Volume 126 Issue 112
kansan.com
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
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ELECTIONS
Student Senate timeline on judicial hearings
EMMA LEGAULT news@kansan.com
After more than two weeks of Student Senate elections discussions — including violations, disqualification, injunctions and hearings — the University Judicial Board could decide today if the Jayhawkers are indeed disqualified or if the coalition was wrongly penalized. Here are the events that led up to today's hearing:
MARCH 30
Jayhawkers allegedly purchase Chipotle for students for campaigning purposes at an event, according to the Elections Commission. No account of the alleged purchase is on the Jayhawkers' financial report for the week of March 24 through 30.
APRIL 8
After hearing complaints against Jayhawkers presented by Grow KU, the Elections Commission decides to disqualify the coalition. The official decision and reasoning
sent by the Commission reads:
2) Jayhawkers was accused of violating 7.4.9.2.6, which should trigger penalties outlined in 7.4.10.6.10, for purchasing food for campaign event. The complaint alleged that on March 30, 2014, Jayhawkers purchased food from Chipotle for a group of students. Witnesses appeared for both sides of the argument.
DECISION: The Commission finds that Jayhawkers violated 7.4.9.2.6 and, as a result, the entire coalition (including all candidates) is disqualified from the election. The Jayhawkers purchased food for the purpose of campaigning, and failed to report those expenditures to the Commission on their weekly financial report. This event unfairly advantaged Jayhawkers over the other coalitions and candidates in the election.
The Jayhawkers argued that they asked attendees of the event to compensate the coalition leadership for the food when they realized the violation of the rules (and prior to
APRIL 9
the hearing). The Commission finds this defense insufficient because the food was still used for campaigning, and is therefore a campaign expense.
Jayhawkers remain on the ballot because they would have had the ability to appeal the decision within 48 hours of the Commission decision, which would given them the opportunity to submit an appeal on Thursday after polls closed. Jake Rapp, the Chair of the Elections Commission, said that because an appeal was pending, they did not want to remove the coalition from the ballot.
Later that day, Jayhawkers submit an official appeal to the Student Senate Court of Appeals. The Jayhawkers said in a news release that "the Elections Commission was mislead by false testimony and found that the Jayhawkers committed a violation of this nature."
The Court of Appeals schedules a hearing for 9 p.m. on Thursday.
Election results are originally scheduled to be released around 5 p.m.
APRIL 10
At 3:15 p.m., the Court of Appeals issues an injunction to postpone the results until the Court reaches a verdict or until 10:48 p.m. on April 14. The Court cites four reasons for the injunction: to protect the integrity of the Court's proceedings in the appeal, to avoid misinforming the student body, to protect the integrity of student government and to announce the decision about the appeal could mean the annulment of the results.
At the 9 p.m. hearing, the Court goes into executive session almost immediately. They announce they will not hear the case because of potential conflicts of interest regarding two members of the Court. It suggests the appeal be taken to the University Judicial Board.
APRIL 13
The @JayhawkersKU Twitter account tweets:
appeal to the University Judicial Board, a hearing should be held later this week or next week."
@"JayhawkersKU: UPDATE: Jayhawkers have submitted an
APRIL 17
The Kansan is notified by Rapp of the hearing time and location — 3 p.m. at the Relays Room in the Burge Union. Rapp said it would be open to the public.
APRIL 18
The Court of Appeals issues another injunction on the results. The Court said the results will be released within 48 hours after the UJB decides to uphold or reverse the Commission's decision.
Later on that day, the Jayhawkers request the hearing be closed. As per University Governance rules, the hearing can only be open to the public if both parties agree. Kristina Maude, the Jayhawkers campaign manager, said that "the two representatives [of Jayhawkers] requested it be closed so they don't get nervous and can present the case fully."
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The UJB is scheduled to hear the appeal at 3 p.m. today. A variety of potential outcomes exist:
Regardless of the decision to overturn or uphold the Commission's decision, if Grow KU or Crimson and True hold the majority of the vote, the winning coalition's executive staff could take office.
If it is upheld and the Jayhawkers hold the majority, there could be an annulment of the results.
If the decision is overturned and the Jayhawkers hold the majority of the election, they may have to pay outstanding fines for
violations, some of which were decided after an April 18 Elections Commission meeting regarding other complaints against the Jayhawkers. Rapp said he would not certify the election until the fines are paid.
CAMPUS
University participates in drug Take Back Initiative
CODY KUIPER news@kansan.com
The University is participating in the Drug Enforcement Agency's National Take Back Initiative today at Wescoe Beach from 10 a.m. to noon and at Watkins Memorial Health Center from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The initiative allows anyone to get rid of prescription drugs in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.
