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VOL. CXVI ... ISSUE 10

Lows in the highest places

PAYING THE PRICE: PAGE 4

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016

2 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016

THE DAILY NEBRASKAN

DAILY NEBRASKAN SPECIAL EDITION You’ve seen them cropping up downtown. Every day, their shuttles glide through campus and students sport their logos on T-shirts and water bottles. Your friends probably live in them. Maybe you do, too.

Student-oriented apartment complexes have altered the landscape around the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus in recent years, with the aim of providing close, convenient and comfortable housing for UNL’s ever-growing student body.

With the university’s goal to increase enrollment to 30,000 students by 2020, almost 4,000 more students will be searching for places to live in the upcoming years.

According to University Housing, the only additional on-campus housing in the works is a facility on East Campus, which is expected to add 370 beds by 2017. With only about one-third of students choosing to live on campus each year, the remainder are left to find housing elsewhere.

As the amount of students at UNL increases, apartment complexes continue to pop up to accommodate them. In 2012, 650 beds downtown were registered with the City of Lincoln to be available to renters. Just four years later, this number has risen exponentially: Now, 3,200 beds are available.

Five major apartment complexes - the 50/50, Prime Place Apartments, 8 | N Lofts, Latitude Apartments and Aspen Heights - account for the bulk of these beds. Built close to UNL’s city campus, these complexes tend to rent by bedroom, rather than by unit, and offer a student-friendly environment complete with modern amenities and facilities, such as pools and gyms.

But student experiences with these complexes can differ greatly from what they were promised. Complaints of unfinished apartments, living spaces with insects and careless management have pervaded campus conversation and social media feeds alike.

The Daily Nebraskan investigated these complaints, analyzing these student-oriented housing complexes and their effect on the student body. This issue contains both the pride and pitfalls of the emerging housing market, from the economic impact of these complexes to renters’ personal stories.

Whether you’re still snug in your dorm or have never lived near campus, the new housing complexes have woven themselves into UNL’s culture. Take a look at what this means for you.

elise stormberg | dn For more from this project, visit projects.dailynebraskan.com

front page file photo by adam warner | dn Aspen Heights towers over P Street. The apartment complex opened in the fall of 2016.

THE DAILY NEBRASKAN editor-in-chief managing editor

Founded in 1901, the Daily Nebraskan is the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s only independent daily newspaper written, edited and produced entirely by UNL students.

The Daily Nebraskan is published by the UNL Publications Board, 20 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, NE 68588-0448. The board holds public meetings monthly. © 2016 DAILY NEBRASKAN

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

Lofty ambitions accompany new housing market Aidan Connolly dn staff writer

When Austin Moylan moved off campus in 2014, he hoped to be more independent and save money. After living in Smith Hall during his freshman year at the University of NebraskaLincoln, he moved into Claremont Apartments.

“I really enjoyed the dorms,” said Moylan, a senior broadcasting and mathematics double major. “They were a good time, and I met friends I am still close with, but it’s nice to have your own place and not be under university rules.”

Moylan isn’t alone. In the fall of 2015, about 8,700 students lived on campus, according to UNL. Those students made up about 35 percent of the 25,260 enrolled students.

That leaves about 16,500 students to find a place to live off campus, something property developers have noticed.

In 2012, there were approximately 650 beds downtown registered with the City of Lincoln. Now, there are nearly five times as many beds: 3,200. Five housing complexes, Aspen Heights, the 50/50, 8 | N Lofts, Latitude Apartments and Prime Place Apartments, accounting for more than 2,500 of those beds, all added to the housing market since 2013.

Often targeted toward students, the new downtown apartment complexes provide housing and other amenities for those looking for a place to live while in school. They also tend to rent by bedroom, rather than by unit.

And with the university aiming to increase enrollment – and by extension, the amount of students seeking off-campus apartments – developers smelled a market for apartment complexes.

But, at least according to initial numbers, that market may not be developed yet.

Vacancy rates reported by student-oriented apartment complexes are higher than the most recent statewide average of 5.6 percent.

Aspen and 8 | N reported a 36.7 and 27.7 percent vacancy rate, respectively. Only Prime Place reported a lower vacancy rate than the state average, at nearly 2 percent.

Justin Vollmer, the director of sales and marketing for Aspen, communicated through a spokesperson that he doesn’t see oversaturation as an issue.

Vollmer said Aspen looks at area demographics and existing housing inventory, as well as the university enrollment figures before deciding to build.

Aspen found Lincoln to be a growing mar-

ket and opened its location downtown this fall, adding a large number of beds to downtown Lincoln. When combined with 8 | N, the two apartment complexes provide almost 40 percent of the beds Lincoln classifies as downtown housing.

“We believe that there are an increasing number of choices for students at UNL but remain confident that the supply will meet the demand,” Vollmer said.

But there have been numerous reported problems with these complexes, something that may affect the number of students signing leases.

Students moving in have found unfinished construction, exposed nails, appliances that don’t work and a host of other problems. Reports of spilled paint, dirty floors and clogged bathtubs at Prime Place garnered media attention after its opening in 2015 .

After living at Claremont Apartments his sophomore year, Moylan switched to Prime Place in August 2015. Shortly after moving in, he noticed residents weren’t treating the property well.

“People just treated the place kind of how it was given,” Moylan said. “It became kind of a trend to punch holes in the wall. There were entire walls that were just shredded with the insulation ripped out. People kicking walls in and punching walls in, up and down every stairwell in the building.”

Aaron Hunt, the property manager at Prime Place, said he dealt with the residents’ complaints.

“It’s no secret that last year the opening of the building and remaining construction debris upon move in impacted our reputation, and we worked through those issues the first few weeks,” Hunt said.

But Prime Place isn’t alone.

Brianna Kellar, a junior biochemistry major, subleased a room in the 50/50 this summer.

She soon found that her roommate assignments had changed, and the two roommates she thought she was paired with would no longer be living with her. Kellar was also billed for rent after moving out.

When asked for a comment, Jerry Shoecraft, the manager of the 50/50, said the error was

caused by a glitch in the system run by a thirdparty organization called rentpayment.com.

Kellar said she is new to living off campus and dealing with leases, but this experience has pushed her away from living in similar complexes in the future.

“It almost seems as if they’re trying to take advantage of my inexperience,” Kellar said.

But with the university’s goal to increase enrollment to 30,000, more students might be looking for places to live in the future.

Sue Gildersleeve, the director of UNL housing administration, said there are no other plans to add housing on campus other than the new East Campus facility. Expected to open in fall 2017, the hall will add 370 beds for students.

There are also plans to demolish Cather and Pound halls, but Gildersleeve said the university already compensated for the loss of beds by building University Suites and Eastside Suites.

Gildersleeve said she doesn’t expect students to stay on campus for all four years.

“For many students, it will make sense to live off campus at least part of their time while attending UNL,” Gildersleeve said.

The math is simple: if 4,000 more students

adam warner | dn

come to UNL, most of them will need to find off-campus housing at some point in their college career.

Brandon Garrett, a long-range planner for the City of Lincoln, said even with current vacancy rates, the presence of residents is a positive for the downtown culture.

The new housing developments will encourage other developments to come in, creating an infrastructure in Lincoln that people find desirable, Garrett said. With as many businesses adding locations downtown, he said it’s hard to know what exactly is affecting what, but it’s more of a collective growth feeding on itself.

“There has been a boost in employment,” Garrett said. “More employment, more housing and more entertainment leads to more employment, more housing and more entertainment. Lincoln seems to really have those three things going for it downtown.” news@dailynebraskan.com

4 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016

NEWS

THE DAILY NEBRASKAN

In signing lease, some students pay larger price Amzie Dunekacke DN STAFF WRITER

When Dan Hartung, a junior music education major at the University of NebraskaLincoln, found he would be paying a higher rent rate than other students living in the 8 | N Lofts, he felt trapped.

