Danny Anderson, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said disengages CLAS underclassmen
HANNAH BOLTON Student Body President
"Students are having to take an unrealistic amount of general education requirements."
be able to take advantage of the KU Core, the University's new common curriculum courses, set to go into effect for this fall's incoming freshmen. With the hope of boosting student retention, the KU Core aims to reduce the overall number of required general credit hours, said Hannah Bolton, student body president.
because they spend their first two years in non degree-specific classes.
"Students are having to take an unrealistic amount of general education requirements," Bolton said. "It's the largest number I've heard of in the Big 12."
"Many students chose to leave KU because of this," Anderson said. "Others never came in the
Anderson said the common curriculum change will give students greater flexibility as the six learning outcomes can be met by a variety of classes.
"Many top
students who decide to go to other universities do so in part on the basis on our current curriculum". Anderson said. "We have updated our curriculum and curricular structure to meet the needs of 21st
Source: Dean's Office of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
with freshmen retention, as most first-year students are initially admitted to the CLAS before applying to a professional school at the University.
As for current students, Bolton said only current freshmen may be eligible to opt into the KU Core.
"This year's freshmen need to meet with their adviser to see if they can make it work," Bolton said. "It will be a lot more feasible to graduate in four years, especially students who are double majoring or switching their major."
Index
— Edited by Paige Lytle
CLASSIFIEDS 6
CROSSWORD 5
CRYPTOQUIPS 5
OPINION 4
SPORTS 8
SUDOKU 5
All contents, unless stated otherwise; © 2013 The University Daily Kansan
The Buried Life will be holding a lecture at the Union at 7 p.m.
Partly cloudy, Breese,
Winds from the NW at 10
to 25 mph with gusts to
30 mph.
HI: 46
LO: 23
Weather Jay misses the sun