THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2005
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
3A
LAWRENCE
Low funds limit league's city services
By JASON SHAAD
jshaad@hansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Insufficient funding and lack of manpower will force Lawrence's oldest social service organization to make cuts.
The Social Service League of Lawrence has offered a variety of services to help get people back on their feet since 1888, Larry Northrop, league president, said.
But the league recently has cut its back-to-work clothing and clothing-coupon programs because it cannot afford them anymore, Susan Rickman, league treasurer, said.
The back-to-work program offered dress clothes to people who needed them for job interviews. Rickman said.
The clothing-coupon program offered discounted or free clothing from the league's thrift store at 905 Rhode Island St. These coupons were distributed to needy local school children, Rickman said.
Losing funding from the United Way, the league's largest contributor, was a big reason the league had to discontinue services, she said.
In 2003, the league received about $6,200 in funding from the United Way, which accounted for about 18 percent of its total income. This year the league will not receive any funding from the organization.
Rickman said the United Way required organizations to complete an audit every year that cost about $1,500. If the league had spent the money to complete the audit, it would have had to sacrifice more services that were
"I If five years from now things don't change, I think we'll have to close."
Susan Rickman Social Service League of Lawrence treasurer
The United Way is not the enemy, though, said Barbara Brackman, an honorary league board member.
dependent on the United Way's full donation, she said.
"We're just not a good match for them," Brackman said. "Their rules and our programs just don't work together."
But the league is in dire circumstance and the increasing cost of utilities doesn't help the situation, Rickman said.
"If five years from now things don't change, I think we'll have to close," she said.
In addition to cutting two of its programs, the league also has reduced services that offer discounted eye examinations and new shoes to those with low incomes. The league will continue to operate its thrift store, but the hours are reduced, she said.
Northrop is searching for other sources of funding. He said he was hopeful that the league would pull through.
"When you run a nonprofit organization, it's an ongoing struggle," he said. "If we can't get funding from one place, then we'll find another."
Kellv Hutsell/KANSAN
Nature: Un-bee-lievable
- Edited by Ross Fitch
Madalina Olson examines a bee exhibit, which contains a camera that captures the bees' activities at 50 times life size, at the KU Natural History Museum. Olson came from Kansas City with her brother and friends to visit the museum Tuesday afternoon.
ON THE RECORD
♦ A 22-year-old KU student reported to Lawrence police that someone stole her purse sometime between 12:15 and 12:35 a.m. on Feb. 15 from the 600 block of Florida Street. Among the items stolen were a $80 purse, a $500 digital camera, a $150 cell phone, a $10 set of keys, a $150 memory card and a driver license.
CAMPUS
Kansan sponsors tournament
The tournament, which is expected to bring in more than 100 people, is free to participants. Pumpelly said, but a $10 cash donation is appreciated.
The University Daily Kansan will host a Texas Hold'em poker tournament tonight at Abe and Jake's Landing, 8. Sixth St. The tournament will begin at 8 p.m. and should last about four hours, Chris Pumpelly, Kansan promotions manager, said.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the KU Habitat for Humanity, a student organization that gives students the opportunity to build housing for lower-income families.
Prizes for the tournament were donated by local businesses or purchased by the Kansan. The grand prize is a 40-gigabyte Apple iPod, Pumpelly said.
Last year's poker tournament raised more than $1,000 for KU graduate and meningitis survivor Andy Marso.
— Adam Land
WORLD
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran and Syria, both are facing pressure from the United States, said yesterday that they will form a "united front" to confront possible threats against them, state-run television reported.
Iran and Syria talk of unity
"In view of the special conditions faced by Syria, Iran will transfer its experience, especially concerning sanctions, to Syria," Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran's first vice president, was quoted as saying after meeting Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otari.
Otari concurred, saying. "The challenges we face in Syria and Iran require us to be in one front to confront all the challenges imposed (on us) by others."
"At this sensitive point, the two countries require a united front due to numerous challenges."
The report did not specifically mention the challenges, but both countries are under U.S. economic sanctions and the targets of intense American pressure.
The Associated Press