In January, Hartung and his roommates signed their lease agreement for a five-bedroom apartment at $619 a room. However, over the summer, 8 | N began offering reduced rates.

“Early June rolls around, and they start sending out these flyers that the rent price of four bedrooms has dropped by nearly $200 a month,” Hartung said. “That was frustrating.

They left us paying way more.”

Issues like the unexpected lowering of rent costs, ongoing construction and confusing lease agreements are leaving many students in off-campus apartment complexes wondering if they’re getting their money’s worth.

When it comes to situations like Hartung’s, Justin Kieckhafer, the assistant manager of the 8 | N Lofts, said students are bound by their lease agreements.

“People are paying what they signed for,” Kieckhafer said.

Hartung said he understood 8 | N was trying to bring in more business, but still thought the change was unfair.

“We called them and told them that, economically, it would make more sense to drop and sign again,” Hartung said.

However, if he dropped his lease, Hartung would have been responsible for finding someone to take it over at its more expensive rate. He knew no one would want to do that.

In addition to lowering rental costs, 8 | N also began offering six- to 10-month leasing options over the summer. Hartung and his roommates only had the option to sign up for a one-year lease.

“That was another thing that made us feel like we got taken advantage of because we were college students,” Hartung said.

The disappointment grew when Hartung arrived on move-in day. The floor was unfinished, the elevator wasn’t working, hallways were left uncarpeted and there were gashes on some of the walls.

“So we thought the rooms at least would be pretty nice, but the floor was covered in

drywall and plaster,” Hartung said. “They were in a hurry to get the place done and didn’t clean anything.”

Hartung said the windows of his 7th-floor room didn’t have screens; he could reach out and touch the large “8 | N” sign illuminating the side of the building.

It took two weeks for the screens to be placed, Hartung said. It’s another item on a list of problems that outweighs any of the positive experiences he’s had living at 8 | N. “It’s something that should be taken care of,” he said. “Granted we can live in it and that’s fine, but seriously? It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”

Kieckhafer explained that 8 | N was waiting on all the shipments to come in before installing the screens, so all the screens could be installed at the same time.

8 | N Lofts is not the only student apartment complex near campus that has been in a hurry to get students in its doors. In fact, rushed construction seems to be a common theme between buildings such as Latitude and Prime Place .

Latitude’s construction began in April 2014, and the building opened its doors to

students the week before school started on Aug. 24, 2015.

Prime Place, a smaller facility with only 126 units, completed its main construction in little more than a year. The complex’s building permit was approved in June of 2014, and the apartment opened its doors to students on Aug. 18, 2015.

Work on the 8 | N Lofts began in June of 2015, and students were able to move in on Aug. 16 of this year.

But while many students have moved into unfinished complexes, not all tenants have an issue with it. Nelly Fry, a junior political science and history major at UNL, said she enjoys living at the Aspen Heights apartments, which began construction last year in March.

Although the elevator was not functioning properly and landscaping work was incomplete when she moved in this August, Fry said she believes the building was in relatively good condition on her move-in day.

“It didn’t look like some of the other places,” Fry said. “We didn’t have any problems with our room.”

Nevertheless, the five construction companies that took part in the Aspen building

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NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 • 5

adam warner | dn project face a combined total of $115,000 in fines issued by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration. After a worker was fatally injured at the Aspen Heights job site on June 24, 2015, OSHA also cited a Missouri-based drilling contractor for three serious safety violations.

Problems like safety violations and disappointing move-in days are not necessarily the result of fast-paced construction. According to Zhigang Shen, a professor of construction engineering and management at UNL, construction projects that span a little more than a year are not uncommon.

“It depends on the availability of resources, including labor, material, equipment and subcontractors,” Shen said. “The schedule could be arranged for 14 to 18 months from project approval to completion. Shorter construction durations like 14 to 16 months is possible with an increased number of workers, or allowing overtime.”

Still, Shen said the ongoing construction at some of these apartment complexes is not consistent with good construction management practices. He said the interruption to occupants caused by construction could be minimized by only letting students move onto completely finished floors.

Shen also said the complexes should know their construction schedule and be transparent about it with people who might be affected by changes within it.

“Construction schedules change all the time,” Shen said. “But stakeholders should know this way ahead of time. It shouldn’t be news to them. If you build a student dorm, you cannot miss the deadline of when school starts.”

Shen, who said construction companies should not be doing major projects like painting once people have moved in, suspects the

owners were simply in a rush to start business.

“Basically, they should not let students move in with those kind of conditions,” Shen said. “I suppose they are under pressure.”

Steve Bowen, an assistant professor of practice in construction management at UNL, said the construction company’s inability to develop a timeline may be another reason why construction continued even as students moved in.

“I think they were poorly scheduled,” Bowen said. “I think it’s possible they didn’t even do a schedule.”

While some say it looks like bad business, opening doors to students before construction is entirely finished is not illegal. As long as these apartment buildings acquire a certificate of occupancy, they can move tenants in at any time. To get the certificate, which confirms that the building meets certain codes and laws, the apartment complexes must undergo inspection by Lincoln’s Building and Safety Department.

Brandon Garrett, a planner for the City of Lincoln, said the inspectors are only looking to make sure the structure is suitable for living, not entirely complete.

“We make sure it’s safe and that the plumbing was done correctly,” Garrett said.

“Messes aren’t part of city code.”

But many students cannot forget these “messes,” and often turn to lawyers for legal help. Jeffrey White, an attorney with UNL Legal Services, said the last five years have seen noticeable increases in tenant-related cases.

Student Legal Services reviews more than 1,200 cases each year, and roughly one-fourth of them are tenant cases.

The increase occurred as large, studentgeared apartments emerged in downtown Lincoln. The complexes are generally owned by outside companies, which can complicate things for students.

“They’re a different breed of landlord,” White said.

White said he has seen certain trends with these tenant cases. Although he would not name specific apartments, White said some landlords are fining their tenants for noise complaints.

Students who do not know better may hand over their money, but this practice is not legally enforceable by the Landlord Tenant Act , White said.

“It’s hard because this is a vulnerable population,” he said.

White said another trend is apartments asking for several months of rent payment at once. A statute in the Landlord Tenant Act explicitly prohibits landlords from asking for more than a month’s rent at a time, but some complexes ask for as much as four months’

“It’s something that should be taken care of. Granted we can live in it and that’s fine, but seriously? It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”

rent in advance, he said.

“We are seeing it more with the new companies that are ignoring these rules,” he said.

White said students looking to sign leases should exercise caution, especially for the downtown apartments. He warns against applying to these apartments online without serious consideration. According to White, as soon as landlords want to turn these applications into leases, they can.

“The most important thing to understand right now is that these companies have added a couple thousand beds to the area,” White said.

“The renters have all the leverage right now. So for the prospective renters, if they’re getting into a situation where they feel uncomfortable, they can walk away and find something better or ask for that lease to be changed.”

White said international students are particularly vulnerable to getting into bad renting situations. They are often rushed to find rooms almost as soon as they get to the U.S. and might not fully read the lease agreements, which are often 25 to 30 pages long.

“The people who are renting the units have a lot more information than students do, and I think they are using this to their advantage,” White said. “They know more about the markets than students do, and it allows them to send the message that their product is scarcer than it actually is. It creates a false sense that if they don’t sign the lease they won’t have a place to live.”

But for people like Hartung, this is knowledge gained after leases are already signed.

The concern now is where to go from here.

Hartung continues to pay a higher rent to live in 8 | N Lofts even though he was one of the first people who committed to living there.

