Volume 125 Issue 87
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
kansan.com
ANSAN
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MARCH MADNESS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013
GUIDELINES
PAGE 9
MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING VITAL IN SETTING BOUNDARIES
KELSEY BARRETT
kbarrett@kansan.com
Living with other students can be a big adjustment. Working around multiple schedules and preferences and sharing a common space can add to the normal pressures of college...
In order to alleviate some of that stress, it is a good idea to discuss a few general guidelines with roommates before moving in together.
"It's important to set these guidelines at the beginning of the year so awkward situations can be avoided and one roommate isn't feeling uncomfortable about any situations," Camden Bender, a sophomore from Shawnee, said.
One major topic that Shawnee freshman Megan York and her roommates discussed this year is the use of each other's property. She and her three roommates agreed that if someone wants to borrow something, one should make sure to ask beforehand.
"It helps with understanding my roommates boundaries," York said. "By establishing rules with one another we can see what the other person holds as valuable when living with them."
By setting up simple rules like these, it makes for a better living environment. Raisa Berry, a sophomore from Centerville, Ohio, shares a house with five other girls, so making sure everyone is on the same page is important for eliminating additional drama.
be made so our friendships aren't at risk for being ruined."
"If we didn't have these guidelines, our house would be in chaos," Berry said. "Rules need to
When living off campus, dealing with money is another issue that students should discuss. It is something that affects everyone involved, so Berry and her roommates take it seriously.
"Our main guidelines deal with paying rent and utilities," Berry said. "We set rules like if you miss a payment, then you have to pay the entire late fee."
Respect is the key to making a co-living situation work. It shows that you care about the other person and their things so they are more likely to do the same.
"We mostly rely on mutual respect," Berry said. "If someone goes to bed early, we try to be as quiet as possible. If someone has class before you do, then they get the bathroom first."
When roommates forget to follow the guidelines, it can be a difficult situation. The best thing to do is to cool off to avoid blowing it out of proportion.
"If a roommate breaks a rule or crosses a boundary I usually take some time to think about how I am going to confront them, or even if the situation needs confronting," York said. "If I feel like there is a situation where I need to talk to them about something, I usually get advice from others and sometimes even other roommates about how the best way to handle the situation is."
Edited by Madison Schultz
Roommates should have set guidelines before moving in together. Setting rules beforehand will help avoid conflicts and possibly ruined relationships.
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"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."
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
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.
"Students are having to take an unrealistic amount of general education requirements."
because they spend their first two years in non degree-specific classes.
HANNAH BOLTON Student Body President
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 students chose to leave KU because of this." Anderson said. "Others never came in the
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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."
Edited by Paige Lytle