Residence halls--triviality vs 'home'
By Carolyn Drury
"I'm getting sick and tired of all the trifling, little things."
"I really can't think of any reason for not living in a dorm."
These two comments were made by girls now living in upper-class residence halls when asked their opinion of the desirability of living in such halls. These answers reveal a diversity of opinion found throughout residence halls at KU.
One nursing student calls home the place "where the family is, where my loved ones are." Therefore she said she could never call the residence hall "home" even though it was her "home" as a place of abode for several years. This girl's needs could never be fully satisfied through the hall.
ANOTHER STUDENT, the one who said "I'm getting sick and tired of all the trifling, little things," felt that too much time was spent in the hall and too much emphasis placed on things unimportant in life. She had had what she felt was a life-shaking experience the previous summer. As a result, she had formed a new conception of life and the values therein. Her values did not match those of many in the hall.
Still another dissatisfaction was expressed by the student who remarked, "If you just act as though you know what you're doing, you can get by." This girl was referring to the "red tape" solved in living in a residence hall. This "red tape" includes not allowing students to pick up parcelss themselves, but only through girls at the desk. It includes signing in and out for the evening, and signing out when leaving town for the weekend. It even includes the requirement of attending floor meetings at a time when most would rather be in bed. The girl felt that such "Mickey Mouse" was a waste of time since there seemed to be no purpose to many of the instructed actions—only through the administration could they be explained.
A girl who has now found an apartment fairly distant from the campus, but who also has a car,
had a definite answer for the friend asking earlier if she were going to live in the dorm next year. "With this crap—are you kidding?" This girl was sick of the choice and quality of the food served in the hall. She seemed to think at the time that she would be willing to sacrifice anything and everything to have "decent meals."
HALL DIRECTORS are the first to recognize problems posed by the structure of the hall. They realize that, as a social structure, the residence hall "opposes the natural living unit." They acknowledge the uniqueness of the situation deriving from the fact that in all other living units in society, age is varied considerably more in proportion to the number of occupants in the unit. They are the first to admit that only in prison could they find a similar situation of "having so many cooped up in one place." One director has expressed the possible solution of co-ed living.
Sunday at 6:30 p.m., a car driven by Jack C. Kille Jr., Ottawa senior, was involved in a collision at Elm and North Fifth streets with a car driven by Ronald E. Webb, 11 Roanoke. Damage was estimated at $420 to Kille's car and $750 to Webb's car.
At 11:19 am, Saturday, a car driven by Frank E. Motley, Kansas City, Mo., special student, was involved in an accident at Missouri and Ninth streets with a car driven by Larry H. Midyett, Rural Route 4, Lawrence. Damage was estimated at $400 to Midyett's car and there was damage to Motley's car.
Auto crashes involve three KU students
The number housed within the residence hall suggests a real problem. It means that each resident has to learn to react successfully with many different kinds of people if he is to be happy. Some see this requirement as an advantage, realizing that the situation forces one to mature in this way if in no other. Still others see this as an advantage because they know that they will be working with people, each of whom is different, in their future careers or professions.
Three KU students were involved in traffic accidents over the weekend. There were no serious injuries reported.
At 12:20 am, today, Marvin C. Beadnell, St. Joseph, Mo., junior, was driving east on west Ninth Street near Tennessee when his car was involved in an accident with a car driven by John T. Reed, Tonganoxie. Damage was estimated at $200 to Beadnell's car and $250 to Reed's car.
On the other hand, there are those who feel the hall arrangement is an unnecessary "evil." A well-known example is the girl planning to marry. She feels that because she is going to spend the rest of her life with a particular individual, the time spent with this individual and, in effect, the degree to which she learns to live peacefully and contentedly with this one individual are far more important than the time spent with present living companions or the degree of cooperation achieved with these companions.
ANOTHER PROBLEM HAS been suggested: lack of privacy. With the number living in the hall running into the hundreds and even into the thousands, the place at which one may gain privacy becomes a real dilemma.
The social lobby on the floor is to be shared equally by all. There are no private hallways. And there are few empty rooms within the residence hail. The person who has not learned to live with a limited degree of privacy, then, faces a real problem.
Relax, though! All is not bad in the residence hall! In fact, some would not trade the residence hall for the apartment or approved housing. The girl who could not think of any cons to residence-hall living felt that so much could be learned from the living situation. She said, "You get to know all kinds of people and you get to know yourself." This idea of getting to know oneself is the justification of many for suffering the evils of hall living. They feel that the constant interaction inherent in hall living guides many a person to the definition of what kind of person he really is, of what kinds of groups he unconsciously associates with and what he can do to adjust to the situation as he so desires.
Another tried for two years and finally succeeded in convincing a friend that dormitory life spells half of one's education during his college years. As this individual said, "While I wouldn't want to be like many of my acquaintances, it's an education in itself to get to know so many different kinds of people."
PEOPLE DO IN fact constitute the residence hall. Thus, one might say that the person who truly enjoys the presence of others is more likely to look favorably upon the residence hall situation. A girl majoring in music therapy, a field definitely requiring interest in other people, remarked, "I don't mind dormitory life at all. . . I like it, mainly because I like people—there are so many around and so many kinds of personalities. You can always find an 'ear' and you can always be an 'ear.' There are people for everything you do—you can always find someone to share things with. It's more enjoyable." This girl obviously needs people to make her life complete—she wouldn't be happy any other way.
Those of another personality find the opportunity to practice leadership within the hall government. These individuals sense
an obligation to lead others and delight in fulfilling this obligation. In many cases, this opportunity would not present itself elsewhere-particularly for those living in approved housing.
Other students find the hall advisor to be a source of comfort in time of need. They realize that it is the advisor's desire to be there only to "throw ideas out for their use and to let the students evaluate them." They know the advisor does not want to impose, but only wishes to provide a feeling of security for those who do not yet feel capable of governing themselves.
Responsibilities reach lighter proportions and give the "student" more time for discovering his real purpose in college if he lives in a residence hall rather than in approved housing. Others must learn to cope with utility bills, cleaning and maintaining their quarters.
MANY CONVENIENCES and services avail themselves to the student who lives in the residence hall. Many students who enjoy the television or the piano in the hall would not have access to them in an apartment. The library set up by students, with its
The need of having balanced meals also remains. Far too many students have admitted that they would not always take the time to cook or prepare an adequate meal. If they lived in an apartment, there would simply be days when they would go on the minimum, they have conceded.
test files, magazines, books and encyclopedias, is there to be used at all hours of the night. Maid and janitor service are also available. The presence of laundry facilities within the same building is also unique in comparison to the offerings of many apartments. Under the financial conditions of many attending college, these conveniences and services could not and would not be obtained elsewhere.
Each person is unique in his needs and desires, and only he can see the complete relationship, be it good or bad, between his needs and conditions existing within the hall.
4
Daily Kansan
Monday, May 23, 1966
masculine
...that's the kind of aroma she likes being close to. The aroma of Old Spice. Crisp, tangy, persuasive. Old Spice ... unmistakably the after shave lotion for the untamed male. Try it soon ... she's waiting. 1.25 & 2.00
...that's the way it is with Old Spice
SHULTON