Recently, he has been talking to a lawyer

PAYING THE PRICE: PAGE 8

6 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016

NEWS

THE DAILY NEBRASKAN

Incentives hurt, help students in apartment hunt

adam warner | dn Collin Spilinek dn staff writer

Editor’s note: Jennifer Kittle is a former roommate of Stephanie Cavazos, the senior Arts & Entertainment editor at The Daily Nebraskan. Cavazos remained uninvolved in the reporting, writing and editing of this story.

Since it started preleasing in 2014, Latitude Apartments has offered prospective tenants incentives to stay competitive and fill its rooms.

Items like Visa gift cards – ranging in value from $250 to $1,600 – Xbox Ones, PlayStation 4s and Fitbits are offered to entice prospective renters.

But adding these bonuses isn’t exclusive to Latitude. Several student-targeted apartment complexes near the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus follow the same system, contributing to what some feel is an industry expectation and what others say is a way to use quick perks to trap students in bad long-term deals.

Latitude general manager Michael Harris said Latitude offers gift cards to anyone who meets their leasing criteria, which is based on qualifications including rent, income ratio, credit and a background check. The number of students who have taken this offer is undisclosed.

The method was already in effect when Harris took the position in October 2015, and he said he was not surprised by it.

“In my 10 years of experience in property management, every company that I have worked for has used this method or a similar method,” Harris said.

UNL junior Jennifer Kittle took advantage of Latitude’s gift card offer after she was dissatisfied with her experience at Prime Place.

Kittle said when she moved into her room at Prime Place, she found beetles and mealworms waiting for her. When she moved back to a different room this summer, she was met by flies and some torn-off crown molding.

After less than a week of living at the new apartment with little response from Prime Place, Kittle and her roommates took action.

They heard of Latitude’s lower rates but were also tempted by the apartment complex’s offer of gift cards that can be used to help displace the fees associated with ending leases at other complexes.

“We approached them because they had done that deal with friends of ours where they’d buy them out,” Kittle said. “We talked to them, and they said that they could possibly do it for us too.”

It cost Kittle $1,500 to end her lease at Prime Place, but the $1,600 Visa gift cards from Latitude softened the blow.

Technically, students are allowed to spend the money however they wish.

“A majority of them typically apply it toward their rent or their move-in fees,” Harris said. “But they always have the option to get the physical gift card, and they can use those for what they want.”

Although Kittle and her roommates had to pay Prime Place rent for August, they started paying rent at Latitude in September after using the gift cards to pay the buyout fee at Prime Place.

Kittle said the incentives offered by Latitude helped her get out of a bad situation

she and her roommates might have otherwise been stuck in. For that, she said, she’s thankful.

But Jeffrey White, attorney at law in UNL’s Student Legal Services said students should exercise caution when transitioning between apartments. His main concern with gift cards incentivizing buyouts is that students might get caught in two leases at once.

“As long as you get everything in writing and everyone agrees that you’re buying out a lease and not just pre-paying three months’ rent, then it’s okay,” White said. “If people are concerned about that, come and show me the buyout, and we’ll make sure that everything’s exactly what you expect it to be.”

Prime Place property manager Aaron Hunt said it’s no secret Prime Place has had problems that have hurt its reputation, especially when the building opened.

In regards to Kittle’s complaints of bugs at Prime Place, Hunt said that the complex responds to these complaints by offering a temporary unit for the tenant to move into before treating the unit, as well as bringing in pest control. He said Prime Place has successfully implemented maintenance records to address problems more quickly in order to work with the tenants to get the issue resolved.

As for other complexes buying out leases, Hunt said when any apartment complex is less than 100 percent full, the staff will do whatever they can to sign more leases. But he said buying people out of leases isn’t common in Lincoln.

“We have heard of other apartment complexes offering to buy students out of their leases,” Hunt said. “However, as far as we know, very few of the situations have actually

adam warner | dn

occurred anywhere in Lincoln this year, including Prime Place.”

Hunt said there’s no formal buyout process between Prime Place and any other apartment complex.

“We don’t work directly with other apartments if they are buying out a tenant’s lease,” Hunt said. “Tenants pay those fees to us directly, as the tenants are the ones on the lease.”

Other apartments have used methods similar to Latitude’s to entice students to sign leases, including 8 | N Lofts.

“We are doing gift cards for signing within 48 hours of tours,” said Justin Kieckhafer, assistant manager of 8 | N. “It’s our 48-hour special. It’s how our corporate set the timeline.”

But Kieckhafer said he believes incentives like these don’t make much of a difference, and people either feel comfortable on a tour and like what they see, or they go somewhere else.

“I don’t know how much competition plays into it,” he said. “It’s more about customer service – how people feel when they tour.”

While some students generally see these offers as a great deal, Jerry Shoecraft, property manager at the 50/50, said the deal could be more harmful than it looks.

“What’s happening right now in the market is all these new operations came in and built too many beds,” Shoecraft said. “So, in order for them to try to increase their occupancy, there are often these outrageous deals. They’re trying to buy people’s leases, give them all these incentives, lowering rents so low that by them doing so, it hurts the entire integrity of the market.”

INCENTIVES: PAGE 8

THE DAILY NEBRASKAN

NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 • 7

Avoiding common pitfalls: An attorney’s perspective Sarah Wontorcik dn staff writer

For years, the typical case to land on the desk of University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Student Legal Services attorney Jeffrey White has been related to off-campus student housing. Where disputes over a $500 or $600 damage deposit were once commonplace, he’s now dealing with more and more cases where thousands of dollars are at risk in apartment leases. “[Coming to an agreement on a lease] should be a really simple process,” White said. “It’s gotten way more complicated and confusing for some reason, and that’s led to a lot of issues where the student doesn’t believe that they’ve actually ever signed a lease.”

These cases come from students unknowingly signing multiple leases when they thought they were just browsing their options.

Much of this confusion stems from many housing companies’ application process, where a student agrees to the 25-page terms and conditions without reading what they are agreeing to first.

“They don’t realize that, after they’ve clicked 50 radio buttons, that one of them was basically putting their e-signature on a lease,” White said.

White said the best thing students can do is slow down. He said he thinks many students don’t realize how much housing is available in the Lincoln area, largely due to marketing.

“The old places didn’t go away,” White said. “There’s an impression being created that there’s a shortage of housing, and if you don’t sign a lease right now you’re going to be homeless when you get here in the fall, which is absolutely not true.”

Lincoln is a renter’s market, according to White, where renters have all the leverage if they have the right information. He’s worked

“Every now and then we get someone who’s done that, and it’s the easiest slam dunk case I can find.”

with students who have found a new unit within an hour of moving out of somewhere.

White said many times people don’t ask enough questions or take advantage of the leverage they have as a renter. If there is something in a lease or unit a student is uncomfortable with, he advises them to ask the landlord to fix or change the issue.

“There’s nothing magic about typed leases,” White said. “You can write in something and have a note that says, ‘Landlord agrees to fix the cracked window in the living room within 10 days.’ That becomes part of the lease then if you do that.”

Despite the spike in severity of these cases, White said the damage deposit dispute catches almost everyone.

“Take pictures of the entire unit the day you move in,” White said. “Before you get your stuff in. Right when you walk in the door, take pictures. You have no idea how much time, energy and frustration this can save you.”

Many of these housing cases White handles boil down to the landlord using the tenant’s damage deposit to buy a new sofa to

replace the old one or to clean the carpets, he said. White said the damage deposit legally can only be used for unpaid rent or damage to the unit that is beyond ordinary wear and tear.

