17
Tuesday, May 4, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 3
Software impedes student groups' access to funds
By Nadia Mustafa
nmustafa.kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Some students are frustrated by changes to student organizations' access to Student Senate funds since the implementation of a new online financial system.
In March, the University of Kansas adopted Peoplesoft software to facilitate its financial processes in an effort to eventually integrate all of the University's financial systems into one network, including student organizations' systems and the University's human resources and payroll systems.
Since it began using Peoplesoft, which is a client server set of integrated financial management systems. Senate has had to take over the financial legwork of some student organizations that receive block funding, such as the Hispanic American Leadership Organization.
Patrick McGiffert, Senate executive treasurer, said that because of the transition from paperwork to a computer system in line with the state's new software, student organizations that receive block funding would now have to go to a University department or the Senate office to process payments because most organizations' computers were not capable of operating the software.
Because of security concerns on the network, McGiffert said, only certain individuals would have direct access to the online system. In addition, he said, it would be inefficient to train new representatives of student organizations to use Peoplesoft each semester or year.
"It will be complicated until the end of this fiscal year," McGiffert said. "But it just wouldn't be feasible to have every block group buy their own computer. People are frustrated that the system is chang
ing, but once the bumps are smoothed out, it is going to be fine.
Amy Cummins, graduate senator, said she thought the transition to an online financial system would be difficult for student organizations and the Senate executive treasurers.
"They'll have to meet constantly with representatives from all the block groups," she said. "There's already so much traffic into the treasurer's office. It's mainly a headache for Senate personnel."
Cummins also said she was concerned with allegations of a lack of student input into the University's decision to adopt Peoplesoft.
McGiffert said students were justifiably a minority in the University's decision because students aren't responsible for the University's financial processes.
"Students don't pay the bills or run the finances of the University," he said. "It's not really the decision of students. It's more important that the University has a system that will work for them."
Diane Goddard, comptroller, said the University decided to adopt Peoplesoft as an online financial system through competitive bidding two years ago. The decision was based on the fact that the University already used Peoplesoft for other purposes, she said, and that the company offered the best pricing.
Goddard said she did not think the new financial system would complicate funding processes for student organizations. Also, she said, the system did not restrict or prevent direct student use.
"We've already trained well over 500 people to use the financial system," Goddard said. "Maybe it's a business decision, but it's not a system constraint."
- Edited by Aerica Veazey
By Jamie Knodel
jknodel@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Speaker aims to make impact on romance
Sex, romance and relationships are on the minds of many college students. But one group of KU students has been studying what it takes to keep relationships passionate and romantic.
Communication is the key to keeping the romance alive in relationships, Tommy Nelson, an ordained preacher and nationally renowned speaker, said last night.
This semester, through a video course, Nelson has been teaching a group of Christians within the greek community, Greek Impact, the fundamental elements of finding, securing and maintaining lasting relationships. He has been using the Bible's Song of Solomon as a base for the lessons.
video tapes, Nelson spoke to a room full of students in person.
Last night was different, however. Instead of watching him on
"He's just amazing," said Tamara Kemp, Arvada, Colo.
junior. He is real. There is no messing around with him. He will tell you just like it is."
Nelson said that learning how to make relationships work was an important part of life.
"Romance and marriage
Nelson: Discussed the mechanics of a relationship.
is something everyone will have to deal with," he said. "You need to know how to cultivate romance and have the ability for tenderness."
He said that for relationships to stav romantic, partners should be
courteous to one another, reserve time to spend with one another and express words of love.
Maintaining a romantic relationship is not always easy, Nelson said.
"The romantic things that are instinctive early on in a relationship, aren't always that easy later," he said. "You must make it a discipline."
Nelson also said that effective communication should be a priority for partners in a relationship.
"Romance by definition means to go down deep into your heart and to share it," he said.
Throughout the semester Nelson had been outlining what qualities makes a person an outstanding partner. Kemp said.
In passionate relationships, Nelson said that women were responsive, while men were tender and compassionate. He also stressed the need for partners to respect
one another.
Marcus Brooks, a Campus Crusade staff member, said that members of the group had worked with a local temporary agency stuffing envelopes to earn enough money to pay for Nelson's trip to the University.
Greek Impact is an organization within Campus Crudse.
He said that he thought Nelson brought a fresh perspective to the issue of relationships.
"He brings it to light and makes it relevant for today." Brooks said. "He shows how it applies to every day life."
Julie Johnston, Boulder, Colo,
sophomore, said that throughout
the semester, the art of dating,
courting and intimacy had been
discussed by members of Greek
Impact.
Research fund increase keeps KU on cutting edge
Edited by Matt Merkel-Hess
By Jennifer Roush
jrush@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
For the first time since fiscal year 1994, University of Kansas research funding has increased more than $12 million from the previous year.
Money for all research and development at the University, including the KU Medical Center, totaled more than $147 million in fiscal year 1998, which is a 9.7 percent increase from the fiscal year 1997 total of $134 million.
In fiscal year 1994, research funding at KU was more than $115 million, which was an increase of $12.674 million from fiscal year 1993.
Robert Collins, manager of research information at the Center for Research, Inc., said that the $147 million represented funding for all the research conducted at KU.
Collins said that individual numbers were still being compiled and that a complete breakdown of how much money went to each school and department would not be available until sometime next week.
The largest portion of the research money — $117 million — went to science and engineering research. That places KU close to the Board of Regents' goal of $120 million for science and engineering by fiscal year 2000.
Carl Locke, dean of the school of engineering, said that the school spent $13.8 million in fiscal year 1998. That represents a 36 percent increase in funding.
Locke said that those numbers would be used to help attract the best and brightest prospective students.
"We'll try to illustrate what kind of an institution we have here," he said.
We try to illustrate what kind of an institution we have here," he said. He said that he thought research funding would keep increasing in the school of engineering, but he didn't think it would continue at the present rate.
Locke attributed the growth in funding to increased research in telecommunications, petroleum engineering and civil engineering.
Robert Barnhill, vice chancellor for Research and Public Service, said that this year's total was significant
The number also means that KU
will be seen as a better school by prospective students. Barnhill said.
"It means that we'll be considered a more prestigious university," he said. Barnhill also said that he hoped prospective students would take a closer look at KU because of the increase in research funding.
"Professors at KU are inventing the science and technology and humanities of tomorrow," he said. "Who better to learn from than these people who are on the cutting edge?"
— Edited by Matt Merkel-Hes:
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