12A
NEWS / MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
STATE
Bikes left at student housing refurbished, donated
BY KELLY STRODA
kstroda@kansan.com
Luke Ristow brought his bike to campus to make his morning easier. Ristow, a sophomore from Columbia, Mo., wanted to wake up later, but still get to class on time.
Unlike Ristow, some students who bring and store bicycles on campus do not make the nearly one-mile ride to campus. Instead, their bikes sit chained to racks outside student housing facilities and are forgotten at the end of the school year.
"You can bike from the dorms to almost anywhere on campus in about five minutes," Ristow said. "The buses are convenient, but they are slow and do not seem to follow a strict schedule, so biking became my best option."
Each summer, around 100 bicycles are loaded up and travel a bit farther than Ristow's everyday ride to class. They are transported about 40 miles away to Lansing Correctional Facility.
Bicycles abandoned at the
residence halls after the spring semester are sent to the correctional facility to be refurbished and given back to people in need, said Jennifer Wamelink, associate director of Residence Life with Student Housing.
This year, 113 abandoned bicycles were collected from the residence halls and put into storage. Vince Avila, associate director for Facilities Planning and Development with Student Housing, said Student Housing stores bikes for 60 days. During this time, the KU Public Safety Office records each bike's serial number.
Ten of the 113 bikes collected were reclaimed by students, but the remaining 103 will be sent to Lansing soon. The Department of Student Housing will give leftover bicycles to the Lawrence Public Works department, which will then transport the bikes to Lansing.
Although the Department of Student Housing has only been donating the leftover bikes to this program since 2004, inmates at
Lansing Correctional Facility have been refurbishing donated bicycles for over 10 years.
A crew of six inmates works Monday through Friday each week on repairs. In the 2010 fiscal year, inmates at Lansing Correctional Facility spent 11,592 hours repairing bicycles.
"It is a 'win-win' situation for everyone involved and it takes a great team to make it happen." Ashton said. "The inmates take a great deal of pride in the project and receive a sense of accomplishment because this program gives them the opportunity to give something back to society."
Edited by Kelsey Nill
Tracy Ashton, coordinator of the bike program at the facility, said that after bikes are refurbished, they are donated to children and adults in need. The facility has donated bikes to children in Stouffer Place Apartments, the Lawrence Bike Rodeo and even to members of the U.S. Military in Iraq.
Lansing Correctional Facility will donate these recently refurbished bicycles to children and adults in need. Inmates at the facility spent 11,592 hours fixing up bikes last year, some of which were donated by Student Housing after students abandoned them in residence hall lots.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
CRIME
Rumors fuel brawl
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bethhelem police have charged five women — including a woman who was stabbed five times — with a brawl earlier this month that broke out over rumors on Facebook.
Police said Lianmary Rosa, 18, was stabbed three times in the leg and twice in the shoulder by two different women during the fight around 10 p.m. Aug. 8.
But, by the end of the investigation, Rosa, her mother Maria Rodriguez, 40, and sister Marylian Rosa, 20, all of
Bethlehem, were also charged with disorderly conduct for participating in the fight.
Lianmary Rosa told police she got into the fight because of rumors posted about her on Facebook. Court records did not indicate what the rumors were.
Charged with stabbing Rosa are Krystal Ann Espinosa, 25, and Brenda Santiago, 25, both of Bethlehem. Both Espinosa and Santiago are charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct and are in Northampton County Prison under 550,000 bail each.
STUDENT LIFE
Students adjust to life after on-campus living
BY ANGELIQUE MCNAUGHTON amcaughton.kansan.com
For Ashley Eubanks, living in Ellsworth Hall her freshman year meant constant socializing, access to food and minimal responsibility.
Last year, Eubanks, a junior from Topeka, transitioned from on-campus living to an apartment. Although the apartment meant more freedom, Eubanks said it also meant more responsibility.
"I could just get up and walk to class or eat whenever I wanted when I lived in the dorm." Eubanks said.
Similar to Eubanks, many students chose to live on campus during freshman year. After that point, students prefer off-campus living arrangements.
Kelly Davis, a sophomore from Overland Park, currently lives at The Exchange.
As a former Templin resident, Davis said living in the dorm helped ease her into living on her own.
Lawrence offers multiple apartment complexes geared toward students, including The Exchange and The Legends Place.
Brittany Butterworth, media coordinator for The Legends Place, said the dorm style rooms, rent
and utility packages helped make the transition to off-campus living easier.
"Each room is leased out individually, so all residents have to worry about is their own rent, which includes utilities, making it all one payment," Butterworth said.
Butterworth said The Legends Place came fully furnished and hosts frequent events, such as pool parties.
Davis said that student-oriented apartments kept her surrounded by friends. Unlike the dorms, though, residents often have more room to themselves.
responsibilities, Eubanks said she liked having space that wasn't possible in the dorms.
Although she now has more
"I got sick of the dorms," Eubanks said. "There were always so many people there all the time."
Butterworth said amenities, such as shuttle buses to campus, packaged rent and entertainment helped students transition to off-campus living.
"I'm very glad I lived in the dorms," Eubanks said. "But I was very happy when I moved out."
- Edited by Emily McCoy
STUDENT LIFE
Rock the Rec event highlights groups, programs
BY STEPHEN GRAY sgray@kansan.com
When new students arrive at college, often having left home for the first time, there is always the concern that maintaining a healthy lifestyle could be difficult with the enduring temptation of fast food restaurants and all you-can-eat dining halls. However, by taking advantage of the facilities at the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center, any such worries should quickly fade.