“The tenant moves out, and they think they’ve left the room in a clean, good condition,” White said. “Then they get their bill a month later saying the landlord had to spend $450 on cleaning because the unit was a mess when they moved out. The tenant doesn’t have any pictures when they move out, but the landlord has this receipt from a cleaning company, who happens to be a subsidiary of theirs.”

White said time stamps on those photos will make the student’s case much easier to prove.

“When the landlord comes back and says, ‘You trashed my carpet,’ you can show the before and after and say, ‘This is in the same condition it was when I moved in, please don’t use my damage deposit to renovate your unit,’” White said. “Every now and then we get someone who’s done that, and it’s the easiest slam dunk case I can find.”

White encourages students to resist judging an apartment complex based on their website.

Many of the older companies are easily forgotten because of their lack of online presence, White said, and they simply have available listings shown on their websites. White said there are some companies, mainly newer ones, that have really flashy websites, but this isn’t necessarily indicative of their units.

“A lot of those companies are just older, and they haven’t put their priorities on their website,” White said. “They put their priorities in their units, and you’re living in the unit not the website. Try not to get swept up in the bells and whistles of the sales pitch.”

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8 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016

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THE DAILY NEBRASKAN

PAYING THE PRICE: FROM PAGE 5 from his hometown of Aberdeen, South Dakota, although they have seen no progress in their efforts to reduce the rent or shorten his lease term.

What he really hopes his experience can

do is serve as an example for other students.

“I don’t want to let them get away with this,” he said. “I don’t want others to get taken advantage of.”

NEWS@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

INCENTIVES: FROM PAGE 6 Shoecraft said the offers are also harmful to students because they have to give up certain conveniences.

“I think they won’t be happy in the end when they realize, ‘OK, I sacrificed location, service, convenience for a gift card or some lower rent,’” he said.

While the practice isn’t illegal, Shoecraft said from a business standpoint, it doesn’t reflect well on the apartments.

Although there haven’t been reports of students at the 50/50 leaving and taking this deal, Shoecraft said the 50/50 has not and will not make an offer like this because of what’s important for the market as a whole.

“We’re trying to be a leader in respect to the right way you should market your product so that we add to the strength and integrity of the market and not be a negative to the market,” he said. “So, if this pattern continues, it’s bad news for everyone.”

White said from a marketing perspective, taking incentives won’t always be the best decision for a student. “[The method] was designed to evoke an emotional response, and if someone’s trying

to get you to think emotionally, that means they don’t want you to think rationally,” White said. “That’s really what it comes down to.”

White also said students should be especially careful with electronic deals.

“I see a lot of places where it’s $500 or $600 for one bedroom,” he said. “You can pretty easily get a two-bedroom apartment for that outside of this little ecosystem. It might be tempting to say, ‘Hey, 42-inch TV if we move from our older unit to this newer one,’ but if you’re paying $300 more in rent, you’ve bought that TV in like a month or two months.”

Deals like these – whether they be gift cards, electronics or reduced rates – are targeted to students and are common in the housing industry in the UNL area, White said.

“It’s not at all common in the world outside of this specific kind of ecosystem,” White said. “If you’re just renting to the general public, I don’t think I’ve seen a promo giveaway.

It’s very common within these few companies, but not so much out in the real world.”

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ARTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

BUCHNAT: Passion abundant at Chicago ‘Riot Fest’ Ben Buchnat dn staff writer

Dirty, smelly and passionate. If I had to choose three words to describe the vibe at Riot Fest 2016 in Chicago, those would be them.

With an eclectic lineup containing punk bands, rappers and everything in between, it was hard not to get excited for Riot Fest. The main headliners included the reunited Misfits, Morrissey and the Flaming Lips. However, the lineup was filled with up-and-comers like White Lung and Microwave, reunion acts like Thursday and Underoath and even some big names in hip-hop like Nas and GZA. While many festivals like Lollapalooza and Coachella have been a hotspot for celebrity sightings and fashion blogs, Riot Fest is strictly about the music.

Riot Fest was my favorite music festival to go to when I lived in Chicago. Last year was the first time since 2011 that I hadn’t gone. It hurt, but I was so excited about my freshman year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln that I got over it quickly. I accepted that I wouldn’t be heading to Riot Fest any time in the near future.

Fast forward a few months and I am getting home from the end of freshman year. I see a contest online to guess the first 20 bands on the Riot Fest lineup. Feeling superior in my musical knowledge, I entered the contest. A few days later when the lineup came out, I thought I was close to what the actual lineup was, but didn’t think much of it.

A few weeks later I got an email saying I had won two 3-day passes becauses my guesses for the lineup were so close.I told my friend and we were both pumped. After the

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initial excitement wore off, the logistical process began.

Chicago is roughly an 8-hour drive. That meant ditching class that Friday (sorry Mom) and arriving back home late the Thursday night before. I packed my bags and counted down the days before the festival started.

I-80 is a long and boring drive. We kept ourselves occupied by blasting some tunes and talking with each other.

It’s crazy how closely you get to know someone after spending eight hours in a car with them. Just being able to talk with other people about their lives is something special.

That’s a part of the trip I surely won’t forget.

The music festival itself was magical.

If there was one thing I felt throughout the three days was the sense of community.

Everyone seemed to be there for the music and it showed.

Various band members would also walk around the festival grounds talking to fans when they weren’t playing. In three days, I saw members of Neck Deep, Turnover, Real Friends, Knuckle Puck, Microwave and Tigers Jaw hanging out in the crowd. It added a layer to the experience when fans got a chance to interact with these musicians off stage.

This attitude continued during sets from Neck Deep, Set Your Goals and Jimmy Eat World. Everyone was singing along to all of their favorite songs while the bands seemed so happy to be there. There was no negativity, no fighting. It was people coming together with a common interest and it was magical.

Saturday continued the rocking vibe from the previous day. Motion City Soundtrack is a band that many have a special connection

RIOT FEST: PAGE 10

ben buchnat | dn

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10 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016

ARTS

THE DAILY NEBRASKAN

Wife’s illness inspires Lincolnite’s activism Annie Albin & entertainment editor

assistant arts

Boyd Ober has worn pink every day for the past two weeks.

Whether it’s a bracelet around his wrist, a ribbon pin on his suit jacket or a tie, he has been incorporating pink into his everyday wardrobe in preparation for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year, Ober will serve as the chairman of Real Men Wear Pink of Lincoln.

Real Men Wear Pink is a national breast cancer fundraising and awareness campaign.

Since his appointment to chair, Ober has compiled a team of men who not only will wear pink every day during October, but also raise money for the American Cancer Society.

The men were all presented ties before the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The ties are not the only thing the men share in common; they all unite in having loved ones who have been affected by breast cancer.

Ober’s connection to breast cancer is the hours he spent helping his wife, Megan, through the illness. It’s having to tell his three children about what their mom was going to go through. It’s being strong even when he felt scared.

“Wearing pink is not like suffering through chemotherapy,” Ober said. “It’s not like suffering delivering news to your family. Wearing pink is fun.”

Many of the men involved in Real Men Wear Pink have had wives, mothers, sisters and aunts who have been affected by breast cancer.

Ober said he was fortunate to have never missed a treatment when his wife was sick.

He knows what it’s like for someone to go

through breast cancer, because he was there for all of it with his wife. He knows what it’s like for patients to feel as though they’re being poked and prodded every day. He knows how they feel after radiation.

Ober said any kind of money they can raise to lessen the severity of the illness for cancer patients is a gift.

It is because of this that Ober and his team are so passionate about the ACS. They’ve only been fundraising for three days and have already raised $9,818. Six of the men have raised over $1,000 each, according to Ober.

“There’s a lot of women that go through breast cancer or any other cancer and don’t have that support network.” Ober said.

“Some people don’t have a car or somebody to take them to treatment.”

