THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VOL.116 ISSUE 85
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2006
WWW.KANSAN.COM
UTILITIES
The price of keeping warm
BY ALISSA BAUER
abauer@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
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Students who live off-campus are seeing an increase in their monthly gas bills as soon as they open their mail. The increases stem from a variety of reasons, including colder temperatures, energy inefficient homes and appliances and a recent increase in the cost of natural gas.
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Milwaukee senior Brad Pachefsky lives in a threebedroom house off of Kasold Drive. His gas bill jumped from $120 in December to $200 in January.
N PAGE 8A
Facing gas bills nearly two times higher than last month, students who live in standalone houses may be feeling
the natural gas rate increases more than any other student group.
Students in apartments will still see an increase, though. Matt Anderson, Chicago senior, lives in Carson Place, off Indiana Street.
"We monitor it pretty tight," Anderson said. "It's pretty obvious when it goes up."
Anderson also experienced a comparatively higher bill; a $49 gas bill in December paved way for a $60 bill in January.
The increase is not surprising to Larissa Long, manager of external affairs for Aquila, Lawrence's natural gas provider. She said there are lots of reasons for the fluctuation in monthly bills.
"In a home, there is probably more square footage," Long said. "Depending on whether or not it is more energy efficient and has more energy efficient appliances, even landscaping can play a role." she said.
Long also noted that many apartments don't have all four walls facing the elements. Houses may have cold — or hot — air hitting all four walls.
Pachefsky said that in the summer, his landscaping helped keep bills low.
"In the summer, we have a lot of trees around our house, so we definitely saved some money by being in the shade," Pachefsky said. "But in the winter, it still sucks."
Last May, Aquila made a 2.4 percent rate increase, its
first increase of base natural gas rates since 2000.
That 2.4 percent increase equaled out to approximately $2.7 million, according to Aquila's Web site.
Long suggested, however,
that the extent that the bill
goes up relies heavily on the
consumers themselves.
"Probably the biggest fac-
face an approximately 27 percent increase in the gas bill — from $178 to $224. Long could not provide Lawrence-specific numbers.
tor is the thermostat, and how comfortable you are with a lower setting." Long said. "For many students who are living alone for the first time, it does come as a surprise, but they do have control over their own usage."
Long said a consumer using the company wide January average of 178 CCFs would
Josh Bickel/KANSAN
Long made it clear, however, that Aquila is not raising the cost of natural gas; it follows a purchased gas adjustment each month.
SEE UTILITIES ON PAGE 4A
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Month celebrates, educates
Professor found home at University
BY ANNE WELTMER
aweltmer@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
As a native of Philadelphia, Hobart Jackson had his doubts about Kansas' conservatism, and he thought his new professorship at the University of Kansas would just be a stepping stone in his career when he arrived in 1971.
Thirty-four years later, he's still here.
"I had a perception of Kansas as not necessarily being a place for me to stay" Jackson said. "Lawrence is unique, though."
Lisa Lipovac/KANSAN
Jackson came to the University as one of many newly-hired African-American faculty members after the Black Student Union protests and the burning of the Kansas Union on April 20, 1970.
Jackson was recruited when colleague James Rosser moved to the University of Kansas to become Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs.
Professor Hobart Jackson gives a lecture on architectural photography on Tuesday. Jackson was brought to the University of Kansas to diffuse black unrest in 1971.
Jackson has been involved in the Black Faculty and Staff Council since its inception in 1975.
Jackson said he was originally recruited to run the community design center in Kansas City, Mo., but after his interview the University hired him to teach beginning studio and graphic design classes and serve as a mentor for African-American students.
Charles Kahn, the dean of KU's school of architecture at the time, also played a large part in Jackson's arrival at the University. Kahn was open to having African-Americans on his faculty, advocating what he called "urban scholars."
"Quite frankly, we were looking for more minority professors," Kahn said, "but he would have qualified anyway. We gave him opportunities he well deserved."
