Introduction

 

    The Co-op system is a housing cooperative for college students. The vision of cooperatives is to provide a form of group living that is democratic, egalitarian, peaceful, and environmentally sound. Working towards these goals is challenging and requires a lot of time and effort from individual members. Though difficult, most members find the effort rewarding.

    We also take an interest in educating our members. We try to ensure that all members learn managerial skills, problem solving skills, and basic living skills (e.g., home repair, work sharing, etc.).  Along with building these personal skills we also do work within our community.  We believe that learning these skills is the foundation of becoming an independent, and therefore a contributing, member of society.

 

 

General Lawrence Coop History

 

    Co-ops have a long rich history at KU. For many years KU was a leader in the co-op movement and a model for other universities. The first co-ops at KU were formed in 1919 when two women’s houses were established. It is not clear how long they lasted, but they seem to have been successful for a number of years.

    The modern age of co-ops in Lawrence began in 1938 with the founding of the Jayhawk co-op at 1614 Kentucky Street. Among the founders of the house were Luther Buchele and Eugene Niniger. Several more co-ops followed in quick succession, and within a couple of years their members began to seek a need for an organization to coordinate and unify various houses. As a result, UKSHA was incorporated in March 1941. Houses of this period included Jayhawk, Rockchalk, John J.O. Moore, Kaw Koettes, Jay coed, Rochdale, and the Harmon house.

 World War Two brought hard times, and by 1945 most of the co-ops had closed. However, the end of the war brought a flood of returning veterans, and the co-ops came back with them. By the fall of 1949 there were six co-ops with 129 members, and by 1951 there were nine co-ops in operation: Rochdale, Couples Co-op, Don Henry, Twin Pines, Hill Co-op, Henley, Graduate Girls, Jayhawk, and Rock Chalk. Beginning in the fall of 1949 and for bit there after, the office of the North American Student Cooperative League (NASCL) was at found in the co-ops at KU.

    After this highpoint, interest began to subside once again, and the houses were slowly sold off. The last were sold in 1965 after which UKSHA became dormant for several years. In 1969, UKSHA was rediscovered by Keith Miller, a professor of human development and family life at KU. Inspired by Walden Two, he aimed to develop an egalitarian group living environment for students. The result was the CIA (Campus Improvement Association) House at 1406 Tennessee Street, opening in the fall of 1969. The house became a center for activism, but while enjoying some success, responsibilities were neglected and the co-op began to fall apart.

    After closing for a summer to reorganize, the house reopened as the Sunflower House in the spring of 1972. The new work sharing system and the new environment were successful in providing a stable atmosphere and the house has flourished ever since.

    Now, UKSHA has begun a new period of expansion by repurchasing the old Jayhawk Co-op at 1614 Kentucky street, which re-opened its doors in 1998 and in October of 2005 Ad Astra house opened at 1033 Kentucky.  As student interests in co-ops rise once again, the future of student housing cooperatives looks brighter than ever.

 

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