10
University Daily Kansan
Students at motels: to bed down, party and study
BY DAVID JOHNSON and JOE RADCLIFFE
Staff Reporters
Most of the occupants at any of Lawrence's nine motels this weekend are probably here for the Relays. But at other times, the motels provide a variety of services for students, the most provocative being a place to bed down.
The policy of registering unmarried guests at all the Lawrence motels seems to be "it's none of our business, as long as they pay." Most of the time the desk clerk is married and can cohabitate between two consenting adults is legal in Lawrence.
"THEY DON'T even bother to say my wife and I am more," Lois Liebert, owner of the Jayhawk Hotel, 1044 N. 3rd, said to me. "Just say my girlfriend and I want a room."
Parties, one-night stands, studying—all seem to top the list of other student motel uses. Picking the motel is just a matter of taste and availability.
A strict, no-party atmosphere is enforced at the Jayhawk, Liebelt said she depends on a steady clientele of working men who don't to be disturbed at night by bad parties.
"ONE GUY has been here for 16 years," she said. "It's cheaper than an apartment and he gets maid service. He's a truck driver." There are Fridays and checks in every Monday."
The El Navajo Motel, 1512 W. 9th St., used to be a gas station and grocery store in the 1920s. Now owned by Mike Lee and his wife, Linda, they are (or as expensive) as big chain-owned
motels in Lawrence, but it will have a clean bed and a Gideon's Bible in every room.
El Navajo rooms are modest, but clean and neat. Sliding doors in the bathrooms are sacrificed in favor of plastic shower curtains. The walls are limited to a framed quote St. John 3:16.
LEE SAID he is wary of people who check out rooms and invite a dozen friends over
"Two girls got a room here one night and my wife and I went out to dinner," he remembered. "When we got back, there were about 20 cars in that lot out there. We counted 15 to 20 couples when they came out of that room."
John and Joanne Moreau, managers of the airport Motel, 24 & 40 Highway East, don't seem to mind parties and sometimes even join in.
About a month ago, Mrs. Moreau said,
two fraternities rented four rooms
to host their reunion.
"I BET WE had 250 kids here," she said. "We told them to go ahead and make all the noise they want because there isn't anybody else to do it." When we raised bell with the rest of them,
1. Lee Lee, the Morene's live at the motel and run it as a family activity. Large families are accommodated with lower rent rates and extra beds if needed.
Part of competing with the larger chain motels means taking on guests at all hours, some who obviously have more in mind than catching a shower and 40 winks.
MOREAU SAID she rented rooms to a steady parade of couples—mainly older men and their girlfriends—but some to obviously unmarried students.
"One night we were cleaning rooms at two in the morning and renting them right away."
Sometimes to avoid extra expense or embarrassment, such lodgers register as singles and later try to snook in the friend. They may be paid by the extra $4 for a double room on the spot.
KATHY MOVER, who manages the Westview Motel, 1313 W. 6th St., with her husband Roger, said unless she could unregistereduests, she could do about unregistered guests.
On parties, Moyer said some guests had impromptu parties in their rooms after dinner.
"We don't encourage them because you can hear them all over the place," she said. For others, a model room is a peaceful refuge for study, Kellan Fellstein, desk manager at Tufts. St. said a lot of law students checked into his mutex for weeks before exams.
A desk clerk at Holiday Im, 2309 Iowa,
said some graduate students rented rooms
for a few days while they were renting
these theses.
THE MAJORITY of motel rooms in Lawrence aren't, of course, used for studying, partying or shucking-up by theaters and retailers looking for a respite from the road.
The Ramada Imm, 2222 W. 6th St., catches a lot of its business from vacationers coming off the turnip. The Ramada offers in-room movies, a feature that none of the other motels offer. A video-lapse at the front window shows the movies over the television sets.
The Travelodge Motel, 801 Iowa, is a self-proclaimed "family motel" according to part-owner and manager Jim Glenn. One advantage to families staying at the Travelodge is the large park adjacent to the motel.
Next door to the love nest at the Sierra Rauncho Staff drawing by DAVID MILLER
AIRPORT MOTEL 24 and 48 Highway East, 12 rooms, both single and double, features TV, baft shop, refrigerators and two kitchenettes.
City's motels at a glance
EL NAVAJO MOTEL. 2512 W, hd stl. 33,
el rooms, both single and double, TVs.
TV
COLLEGE MOTEL. 1703 W ath. stl. 18,
rooms, single, double and twin sized.
Phone: (212) 549-1525.
Email: collegemotel@northeastcollege.com
HOLIDAY INM NOTEL 2300 lowe, liams room, single, twin and suite sizes, features a balcony, private pool, cocktail lounge, special rooms for the handcapped, dog kennels and Kannas City resort.
JAYHAWK MOTEL, 1004 N 3rd St.
roomless, single, double and twin sized.
RAMADA INN, 4th and Iowa streets. 108 rooms, single, double and suite sized, features cable TV, in room movies, heated swimming pool, Rubayvat Club. beauty shops, salon, liquor store, freezing coffee and newspaper, and KCl limestone service.
TRAVELLODGE MOTEL, 810a, Iowa
rooms, single, double, twin and suite sized,
featureable cable TV, free local telephone
phone number, morning coffee and
KCI limosine service.
VIRGINIA INM NOTEL 2907 W. 6th St.
59 rooms, single, double and twin sized,
feature cable TV, restaurant, private club
room, phone rooms and KCI limousine service.
WESTVIEW MOTEL, 1313 W. 8th St.
rooms, both single and double, TVs.
Casa de Taco
1105 Massachusetts
All the Tostados you can eat for $2.00
Opened 6-8 p.m. daily
Expires May 30,1977
Announcing
THE KANSAS CITY STRIP STEAK Only $ 3.89
at the Sizzler
1516 W. 23rd St.
Lawrence, Ks. 66044
at
Hershberger Track April 21,22,23
"outstanding national caliber athletic competition."
52nd Annual Kansas Relays
General Admission '2.50
Grade or High School '1.50
K.U. Student '1.50
SATURDAY EVENTS "finals"
Reserved (West Stadium) 4.50
Reserved (West Stadium) $4.50
General Adm. (East Stadium) $3.00
Grade or High School $2.00
K.U. student $2.00
Tickets available at Athletic Ticket Office Allon Field House
Also available at Track on day of events
A Friendly Helper to the Growth of K.U. for Many Years
B.A. GREEN CONSTRUCTION CO.
Spencer Library
Learned Hall
Spencer Art Museum
Kansas Union
Welcomes you to the Relays