Jill Urkoski, associate director of fitness and staff development at the recreation center, said one of the best ways for students to become familiar with the various programs and activities is to participate in Rock the Rec, an annual Hawk Week event that will be held on Thursday night at 6 p.m.
"Our student staffs are very knowledgeable and can guide participants on how to get involved," Urkoski said. "Everyone is welcome to come out and have some fun."
Students pay $74.50 in student fees for the recreation center in the fall and spring semesters, which provides even more incentive to use its services frequently. In this way, every student holds a share of ownership in it.
Students returning to the recreation center will notice a few changes for the fall: the upgrade of some cardiovascular equipment, installation of new flat-screen TVs in the training area and the Legacy Walk sidewalk, the 2010 senior class gift.
"Once students have enrolled and paid their tuition, their KUIDs will immediately gain them access to everything that the recreation center has to offer." Urkoski said.
The $17 million recreation center, which was recently expanded in December 2008, contains a suspended track, a rock-climbing wall, weight rooms, aerobics and martial arts studios, cardiovascular training equipment, and basketball, volleyball and racquetball courts among its many amenities.
KU Recreation Services will continue to offer all of its past programs, which include intramural
outdoor pursuits, sports clubs and fitness. Sports equipment, like tennis rackets and boxing gloves, can also be checked out for daily use.
Intramural sports, in particular, are an opportunity for students to again play the sports they did in high school. They are also a great way to meet new friends with many of the same interests.
Outside of fitness classes, the KU Sport Club program offers opportunities for members of the University community to compete in sports at both a competitive and fun level.
Jessica Janasz/KANSAN
"If a freshman lives in a dorm or in a fraternity or sorority, grab a few people on your floor and make a team," Matt Beck, intramurals coordinator, said.
For those new students who wish to stay in shape and prevent the "freshman 15," KU Recreation Services offers personal training and a variety of fitness programs. The KU Fit program at the recreation center includes more than 40 classes per week of cardio, strength, flexibility and functional training to help students create a well-rounded fitness regime in a group environment. A $50 annual pass allows students to take part in an unlimited amount of KU Fit classes during the year, all of which are run by certified fitness instructors.
"Some club sports are recreational and others are competitive," Urkowski said. "Student officers are elected for each club sport and many travel to compete. They practice on a regular basis." Urkowski said.
With the facilities at the recreation center, the numerous fitness and sports programs available to students, and a knowledgeable and welcoming staff willing to help, staying in shape at the University of Kansas shouldn't be much trouble.
Justin Riley, a junior from Lees Summit, Mo., sets aside time to work out at the recreation center.
"I can honestly say that this facility offers a bit more than most places out there," Beck said. "Students should definitely take the opportunity to use the building while they are getting their education at KU."
Edited by Clark Goble
Rock the Rec (Social Event)
Thursday August 19, 2010
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center
Check out all the health and fitness opportunities available to students on campus. Watkins Student Health Center and the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness center will be hosting this event full of information, demonstrations and giveaways. Sport clubs and health and fitness programs will be on hand to answer questions.
Recreation Center Hours, August 16 - September 3:
Monday - Thursday 5:30 a.m. - Midnight
Friday 5:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. - Midnight
More Information at:
http://recreation.ku.edu
KU offers various tutoring services
ACADEMICS
BY ALLYSON SHAW
ashaw@kansan.com
You might be a genius at school. You might be able to sit through a math lecture and understand theories with ease. You might be able to write a perfect A paper on your first try.
Not everybody is a genius though. Most students need some help with classes at some point. Whether you're a freshman or a graduate student, it's important to know where to find the help when someone needs it. Check out these tutoring options that KU has to offer.
TUTOR GROUPS
Patricia Noteboom, assistant director of the Academic Achievement and Access Center, said students pay $75 per course to be placed in a tutor group of no more than four people, but one person is enough to get a group going. The tutors are KU students who have been approved by the center. Students arrange the meeting time and place and can request a tutor through the first ten weeks of the semester. The Center is located on the first floor of Strong Hall.
HELP ROOMS
The Math Help Rooms, located in Snow and Strong Halls, cater to students who need assistance with specific math courses. Students come in with their questions and calculators and are helped by instructors or, in some cases, student assistants. The rooms are open five days a week and students can walk in anytime. Ben Tannenwald, a senior from Overland Park, is one of the student assistants who work in the Math 002 and Math 101 Help Rooms. "If you come in here and you really want to learn, then you'll get a lot out of
it," Tannenwald said. "It's cool to see students get better and pick stuff up, but frustrating when students come in and they just want to be shown how to do it. There's a lot available if you really want to learn."
WRITING CENTER
The Writing Center offers students a chance to bring in their papers at any point along the writing process. From outline to final draft, the graduate and undergraduate students who work as writing consultants will talk you through ideas and work on parts that the student is concerned about. Terese Thonus, director of the writing center, said this last academic year, more than 2,000 students visited the Writing Center. Consultations are free.
OFFICE HOURS
This may seem like an obvious suggestion, but a professor's office hours can often be a useful tool for studying. Office hours vary for each professor and most professors are open to making appointments. Laura Vinci, a senior from Lincoln, Neb., used office hours before most big assignments. "My professor was really helpful because he used his office hours to actually comment individually with me about my writing style and to make sure I was following the assignment requirements," Vinci said. "I liked getting the feedback from him on my work because it would either steer me in the right director or assure me that I was being successful."
Professor of African Studies Beverly Mack said she helps two to a dozen students during her office hours every week.
Edited by Sean Tokarz