Those with unwanted or unused prescription drugs have a chance to dispose of them properly with no questions asked this week.
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
The University is participating in the Drug Enforcement Agency's National Take Back Initiative today at Wescoe Beach from 10 a.m. to noon and at Watkins Memorial Health Center from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., allowing anyone to get rid of unwanted and expired prescription drugs. The service will be available again Saturday, April 26 at the Douglas County Law Enforcement Center and the Lawrence Police Department Training Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Lisa Carter, a program coordinator for DCCCA, an outpatient alcohol and drug treatment program in Lawrence, said prescription drug use is a growing trend, particularly among young adults.
"Prescription drugs and addiction to those drugs is probably growing compared to what we saw ten years ago," Carter said. "I think it's prevalent in different age ranges, although in early adulthood I would guess that we see more of it."
"The scary thing is that they are legal, so it's easier for people to access them if they've had a friend who's had them prescribed," she said. "There's a risk there."
Prescription drugs are particularly problematic because they can be obtained illegally and then made available to just about anyone, Carter added.
Recent research on the issue backs up Carter's claims and shows that prescription drug abuse is a rising issue among college-aged students.
A survey conducted by the University of Michigan Health System in 2013 found that one in 10 people aged 14 to 20 have misused prescription painkillers, and they are the second most abused drugs by adolescents in the U.S. The most
The abuse issue affects many age groups and demographics, but recent research has shown
used drug by adolescents is marijuana.
that young adults are abusing prescription drugs more than any other generation in the past. According to The National Survey on Drug Use
and Health, young adults born between 1980 and 1994 have a
MOST COMMONLY ABUSED MEDICATIONS:
SEE DRUGS PAGE 8
PAIN RELIEVERS 5.1 million
TRANQUILIZERS 2.2 million
STIMULANTS 1.1 million
SEDATIVES 0.4 million
Nearly 1 in 12 high school seniors reported non-medical use of Vicodin; 1 in 20 reported abuse of OxyContin.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
mild people belonging in the United States from prescription drugs than from heroin and cocaine combined
More people are dying in the United States from prescription
About 6.1 million people abuse prescription pills
Trust for America's Health
HEALTH
CAPS waitlist increases as semester ends
Student demand for campus psychological services to deal with stress and related problems is expected to increase as finals and graduation near, but if a situation is not urgent, there could be a two to three week wait for an appointment, a campus health official said.
The University Counseling and Psychological Services
I HAYLEY FRANCIS
news@kansan.com
(CAPS) has the personnel to see students immediately who say they are experiencing extreme distress or impairment, may hurt themselves or others or who find daily functioning significantly difficult. But the center does not have enough trained psychologists to provide immediate appointments for everyone who calls, said CAPS Director Michael Maestas.
CAPS has 11 professionals on
Maestas said in an email that CAPS encourages students to use its services as early as possible to avoid becoming so overwhelmed that it affects their academic performance and daily life.
"Usually the longer we wait to seek help, the more work it will take and it will likely be more challenging." Maestas
staff, seven fewer than recommended by national experts for a university the size of KU.
CLASSIFIEDS 9 CRYPTOQUIPS 5 SPORTS 10
CROSSWORD 5 OPINION 4 SUDOKU 5
According to an email from CAPS Associate Director and Clinical Director Dr. Pamela Botts, there is an increase in upperclassmen who ask for help this time of year. Last
SEE CAPS PAGE 8
said. "Seeking help early when one notices something that is beginning to affect one's life generally requires small adjustments and/or changes."
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Don't Today is the graduate Forget application for degree deadline.
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2014 The University Daily Kansan
Nationwide increase in psychological problems on college campuses over the past five years, according to the 2013 National Survey of College Counseling Center Directors.
73% -------------------- Crises requiring immediate response
66% -------------------------------- Psychiatric medication issues
60% -------------------------------- Learning disabilities
48% -------------------------------- Illicit drug use (Other than alcohol)
41% -------- Self-injury issues (e.g. Cutting to relieve anxiety)
34% -------------------------------- Alcohol abuse
33% -------------------------------- Sexual assault concerns (On campus)
32% ---------------- Problems related to earlier sexual abuse
24% ------------------------ Eating disorders
24% ------------------------ Career Planning issu
Weather
Windy with a few showers in the morning. 80 percent chance of rain.
HI: 78
L0: 57
Oh, rainy day.