Money from the fundraising goes to many of the programs the ACS offers. Those programs include services that drive cancer patients to appointments and treatments, run by a group of volunteers. The ACS offers cancer patients free hotel rooms for patients who have to drive long distances to get treatment and even no cost flights for some.

The ACS also tests to see what kind of medicine people should take and what kind of therapy they should have. They try to increase the likelihood that someone survives and that they don’t have as invasive of surgeries. The organization offers support groups where women that have had cancer can mentor those who have recently been diagnosed.

Maddie Ober, Boyd’s daughter, was almost 13 years old when her mother was diagnosed. It’s been seven years since her mother beat cancer and watching her father partici-

leah cash-brown | dn Boyd Ober sits in his office at Leadership Resources in Lincoln. Ober is the chair of Real Men Wear Pink of Lincoln, an organization which supports women affected by breast cancer. pate in Real Men Wear Pink reminds her of the support that her family has been shown by those that are around them.

“It’s pretty special to see that even after 7 years it’s still something that we’re constantly thinking about and constantly trying to work toward a goal.” Maddie said.

Ober said that Real Men Wear Pink isn’t

about the men involved. He said his mission was to bring men together to show support for the women in their lives.

“Because without the women in our lives,” Ober said. “We’d would really be nothing.”

ARTS@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

RIOT FEST: FROM PAGE 9 with. Their Riot Fest set was the second-tolast show the band will ever play. The stage was packed for an early-afternoon set; everyone was ready to say goodbye.

The band trotted out jam after jam and the crowd couldn’t stop singing along. It was obvious that the band was trying to hold in their emotions. The passion of the crowd was undeniable. At many points, it was hard to hear the band over the hundreds of fans shouting every last lyric back to the group.

Up next came a rowdy performance from the Swedish band, The Hives. The energy was electric and they are a joy to watch. My only complaint is that the amount of time lead singer Pelle Almqvist spend complaining

about the band’s short set could have been used to play another song.

Taking the stage after The Hives was the Descendents.

This was the set that meant the most to me throughout the whole weekend. This band was completely instrumental in the way I write music: loud, fast and with heart placed firmly on sleeve.

They looked like dads when they stepped on the stage. However, the normalcy faded once they started to play. Descendents ripped through amazing song at a frantic pace. The fact that these guys are in their 50s and still play this fast is remarkable. It really shows how talented the members of this band are.

Everyone was singing along to the lyrics that have been made so iconic. Descendents are so beloved that people got just as excited for the new songs as they did for the old stuff.

I walked out of that pit feeling beaten up and exhausted, but also filled with joy.

Day three of any weekend music festival is always a grind, and this was no exception.

I was noticeably groggier than the previous few days. The looming long night drive back to Lincoln didn’t help either.

However, that all went away when the band Thursday took the stage. A band I got into after they broke up in 2011, I never thought I would ever get to see them — Bad Religion.

The excitement was felt throughout the air and I nearly lost my voice during the 40-minute set. The punk act tore through all their classics in their all-too short set time. I moshed and sang along, while also taking in the festival for one final time.

After they finished playing, we began the long trek back to campus. The drive was a bit quieter. I used this time to reflect on Riot Fest.

Events like this are the reason I love live music so much. It may sound cheesy, but when I’m in the crowd singing along with thousands of other people, I feel like I’m a part of something greater than myself.

ARTS@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

OPINION

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

SLEZAK: Civil discourse is vital to healthy society

Riley Slezak dn staff columnist

Racial issues, politics and other polarizing topics are avoided at all costs in today’s society. These issues are ignored because of the conflict they may bring. Even worse, they’re often brought up in a way that is closed-mind-

ed, argumentative and plagued with name calling. The ability to have a structured exchange of ideas is seemingly gone.

Pressing issues facing our country and the world deserve a discourse full of a desire to hear those with a different point of view. Too often, people feel conversations as these are pointless because the opposing sides aren’t convinced to switch their opinions by the end.

A meaningful exchange of ideas may not change the minds of everyone, but it can produce a better understanding of conflicting positions. When people have a better understanding of the viewpoints of others, changes that are sought after can occur.

An example of people being uncomfortable discussing sensitive issues is the recent protests of the national anthem by players in the NFL. These protests of the treatment of people of color in the United States were intended to start a dialogue on race relations.

Instead, the players were met with accusations of being unpatriotic and staging pointless protests because they aren’t actually changing anything.

Critics have missed the point entirely. The players’ protest was supposed to start meaningful conversations, but people were too uncomfortable to address racial disparities in our country so they had to change the subject. This shows how, in today’s society, every action must produce immediate change or it is counterproductive. Trying to understand others’ positions helps make change, and that is the point.

Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall is one of the players kneeling for the anthem, and as a result of his protest he met with Denver Police Chief Robert White. They discussed both the concerns Marshall had raised, as well as ways he could be part of the change. Marshall also got to go on a ride

along and use a training simulator to better understand the challenges the police face.

This is a prime example of how conversations about contentious issues can help lead to a legitimate effort to understand, rather than deflect conflicting ideas. Here at UNL, there is an effort to increase this type of dialogue to address campus issues.

ASUN President Spencer Hartman has introduced a bill to establish forums to “allow student leaders across campus to develop strategies and have conversations that demonstrate diversity of thought and the free exchange of ideas.” Opening up these forums can help lead to better awareness of the thoughts of others and address concerns around campus.

This open exchange of concerns and ideas would help UNL get on the same page

SLEZAK: PAGE 14

COBB: Interning early helps craft future goals

Rhiannon Cobb dn staff columnist

Over the summer I had the opportunity to be an intern for Congressman Brad Ashford.

It was filled with great opportunities and fun adventures. From taking constituents on tours to bowling at the White House, every moment I experienced was both valuable and enjoyable. The most shocking thing? I did this before I took a single college class.

That may seem crazy, but interning early helped me solidify my life plans. It helped me realize my passion so that I know what I should focus on in college.

As I was wrapping up the end of my senior year, I found myself among the thousands of others who were trying to determine their summer plans . Early in the second semester, I found myself in an admissions interview for Vanderbilt University.

Upon arrival I found that my interviewer had been law partners with Congressman Ashford . Being a teenager and knowing that I wanted to pursue a career in politics I followed up and my interviewer suggested we give him a call. I was soon on the phone with Congressman Ashford. A month later I was sitting in his office.

During this meeting with Congressman Ashford we had a delightful discussion that ranged from current policies to the process of becoming a US Ambassador. At the end of the meeting he offered me an internship in D.C. and being a sane person I couldn’t turn it down! When a door is so obviously opened for me, I have no choice but to walk through.

This was among the first life lessons that this experience taught me.

Quickly the end of my senior year became preparation for a summer filled with new people and a new lifestyle.

I graduated May 28th and moved to D.C. May 30th. I couldn’t have been more excited for this experience. After arriving in D.C. and making my room semi feel like home I found myself needing to figure out where to go and what to do. Coming from a place like Omaha, public transit is not familiar to me. Step 1 was learning how to use a metro (I can write an entire article on the experiences I had with the metro). Step 2 was exploring the city.

I quickly found out that this internship was going to push me to adjust on the spot. And as an 18 year old, I had to grow up fast.

After figuring out the basics and knowing where I had to go I found myself starting an entirely new chapter of my life. For someone who had never been to D.C. I had no idea what to expect. But what started as a scary unknown became an exciting adventure.

I truly enjoyed the fact that when I walked into Cannon Hall, I was walking down a hallway we see in history textbooks. It’s hard to be in D.C. and not notice the history and importance of where you are.

Most days in D.C. were like any normal office days, answering phones, writing letters, giving tours to constituents, and getting cof-

fee or soda from a storage closet . My favorite was going to different seminars and briefings over current policies and issues affecting our nation and what Washington is doing to address it.

