User Profile
elfulton2
University of Kansas '13
Majoring in Music History and Literature
Member since 12/20/2011
A+
Spencer Research Library
The main reason I decided to attend the University of Kansas was the Spencer Research Library. As a musicologist, I find it an incredibly helpful resource. The Shull Collection (in American religious literature) has allowed me to do significant new research in early American hymnody and music theory and notational practiced in dispersed-harmonic compositions without having to travel to other institutions or rely heavily on microfilm.
Dec 20, 2011
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A
Local Focus on the University
The entire town of Lawrence is focused on the University of Kansas. I found that many landlords were unwilling to rent to non-students; many stores offer student discounts. As soon as the semester (in fact, the first half of finals week is over), the entire town becomes deserted, and stores and restaurants begin to close. The locals are all friendly and helpful to the student body.
Dec 20, 2011
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D
Limited Campus Police Presence
I have been disturbed by the limited presence of campus police. I walk to school at 4:30 every morning, and I am always nervous about walking alone through the dark. Walking back home after late recitals or rehearsals is even worse. I have heard veritable horror stories from dorm-dwellers and RAs about the situation of the dorms: drunkenness, drug use, unauthorized cohabitation and noise violations are all tolerated. One of my classmates has been waiting for three months for a simple floor transfer since the people down his hall have set up a regular 2:00 AM appointment to pound on his door and shout obscenities at him because he reported them for a noise violation.
Dec 22, 2011
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B
Too Many Hills
The many campus hills become dangerous in snow, ice or rain. I do not drive to campus, but I often hear of bad car wrecks because of people sliding down icy hills or not being able to stop at the bottom of a hill. I have gotten dumped into ditches because of ice on the sidewalks; when I only have ten minutes between classes at the opposite end of campus, it is nearly impossible to get there on time in bad weather because the sidewalks become so slick.
Dec 22, 2011
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B
Poor Upkeep
Murphy Hall (in which I spend most of my time) has very little upkeep. Last semester there was an asbestos scare, which is still not resolved. Climate control regularly malfunctions; I heard some of the custodians complaining that it took two weeks for repairmen to come after they told them the fifth floor heating was inoperative this November. Next semester the heat will be off on the third and fourth floors until mid-March, in order to drive out an infestation of book-glue-eating
The emergency alert system in Mallot likes to go off for no reason. Also, why does Wesco have no interior staircases that cover all floors? Having to walk up outside in winter is horrible.
Dec 22, 2011
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A+
BM Musicology Program
The program in which I am enrolled is unique; I know of only a couple of universities that offer an undergraduate Music History or Musicology degree, and most of those are very large music schools. I am the only student in the program here. The fact that there are only four faculty and about ten graduate students in the musicology program has given me many opportunities for research and mentorship than I would have had at a larger school. Most people come to musicology through performance or music theory, so I was excited to be able to start doing research and teaching during my undergraduate.
Dec 22, 2011
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