2A
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
TUESDAY, APRIL 12. 2005
INSIDENEWS
Work resumes on Jayhawk Boulevard, 14th Street
Construction workers resumed work yesterday on a project that's been delayed for months. For almost one year, the intersection of jayhawk Boulevard and 14th Street has been closed. Officials said they didn't know when the intersection would be open, but it wouldn't be this semester. Students have mixed reactions about the delay. PAGE 1A
Local barber rejoins city commission
Mike Amyx, owner of Amyx Barbershop at 842 1/2 Massachusetts St., has been giving haircuts to Lawrence citizens for years, and now he will serve them on the city commission. For Amyx, the duty of a barber and a commissioner are one in the same — serve the public.. PAGE 1A
Student Senate coalitions hold formal debate
Members of Delta Force, KUnited and Student Voice came together at the Kansas Union yesterday for a formal debate before the upcoming elections. Candidates discussed voter turnout and Senates level of student outreach. PAGE 1A
The University of Kansas safeguards its researchers' inventions and discoveries through technology transfer. This process helps researchers get their products to the market and can be profitable for the University. But the process is difficult and may not bring money to the University for 10 years or more. PAGE 2A
Disabilities overlooked at University
Rachel Magario, Sao Paulo, Brazil graduate student, says students with disabilities need representation in Student Senate. She says the minority group is often overlooked on campus. The earliest a Senate seat would be possible is next fall. PAGE 1A
Money from inventions a 'double-edged sword'
Test launch reveals rocket's flaws
The Rocket Systems Development Organization conducted a test launch of its
lightweight rocket. The rocket reached 1,198 feet before the rocket parachute broke the rocket in half. Despite the malfunction, members of the organization called the experiment a success. PAGE 3A
INSIDEOPINION
Column: Careful where you put those nudies.
Betsy McLeod says they might end up on the Internet. Even though celebrities like Paris Hilton and Pamela Anderson gave us all a lesson about getting naked in front of the camera's eye, there are those among us who still choose to learn the hard way. PAGE 7A
Column: Don't dismiss your electives
John Jordan was coasting along as an unassuming journalism major until he took an art history elective. Now he's ready to offer up his notebook paper on eBay for $25,000. PAGE 7A
INSIDESPORTS
Gentlemen struggle in shutout defeat
nitle IX remained undefeated Sunday with a 0-4 shutout victory. The team sent nearly its entire lineup to the plate in the first inning. The Kentucky Gentleman had six hits and no runs throughout the entire game. Title IX advanced to the top of its pool standings at 2-0. PAGE 1B
Headbanging into position
Each player on the Kansas baseball team picks his own introduction song. The songs, which accompany the players to the plate or to the mound, encompass a variety of genres, from country to punk rock, and the players are limited as to what they can choose. With such an important representation of their skill and personality, players also often struggle to pick just the right song. PAGE 1B
Solo senior bowler leads with experience
Senior bowler Kelly Zapf has had more experience as a KU bowler than any other team member. She has been on the team through the highs and lows and leads with experience. PAGE 1B
Next year's Big 12 doesn't produce clear favorite
Many conference teams do not have a clear starting quarterback and are facing continuous rebuilding years. With an always-improving team, Kansas' opportunity to capture the North division title appears to be a reality. But it will likely face Texas or Oklahoma, familiar division champions from the South. PAGE 6B
Tell us your news
Contact Andrew Vaupel,
Donovan Attkinson, Huber,
Haber, John Stairet or
Mariana Stephenson at
864-4810 or
editor@kanans.com.
Kansas newroom
111 Staffer-Flint Hall
Lawrence, KS 66045
Lawrence, KS 66045
(785) 864-4810
MEDIA PARTNERS
Channel 31 in Lawrence. The student-produced new airst at 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. every Monday through Friday.
TODAY Titanic 12 a.m. to 2 a.m. jazz in
the morning 6 a.m.
to 9 a.m. Breakfast
to Noon News 7 a.m.
8 a.m. 9 a.m. 6 p.m.
Sunflower Cablevision The student.
Sports "talk 6:15 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Ulations 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Taking inventions to market
By TY BEAVER
tbeaver@hansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
With research expenditures increasing every year at the University of Kansas, the need to protect the discoveries of researchers becomes important, especially when those discoveries can bring the University money.
The University uses a program called technology transfer to help researchers receive licenses, copyrights and patents and to safeguard their inventions and discoveries and guide them to the marketplace.
He said the patenting process was long and hard.