This may seem like any normal internship but it definitely had its perks. For one thing, I am on in the background of one of Elizabeth Warren’s photos. Being able to tour the capitol building and never knowing what elected official you’ll see is a major perk. Walking in underground tunnels and passing Representatives and Senators like its nothing was nothing short of amazing.

Of course, sometimes I didn’t handle everything so smoothly. One time I almost ran into Speaker Paul Ryan while giving a tour of the Capitol. Where else can you get that kind of experience than in our national capital?

While D.C. internships are intellectually rewarding, they’re also a lot of fun. I had a blast doing things such as exploring China Town or going bowling in the White House.

I was able to create experiences that most people won’t see in a lifetime all before I was

COBB: PAGE 14

SPORTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

Northwestern players to watch Saturday touchdowns in Northwestern’s 24-13 win against Duke last Saturday, he’s also completed just 35 of his last 80 throws, and finished just 17-for-41 in the Wildcats’ shocking last-second loss to FCS Illinois State two weeks ago.

First off, Thorson shouldn’t be throwing 41 times. And second, he’s got to find a way to make things happen with his legs. Both Thorson and Northwestern cannot rely simply on his arm.

Nebraska’s handled each of the first three quarterbacks it’s faced this year, and Thorson might be arguably the easiest yet. Get pressure on the redshirt sophomore, and things shouldn’t be too difficult.

But if you let Thorson establish a threat both on the ground and through the air, then it might get a little bit tougher.

LB Anthony Walker

file photo Michael Dixon dn senior writer

The Husker football team heads to Evanston to play Northwestern in hopes of avenging last season’s loss. If the Wildcats want to upset the Huskers in 2016, here are a few players who will need to play well.

RB Justin Jackson For Northwestern to have a shot, Jackson might need 50 carries. Seriously.

Jackson’s the cornerstone of the Wildcat offense, and much of the criticism surrounding Jackson in his first two seasons was the ridiculous workload coach Pat Fitzgerald and

Co. put on him. He has just 260 yards through three games this year, but already has 63 carries -- despite having just 12 in the loss to Illinois State.

Jackson finished with 1,418 yards and five touchdowns on 312 carries in Northwestern’s 10-win campaign in 2015, and ran for 1,187 yards and three touchdowns on 245 attempts as a true freshman in 2014.

Meanwhile, however, his yards per carry have decreased from 4.8 as a freshman, to 4.5 as a sophomore, to now 4.1 through three games as a junior.

Perhaps that has something to do with teams figuring Jackson out, or perhaps it has more to do with the wear-and-tear of a back who ran a combined 557 times through his

first two years in a tough, gritty Big Ten. The Wildcats rely heavily on Jackson, and if he can break out, they’ll have a shot to beat Nebraska. If not, Northwestern has to look within an offense what doesn’t have much talent or depth to find an answer.

QB Clayton Thorson Northwestern runs a traditional spread offense -- or so we’re told -- commanded by the athletic, dual-threat QB Clayton Thorson.

This year, however, Thorson’s only issue has been his sub-50 completion percentage and 24 total carries for negative 2 yards.

Essentially, the kid billed as a dual-threat hasn’t been any sort of threat.

Thorson did throw for 320 yards and 3

Northwestern isn’t all that exciting, because the Wildcats don’t score.

But, to their credit, it’s also pretty tough to score against them.

Part of that comes from the presence of Anthony Walker -- arguably Northwestern’s most talented and NFL-ready player on either side of the ball.

The Wildcat defense was the primary reason for only their fourth 10-win season in program history, and Walker finished with a Big Ten-best 20.5 tackles for loss en route to an AP All-America team selection and a place on the All-Big Ten first team.

Badly needing a win, Walker came up with the game’s biggest play when forcing a Duke fumble deep in Wildcat territory with the game tied in the third quarter Saturday. And that’s just the easiest example of Walker’s importance This year, he’s got seven tackles in a pair of games, and five tackles in the other, with one sack to go along with that.

Walker’s about to see one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the country, but Tommy Armstrong’s also about to see one of the most athletic linebackers, too.

For a team known almost exclusively for its defense, can Walker find a way to stall that Nebraska offense long enough to give the Wildcat offense some time to score?

We’ll see just how NFL-ready he is Saturday night.

SPORTS@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

SPORTS

THE DAILY NEBRASKAN

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 • 13

Husker secondary works to become ‘Lockdown U’ Riley Bowden ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

What does it take to play in the secondary in college football?

The short answer: a lot -- too much for someone who hasn’t done it to even fathom.

When the ball is snapped, a cornerback has one eye on his man and the other on the quarterback. He has to have the speed to keep up with a receiver and the reaction time to follow a guy who could cut any way at any second.

The physical demands that come when the ball is snapped are matched by the mental preparation that comes pre snap.

Half the battle in the secondary is knowing the situation. Look at the third-and-18 play at the end of the Oregon game Saturday. Sure, safety Kieron Williams made a great play on the ball on the surface, but knowing the situation put him in a position to do so.

“We were in one of our base defenses. We knew that number six was a guy they like to get it to, they had tried to get it to him a lot that day,” Williams said. “We just did our best to be in a defense where we could protect the deep ball, and I was able to make a play on the ball.”

For Nebraska, the physical and mental sharpness it takes, on and off the field, to be an elite secondary is boiled down in one phrase: Lockdown U. Various members of the secondary from corner Chris Jones to Williams have made appearances at press conferences in shirts with “Lockdown U” across the chest. It was an idea created by secondary coach Brian Stewart. It is a battle cry. It is the secondary’s fraternity within the fraternity of the football team.

“For me, I think it is being able to just do my job,” said senior safety Nate Gerry.

He said the definition will change depending on the secondary member you ask. For the corners, Gerry said, it is being able play man coverage and quite literally lock down receivers. Gerry pointed out that he is “more

julian tirtadjaja | dn of a bigger body,” and it is tough for him to play man.

Whatever it means, it has worked for the Nebraska secondary this season.

Nebraska is currently ranked second in the Big Ten and 16th nationally in pass defense

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efficiency. The Huskers finished last season ranked 78th in the same statistic. Nebraska has also forced seven interceptions this season -- the fourth-best mark in the nation. The Huskers only managed 10 interceptions in 2015.

Lockdown U is more of a cohesive and experienced unit this year. A season ago, freshman and sophomores had a combined 23 starts in the secondary. This year, the firststring Nebraska secondary has a combined 62 starts under its belt.

“You no longer just represent yourself, you represent a group,” Williams said. “If you can carry into game day, carry that into practice, I mean even into class. You know the assignments you have to do in class to your grades the way they are supposed to be so you can play, that’s the lockdown mentality. It’s just not on the field it’s off the field.”

SPORTS@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

“You no longer just represent yourself, you represent a group.”

14 • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016

SPORTS

STOVER: Northwestern, Nebraska rivalry grows

David Stover dn assistant sports editor

In 2013, Nebraska backup quarterback Ron Kellogg III launched a 50-yard Hail Mary pass into the south end zone that changed the legacy of the Nebraska-Northwestern rivalry.

The pass happened to be caught by Illinois native Jordan Westerkamp, who was a Northwestern recruiting target.

Nebraska won the game 27-24, and disgruntled Northwestern returned to Evanston, Illinois.

As Nebraska travels to Northwestern this weekend for its sixth Big Ten meeting, the Huskers boast a 3-2 Big Ten record against the Wildcats, and aside from the meeting in 2014, they have only won by a combined total of four points.

Despite the close games, the schools have not established a rivalry trophy.

Rivalries are established based on competitiveness, general implications attached to the games and the well-spirited natures surrounding the games.

