Senate passes bus fee increase
By KATHY KASE Staff Renorter
The Student Senate passed a bill last night that would increase bus fare and passes by 20 percent, recommended that the Kansas Board of Regents increase the student transportation fee.
The bus bill raises fares from 25 cents to 30 cents and semester passes from $2 to $30. The bill recommends that the Regents pass a transportation privilege fee from $5 to $8.
STEVE MCMURRY, Senate Trans-portation Board chairman, said the fee increase would bring in $18,100 which was $387.97 more than the $9,173 needed to fund the project.
"At the bottom line, the reason for the increase is inflation," McMurray said. "The cost of buses from $18 per bus hour to $8 per bus hour.
"The Lawrence Bus Company has also had a clause placed in the contract that allows for fluctuations in fuel prices. Instead of charging us the projected government price for fuel and having our pay for it, we will accept the price, if they have put in this clause."
"THE EXTRA MONEY is necessary because we have to add extra basks at some times during the winter months. We had to get a new tent, buy some classes and finals this year because we had to add more buses in the winter than we anticipated and really didn't have the money."
MMcury said the fee increase also was needed to make up for revenue that would be lost from students who stopped riding because fees were too high.
The transportation bill met brief opposition from John Macchietto, graduate
student senator, who moved to reduce the privilege fee increase from $6 to $5. 50.
“When you ask for a fee increase of $1, you’re asking everybody who comes to KU, whether it be for a couple of nights a week or just for a ride. The bus doesn’t ride the bus very often,” he said.
A bill to change the date of Student Senate elections, expected to be a big issue, was tabled because of technicalities.
"It is my opinion that student senators are "basic users of the bus system," he said. Senators should be constitutive, I don't think it wise and it not fair to change their fees without them."
Gordon said the bill's wording and presentation violated the amendment procedure.
The elections bill was tabled last night when Nikki Garden, Bill and Auditing Annie McLean both received the vote which stated the spring elections' date, must be amended before the date can be
Gordon said that senators had to be notified 10 days ahead of time about a bill to amend the code, and that the bill had to state that the code was being amended.
Greg Schnacke, student body president who introduced the bill, admitted that it did not include the necessary procedure. He said that by introducing the bill in its current form, he was trying to force a change.
"What we're asking Student Senate to do is to commit themselves to this bill," he said. "The workings of the amendment are going out anyway I'm just frankly to be excellent."
KU peer institutions ride out bus troubles
See SENATE page ten
By SUSAN SCHOENAKER Staff Reporter
Editor's note: This is the final story in a four-part series on the "KU on Wheels" bus system.
Although the University of Kansas and three peer institutions that offer bus systems are keeping an anxious eye on energy costs, they aren't theirs. The federal grant program will.
KU's peer institutions are five universities that offer programs and enrollment comparable to KU.
"KU On Wheels," the campus bus system, and the bus system at the University of Colorado at Boulder are two of the federal arent have-nots.
Although KU and CU are stringing along without federal bus funds, another two don't even offer a campus bus service.
"WE NEED MORE money in the bus system," Craig Tempelman, Teoka junior who will be writing for grant money, said. He could also be able to come up with federal funds."
The University of Oregon at Eugene is relying on the city bus system for service. The University of Oklahoma has no service because of lack of interest.
Interest and ingenuity were behind the development of the $1.7 million Chapel Hill transit system, which operated in conjunction with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
"We're not crowded into a downtown area, so that could make a difference," Alvin Sherman, University of Oklahoma said. "We've been able to have gotten too serious about a bus system."
THE SYSTEM, which links two towns and the University, drew this year's funding from a $50 million grant that the funding is drawn from a special Chapel Hill property tax of 10 cents per $100.
The university, which garners its money from parking ticket sales, bus pass sales and general funds, contributes $30,000 to the University Foundation for all students a $5 per semester or 30 cents a ride.
The neighboring town of Carrboro, also serviced by Chapel Hill transit, adds another $15,000 to the transportation pot. The local chapter has the percent of net transport operating costs.
"Because of our size and the amount of service we have a tremendous need for funds." Bill C hallam, Chapel Hill transit agency. Costing costs are going right through the roof."
The system collects its grant money through the North Carolina State Department of Transportation, which is responsible for distributing North Carolina's share of the Urban Mass Transportation Administration grants.
"We're strapped for funds because there is a lot of competition," Calaan said. "There are 100 counties and all of 'them are eligible to apply for funds."
"WE HAVE TO spread the pie around, and when it starts spreading it gets thinner and thinner."
Compounding transit budgeting difficulties, UMTA does not guarantee continued funding from year to year.
"We've been raking in a vast share of the transit funds and sooner or later we're going to be told no." Callahan said.
"There is pressure within our state for the funds to be spread around—and we stick out like a sore thumb."
The other campus transportation system drawing on federal funds is the University of s' iamcus "Cambus" system, which receives a more modest size of the UMTA pie.
IN 1977, the Cambus system was granted
$250,000 in UMTA funds to buy 12 new buses.
Iowa City is serviced by three bus systems, the Iowa City Bus system, Cambus and the Coralville bus. Coralville is a neighboring community.
Dave Ricketts, Cambus coordinator, said there was a possibility the systems would be consolidated.
However, UMA buses play only a small part of the total Cambus financial package. Cambus, which is free for the community, received $8,000 from the University parking revenues, $3,100 from general revenue, and about $7,000 from bus chartering services.
"Nobody will make move toward it, but there are some rumblings about it," she said. "The federal and state systems are tired of dealing with three systems in one town.
"It really drives them up a wall."
STUDENTS PAID $4.54 a semester in student bus fees. An optional student fee brought in an additional $2,500.
One money-saver was Canambis' policy of employing students qualifying for federal work-study as bus drivers. Under the policy, he pays 80 percent of the $4.50 driver's salary.
The University of Colorado, Boulder, which runs a residence hall bus hustle, has a ridership of only about 3,000 and isn't concerned about salaries.
See BUS page ten
But then again, according to Donna Fay, bus dismashter, the school isn't worried
KANSAN
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas
Thursday, April 24. 1980
Vol.90,No.136
Down slips possible for failing underclassmen
By BILL MENEZES Staff Reporter
before the final drop date for the class or not later than the eighth week of the semester.
Recommendations to the University Council from the chancellor's Recruitment and Retention Committee include a proposal that would require instructor to file down slips for all freshmen and sophomores and A D or lower by the eighth week of a class.
The slips would be filed with the appropriate school or department two weeks
Students who thought they saw their last "down slip" in high school could be in for a surprise.
THE RECOMMENDATION is one of six from the committee that will be discussed at today's University Council meeting.
The recommendations also include proposals for excessive absence slips to be filled out for all freshmen and sophomore classes; requirement of a seven-seamester high school transcript from entering college; requirement of a tentable timetable of courses by the beginning of the 11th week of the semester before the timetable is valid; and adoption "at the
earliest possible date" of a University pre-enrollment system.
The recommendations were made, according to the committee report, by students from high school to college, helping students achieve academic success by encouraging
THE COUNCIL will also discuss a report from the Committee on Academic Policies and Procedures recommending that schools offer a variety of courses within a uniform University time frame.
Ann Weick, committee chairman, said in
the report that the semester would be divided into three segments of five weeks each. The first segment would be a University-wide course withdrawal period.
During the second and third periods, each school would develop its own withdrawal policies, the report said. These policies are the same for both periods, or different.
The need for a University withdrawal policy arises because of the confusion among students, faculty and administrators about the differences in discipline among the different schools, the report said.
A group of men and women enjoy the spring sun at a pond near Lawrence (above), Sunbenders say that they receive little trouble from local law enforcement agents for shedding their clothes at the pond, which is owned by the Department of Environmental Services.
Swimming hole etiquette says bare is necessity
Staff Reporter
By BENJAMIN JONES
A farm gate stands saint, straying off a gravelled county road to a double-rutted path. The path rounds a bend and approaches a pond p rimmed with willows. The road is left behind, out of sight.
Gentle guitar music waltz on the still spring air from a circle of people sitting on the lush grass by the water's edge. The people are singing Joni Mitchell and John Denver songs.
The people are naked in the grass.
THE FARM POND, about a dozen miles from Lawrence, is a favorite skimpy dipping spot of local residents, and past and present KU students. The students are from the generation that rang down the curtain on the '60s. Now, with the dawning of the middle-aged Aquarius, they seem to be attempting to preserve some of the philosophy that became vogue during the 1950s. They put pot flower flowers and lettt it all hang out.
Indeed they do. The sunbathers all conform to an unwritten rule of the place—vestments are verbten. In this society, clothes do not make the man.
Or the woman, for that matter. Both sees sit together in a circle, taking softly, laughing, making music. Four people are playing folk guitars, and a woman accompanies them on an a flute.
THE SONG THEY are singing is of their own composition. Its lyrics begin with.
"You take Sally and I'll take Sue;
Ain't no difference between the two
Out in Bay St. Louis land.
Therein lies the irony. The land around the pond is owned by the Boy Scouts, and Scout leaders must worry that their boys may encounter bares on camp-outs.
Richard Goff, a Lawrence resident who has taken classes at the University, said the Scouts had a jamboree at the lake "every year about this time." He says he was called back to work next year, back to your college and will until next week.
Got, said the skimmy-dippers usually had some warning of the Scouts' arrival.
Bill, a 21-year Lawrence man, said, "Well, it is Boy Scott property, but do you see any little
SOMETIMES THE SKINY-dippers' solitude is interrupted by others who are not so nausea in cause or experience.
Carrie, another of the musicians, said, "You get a few kinky people out here once in a while."
"A lot of people that are gawkers." Jim, one of the guitar players, said. "They just stand there and gawk, you know? They usually don't stay too long."
A woman named Beth said most of the people she met weren't her mother, that wasn't "dirty," and that was not to be ashamed.
"Nobody has any hang-ups," Beth said. "The first time I met her, she told me I was not the best. I saw how nice everyone was, I didn't think about it."
Jim said the skinny-dippers did not come to the pond to have sex.
BUT THEY DO have log-rolling contests, lumberjack-style, in the pond, Beth said. People also brought their dogs and Frisbees to the spot, she said.
Jimi said the people who went there were respectful of the land and of others.
"Except the Boy Scouts," a friend added, laughing
"Everybody's really good about picking up their litter," he said.
Goff said that news of the place spread by word of mouth, and that he hoped the pond could be reclaimed.
Those who frequent the pond tell only close friends of its location, he said, because they don't know what's going on.
He said the skinny-dippers had formerly gone to a different lake. Lake Contrata.
Goff and that one person had drowned at Lake Superior. The water is also a possibility authorities will draw the lake to ensure safety.
BUT GOFF SAID the Douglas County sheriff's department was usually pretty lax in keeping the skinny-dippers off the property. He said the sheriff's府 would merely ask the nudge
"They just don't want you fishing, or parking on the eras." Goff said.
And Bill, who was wining an orange Frisbee with a friend, said, "I came down here one time and this old county sherif was leaving. He said. Well, if I have, I have a wife and two kids, I am be out there."
Photos by Dave Kraus
Nuclear waste poses problem for nation and KU
By DON MUNDAY
The field of bare, exposed earth looks like a city of overactive motives lived beneath it. Longers knees of dirt stretch back for yards, grooering the field like a piece of corrugated cardboard. A lone tree stands amid the grass, out of place for such a desolate piece of land.
Staff Reporter
The long rectangular strip of earth, about 80 feet wide, is enclosed by a chain-link fence, its top laced with barbed wire. A padlocked gate defies entrance to the area.
AN UNATTACTIVE SIGN in purple and yellow features the three familiar triangles and warns, "Caution, Radioactive Materials." Another sign hangs nearby.
rusty and faded from the elements, proclaiming "Reserved for Research Disposal."
The place is the University of Kansas nuclear waste disposal area, or the nuclear dump for short. It lies on the grounds of the National Plant, about 13 miles east of Lawrence.
In the 20 years that KU has had a nuclear reactor, this has served as the site for the University's nuclear waste, but after 20 years it nearly filled up.
The warning signs might conjure up visions of the fuel rods of a nuclear power plant or the materials for a hydrogen bomb. These are hard to imagine, but dreams are awesome and fearful dreams are
exactly the opposite of just what is buried there.
Under four feet of dirt lie hundreds of bottles and cans, boxes and crates, assorted with bits and pieces. Much of what was once radioactive has long since decayed into non-radioactive
THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH, Graduate School of Medicine, asks the problem to decide what to do about the problem filled dump. Officials at the KU Nuclear Reactor Center are also concerned about its future.
The answer for the short run has been to begin fencing off an area adjacent to the
plot, because KU has far only about 10 percent of the land—about 670 by 670 feet—allotted to it by its license, according to the act; associate vice chancellor for the office (for this purpose).
The answer for the long run, however, is far from being decided.
"It's something we've got to look at, something the whole public has to get involved in," said Brien Fresen, radiation officer for the Nuclear Reactor Center.
The University needs a disposal site to handle the waste generated by various types of experiments done on campus, part of the University Hall and the McMollum Labs, Frison said.
"The work being done at KU is what we call tracer experiments," he said.
A tracer involves replacing non-radiative atoms with radioactive ones in a layer of thin layers. Researchers to follow the reactions of the compound or the progress of the material are interested.
Some experiments deal with the circulatory systems of laboratory animals, and the carcasses of mice, or of larger animals such as horses, are discarded along with the tracers at the nuclear dum.
THE TRACER experiments usually are medical or physiological and related to mechanical stress. If the material is complete, there is usually radioactive material mixed with non-radioactive matter, and rather than attempt to separate it, the entire mixture is generally disposed.
One of the most common materials used, Friesen said, is tritium, an isotope of hydrogen that is used in hydrogen bombs but at KU is used as a tracer. An isotope is a variation of an element, such as hydrogen, that has a different number of electrons than its
"Tritium is perhaps one of the least radiotoxic of all radiochemicals," Friesen said.
-life, or the time it takes for the See DUMP page nine