KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2010 / APARTMENT GUIDE
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Consider safety while searching for a place to live
To ensure safety, residence halls require students to use their KUID to enter the building.
BY SARAH MCCABE smccabe@kansan.com
Moving into your own space for the first time can be really exciting. But in all the bustle of choosing the place that's just right, safety can sometimes be overlooked. Being safe in whatever type of housing you choose should be a main priority. Whether you're living in an apartment or the residence halls, you can look for many safety features to ensure that you're as secure as possible.
Jerry Wang/KANSAN
Residence halls are available for all KU students. Part of the benefit of living in a dorm is the safety precautions implemented by each hall. To get into the dorms, you must swipe your KUID in a card slot by the entrance to unlock the door. A person who is not a resident of a particular dorm must call the security desk at the front and leave a driver's license to be admitted into the building. Additionally, each room requires a specific key to get inside.
"I like living in the dorms," said freshman Josh Maddux. "Having to use your ID to swipe you in and having a key to your room makes me feel really safe here."
Conversely, apartment complexes offer various safety measures to protect residents. Look for apartments with a twenty-four hour
patrol. Many complexes hire courtesy officers to supervise the area. Courtesy officers are security guards employed by the complex management company and who usually live on-site They routinely walk the property for grounds and lights checks to make sure the apartments are safe and well-lit.
While apartment shopping, ask about applicant screenings at the complexes you are interested in. Each leasing agency should have a comprehensive screening process for every residential applicant, as well as regular screening for the tenants already living there.
Several complexes also provide security systems inside each individual apartment. For instance, units at The Exchange, 2040 W. 31st St., feature many safety comforts for tenants.
"We screen each applicant thoroughly with a complete background check, and we are notified every single time both applicants and residents commit a crime," said Taffie Pounders, the property manager for Legends Place, 4101 W.24th St.
"Overall, I feel really safe in The Exchange," said Daisy Duncan, a junior from Santa Fe, N.M. "We have panic buttons by our beds, there are locks on every door, and a personal alarm system for every room."
Scheduled safety meetings at some complexes also inform residents about personal safety measures. Lawrence police officer Eric Barkley holds free monthly meetings at the Legends to discuss actions people can take to avoid putting themselves in dangerous situations.
No matter where you decide to live, no
amount of security can eliminate the simple act of being aware of your surroundings. Be observant, and never put yourself into a dangerous situation.
Edited by Sarah Bluvas
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