PLATFORM ENDORSEMENTS
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> Opinion editor's note: Below are each of the 2005 coalition's platform as they were presented. The editorial board discussed each one and made an endorsement on a passfull basis. A pass was given to platform ideas that were effective, in the student's interests and seemed attainable. The board failed ideas that seemed incomplete, unrealistic or unnecessary.
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2005 PAGE SA
DELTA FORCE
Lovemaking maintenance
+ Free pregnancy and STD testing at Watkins Memorial Health Center
No tuition fees
+ Work to eliminate all fees associated with academic services, including transcripts.
Students already pay $574 in student fees a year: PASS
Faster online online
+ Condom dispensers in University housing: PASS
Multicultural money
+ Restoring block funding to multicultural groups such as BSU, HALO, FNSA and AASU
PASS
Parking Ticket Armesty
+ One-time reduction of a parking ticket which would be similar to the current library system: FAIL
False alarm freedom
♦ Fire alarms equipped with ink that sprays in all directions if alarm is pulled; PASS
Fixing state funding
♦ Comprehensive lobbying that incorporates students, faculty, staff, parents and other members of our community;
FAIL
Enhanced services
- Work with the Athletics Department to implement an online ticket redemption system for basketball: FAIL
- Online service to pay your parking tickets instead of waiting in line: PASS
No hidden fees
KUNITED
- Students do not have an eas ity accessible print, copy and mail center on campus. KUnited will work to build a Student Printing and Services Center: FAIL
KU Info independence
• Independence from the KU
Library system: PASS
♦ Extend hours at the Student Fitness Recreation Center to benefit students: FAIL
+ Develop a self-defense pro gram to be available to all students: FAIL
- Open parking spaces at the Kansas Union parking garage at 5 p.m. to increase parking proximity; PASS*
- Eco-friendly campus
+ Purchase energy from renewable sources for all student-funded buildings through a Green Tag system.
FAIL
- Increase campus recycling locations from five to 10:
 * PASS
STUDENT VOICE
Smart tuition decisions
+ Implement a requirement that additions or increases to student fees be approved by referendum. A change KUnited promised during the campaign but did not implement: FAIL
- Student Voice opposes the proposed CLAS differential tuition — which the majority of students voted against — and any other unnecessary tuition hire: FAIL
after campus life
+ With a $400,000 surplus,
Student Voice will
fund bringing wireless
Internet to the residence
halls: FAIL
Chipte to the Underground: **FAIL**
+ Reform KU on Wheels to make it more efficient and effective: **FAIL**
Open student government
- Allow students to submit legislation to Student Senate through an open bill submission process: FAIL
VOTER'S GUIDE
+ Protect fraternity and sorority, residence hall, scholarship hall, BSU and HALO seats in Student Senate:
FAIL
Legal Services for Students
+ A $1.50 increase in student fees for a full-time libigator and three-quarter time legal consultant for students:
PASS
REFERENDUMS
Student Union Activities
+ A $5 increase in student fees
to attract more popular
speakers and entertainers to
campus; PASS
STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS
COALITION ENDORSEMENT
Delta Force's platform refreshing, unlike other coalitions promises
Useful, practical ideas set coalition apart from KUnited, Student Voice The University Daily Kansan editorial board invited each coalition's presidential and vicepresidential candidates to present their platforms and answer questions from the board.Afterwards,the editorial board decided to endorse Delta Force in this year's election
The Kansan editorial board believes that all of the candidates for Student Senate are dedicated, driven, young adults. There is no doubt in our mind that each of these young men and women care about the University, and care about how the student's money is spent.
about the University, and care about how the students money is spent. However, after carefully considering the three coalitions' initiatives and abilities, the editorial board has chosen to endorse Delta Force.
We believe the two most important qualities for our Senate to have are well planned goals, and the capacity to accomplish them. To that end, Delta Force's initiatives seem like more helpful and viable objectives than the other coalitions.
Though the condom dispenser plan will have to be hammered out in a cost-effective way, the free testing at Watkins Memorial Health Center is a no-brainer. How many students go without testing each year because they don't want to pay? How many students fear testing because they are afraid of their parents finding out they are sexually active?
Delta Force's Lovemaking Maintenance proposal is both rational and necessary. This program would implement free pregnancy and STD testing at Watkins Memorial Health Center, and put condom dispensers in University housing.
This plan could save lives, or at least prevent STDs, which are more prevalent than many students think.
Another initiative we liked was the False Fire Alarm freedom plan. This plan, obviously, is designed to curb the late night fire alarms being pulled, specifically in the residence halls at three in the morning.
Delta Force wants to equip the halls with new fire alarms that spray ink in all directions when pulled, in an attempt to discourage late-night pranksters and drunks. Fire alarms have been the bane of student's sleep for far too long. Though the plan needs a little work, we are glad to see Delta Force wants to fix this problem.
glad to see Dr. Palmer writes:
How many students attempt to hide in their closets or under their beds when they hear that obnoxious beeping? What if there was a real fire? Again, this plan will save the fire departments thousands of dollars because they have to take each alarm seriously. It could also potentially save lives.
It is practical, useful platforms like these that set the Delta Force coalition apart.
It is practical, useful platforms integrated with the KU United coalition, a perennial Student Senate powerhouse, has always proven itself to be an effective mover and shaker, but their lack of strong, practical initiatives leaves something to be desired this year.
For example, online parking ticket paying is a good idea, but it's a program that will most likely happen regardless of who wins these elections, just like online ticket redemption for basketball games. Even if KUnited were responsible for these changes, they should not be considered platforms for this year's coalition platform.
The Student Voice coalition, though armed with a well-spoken presidential candidate, is quite the opposite of KUnited. We felt they had strong, progressive ideas and goals, but no viable means with which to implement them.
Wireless Internet for the residence halls is a great idea, but too costly to realize. Allowing all students to submit legislation to Student Senate would just complicate things. Besides, students have a means of bringing viable issues to the Senate by means of contacting their senator.
In the end, the ideal coalition would have both the means to accomplish their goals, and goals worth accomplishing. In this respect, Delta Force is the coalition with the most practical plans.
Student Senate will spend over $500 of each students' money this year, make sure they are the candidates that have plans that will benefit you.
- Matt Sevcik writing for the editorial board.
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For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
+
So I've been waiting in the yellow lot for a parking spot for half an hour, class starts in ten minutes, and I'm gonna whine about it because I'm a pissy little brat.
How many people have to die of heat stroke to get them to turn on the air conditioning in Oliver?
+
*
There's a guy in Naismith who can pick his nose with his tongue. It's really weird, but awesome.
My wife's still a nag, but I'm pretty sure gay people in Kansas don't have anything to do with it. Thanks, bigots, for your useless amendment.
Think for yourself, question authority.
To the guys with the megaphone in Ellsworth today, yeah, you're really cool, and you deserve a gold star.
+
It's disappointing enough when the Colorado Rockies' bullpen drops two straight to the San Francisco Giants, but it's worse when your bookie calls you every fifteen minutes because of it.
+
My dog is better than my roommate's dog, and he cost a lot more, too.
*
Maynard James Keenan found Jesus. Tool is finished. A Perfect Circle for that matter.
RobaCop's the worst movie I've ever seen.
Steve Vockrodt
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EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
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Erick Schmidt, Dwin Sikes, Gaby Souza, Sarah Stacy and Anne Weltmer.
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