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Tuesday, March 4, 2014
STUDENT SENATE
GrowKU, Jayhawkers establish platforms; third coalition enters race
COALITIONS COMMENCE
AMELIA ARVESEN
news@kansan.com
Platforms for GrowKU and Jayhawkers are established, but both coalitions continue to seek input from students to steady their foundations.
GrowKU
news@kansan.com
1. Consistent grading scales were introduced to standardize the plus-minus system within professional schools or departments. Campaign Manager Alex Montgomery said standardized systems will ensure students have an equal opportunity to compete in the classroom.
2. Student Political Action Committee, a student lobbying body, would advocate for higher education in front of legislators in Topeka. Vice president nominee, Miranda Wagner, said student protesting is embedded in the University history and this model would allow students passionate about advocacy to step up.
3. Student Political Organization Collaboration would enable representatives from more than 600 groups to gather and discuss in a roundtable setting. President nominee Morgan Said said
this initiative would reinforce community, inclusiveness, and diversity among students involved in different organizations.
4. Single-stream recycling would improve on-campus sustainability by collecting different recyclables in one bin. Right now, there are no bins for plastic and Wagner said it often ends up in the trash instead.
6. Safety across campus would be improved with additional lighting and updated emergency poles for a more secure and peaceful environment.
5. Bike-sharing program is an initiative modeled after TCU to install stations across campus and the city where students can rent bicycles. Montgomery said the goal is to foster a greener and more inclusive community without a large student investment.
7. A mental wellness initiative was implemented to maintain a positive opinion about community wellness by providing counseling services and payment alternatives. Wagner said two-thirds of students who need mental health services don't receive them.
8. A non-traditional
student resource center would provide resources for the non-traditional students who comprise 25 percent of the student body. The center would include lockers for commuters and resources for students with children in a centralized location.
1. Student Transition and Academic Readiness program was introduced to acquaint multicultural students and students of lower socioeconomic background with college life. Instruction on how to fill out FAFSA, tips to navigate the KU website and a creation of community are included. Mitchell Cota, vice presidential nominee for the Jayhawkers coalition, said after three months of research he found that the University has the lowest retention rate for students of color out of all the Big 12 schools.
Jayhawkers
2. A hazing task force made up of Greek and non-Greek students would codify a campus-wide definition of hazing to standardize the consequences in Greek housing, scholarship halls and other residences.
3. A partnership with Replant Mount Oread was
6. The expansion of undergraduate research would give opportunity and access to freshman and sophomores. Cota said it will be helpful for students looking to orient to a major.
5. The addition of other intercession classes would allow students the opportunity to learn over winter and summer break and graduate in four years. Oatman said it would retrieve the headache caused from transferring credits and having to retake a required class.
— Edited by Krista Montgomery
introduced to conserve the beauty of campus by replanting trees. President nominee MacKenzie Oatman said students could come back and see the trees they planted and the legacy left behind in the landscape.
4. Dining hall experience would be improved with extended hours and the addition of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Cota said there is an increase in food allergies and this initiative would address that need.
CAMPUS
No suspect, motive found for possible vandalism
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
An unknown culprit vandalized an elevator door in Oliver Hall last week. Student Housing estimates the damages between $2,400 and $8,000
PAIGE STINGLEY
news@kansan.com
A recent incident in Oliver Hall has caused Student Housing and the KU Office of Public Safety to take a closer look at vandalism in the residence halls.
"Our elevator service person indicates that the door must have been kicked very hard by one or several people to have caused that much damage," said Diana Robertson, director of KU Student Housing.
On Wednesday morning, Feb. 26, one of the elevator doors on the seventh floor was dislodged from its hinges and shoved into the elevator shaft while the elevator was coming up from the sixth floor. The elevator is one of only two in Oliver and is expected to be out of service for weeks.
Damages are estimated to cost between $2,400 and $8,000 according to Student Housing.
KU Public Safety Officers and Student Housing are investigating the incident, but have not found an offender yet. If the offender is found, Student Housing will press
Public Safety Officers have questioned residents of the seventh floor but have yet to find an answer.
Rhines feels the investigative system has been unjust and thinks that Student Housing should apologize to the sev-
"They gave us an ultimatum — either someone come forward with who caused the damage, or every person who lives on the floor will have to pay $125 or more to cover the damages."
ALISE RHINES
Freshman from Shawnee
to cover the damages."
The seventh floor residents had a mandatory meeting regarding the incident last week.
giving the meeting "They told us that if we didn't attend the meeting without an exceptional excuse that we would be put through the conduct system," said Alise Rhines, a freshman from Shawnee. "They gave us an ultimatum — either someone come forward with who caused the damage, or every person who lives on the floor will have to pay $125 or more
However, if no culprit is found, costs will be paid for through the Student Housing Operations budget. This will require an increase in room rates over the next few years to cover the costs.
"We are all being blamed for something none of us have any knowledge of," Rhines said. "I felt like I was being treated like a child."
CLASSIFIEDS 7
CROSSWORD 5
Student Housing declined to comment on the investigative process.
enth floor residents for how the situation was handled.
Vandalism cases are considered criminal charges, which can include criminal fines and restitution to the property owners.
Index
charges and the offender will pay for the damage.
CRYPTOQUIPS 5
OPINION 4
Keary said that once the Public Safety Office finds out who damaged the property, they will be cited and brought to the detention facility. The officers will then investigate the crime and provide the information to the court.
Student Housing and campus officials say that this was intentional damage.
"The elevator door was forcibly kicked or pulled in like that, it didn't just happen." Robertson said. "It's a very selfish act. You have 630 people being inconvenienced by the actions of one or some. It's very unfortunate, and it's very expensive."
"Just over the weekend we had a report of damage to ceiling tiles at GSP," said Chris Keary, Public Safety Office Assistant Chief of Police Services. "They do happen occasionally because people aren't respectful of the place they live in."
Severe incidents of possible vandalism like this one are not common in the residence halls. However, other minor cases do happen.
Don't Forget
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2014 The University Daily Kansan
Edited by Emily Hines
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