THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2005
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
3A
Tuition increase likely in the fall CLAS urges students to learn where money may be spent
BY NATE KARLIN
nkarlier@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITE
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences administration will conduct two more public meetings this month to discuss the differential tuition with University of Kansas students.
The CLAS administration is urging students to educate themselves on the differential tuition plan, said Kim Wilcox, dean of liberal arts and sciences. The administration has talked to more than 40 groups of students since last fall. Several more group discussions are planned through the end of the month, said Nancy Lott. assistant to the dean.
Wilcox said this "educational phase" would determine whether Chancellor Robert Hemenway would carry the plan to the Kansas Board of Regents in March.
Beginning next year, the 20-year differential tuition plan would increase from $10 to $30 per CLAS credit hour. Lott said. Students would pay the $30 for the last 18 years of the plan. The money would be used to
increase financial aid for CLAS students and to renovate and construct buildings, such as remodeling Wescoe Hall and building a new natural sciences building. The money would not be used for additional programs, Lott said.
Students will get the chance to vote on the tuition plan the last week in February. The College will send an e-mail to all CLAS students to vote in an online survey, Lott said. One of the questions will be phrased: "Do you agree with this proposal or not?" she said.
The administration would not give the proposal to the chancellor to carry to the Board of Regents if the survey did not receive positive support, Lott said.
Ruth Anne French, Partridge senior, joined the first committee last fall initially hoping to stop the differential tuition before it started. However, she realized the importance extra money would have for the University, she said.
She said it was never easy to raise tuition, but the money would go to building renovation
PROPOSAL MEETINGS
■ Tuesday, Feb. 22
8 to 7 p.m.
1001 Hallott Hall
Thursday, Feb. 24
5 to 6 p.m.
3139 Wescoe Hall
Source: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
and construction, a necessity for the University.
French was part of the group of students and faculty members who decided to use the money for building instead of additional student programs.
But she urges the freshmen and sophomores to get involved the most to understand the tuition plan.
"I'm a senior, so how I feel about it should not be as strong as how they feel," she said.
Wes Smith, Lawrence junior,
said he wasn't familiar with the
differential tuition, but he was
concerned the administration wouldn't really listen to the students.
"I would wonder of the relevance of the meetings and what they would actually accomplish," he said.
Jaime Andrews, Derby freshman, said it was important to keep buildings up to date. She also said the meetings would be an important opportunity for the administration to explain the priorities of the tuition to students.
"I think it's important to include students in a decision like that because it affects us," Andrews said. She said it was important for students to know what the increase would go toward because some students pay for their own tuition.
Regardless of the students' opinions, Wilcox said he just wanted the students to understand the purpose of the differential tuition.
"Yes or no, neither decision is a good decision based on lack of education," Wilcox said. "This is set up as an option for students to shape their future."
Edited by Jennifer Voldness
Would you support a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences tuition increase for new buildings, such as a Wescoe renovation and a new natural sciences building?
"Yes, I think Wilcox's plan is well thought out and made it affordable for all students, including those who wouldn't be able to afford it."
— Lindsay Mathews, Overland Park senior
"If they would put it to good use. As long as the money isn't wasted."
Mike Hayes, Verona, N.J., sophomore
"Probably not because we won't even be here to see any changes."
— Renee Robinson, Lawrence freshman
"No, because the buildings are fine already. We don't need to pay the extra money."
Jane Rozelle, Dallas sophomore
College Republicans revise group policies
Group increases regulations on money spending
BY JASON SHAAD
jshaad@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The KU College Republicans are building on the past and making improvements after an internal dispute in November.
MCFARLAND
The former
The group set a March 31 deadline for Justin McFarland to repay $1,300 that he took from the group's bank account to reimburse himself for group-related travel expenses and to fund future group activities.
last fall.
McFarland, who resigned in November and is no longer active with the group, fully repaid the money by midDecember, shortly after the week of finals, Josh Steward, College Republicans chairman, said.
"I know Justin really well, and I knew from the start that it wasn't to sabotage the group." Steward said. "He was being careless, but he didn't have bad intentions."
As a result of the situation, the group is restructuring its policies on money spending.
"Before there were basically no rules," Steward said. "We had a checking account. Beyond that, you needed a receipt for expenses, and that was it."
Steward said the group would now require prior approval for expenditures of more than $50.
I'm sure it has brought us closer. We've
learned not to be naive about these things because they can happen."
Reba Good College Republicans public relations coordinator
He said the treasurer would be responsible for all checks and that the group's executive board would vote on any reimbursements.
The group will also keep better records of checks and receipts. Steward said.
Most of these changes will be integrated into the group's bylaws. Steward said the group would pass a new constitution at its next meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 8 and would work on passing bylaws after that.
Reba Good, College Republicans public relations coordinator, said the new implementations would ensure that the group continued to grow from the experience.
Another improvement for executive board members would be the development of continuity folders. Good said.
These folders will include information on what operations worked and did not work in the past. They would also keep people from repeating the same mistakes or wasting time, Good said.
Good said she did not resent McFarland for his actions.
"I'm sure it has brought us closer," Good said. "We've learned not to be naive about these things because they can happen."
— Edited by Lori Bettes
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