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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014
PAGE 3
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UNIVERSITY
KU conference to discuss energy trends
DALTON KINGERY
news@kansan.com
The national discourse on energy usage is often politically charged, making it nearly impossible to take an objective stance. However, the KU Energy Club, at their fourth annual KU Energy Conference, wants to answer a variety of questions related to energy on a state and national level in an open discussion.
Today, from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. in the Kansas Union Ballroom, students, educators and energy industry leaders will gather to discuss the latest energy trends.
Keaton Arnold, vice president of KU Energy Club, said the club seeks to use the conference to answer some of the questions that surround energy production, specifically questions about domestic oil and gas production, wind energy and U.S. energy independence.
"Why is energy independence something America wants, and can we actually achieve it?" Arnold said. "And if so, how soon?"
Jay Hakes, author of "A Declaration of Energy Independence" and noted authority on energy, will serve as the conference's keynote speaker. Industry leaders and political figures such as Black & Veatch Vice President Gary Hart and Representative Dennis Hedke will participate in panel discussions.
Kansas' role in the domestic energy industry is changing, and will be a hot topic at the conference, Arnold said. As new drilling techniques have been implemented over the past decade, Kansas' reputation as a serious producer of oil and gas has grown. According to the Energy Information Administration, Kansas ranks 10th among states in crude oil production as of March 27, 2014.
In addition to the club's goal of raising awareness of energy independence and Kansas' rising status as a producer of crude oil, the conference will serve as an important networking opportunity for both students and industry professionals.
"We're trying to connect energy and Kansas," Arnold said. "A big part of the conference is being able to interact with the industry professionals attending the event."
Katie Rowe, a drilling engineer for the Occidental Petroleum Corporation, said professionals within the energy industry think events like the conference are vital for educating students and young people.
"Energy is connected to everything, and many energy companies are hiring students from majors that they haven't before," said David Gelvin, president of the KU Energy Club.
Club representatives agreed
that students from all majors and schools can benefit from attending the conference. Gelvin said many natural gas companies are now hiring psychology majors to analyze consumer perceptions of natural gas usage.
"This conference brings different perspectives together," Rowe said. "We as young people have the power to make the changes. The future of energy is in our hands, and we need to take action now."
Edited by Katie Gilbaugh
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Jay Hakes, the director of the Florida Energy Office and keynote speaker at the KU Energy Conference, plans to lecture on the importance of energy independence.
MAIN POINTS
- The fourth annual KU Energy Conference is taking place today at the Kansas Union from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
- Politicians and prominent energy industry figures will take part in panel discussions and give presentations.
- Topics of discussion will include energy independence, wind energy in Kansas and crude oil and natural gas production.
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Check out summer.ku.edu for a list of on-campus and online summer courses that satisfy degree requirements and KU Core requirements.
LAWRENCE
Student-run radio station wins 24 broadcasting awards
MADDIE FARBER
news@kansan.com
University students working for KJHK, the student-run radio station at the University of Kansas, are "bringing home the blue" this month after receiving 24 broadcasting awards from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters.
the Kansas Association of Broadcasters organizes the 2014 Student Broadcasting Awards. The contest is statewide and recognizes exceptional student work in various
different categories. Student radio and television stations submit the entries.
KJHK students received more awards than any other university media outlet in the state. The awards included undergraduate radio news, sports coverage, graduate radio programming, and the station's website, kjhk.org.
Roderick Baugh, a senior from Kansas City, Kan., was one of the four recipients for the radio show "The Jayhawk Zone" which won the best college sportscast award.
Baugh explained that KJHK represented the University of Kansas in the competition. They competed against other schools like K-State, Fort Hays State University, and Johnson County Community College for the awards.
"It was such a cool experience to go out to Salina and be recognized by many accomplished people in radio," Baugh said. "Hopefully this helps me
Lucas Homer, the station manager at KJHK, expressed his excitement for the recent awards.
"We got first place in the entire state. It's so cool to be affiliated with a show that people think is the best," he said.
"We brand ourselves as a digital media outlet other than just a radio station. We've done a lot of hard work in those areas and we're getting a lot of recognition for that," he said. "We're unique because we are completely student run. Anything you hear on the air is produced by a student. We have so many different genres
and are constantly trying to do better."
springboard with what I want to do in the future with radio."
Margaret Hair, Program coordinator at KJHK, agreed that the recognition has been good for the students working for KJHK.
"There is a lot of room for creativity and to try out new ideas here. Students are constantly learning new skills and getting recognition for that," she said.
"It's a validation that none of these awards would have happened without the people who have worked hard to get
us here," Homer said. "These awards present a nice challenge for future staff to maintain the level of growth we have achieved"
In 2013, Homer won first place in the Graduate Radio Station Promotional Activity category for the 2013 KJHK Farmer's Ball, a local battle of the bands. The event, sponsored by KJHK and Student Union Activities, will take place on April 19, at the Bottleneck.
Edited by Nick Chadbourne