Tuesday, April 20, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
City Commission supports citywide bus system; Goal may take time to achieve
By Heather Woodward
hwoodward@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The road to creating and financing a citywide public transportation system is going to be a long one.
"Obviously, the city is very excited about working with us, but it's just going to take time. It's going to be a slow process because capital expenditures are expensive."
Last week, KU students voted 3.714 to 340 in favor of cooperation between the city of Lawrence and the University of Kansas to construct a system, and, on April 6, local residents voted for three new commissioners who all promised quick action regarding public transportation.
All that is missing now is a plan.
Mayor Erv Hodges said that the overwhelming student support was of interest to city officials but that there was no way to use student fees for a citywide system.
Nicole Skalla, transportation coordinator and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences senator-elect, said Senate would take questions about use of student fees to the administration.
"From what I understand, student fees cannot be used for anyone but students," Hodges said. "We're going to be looking for some way for the student system and the city system to be combined and coordinated."
Nicole Skalla Transportation coordinator
"We need administration support for the change in the status of student fees," Skalla said. "The fees have to be used only for the purpose for which they are collected. If we change the status, then we could use the student fee money."
Mary Kukankos, Chicago freshman, said she would benefit from a citywide bus system because she
did not have a car. "I would be in favor of using student fees, depending on how much it was," Kukankos said. "A bus system would let you go to more places and create easier transportation for people who don't have cars."
Skala said that there was no legal precedent regarding student fees. That means Senate has to get the administration's support for the use of student fees before lobbying the Board of Regents and the state Legislature.
Hodges said he anticipated that the transportation system would be important in the commission's May 6 goal-setting session.
An ideal University and city bus system would offer transfer points between city and KU stops to avoid duplicate routes, Hodges said.
"Of course, a pass transfer would be ideal," Hodges said. "But then it comes down to whether there's going to be a transfer of funds from the school to us."
Compllying with the American Disabilities Act is one hurdle that the city faces that the school does not. Because KU on Wheels is financed completely by student fees,
it does not have to comply with the act.
If city and University buses were coordinated, Hodges said KU buses' noncompliance with the law could present a problem if federal money was used for the city bus system.
Skala said she did not think a comprehensive citywide system would be in place for at least five years.
"Obviously, the city is very excited about working with us, but it's just going to take time." Skalla said. "It's going to be a slow process because capital expenditures are expensive."
Another issue yet to be resolved is whether the city would contract with Lawrence Bus Company, which provides the buses for KU on Wheels.
"If we use federal grant money for operating funds, then to properly use that money we must have competitive bids," Hodges said. "That is a question that will have to be answered down the line."
Skalla said that if the city contracts the citywide system with a competing bus company, KU on Wheels might consider alternatives as well.
Edited by Melody Ard
David Freeman, leader of the scholarship hall parking task force, said that his group had been talking with administrators about the scholarship hall parking situation since mid-March.
Paving lot adds parking spaces
sure that it was legal for the University to remove the bike lane.
Continued from page 1A
Freeman, Hutchinson senior, said he was happy to hear about the new parking proposal.
"I think it's a wonderful idea," he said. "Everyone involved in and around it thinks it's wonderful."
Kearns said that gravel lot on the corner of 13th and Louisiana streets would be paved. The lot now can accommodate 30 cars but usually does not, he said. Once the lot is paved and marked, there will be spaces for 38 cars.
fight for parking spaces each day are particularly concerned with the proposals. Many think that removing the bike lane is a good idea.
"My friends and I sit out on the porch, and we rarely if ever see anyone use the bike lanes," said Lisa Hudson. St. Louis junior and Douthart Hall resident.
Luke Pfannenstiel, Hutchinson junior and Stephenson Hall resident, agreed with Hudson.
"From what I've seen, people don't use the bike lane," he said. "If it's possible, it would be a good idea."
Not everyone is so enthusiastic about the idea.
Mike Schindler, Kansas City, Mo., senior and Battenfeld Hall resident, said that he would not be in favor of removing the bike lane.
1) Amini Scholarship Hall
2) Southfort Scholarship Hall
3) Grace Pearson Scholarship Hall
Jason Williams/KMSSAN
“There are no good ideas that are going to work,” Schindler said. “I don't think it's a good idea to get rid of bike lanes, but there aren't any solutions. It's really bad this year.”
— Edited by Jodi Smith
Online enrollment may be delayed
Continued from page 1A
they cared about and that the results of the poll led to the coalition's platform. Although online enrollment was a primary student concern, the coalition didn't run on it.
He said that YOU didn't make it a platform issue because they didn't know what could be done about it.
This year's Senate had pushed for a deadline to be set for the completion of the online enrollment center, but its efforts have just recently born fruit
"There's just too many variables. We're replacing six major student administration systems."