Since Nebraska’s inaugural season in the Big Ten in 2011, NU has established trophies between Iowa and Wisconsin.

The Nebraska-Iowa rivalry established the Heroes Trophy, which is played for on Black Friday. The Huskers lead the series 29-14-2, but has dropped two of their last three meetings.

Other than last year, Iowa really has had nothing to offer in the series between the teams.

Besides the corn production between the two states, the Iowa-Nebraska rivalry is lame. It lacks consistent postseason implications and competitiveness.

On the other hand, Nebraska struggles in its efforts to earn the Freedom Trophy

against Wisconsin.

The Badgers are 4-1 against the Huskers, and defeated them by a combined score of 227-113 since 2011.

The two teams are usually in the thick of competition when competing for the Big Ten West, but Nebraska has not been competitive enough for me to consider it a true rivalry, yet.

However, despite not having a trophy, the Nebraska-Northwestern rivalry could be one of the most underrated rivalries in college football.

Following Northwestern’s 2013 season, coach Pat Fitzgerald made what he called a joke at a golf outing regarding the state of Nebraska.

“It’s a pretty boring state, so they’re really excited to see Chicago,” Fitzgerald said.

“I talked to the state senator about putting state troopers out on I-80 (to block them.)”

Fitzgerald later apologized, and claimed it was a compliment to Nebraska’s fan base and how well they travel.

I guess he’s jealous of Nebraskan fans, huh?

I don’t think Nebraska can say its “rivals” Wisconsin and Iowa are jealous.

Jealousy is a part of rivalries because ultimately, when the other team has something the other wants, it breeds a competitive matchup.

Iowa thinks its on Nebraska’s level, despite not have any National Titles. *Cough.

Nebraska has five.

And Wisconsin wasn’t relevant when the Nebraska won its titles, so all it knows is the present, which it has dominated.

Northwestern is the only program that has something at stake when it consistently plays Nebraska and most closely resembles Nebraska’s style of play.

The Wildcats are smart, scrappy and hard working, which are qualities Nebraska values on its football team.

Many Nebraska fans will travel to Evanston this weekend, as Illinois produces the most out-of-state products for the University of Nebraska.

Don’t be surprised to see half of Northwestern’s Ryan Field filled by a sea of red.

SPORTS@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

THE DAILY NEBRASKAN

COBB: FROM PAGE 11 considered a legal adult in Nebraska.

Most people decide to study abroad or intern later in their college career. Which can make sense. Why do this type of stuff before you even know what you want to do? But I think that’s the point a lot of people miss.

Having a summer internship in Washington, D.C. before I even started college allowed me to solidify what I want to do with my life.

I was able to see and live in the place where I wanted to work.

For the people who hesitate on taking opportunities such as these, don’t . It is one of the best ways to decide if this is the right career path for you or if you want to pursue something else. You are able to fully grasp and understand what it takes, without tak-

ing a shot in the dark. It also saves on some college classes if you decide you need to change majors. Before starting my internship I knew I wanted to be a political science major. After my internship I decided that to best fit my dreams i needed to be a Political Science and Global Studies majors with minors in Arabic and Economics.

This was an experience for the books and I recommend that anyone else who is struggling on whether or not to take internships or opportunities similarly early, stop and think.

You never know what doors can open when you put yourself out there and try new things.

RHIANNON COBB IS A FRESHMAN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND GLOBAL STUDIES MAJOR. REACH HER AT OPINION@ DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM OR VIA @DNOPINION

SLEZAK: FROM PAGE 11 and help campus leaders effectively navigate issues around campus. The student body can use these forums as a way to effectively communicate and come together. Increasing understanding of students’ perspectives can help leaders create a more unified university.

This is yet another example of how a community can come together to create a better understanding of others’ concerns. Working together to solve problems, rather than avoiding these issues and becoming further divided, is essential to a healthy society “Communication is key” isn’t just some worn out cliché, it’s the truth. Rather than attack ideas you don’t agree with or understand, hear the other side out and you may be surprised with the results. We don’t have to agree on everything to have an environment conducive of understanding and civil discourse.

The Founding Fathers had to deal with divisions and are examples of how disagreements can turn into a productive discourse. They may have disagreed on many philosophical issues, but they were able to push aside deep ideological divisions and even personal disdain to do what needed to be done We need to follow their example and refine the

way we debate issues that face modern society.

Without attempting to relay your thoughts to others, they’ll never know what you think and this can lead to greater misunderstandings than engaging, respectful debates. This applies to personal situations and conflicts as well as community-related issues.

When you have a disagreement with a friend or relative, talk it out. Attempting to talk about the problem rather than ignoring it avoids the possibility of these disagreements building up to a point of no return When conflicting thoughts on any situation can’t be discussed, there is built up animosity and distrust between the two sides.

Talking about sensitive subjects and expressing opinions is often seen as divisive and a way to drive two sides apart. But, if we are able to do this in a constructive manner, it can create a world where opposing thoughts aren’t something to tune out, but instead something to try to understand and consider.

RILEY SLEZAK IS A JUNIOR JOURNALISM AND POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR. REACH HIM AT OPINION@ DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM OR VIA @DNOPINION.

CLASSIFIED JOBS

STUDENT LIVING

For Sale

Jobs

Bicycles For Sale

Help Wanted

CYCLOCROSS BIKES

Academic Advantage Child Development Center

For sale by owner. High quality! All City Sgle Spd and S-Works Crux Carbon frame w/SRAM Red comp. Sharp, light, great cond! (see Craigslist-Lincoln, NE posts for details on both).

Furniture For Sale 4 solid wood desks. One has drawers on one side, others have two sets of drawers About 4’x6’. Also L-shaped metal desk. 3 armless. office chairs. $25-$40 each. 489-5308

Services Misc. Services FREE HAIRCUTS AND HAIR COLOR

Done by national and international hairdressers September 25, 2016. If interested you must attend a model call at the Cornhusker Marriott, Saturday September 24 at 1 PM. For more information or to register call: 402-462-2329 or 402-429-7146

NOW HIRING for Part-Time and Full-Time positions at all three of our Lincoln Locations. We work with children ages 6 weeks - 12 years old and are staffed from 6:15am - 6:15pm Mon-Fri. If you enjoy working with children, are reliable, and are available at least 15+ hours per week during our operating hours, please visit us at www.AACDC.com or email your resume/application to Apply@AACDC.com. $9.25 - $10.50/hour, DOE.

ATTENTION CIVIL ENGINEERING STUDENTS

Steel Fabricator seeking Civil Engineering student with 2-3 years remaining in school. Entry level, close to campus, flexible schedule. Part time during school, full time during scheduled breaks. (402) 476-7545 ask for Kurt

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE & CUSTOMER CARE

24 Hour Auto Repair has a great opportunity for experienced mechanics and customer service reps. We have positions available in light mechanical, tires, support, and hybrid roles.

Flexible schedules and $10-15 per hour for qualified candidates. Please contact David or Carol at 402-325-0000.

Housing

ROOMMATES

Help Wanted Call 402.429.4201 for details

GREAT OPPORTUNITY!

Part time General Labor at Family owned Agriculture company. Warehousing/Farming tasks.

Will train and a good opportunity to become full time if desired and work here throughout your college career. Great compensation and opportunity! Contact us at 402.438.1232 or email gm@millerseed.com.

Duplexes For Rent RESTORED VICTORIAN CLOSE TO CAMPUS

1740 D Street, Huge 3BR, oak floors, large sun porch in restored Victorian, all utilities paid, including heat, electric, A/Cs, washer/dryer. Pets okay. $850. 402.476.7033.

