Friday, November 12. 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
1
Legislative tax cuts drain funds for higher education
By Nathan Willis
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
While the Kansas Legislature gives back much of the revenue gained from the long economic expansion of the 1990s in the form of tax cuts, many other states are using the extra money to bolster higher education.
And that's hurting the University of Kansas.
Jason Williams/KANSAN
"It doesn't take a genius to realize that Kansas kids are going to fall behind if we don't invest as much in higher education," said Chancellor Robert Henemway.
And that, in turn, will make the state of Kansas fall behind, he said.
"A new knowledge economy will drive success in the future," he said. "Unless we invest more in higher education, Kansas may be falling behind in the economy of the future."
Just how far can business go?
Just how far behind is Kansas?
Statistics from the Center for Higher Education and Educational Finance at Illinois State University show that funding from the Kansas Legislature for operating expenses at state universities has increased at an average of 4.4 percent per year. This, however, is behind the average national rate of a 5.2 percent average annual increase. Kansas ranked 27th out of all the states in the rate of increase in funding.
In addition, the Legislature increased funding at a slower rate compared to the home states of the University's five peer universities—the University of Colorado, the
University of Oklahoma, the University of North Carolina, the University of Iowa and the University of Oregon.
Diana Carlin, interim assistant provost, said Kansas had been cutting taxes at the expense of education. That allows states such as Florida, Georgia, Connecticut and Michigan — which have drastically increased state funding for higher education — to get ahead, she said.
If Kansas acquires a reputation as a state that doesn't adequately support higher education, it will make it harder for the University to recruit good students, she said.
"This is important in that it sends a signal to other states on whether
Kansas is saying higher education is important or not," she said. "It's making us have to compete harder for out-of-state kids."
In addition, the tax cuts by the Legislature have forced the University to cut its budget by 1 percent this year. And the possibility of budget cuts for next year and the years after further threatens higher education in a state that already was falling behind, she said.
Hemenway said the Legislature needed to renew its commitment to higher education.
"I think this really puts pressure on Kansas to catch up," he said.
Edited by Julia Nicholson
Unfriendly eyes are hard to shake
Those being stalked have limited options but can take action
By Katie Hallar writer@kanson.com kanson staff writer
She didn't know who he was
But he knew all about her. The man who watched Kerri Morrison knew everything — where she lived, where she worked, when she'd be in class and when her boyfriend would be gone.
"He knew exactly where to be and when I was vulnerable," Morrison said.
Morrison, a 1997 University of Kansas graduate, said it started when she was working at the Etc. Shop, 928 Massachusetts St., and living in an apartment across the street.
"I started seeing him every time I was at work, and then he started showing up on my back deck," she said. "He'd only be there when I was home alone. He knew my schedule that well."
The stranger's appearances increased in frequency; he tracked her down at house parties and restaurants. Morrison called the police, who instructed her to notify the department every time she saw him.
"I called them every day for seven months," she said. "It was freaky, but I kind of got used to it." Morrison got used to being stalked.
Stalking is more than a nuisance or a tenacious romantic pursuit. It is an intentional, malicious and repeated following or harassment of another person, according to Kansas law. It is threatening someone with the intent to place him or her in reasonable fear.
And it is a felony.
Stalking is punishable by five to 13 months in jail, said District Attorney Christine Tonkovich. The sentence varies with criminal history and also can include fines.
Tonkovich said the stalking statute was first passed in Kansas in 1992 as a misdemeanor. The statute took its current form in 1995.
Under constitutional constraints, a case cannot be classified as stalking unless a threat is issued. Tonkovich said.
Tonkovich said that in most cases, the suspect would be charged with another related crime, such as criminal trespassing or telephone harassment.
"What we see is a lot of behavior that causes us concern," she said. "But in order to be stalking, it must be very egregious."
Lawrence police Sgt. George Wheeler said local police saw about six cases of stalking each
Wheeler said most victims were females who had been in some sort of relationship with the stalker. After they try to end the relationship, the stalking begins.
year. He agreed with Tonkovich that many more cases did not reach the full-blown level.