Rich Morrell, University registrar,
said that the University of Kansas
had been working hard on online
enrollment but that the shift in computer systems entailed too much for time restrictions.
"I don't think it's reasonable to set hard, fast deadlines on the implementation of this system," he said.
Morrell said that what most students didn't realize was that this work was replacing not only the enrollment system but also financial aid, admissions and other large databases — some of which had been in place for more than 20 years.
"That plan will be revised and reviewed every 90 days," Morrell said.
Maxwell said that he would continue to apply pressure on the issue and that he would try to make sure that the schedule wouldn't get delayed further. But he said that he wouldn't demand completion by 2001.
He said that the Fall 2001 deadline was by no means final.
"Id love to make that promise, but it would be a false promise," he said.
Maxwell said that another issue YOU campaigned on was reworking the University's course-retake policy.
Currently, if a KU student takes the same class twice, his or her grades for both classes are averaged together.
"In schools from Harvard all the way down to Johnson County, it doesn't work that way," Maxwell said.
He said most other colleges let the second grade replace the first one and that this difference put KU students at a competitive disadvantage.
Maxwell said that the ultimate role of Student Senate was to act as a watchdog for the interests of students but that the watchdog would be toothless if Senate didn't develop key allies within the administration.
"Standing alone, the president and the Student Senate are going to wave their fist in the air, then get patted on the head and sent home," he said.
— Edited by Chris Fickett
Concert Series
Moscow State Radio Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Friday, October 1, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
State Ballet of Missouri
Tuesday, October 26, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra with André Watts Tuesday, February 29, 2000, 8:00 p.m.
New York City Opera National Company in THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Sunday, March 12, 2000, 2:00 & 8:00 p.m.
*FOR DANCERS ONLY:* Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Wednesday, April 19, 2000, 8:00 p.m.
Swarthout Chamber Music Series
Perlman/ Nikkanen/ Bailey Piano Trio
Sunday, October 17, 1999, 3:30 p.m.
Chanticleer
Sunday, November 14, 1999, 3:30 p.m.
New York's Ensemble for Early Music In SPONSUS: THE PARABLE OF THE WISE & FOOLISH VIRGIN'S
Sunday, February 13, 2000 3:30 p.m.
New Directions Series
Bell/Bush/Marshall/Meyer
Joshua Bell, violin/ Sam Bush, mandolin/
Mike Marshall, guitar/ Edgar Meyer, bass
Friday, September 17, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
Emerson String Quartet
Saturday, April 29, 2000, 8:00 p.m.
Sankai Juku
Tuesday, October 5, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
Lyon Opera Ballet in CARMEN
Wednesday, November 3, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
Bill T. Jones
Friday, January 28, 2000, 8:00 p.m.
Australian Chamber Orchestra
Sunday April 2, 2000. 3:30 p.m.
The Watts Prophets Fridax February 11,2000,8:00 p.m.
Broadway and Beyond Series SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE: THE SONGS OF LEIBER AND STOLLER Wednesday, September 29, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
Donald Byrd's JAZZTRAIN
CAMELOT
Saturday, September 25, 1999, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 26, 1999, 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 3, 2000, 8:00 p.m.
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET: THE MUSICAL
Friday, December 10, 1999, 7:00 p.m.
PORGY AND BESS
Saturday, November 20, 1999, 2:00 & 8:00 p.m.
Scholastic's The Magic School Bus™-Live! in A BRIGHT IDEA Saturday, January 29, 2000, 2:00 $5.00 p.m.
1776
Friday, November 12, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
Discover
Monday, April 24, 2000, 8:00 p.m.
Lied Family Series
The Boys Choir of Harlem...CHRISTMAS TOUR
Bridal December 17, 1999 8:00 p.m
For tickets or more information please call The University of Kansas
School of Fine Arts Lied Center of Kansas Box Office at
(785) 864-ARTS (2787)*(785) 864-2777/TTY
Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Except June 2 - July 30; 12 p.m. to 5:30)
www.ukans.edu/~lied
Season and Single Tickets are On Sale Now to Students
You Come First! (Single tickets go on sale to the general public beginning June 14,1999.)
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Runner/Aerobiciser Biomechanical Evaluation Clinic for KU students, faculty, and staff
Thursday, April 22, 1:00-4:00 pm Friday, April 23, 9:00-11:00 am Watkins Health Center, south entrance
FREE!
Wear your shorts and usual running shoes for a free evaluation' of problems experienced by running and aerobic exercise. This clinic will be staffed by physicians and physical therapists.
(Aerobic stress test not included)
To register. call 864-9592 Appointments preferred.
There is a charge for supplies, if needed. (Inclement weather site: Physical Therapy Department 2nd floor)