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Volume 126 Issue 64
Tuesday. January 21, 2014
kansan.com
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the student voice since 1904
CAMPUS
Senate advisory board approves renovations to Watkins Memorial Health Center
STUDENT HEALTH FACELIFT
MICHAEL STRICKLAND/KANSAN
Much of the Student Senate's attention this spring will be directed towards the renovation of Watkins Memorial Health Center. Part of Ad Astra's "Prioritizing Student Health" platform was to redesign the first floor lobby, signage and marketing materials in Watkins.
AMELIA ARVESEN
news@kansan.com
Much of the Student Senate's attention this spring will be directed toward the renovation of Watkins Memorial Health Center and the re-examination of the Student Senate Residential Housing Board's purpose
In both cases, new lines of communication were opened in the fall and will continue to develop this spring as the current administration works to complete party platforms.
WATKINS RENOVATION
While the redesign of Watkins will include the participation of design, photography, and journalism students, the Residential Housing Board will be restructured to address the concerns of students living and working on campus.
Student senators and the Student Health Advisory Board members are working together on the "Prioritizing Student Health" platform to redesign the first floor lobby, signage and marketing materials. An objective of the renovation is to change the way students view on-campus health services.
"There are many students who don't realize they even pay a health fee or use the services to which that fee entitles them," said Diana Malott, associate director for Student Health Services. "We want to make sure our building is a positive reflection of that goal and that students are more comfortable while they are in the building."
The executive staff connected Health Services with students to aid in the renovation - lobby layout planned by an interior design student, new signage created by graphic design students, photos displayed in the lobby provided by student photographers and a new brand innovated by journalism
students.
"When people go to Watkins for checkups or to pick up prescriptions, they'll see their peers' work hanging on the walls and around the lobby," said Morgan Said, Student Senate outreach director. "It'll be really cool to compile so much student talent into one location."
"This renovation will hopefully make a painful experience at the doctor seem a little less painful." Said said.
Funds from the health fee will go toward the upgrading 40-year-old building, which was last updated in 1996.
The need for change was recognized before the current executive staff was involved but the new partnership will continue to benefit students.
housing.
"I see Student Senate's involvement with Watkins to be kind of a soundboard that the Watkins staff can bounce ideas off of, and vice versa," said Said. "They're so receptive to and interested in our opinions,
"Initially when coming into office, we anticipated being
"There are many students who don't realize they even pay a health fee or use the services to which that fee entitles them."
DIANA MALOTT
Associate director for Student Health
and we're excited to continue building on our relationship this semester."
RE-EXAMINING HOUSING BOARD Senate plans to restructure the Student Senate Residential Housing Board in order to more effectively address the concerns of students living in and working for residential
able to address housing issues directly, but we have discovered that the board Student Senate currently has in place cannot properly address those concerns" said Tyler Childress, chief of staff for the Student Senate.
In the past, the board has been underutilized, rarely meeting and given few responsibilities. If the board cannot
be adequately restructured, discussions may lead to a request to disband the board. However, a different structure within Senate would be developed to respond to residential housing community issues.
Originally the board coordinated activities between halls. After reorienting the goals and charges, the Senate would like to see it used as a contact for housing concerns. From there, the board would be able to bring issues before the full Student Senate.
About 4,700 students live on campus, according to KU Info. Childress said Senate will work to resolve the structure quickly, keeping input about student housing a priority.
Edited by Austin Fisher
1. Changes inside Watkins
Cellular charging stations added
Wi-Fi service available
New flooring, wall coverings, furniture, and art in lobby
Updated air conditioning and heating
New signage
2. Summarizing points
Student Senate utilizing student talent in the redesign of Watkins Changing the way students view health services
Partnering of Senate and Watkins
Making the dreaded trip to the doctor more comfortable and inviting
Partnering of Senate and Watkins Re-examining the Student Senate Residential Housing Board Changing the board's charges and responsibilities Directly addressing student housing concern Keeping student housing input a priority
STUDENT SENATE
Budget cuts could lead to higher student fees
HANNAH SWANK
news@kansan.com
Student Senate ended the fall semester on their targeted budget and aims to do so again this semester, regardless of significantly lower funds due to lower enrollment rates.
Senate receives funding from student activity fees and apportions funds into three accounts: block allocation, line-item allocation and unallocated. The block allocation account funds campus institutions like the Lied Center and the line-item account funds student groups.
This fiscal year, the unallocated account funds are approximately $100,000 lower than last year which was around $150,000. Michael Graham, Student Senate Treasurer, said the biggest impact of the lower budget is that student groups are receiving less money.
"If groups have ever received funding in the past, we're encouraging them to apply for line-item funding to lock in their funding amount for the following fiscal year and to plan
The unallocated account acts as a catch-all to fund other student groups requesting money.
now for what they need later," Graham said. This is mainly for those groups that put on big events like dance marathons.
Graham said while the Senate doesn't want to press more
Senate will apply this semester for student fee review to increase budgets to allocate funds and allow more money from student activity fees. The current student activity fee is $16.25 and the proposed increase is $1.75 to create a new charge of $18.
Money on my mind
SEE SENATE PAGE 2
The unallocated account aids student groups that request money. Because of the lower balance, Senate has not been able to fund as many groups this year.
Student Senate budget unallocated account balance is approximately $100,000 lower this fiscal year because of decreased enrollment rates.
Senate will apply for fee review process to increase student activity fees $1.75 from the current balance of $16.25 to $18.
EXCLUSIVE ONLINE CONTENT
At the University's Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration yesterday, Kenton Ramsby, project digital initiative coordinator for the Project on the History of Black Writing, spoke and a capella group Genuine Imitation performed.
Index
CRYPTOQUIPS 5
OPINION 4
CLASSIFIEDS 11
CROSSWORD 5
SPORTS 12
SUDOKU 5
Don't Forget
All conients, unless stated otherwise, $ \textcircled{c} $ 2014 The University Daily Kansan
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