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Volume 128 Issue 119
kansan.com
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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The student voice since 1904
'Tip the Schools' receipt makes waves across country
ALLISON CRIST
@AllisonCristUDK
Hough crossed out the tip line and wrote, "Tip the schools."
Chloe Hough, a senior from Topeka, has become an Internet sensation ever since she wrote a message on a receipt to Gov. Sam Brownback on Saturday.
As a result, people across the country have been praising Hough's move with a hashtag of her note.
After her story was picked up by national news outlets like Huffington Post, NBC News, and more. Hough responded with a Facebook post:
"Wow! Guys, this whole experience has been incredible. Let's take it further. I want to do something about all, this hype for #TipTheSchools. Please donate. I will be donating all proceeds to http://kac.org/ Kansas Action for Children. Thanks!"
Hough posted a link to a GoFundMe, encouraging people to donate towards her goal of $1.000.
"Education matters! Let's make progress." Hough said on the GoFundMe page.
So far, $120 has been raised by seven people, with donations continuing to come in.
While many are applauding Hough for her move, some are seemingly upset.
Clay Barker, Kansas' top Republican party official, commented on a Facebook post about the incident:
"So you are publicizing her arrogant stupidity and utter ignorance. Typical liberal KS media."
However, Barker said that was his personal opinion, not the state party's.
"It's nothing about her," Barker said. "It's the way this thing blew up. People see it as an attack on the governor that had no basis."
Barker's biggest complaint about the situation has to do with the significance of the story.
"A person writes a comment on a receipt, and never even tried to have a conversation with the governor, who's like the nicest guy in the world, puts it on Facebook and suddenly it's all over," Barker said. "Everyone's allowed to have an opinion—it's great. That's how our system works. I just thought this was not a smart way of doing it," Barker said.
—Edited by Kelsi Kirwin
CONTRIRITEO PHOTO
Topeka resident Chloe Hought wrote this message on a receipt for Gov. Sam Brownback while waiting on his table during her last shift. Since then, the photo of the receipt has gone viral.
Junior University student wins Student Employee of the Year
Before Jake Rowe's freshman year began, he knew he needed to rake together some cash to pay his own way in life, so he found himself a job at the University's Molecular Bioscience lab.
SKYLAR ROLSTAD
@SkyRolNews
"I knew coming straight out of high school that I would need extra money," Rowe said. "I came from a small town so I knew that I had to work if I wanted to get things I wanted."
Rowe moved from Mound City, a town of 682 people, to Lawrence, which has a population of more than 90,000.
On the job, Rowe works in the molecular bioscience biostore, selling and packaging chemicals for scientists at the University to use.
"He was the first student I have had that I thought was even worthy of being nominated."
JUDI HARRIS
Jake Rowe's supervisor
Now Rowe is a junior and just last month, he won the University's 2015 Student
Employee of the Year in his position as a molecular bioscience employee. He still uses the money to pay rent and other living expenses.
"It was a good feeling, a feeling of achievement, for sure," he said. "Finally after working there for three years, it's good when people notice that you put effort into your work."
Rowe was given an engraved plaque and a $500 award in a ceremony for the honor on April 12.
As an athletic training major, Rowe doesn't study bioscience, but he still found that it's a learning experience working in the molecular bioscience department.
Judi Harris, one of Rowe's supervisors at the molecular bioscience bio-store, nominated Rowe for the award.
"He's reliable and dependable. He's always willing to pitch in," Harris said. "He's very self-motivated and definitely deserving of this award."
"He was the first student I have had that I thought was even worthy of being nominated," Harris said.
Harris received a campus-wide email with the opportunity to submit a nomination.
Edited by Valerie Haag
Room and board at University is cheapest among former Big 8
AMIE JUST
@Amie_Just
According to the Office of Admissions website, room and board cost students an average of $7,650 for the 2014-15 academic year. This is the least expensive amount among the schools that were in the Big 8 conference.
In an era when all college-related costs continues to rise, the University of Kansas Department of Student Housing uses different strategies to keep every cost down.
"I think we're competitive within the Big 12, and probably some of our former old Big 8 colleagues' rates might be a little bit higher," said
Among the former Big. 8 schools, the University of Colorado at Boulder was the most expensive, averaging $13,194 for room and board during an academic year. That's about 1.72 times the amount of room and board at Kansas.
The University of Nebraska at Lincoln and the University of Missouri were the next highest, averaging $9,961 and $9,640 per academic year.
Current Big 12 schools finished out the list with Oklahoma averaging $9,126, Oklahoma State averaging $8,710, Iowa State averaging $8,070 and Kansas State averaging
Diana Robertson, director of student housing.