Wheeler advised stalking victims to call the police immediately so that a Protection from Abuse order can be filed. An order can require the stalker to stay a given distance from the victim.
In addition, Wheeler said victims should take note of surroundings, tell someone else about the situation and keep any evidence.
Morrison's constant communication with the police force kept her safe. She never had an altercation with the man, despite his constant presence.
"If you keep seeing the same car," he said, "note the dates, times and a good description."
She said the stalking ended three years ago, when her stalker was caught raping a 15-year-old girl in her own front yard. He is currently serving a 17-year prison sentence, she said, but he will be eligible for parole after seven years.
Morrison said she was not afraid of his release — she doesn't live in Lawrence anymore.
"I can't imagine that he would be able to find me," she said.
Edited by Mike Loader
House of Representatives majority leader Kent Glasscock speaks to the Lawrence Kiwanis in honor of Veterans Day yesterday afternoon at the Lawrence Country Club. The Manhattan native talked about the Year 2000 session of the Legislature, which convenes in January. Photo by Chad Cummings/KANSAN
State House majority leader answers budget questions
By Chris Borniger writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Kansas House of Representatives majority leader Kent Glasscock, R-Manhattan, spoke to the Lawrence Kiwanis for Veterans Day yesterday, but military service wasn't the main subject of his speech.
Glasscock is a nine-year veteran of the Legislature and a former mayor of Manhattan. Glasscock spoke about the Year 2000 session of the Legislature, which convenes in January, and answered several questions about the state's reduced budget.
Below are the answers he gave to questions.
Q: At the University, there are a lot of people concerned with finances, especially concerning the Governor's proposed budget cuts. How much will these cuts hurt the University?
A: The 1 percent cut is painful, but I don't see it as having any long-term detrimental effect. How can we craft a smaller state budget that still meets our obligations? What drives that is available funds. Right now, the state budget itself is too complicated to assess the impact.
Q: Faculty and administration salaries rank low compared to our peer institutions. Are raises for these people in the foreseeable future?
A: Caming from Manhattan, my top priority every year is education. Some years we do better, and some years are different. Salaries definitely are on my radar screen for the
"We overspent the budget by $40 million in the past legislative session, so a tight year will get even tighter."
Kent Glasscock Kansas House of Representatives majority leader
upcoming session. If we fund the higher education restructuring bill, the major component is faculty salaries. But not all of my colleagues have university towns in their districts. When their constituents are concerned about whether their grocery store will have to close, it's hard to vote for state aid for universities.
Q: If the national economy is so good, why is Kansas hurting so badly?
A: There are two reasons. One is that we overspent the budget by $40 million in the past legislative session, so & tight year will get even tighter. The other is that as fiscal year '99 played out, we were $73 million short of our revenue projections. The agricultural economy and the oil economy are just a little softer.
Q: As a former mayor of Manhattan, you know how state government affects a university town. How has that experience affected your job as a legislator?
A: It has given me a very different perspective. Serving in an elected capacity at the local level, you learn a great deal about where the lines between
policy and administration are. It also has put me in a position to understand much better about how voters look at issues, how to interact with constituents and how important it is to be responsive. In Manhattan, Kansas State University is a huge component of the culture and economy. I've been able to learn firsthand how important the university can be to a community.
Q: In your speech to the Kliwan, you spoke a lot about hope. What's your hope for the state of Kansas?
A: I have a lot of hope. I hope we can position ourselves educationally and economically so that your generation of Kansans and your children will be able to live in a state where there's an economic base to propel them in ways to achieve their own goals and aspirations. We want to make Kansas strong enough and good enough so that people will want to stay here and can stay here. We're positioned in a relatively new world economy of technology, science and innovation to deal with. If we can do that, we'll be strong enough to meet our obligations to the next generation and the previous generation.
About 60 people attended the event. Glasscock said in his speech that next year's legislative session would be colored by the budget because Kansas would not see the prosperity it has had this decade.
"Many have termed it the gravy train," he said. "But we've run out of gravel."
- Edited by Darrin Peschka
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