APARTMENT GUIDE
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Students who live far away from campus, such as at The Legends. 4101 W.24th Place. use services such as Park & Ride and KU on Wheels to make getting to campus feasible.. Living in more suburban areas does have benefits, such as easier shopping.
FROM A DISTANCE
Commuting students encounter the perks, problems of living away from campus
BY MICHAEL HOLTZ mholtz@kansan.com
Though living far from campus might seem like a hassle to some, many students have discovered that living out of walking distance from their classes isn't such a bad option.
Matt LaBuda, Baldwin City freshman, lives with his three roommates at LeannaMar Townhomes, 4501 Wimbledon Drive. The small townhome complex is located west of Kasold on Clinton Parkway. He said he had had a good experience since moving there in August.
"We looked at a bunch of different places," LaBuda said. "This place was as cheap as anywhere else, and it's got a great set up."
Although LaBuda lives more than three and a half miles from campus, he stills finds it manageable to get to his classes by using KU's Park & Ride system — a resource that many students who live far from campus or come from out of town take advantage of.
"I hate having to drive and use gas money all the time instead of walking," LaBuda said.
Park & Ride saves LaBuda the hassle of driving to campus, but he still must drive to the Park & Ride parking lot on West Campus, an aspect of living far away that he enjoys the least.
Ann Nickelson, Olathe sophomore, is another KU student who lives far from campus. Much like LaBuda, she is pleased with her decision to live far away. She lives at The Reserve, 2511 West 31st St., with three of her close friends.
"We've loved it; all our friends are out here" Nickelson said. "It's like your own community."
Cody Quinpero, assistant manager at The Reserve, said 97 percent of its current residents were University students. He said he thought the fact that the Reserve was on a KU on Wheels bus route was one of the reasons it was appealing for students.
"A bus comes every 20 minutes," Nickelson said. "It takes about 20 minutes on the bus to get to campus."
Another advantage of living past 23rd Street, according to Nickelson, is the shopping. Target, Wal-Mart and various other stores are all within a mile of her apartment.
"Our backyard goes into Target," said Nickelson. "We're really close for groceries and stuff."
Nickelson said having to drive other places, such as visiting her friends in the student ghetto or going to Massachusetts Street, is a hassle, a concern shared by many students who live far away from campus.
All things considered, Nickelson has enjoyed her past year at The Reserve much the same as LaBuda has enjoyed his past year at LeannaMar. "I'd say it's a really good experience," Labuda said.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FEBRUARY 28, 2008