"Some of that has to do with if they're building new buildings or not," Robertson said. "Certainly the rates in our new [Self and Oswald] halls are higher than our current halls."
The Department of Student Housing evaluates each decision it makes regarding mechanical systems and operating systems, Robertson said.
$8,000 in room and board for the 2014-15 academic year.
How does Kansas have lower rates than other universities?
"Do we gain more by putting in new [windows] and having higher efficiency levels, perhaps, or is it better to not spend those dollars
and leave something a little bit older a little bit longer?" Robertson said. "That's a daily part of our thinking."
Robertson said one of the things the department prides itself on is the variety of living options for students, and that variety helps give the University a lower average in room and board rates.
During the 2015-16 academic year, there will be four renovated residence hall options: Gertrude Sellards Pearson, Ellsworth, Hashinger and Lewis halls.
Corbin Hall and Oliver Hall will be the only two non-renovated holes, as McCollum
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
A car drives down an alleyway off the intersection of 13th and Tennessee streets. Police say the poor lighting in this neighborhood has been causing many problems, such as an increase in theft.
Sidewalks, lighting in Oread neighborhood concern residents, police
SEE HOUSING PAGE 2
BEN ALLEN
@BenAllenSports
As students walk along Tennessee and Ohio streets and other blocks in the Oread neighborhood after dark, it's not unusual to see them use their smartphones to light the sidewalk, or for women to take their heels off.
Uneven sidewalks, cobblestone and few streetlights combine to make the Oread neighborhood — home to popular bars such as the Wheel, the Jayhawk Cafe, the Cave and Bullwinkles — a safety challenge for student pedestrians. Students worry about tripping or even worse. Nine years ago, a KU senior died after being hit by a car at 1 a.m. while crossing the intersection of 13th and Kentucky streets.
Lawrence police and residents say it's unlikely the homeowners or the city will spend the money to make the fixes that would improve safety. In Lawrence, property owners are responsible for most sidewalk repairs. City leaders have estimated that it would cost around $42 million to completely redo the sidewalks throughout Lawrence, including in the Oread neighborhood.
Candice Davis, president of the Oread Neighborhood Association, said she'd like to see more residents install motion lights that would turn on when triggered by pedestrian activity. She said she worries for herself and others.
"I think it is quite dangerous with traffic, the narrow roads and the uneven sidewalks," Davis said.
For Lawrence police, the neighborhood is a "major area of concern," according to Sgt. Trent McKinley. He said the absence of adequate lighting makes it hard to patrol without being an "overbearing cop" who has to shine bright flashlights on pedestrians to see what's happening. He said intersections are of particular concern since students and drivers do not always see each other.
McKinley said there has also been an upick in students being robbed in recent years as a result of darker neighborhoods, but he could not provide specific numbers.
Kansan reporter Ben Allen took a camera and walked some popular routes to show what it is like to navigate in the darkness. Visit Kansan.com to watch the video.
Don't Forget
Edited by Emma LeGault
@alana_flinn
ALANA FLINN
Student Body President Jessie Pringle posted an apology on her Facebook page after a Twitter user, Rebekah Navarro, tagged two photos — one of Pringle and one of Vice President Zach George — standing next to people dressed in Native American costumes.
Student body president apologizes for racially insensitive Twitter photos
"Pictures are worth a thousands words. So much for 'culturally competent,' the tweet with the photo of Pringle read. "You 'care' about Native Americans but you think it's okay to treat us like a costume?" the tweet with the photo of George read.
The photos were removed from social media on Friday, Pringle said.
OPINION 4 PUZZLES 6 CLASSIFIEDS
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"We want to apologize for the pictures," the post says. "We take full responsibility and are reaching out to start a dialogue. We are confident that we have grown since these pictures were taken. We continue
Happy Cinco de Mayo! Celebrate responsibly.
Pringle said she wanted to apologize to everyone affected by the photos.
Pringle said she has reached out to Navarro.
to commit ourselves to learning, listening, and bettering ourselves"
"I was two months into college. There were a lot of things I didn't know back then. At that point in time, I admit I wasn't culturally competent," Pringle said. "I have learned a lot since then, especially throughout the past year, and that [apology] statement was addressed to everyone."
"This should be dealt with on a very personal level, it shouldn't be dealt with at a Senate level." Pringle said.
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2015 The University Daily Kansan
Pringle and George have also already met with Nate Thomas, vice provost for diversity and equity, to create a Native American Advisory Board, which will start working this summer, Pringle said.
Today's Weather
Edited by Emma LeGault
Partly cloudy with a 10 percent chance of rain. Wind S at 15 mph.
HI: 83
L0: 62
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