Hill Table of Contents
3 Holiday Traditions
4 The Women's Basketball Team: Here for the Holidays Weird Gifts
6 Locking up for Break: A Guide to Keeping Homes Safe
7 A Bargain in the Making: Students Save by Creating
8 Holiday Carols
9 Highway Safety on Your Way Home
10 Celebrating Hanukkah
11 Holiday Recipes and Staying Fit
The Staff
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Special Sections Editor/ Designer
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Special Sections Advertising Manager
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Photo Editor
News Editors
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A special thanks to:
Malcolm Gibson's Reporting I class
Amanda Traughber
Copy Chiefs
Julie King
Virginia Margheim
Kim Crabtree
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Copy Desk
Photographers
Bill Thomas
RESTAURANTS
Woodlyn Grille ...page 2
Darra Goodhouse ...page 8
Pancho's ...page 9
Mr. Gatti's ...page 9
Munchers Bakery ...page 10
Teller's ...page 11
Dos Hombres ...page 12
The Hill is a publication of THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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volunteers reach out
By Megan Maclejowski Special to the Kansan
For some students, volunteering may seem like a chore. But for others, volunteering is a way of life.
"I think people realize that volunteering is a really exciting and empowering experience," said Amy Turnbull, Lawrence senator and co-director of the Center for Community Outreach.
The Center for Community Outreach is a student organization that provides volunteering opportunities for KU students in Lawrence.
The center has more than 2,000 volunteers and has contact with about 150 Lawrence agencies. The center, in its ninth year, acts as a liaison between volunteers and the community, placing people in volunteering jobs in Lawrence.
"It's really extensive," Turnbull said. "Most students don't realize the amount of opportunities there are out there."
The center focuses on 12 programs based on a needs assessment of Douglas County that determines which services are essential to the community. The programs are designed to address virtually every area of need, from housing to hunger, from violence to literacy, Turnbull said.
Jamie Najim, Wichita junior and one of the center's 12 project coordinators, said the diversity of the programs was one of the organization's strengths.
"We can pretty much hook up any student with a volunteer service, no matter what their interests are," Najim said.
In fact, the programs are so extensive that one of the most popular programs even extends beyond Lawrence. During the alternative spring break program, student volunteers travel to other communities in the country and provide hands-on services. The trip attracts so many students each year that the center now has to
take applications for positions, Turnbull said.
For most volunteer opportunities, however, getting involved is simple. The center holds three or four informational meetings at the beginning of each semester. Students can see what opportunities are available and sign up for programs.
Most volunteers must go through a small amount of training. From there, the commitment varies. Although most students choose to volunteer about three to four hours a week, others may volunteer up to 20 hours a week.
Some of the projects also are on the KU bus route, which makes volunteering easier and more accessible for students without their own transportation.
The accommodating nature of the center may have something to do with the increase in volunteers during the last few years. Turnbull, however, said that the large number of volunteers on KU's campus is directly related to the college-age generation's attitude.
"A lot of people look at our generation as apathetic," she said. "I think that we are really challenging that view."
Turnbull, who volunteers at the Jubilee Cafe, which serves a restaurant-style breakfast for the homeless, also said that many students find a sense of satisfaction from volunteering that they don't find elsewhere. She said that students invariably learn from their volunteering experiences.
Kyri Gorges, Andale sophomore, agreed. She volunteered at the Special Olympics and said that the experience was much better than she thought it would be.
"I originally signed up to help because I wanted to get community service hours for Rock Chalk," Gorges said. "But when I saw the excitement and enthusiasm of those kids, I realized that I wasn't just doing something for them, I was doing something for myself, too."
Stretching the holiday budget
By Chris Dye Special to the Kansan
Christmas shopping can be tough for college students as they try to find time for shopping and money for gifts.
shopping and money for her shopping. Nicole Ritterbusch, Lakewood, Colo., sophomore, said she crammed all of her shopping into the last couple of days.
"It just wouldn't be Christmas unless I was in a rush," she said.
"All of my friends understand how hard it is to afford Christmas because they all have the same problems as me," she said.
Ritterbusch said she made an agreement with her friends to exchange small gifts or nothing.
Ritterbusch said that with some good budgeting she spent about $100 on gifts.
"I remind myself that Christmas is not just about gifts. It is more of the thought than how much it costs," she said. "Most of my family knows that I am a typical broke college student, so they don't expect big gifts from me."
Michelle Long, Decatur, Ala., junior, said she spread her shopping throughout the year.
"If I see something in July and I know that it would make a great gift, then I buy it," Long said. "Financially, I am better off when I spread out the shopping. I usually have more money in the summer anyhow."
ing of a Christmas Tammara Penn, Warminster, Pa., senior, said that she already had bought several presents and that it was better to buy early.
She also said that not having enough money had made her realize the true meaning of a Christmas card.
"I also do a lot of things to make the holiday less expensive and still make people happy," Penn said. "I make things, send cards and try to buy unusual gifts like imported or gourmet foods."
Penn said she usually spent about $250 but would make most of that money back
Making gifts can be a good alternative to spending lots of money.
"Boyfriends can be very expensive," she said. "I tend to spend more money on him than anyone else."
Laura Blunt,Lenexa sophomore,said she made a lot of gifts.
by working during the break. She attributes how much money she spent to having a boyfriend.
"Everyone in my family is very understanding and they enjoy the handmade gifts." Blunt said. "Also, it is a good way to use your talents and be creative. People appreciate it more."
Blunt said that even after making gifts she still spent too much.
"I usually end up maxing out my credit cards,"she said. "I have two children, so all the money I save from making gifts I spend on them."
Maxing out credit cards can be a problem for students, and many refuse to use them
"It is an interest-free loan, plus some companies give you other benefits for using them like cheaper airline tickets or something," he said. "It buys you time to work back the money during the break."
"I always try to pay with cash. That way I know that I won't go in the hole," said Landon Brown, Goessel freshman.
Credit cards are great as long as students pay the bill off at the end of the month, he said.
for fear of debt. However, Harry Shaffer, professor emeritus of economics, said that credit cards could be a good way of paying for the holiday if used correctly.
for fear of debt.
2
He also said he budgeted the holiday best by just spending a little bit on each person and not going overboard.
Holiday On The Hill
Aaron Tallen, Harveyville freshman offered advice to students: "Get a job at a department store. Then you can get 15 percent off like I do."
The Hill December 5,1996