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APARTMENT GUIDE
THE BEST AND WORST OF BOTH WORLDS
Jayhawker Towers offer convenient on-campus choice in apartment living
BY JASON BAKER
jbaker@kansan.com
Jayhawker Towers house more than the basketball team. Other students live there, too.
The towers, located north of the Burge Union, are the only apartments on campus for students. Jennifer Wamelink, associate director of the Department of Student Housing, said all apartments in Jayhawker Towers were two-bedroom and were shared by either two or four residents.
There are four towers: One tower is reserved for graduate students, one is women only, and the other two towers are co-ed. "Apartments are carpeted and partially furnished with beds,
desks, desk chairs and dressers," Wamelink said. Each apartment also has a small kitchen with appliances.
Many students choose to live in the towers because of their convenience. Mario Rodriguez, Stillwell sophomore and first-year resident in the towers, said he wanted to live in the towers because of convenience.
"I chose them because it was close to campus and cheaper than living in the dorms, especially the four-
"I decided to live in the towers because I didn't want to live in the dorms anymore, and my parents didn't want me to have to worry about paying rent as with a regular apartment."
person rooms" he said. Rodriguez also had a complaint with the towers. "The brick walls don't feel really homey", he said.
ROCHELLE BAILEY Jayhawker Towers resident
Some students, like Rochelle Bailey, Junction City senior and a second-year resident of the towers, choose to live in the towers to avoid rent issues.
"I decided to live in the towers because I didn't want to live in the dorms anymore, and my parents didn't want me to have to worry about paying rent as with a regular apartment," Bailey said. She said that not paying rent and
being within walking distance of campus was an advantage to her. But she dislikes some things about the towers, as well.
Towers residents, like students in residence halls, cannot have alcohol in their rooms and must follow rules similar to residence halls regarding fire alarms, laundry, move-in and move-out.
"The disadvantage for me is not having my own washer and dryer, and the uncomfortable temperatures in the apartment," she said. "At times, it's either too hot or too cold, especially in the back room. In a way, the towers are similar to living in a regular apartment, but they still have many of the same rules as other residence halls on campus."
Wamelink said utilities, including cable and local phone service, were provided. Some students treat the towers as if they were off-campus apartments, "It is an apartment. I treat it like one. I don't have a meal plan, and I cook for myself," said Marley Parsons, Shawnee junior and first-year resident in the towers. Parsons chose to live in the towers because it was close to the Art and Design Building, west of Budig Hall, where
she does work for her major.
James McClinton, Garland, Texas, senior and defensive tackle for the football team, said the towers were convenient because of their proximity to classroom buildings and workout facilities.
The towers have staffing similar to that of residence halls. "Residential life staff live throughout the towers, and the information desk is open 24 hours, seven days a week to provide service and support for the Jayhawker Towers community," Wamelink said.
FEBRUARY 28,2008
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN