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Swampfest retells history, brings awareness to wetlands
ENVIRONMENT
TOM DEHART
news@kansan.com
KU Environs will be hosting its fourth annual Swampfest this Friday with students from Haskell Indian Nations University and the Wetlands Preservation Organization (WPO).
Despite the approved construction of the South Lawrence Trafficway, which will divide the wetlands and affect its climate, the event will raise funds to support the wetlands' ecosystem and diversity. The event will also raise awareness about the wetlands' history and cultural relevance to the Native American population in Lawrence. The funds raised from an art auction will go to support the WPO and the Wakarusa Wetlands.
emphasize its importance to Native Americans during the 19th century.
According to Mike Caron, a WPO member, the wetlands were a place where Native Americans could escape "the gaze of the authorities" and practice their cultures.
but in the past year, the University has turned its share of the property over to the Kansas Department of Transportation.
According to Caron, one of the main concerns that the preservationists and ecological advocates have
Aside from fundraising, there will be live music performances from five musicians and groups, including Sharp 9, Joe Schoonover and Friends, and Ajay.
By retelling the story of the wetlands, the event will
"I think Swampfest is a great opportunity for the two universities to come together and collaborate at an event in a calm, fun place."
EMMA DONACHIE Group coordinator
which was often suppressed during the early years of the institution that is now Haskell Indian Nations University.
"As long as there is a continuation of people simply refusing to stop talking about the wetlands, their importance doesn't go away," Caron said. "The memory doesn't go away."
The wetlands were divided amongst the University, Haskell and Baker University,
with the construction of the South Lawrence Trafficway is whether or not the highway will provide safe passages for the wildlife to access both the north and south sides of the wetlands, given that the trafficway will divide the land. Maintaining biodiversity and providing a united ecological climate on both sides of the wetlands is also a concern for environmental advocates.
"What we're trying to do is bring that awareness to the student body as well as the community, and bring them together for one cause so they can not only learn about what's going on, but be a part of benefiting a cause that truly needs more help and assistance," said Kyle Lockhause, the Environs preservation group co-coordinator.
With this year being the fourth annual Swampfest, Environs Group Coordinator Emma Donachie said the event shows that KU Environs and other KU students are still supporting Haskell students and trying to do what they can to preserve the wetlands.
"I think Swampfest is a great opportunity for the two universities to come together and collaborate at an event in a calm, fun place," Donachie said. "Not at one of the protests or informational meetings, or something with more tension."
Edited by Austin Fisher
STUDENT SENATE
Senate honors staff at end-of-year banquet
After the Student Senate end-of-year banquet, new committee chairs were elected to all four committees, including Jayhawkers coalition members. Each committee suspended an article in the Senate Rules and Regulations that prohibits senators who have committed egregious violations from holding committee chair positions and executive office positions.
While all members were still at the banquet, Chief of Staff Tyler Childress urged all committees to suspend the article before voting for committee positions. All four committees suspended it and allowed for members of the disqualified Jayhawkers coalition to be potential committee chairs. Three members from the Jayhawkers coaition were elected as chairs and multiple others as vice chairs and secretaries.
The banquet and following committee meetings were one of the last times that the 2013- 2014 Senate will be together before they turn over the reins to new leadership and senators. The senators also met after the banquet to elect new chairs for the 2014-2015 committees. Next week, both the current Senate and newly elected Senate will meet for joint Senate.
The event was a time for Student Body President Marcus Tetwiler
to give thanks to everyone who contributes to Student Senate and reflect on the year.
"As a senior on the way out, nostalgia, it surrounds me," Tetwiler said. "I'm a third generation Jayhawk and to be able to have represented you all in meetings, in conversations with administration as your student body president, it's a title that's taken me about a year to be comfortable with because it does have weight."
Along with Tetwiler, every member of the executive staff spoke and gave a wrap-up of the year. After the banquet, Senate moved into the four separate committees to elect new chairs, vice chairs and secretaries.
Miranda Davis
NEW COMMITTEES
Finance:
Chair: Jessie Pringle
Vice Chair: Adam Moon
Secretary: Alex Dang
University Affairs:
Chair: Lauren Arney
Vice Chair: Garrett Farlow
Secretary: Zunwu Zhou
Rights:
Chair: Zach George
Vice Chair: Natalie Parker
Secretary: Clinton Webb
Multicultural:
Chair: Mitchell Cota
Vice Chair: Bahar Barani
Secretary: Hannah Boyd
Storm chasers turn weather interests into risky hobby
PAIGE STINGLEY news@kansan.com
When most people hear the word "tornado," their first reaction is to duck and cover. But for Michael Riedl, it means going outside and watching the action in person.
Before this past week, there had only been 109 tornadoes reported in 2014, an unusually low number. At this time in 2011 there had been 495 tornadoes recorded.
This past week alone there have been 116 tornadoes reported throughout the Midwest, hitting Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and several states in the South.
Riedl, a sophomore from El Dorado, grew up watching the Kansas skies, which initially sparked his interest in storm chasing.
He saw his first tornado when he was in ninth grade, and chased his first storm in
"There's so much that can happen up there," Riedl said.
high school.
"In high school, you're so busy all the time so it's hard to plan a chase very well," said Riedl. "Sometimes I would just go around looking for them locally."
There are a variety of different motivations for storm chasing. Some chase professionally and report to national and local weather services when a tornado actually touches the ground so that proper warnings can be given. Others simply do it for the thrill and the adrenaline rush.
"It's not the tornado that's dangerous. It's what's around the tornado and what's flying through the air that's the dangerous part."
David Rahn, an associate
DAVID RAHN
Associate professor
professor of atmospheric science, said that no matter what the motivation may be, it's important to have some prior knowledge before placing yourself directly in the path of a tornado.
"You don't actually have to get that close to the tornado itself to be able to see it," Rahn said. "If you don't know what you are doing, or even sometimes if you do, you can find yourself in a bad place stuck in the middle of the storm."
A successful storm chase takes some planning first. Chasers will watch the weather radar for days in advance to see if there is a potential for a storm in the near future. Riedl said that the best time to tell is usually about four or five days before.
Storm chasing is not specifically taught at the University, but students and
SEE STORMS PAGE 2A
While storm chasing isn't part of any meteorology course, it is a popular hobby among students and staff. Over the past week there have been 116 tornadoes reported throughout the midwest.
MICHAEL STRICKLAND/KANSAN
CLASSIFIEDS 2B
CROSSWORD 5A
CRYPTOQUIPS 5A OPINION 4A
SPORTS 1B
SUDOKU 5A
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2014 The University Daily Kansan
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