Apts. For Rent

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES

PAYCHECK ADVANCE is ow hiring customer service representatives. We’re looking for energetic, enthusiastic individuals to fill several part and full time positions. We offer competitive pay, PTO, flexible scheduling and opportunities to advance. Must have a high school diploma or equivalent. Prior customer service and/or cash handling experience is preferred. Apply online at https://paycheckadv.com/Career.aspx or apply in person at one of our 8 locations.

Compensation: Based On Experience.

Now hiring at 4455 N. 27th St., Part-time servers and line cooks for nights/weekends. Apply at www.carlosokellyscareers.com.

OMAHA STEEL CASTINGS COMPANY

We are currently looking to fill the following positions: Grinder Inspector Welder Air Arc Operator Molder (Head Operator) Shot Blast Operator Melter - 3rd Shift Quality Manager Email resumes to elacey@omahasteel.com or stop in to fill out an application. 921 E. 12th Street, Wahoo 68066.

POLITICAL CANVASSERS

Apartments, Townhomes and Duplexes

402-465-8911 www.HIPRealty.com

Find yours here.

Vincenzo’s Ristorante is now hiring morning and evening servers. Must be available Monday nights. Apply in person: 808 P St. Mon-Fri. 9-11a.m. and 2-4 p.m. 402-435-3889.

RECEPTIONIST/PHONE SCHEDULER

THE STILL

Part time receptionist/Phone scheduler needed all day, every Saturday in Service. Hours are 7:45AM to 5:00PM Saturday. Please contact Katie Steele at Husker Auto Group, 678.361.4372, ksteele@huskerautogroup.com.

Part-time clerk, evenings and weekends. Must enjoy working with customers and wine knowledge is a plus. Must be 21. Apply in person at 6820 S. 70th Street, in the Home Depot Shopping Center or email your resume to info@thestill.com.

Needed through Nov 8. 10-15 hrs/wk. $15/hr based on experience. Smartphone required.

Email canvasslincoln@gmail.com or call (402)765-8007.

AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE

UNL faculty member seeks regular after-school sitter for two elementary-aged children.

Mon-Tue-Thur-Fri, 3:30 to 5:30-6 PM, some driving required. $12/hour. Contact sandkandkids@gmail.com.

Child Care Needed

Announcements

PART TIME NANNY LINCOLN, NE

Lincoln family looking for a responsible, smart,

LINCOLN SCRABBLE CLUB

Meets the 2nd (48th & O st) and 4th (33rd & Pi-

funYork & flexible person who loves children to care oneers) Tuesdays of each month at Braeda.

The New Times Syndication Sales Corporation our 3 children after school. pay, It’s free, all skill levels, everything provided.

620for Eighth Avenue, New Competitive York, N.Y. 10018 based on experience. Reliable transportation Find out more at For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 required.

Please submit resume and several https://sites.google.com/site/lincolnscrabreferences to atcnanny@gmail.com For Release Friday, May 10, 2013 bleclub1/

LOVE WORKING WITH CHILDREN?

Great resume builder for anyone who will be working with children in the future. Before & After School staff needed now. Close to campus,flexible hours,no weekends, fun work environment.Great experience working with a diverse group of school age children. We are a private/non-profit organization less than 5 minutes north of downtown campus in the Belmont area. www.belmontcommunitycenter.org. Contact Tray at 402-477-8854, or come in for an application at 3335 N.12th St. (corner of 12th & Judson).

Child Care Needed

SERVERS

LABORERS/ROOFERS

PARTHENON

1-2 & 3 Bedrooms

Help Wanted

Fortress Roofing is looking for Laborers/ Roofers for a job located in Lincoln NE. Looking for roofers that our motivated, trustworthy, dependable, and hard working . Looking to Fill ASAP. Pay is $13 per hr and more DOE. Please contact us at 801-205-6100 and send resume to fortressroofing@gmail.com

Currently hiring servers, hosts and kitchen staff. Exp. not necessary. Apply in person.

5500 S. 56th St. (402)423-2222

Holroyd Investment Properties, Inc.

Help Wanted

Join the CenterPointe Team! Part-time positions available in residential program working with substance abuse/mental health clients in a unique environment. Must be at least 21 years of age and be willing to work a varied schedule including overnights and weekends.

Pay differential for overnight hours. For more information visit: www.centerpointe.org.

CNA/Nursing Students

Are you looking for extra income? Do you need flexibility with your work schedule? Great experience for those pursuing medical degrees. We currently have openings for home health aids mornings, weekends and evenings. We offer excellent pay ($12/hour start, $14/hour weekend) up to $500 hiring bonus and flexible scheduling. Call, stop by or visit firstcarehomehealth.org to apply. EOE. First Care Home Health 3901 Normal Blvd., Suite 102. 402-435-1122.

STUFF

GET PAID TO WATCH FOOTBALL

Roommates Share my house 3mi E of Hardin Hall. You get private bdrm, lvngrm, bath and separate entry.

Shared kitchen and laundry. NS, NP. $450/mo + 1/2 elec. Lv msg @ 472-7556

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM

Crossword Across

31 Pop punk band

with the 2002 triple-platinum album “The Young and the Hopeless” 35 Last song heard on Disneyland’s Splash Mountain 36 Relatively important meeting?

37 Top 38 Take without credit 39 Ball-bearing piece 40 Field of three Nobel Prizes: Abbr.

42 Big game show prize 47 Pal 4 life 48 People without a religious affiliation, in modern lingo 51 ___ Island 52 Stops lying 54 Bug

1 Begins 9 Common sights in the Rockies 15 Expiate 16 Meaty Applebee’s morsel 17 Half of an old comic film duo 18 It includes picking the place 19 Woody Guthrie and others 20 Adam Smith or Ethan Allen 22 The “needle” part of needle grass 23 Scottish sprout 25 Item on a Christmas list 26 Party person, for short 27 Horse show demonstrations 30 Desperate

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE G A S U R N S M A L P O U C S A A Y E F E A N R O O O O F P U N I A T O N R E T O T R E N

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A D S O B R O N A Z T E H O P A I I V A N A F I H A O O H A A L A N D S O W O P N

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I G H E T E S

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E

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F F O E E W

56 Like some

operations

Edited by Will Shortz 1

57 Prime, as

15

58 Works in the

17

bonds

kitchen 59 Court luminaries

2

3

4

6

7

8

9

10

11

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13

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45

46

16 18

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23

21

24

Down 1 “Batman” comics sound 2 “___ your point” 3 NPR’s Roberts 4 Request at a palace, maybe 5 Gives oneself something to aim for 6 Frequently, quaintly 7 Dog-ear, e.g.

8 Word on a bingo card 9 Kindergarten comeback 10 Babe Ruth mark broken by Roger Maris 11 Kegler’s org.

12 Noted cliff in Yosemite Valley 13 Balance sheet figure 14 Frequent Jack Kirby comics collaborator 21 “Well, that one doesn’t work” 24 Pops 28 Relative of sleet 29 Grp. whose flag has 12 stars 30 Awarder of a thimble to Alice, in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”

5

No. 0405

27 31

22

25 28

26

29

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32

33

34

35 36 37

38

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40

47

48

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41

42 49

53

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51 55

puzzle by peter wentz

31 “Up top!”

32 Anthony’s

XM Radio partner 33 Samurai who’s lost his lord 34 Laggards 35 “High School Musical” actor 36 Greasy part of pork

40 Mortimer of old 46 Exemplars of

radio

41 Figure on a

manufacturer’s balance sheet

43 Puffed ___ 44 It’s baked in

Italy

45 Pioneer in

psychoanalysis

thinness

49 “___ Almighty”

(2007 film)

50 Q-tip, e.g.

53 Salt source 55 Bit of barnyard

onomatopoeia

For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554.

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