KU PATENTS
Propine: glaucoma drug
Cerebyx: anti-seizure drug
Geodon: anti-schizophrenic drug
Vfend: anti-fungal drug
Implantable Glutamate Biosensor: enzyme-based sensor for glutamate
Profusion: first Internet meta-search engine
Quistar: teaching tool
VidWatch: broadcast monitoring software
Patenting and licensing were part of the process to get those discoveries into the marketplace. Baxendale said
Publication in scientific journals and other places make patenting even more difficult. Researchers often publish their discoveries before they can
K
Last year, the University was granted 49 patents and 30 licenses, and earned $800,000 from previous patents, Jim Baxendale, director of technology transfer and intellectual property said.
Two drug companies, CyDex and ProQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc., were startup companies created by the University to market drugs developed by KU researchers.
Patents last for approximately 20 years after being issued, Baxendale said, but it often takes years for some of those products to reach the market, cutting down on the time the University can make money.
Source: KU Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property
be marketed. To receive a U.S. patent, an application must be filed within a year of publication. International patents require patent applications before publishing.
The biological sciences researchers earn the most patents, but their discoveries take the longest to reach the market, 10 to 12 years for some drugs and compounds.
"It's a double-edged sword," Baxendale said.
Other areas of research, such as engineering, have earned their fair share of patents and licenses too.
For example, computer engineering received a patent for ProFusion, the
Keeping technology in Kansas while making it practical is so important to the University that Friis teaches a class on how to develop and market an invention.
And Lisa Friis, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, patented an artificial spine she developed to help surgeons practice techniques before performing the surgeries.
first Internet meta-search engine, Baxendale said.
The class, "Biomedical Product Development," puts engineering, business and industrial design student together to work out product development. It will be offered in Spring 2006.
"Faculty don't want to start companies, but they have good inventions and ideas, and we need to keep them at home," she said.
- Edited by Lisa Coble-Krings
This old thing?
Stephanie Farley/KANSAN
Susan Rendall, costume shop manager, outfits Lauren Marshall, Salina junior, in her costume yesterday afternoon in Murphy Hall. Rendall patterned the "sheep" costume for the play "Candide," which opens April 29 at Crafton-Preyer Theatre.
Court to rule on Legislature's education funding proposal
STATE LEGISLATURE
That plan would increase annual spending on public schools by $127 million, which would include additional dollars for special education, bilingual education and programs that help students at risk of failing. Republican leaders drafted the plan and pushed it through the Legislature to satisfy the court's deadline for responding.
BY JOHN MILBURN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The state Supreme Court ruled in January on a lawsuit filed in 1999 by a coalition of school districts led by Dodge City and Salina. Last week, Alan Rupe, their lead attorney, asked the court to reject the Legislature's plan, force lawmakers to increase annual spending by up to $852 million and appoint a special master to oversee drafting of the new proposal.
TOPEKA — On the eve of its deadline, an attorney for the state told the Kansas Supreme Court it shouldn't reject the Legislature's education funding plan because of critics" "political disappointment," yesterday.
Yesterday Kenneth Weltz, an attorney for the state, filed its response, calling Rupe's statements "negative spin."
hat plan would increase annual spending on public schools by $127 million, which would include additional dollars for special education, bilingual education and programs that help students at risk of failing.
Weltz said legislators responded to
Rupe said legislators based decisions on politics, although the court told them to avoid politics and focus on the true costs of educating children. But Weltz said the Legislature is political by design, requiring compromise to pass a plan.
"This bill, which reflects the will of the Kansas electorate as expressed through their duly elected representa-
the court order in good faith, noting that the increase in spending they approved was the largest since 1992 when the current school finance law was written.
In its January ruling, the court said legislators needed to spend more money and distribute its dollars more fairly.
tives, therefore, cannot be merely tossed aside because of the political disappointment of some," Weltz wrote.
Though she and fellow Democrats view the school finance plan as inadequate, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is letting it become law Saturday without her signature.
Supreme Court spokesman Ron Keefover said the justices have not indicated how they respond. The justices could either set a timeline for further legal filings by attorneys or rule on the Legislature's effort.
Legislators' plan is financed from existing state revenues. It rewrites the formula for distributing aid to 301 districts, raising the base state aid per pupil to $4,222 from the present $3,863. Future increases would be tied to increases in inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index.
Supporters of increased school funding planned to mark today's deadline with a Statehouse rally, urging the court to reject the plan. Sebelius is expected to address the rally, organized by Kansas Families United for Public Education.
ET CETERA The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at the Kansan business office, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, 1435 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045. The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-4962) is published daily during the school year except Saturday, Sunday, fall break, spring break and exams. Weekly during the summer session excluding holidays. Periodical postage is fee in Lawrence, KS 66044. Annual subscriptions by mail are $120. Student subscriptions of $2.11 are paid through the student activity fee. Postmaster: Send address changes to The University Daily Kansan, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, 1435 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045
12
5