History, message of celebration important
BY ANNE WELTMER
aweltm@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Rona Remmie wouldn't be where she is today without African-Americans who paved the way by desegregating schools and public places during the Civil Rights Movement.
"I wouldn't be able to sit in a seat next to a white person," said Remmie, Kansas City, Mo., junior and Black Student Union vice president.
She said it was important she celebrated her predecessors.
Kristen Guillot, Shawnee senior and Black Student Union president, said, "It's a way to acknowledge the African-American contribution to American society."
He said it was an opportunity to educate and appreciate African-American history. "This month gives a title to what we should be doing all year round," said Guillot.
Black History Month was created to "celebrate those who were left out of the written and popular story," said Deborah Dandridge, president of Black Faculty and Staff Council.
Black History Month began almost a century ago when African-American Harvard historian Carter G. Woodson thought it would be beneficial to create a week to focus on African American's contributions to America's history with the goal of incorporating African-American narrative into public school curriculum.
The week began around President Lincoln's and Frederick Douglas' birthdays, but in 1976, President Ford extended the week to a month-long celebration in February, Dandridge said.
"We have had a diverse nation from the beginning," Dandridge said. "The ideal will come when you don't have to highlight groups based on race."
-Edited by Matt Wilson
Dandridge said she thought that ideal wouldn't happen anytime soon, if at all, and Americans would continue to need Black History Month in order to fight the misunderstandings and misinformation about the African-American role in American history.
— Edited by Lindsey St. Clair
EDUCATION
Sex course has unusual empty seats
BY KELLY LANIGAN
EDITOR@KANSAN.COM
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
Only 44 people enrolled in the 10-week, noncredit human sexuality course at Ecumenical Christian Ministries, taught by retired KU professor Dennis Dailey. The course accepts both KU students and non-students, but is struggling to gain enrollment.
Dailey said he did not know why enrollment dropped. He said he was considering not teaching the course in the future if enrollment remained low.
The room the class is taught in accommodates 100 people and was full when Dailey taught the course last spring.
In the past, controversy and provided free publicity for the non-credit course. After accusations that Dailey showed pornography in class in 2003, I think it's important to question attitudes and beliefs about sexuality."
Jane Segebrecht
Committee Coordinator
In the past, controversy surrounded Dailey provided 467
tional media coverage attracted attention to Dailey. At the time, both the ECM course and KU course were full, and had waiting lists.
This semester is the first spring that Dailey has not taught at the University. He retired in June 2005, but has continued to teach the course as a non-credit option to benefit students.
The ECM Sexuality Education Committee advertised the course in hopes of gaining interest. Jane Segebrecht, committee coordinator, said the committee was trying to be active in advertising.
Dailey draws students with his name, but fewer students at the University remember the controversy.
"I think a lot of people enroll just because of who Dennis Dailey is," Segebrecht said. "He's such a powerful speaker."
Segebrecht said that people enrolled in the course at the first class meeting last spring. She anticipated that some people would show up at the last minute again this semester. A small class size would take something away from the class experience and she hoped there would be a last-minute rush to enroll, she said.
SEE DAILEY ON PAGE 4A
Women's Basketball
After being dealt its worst loss in the history of the program against Baylor Saturday, Kansas looks to bounce back tonight against Colorado. PAGE 12A
Bikes stolen from campus
In 2005, 47 bikes were stolen. Only 14 were stolen in 2004. Oliver and McCollum residence halls were hardest hit, accounting for 31 percent of the thefts PAGE 3A
The Norris Revolution
The Norris Revolution Former "Walker, Texas Ranger" star Chuck Norris has curiously re-entered the public's consciousness. Find out why he's suddenly so popular in this week's installment of KUlpture. PAGE 5A
Index
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All contents, unless stated otherwise,
© 2006The University Dally Kansan
Comics... 7A
Classifieds... 8A
Crossword... 7A
Horoscopes... 7A
Opinion... 6A
Sports... 12A
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