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Volume 128 Issue 100
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Kansan.com
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
The student voice since 1904
Recreation center opens three gender-neutral changing rooms
The gender-neutral restrooms at the rec center are the result of an initiative from graduate student Hugo Macias Jr.
BEN LIPOWITZ/KANSAN
KELLY CORDINGLEY
@kellycordingley
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The male and female figures on restroom signs make it clear which restrooms are meant for which gender. But what if a student doesn't identify as male or female?
The Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center implemented three gender-neutral restrooms after graduate student Hugo Macias Jr. pushed the initiative to be more inclusive of trans students' needs. The three restrooms join the more than 20 facilities on campus that offer gender neutral, single-use restrooms.
Macias, a second-year graduate assistant in the Student Involvement and Leadership Center (SILC), wasn't available for comment at this time. However, he did tweet earlier this month a photo of the temporary sign and said he was "Proud of the @KUAmblerRec for taking a step toward gender inclusivity! It's the little things. #RockChalk"
SILC's web page asserts its commitment to offering restrooms to trans and genderqueer individuals, as well as others who would benefit from their use. The page also outlines other areas of campus that offer gender-neutral restrooms.
As the rec center is a major hub for student activity, graduate student Roze Brooks
"Generally trans people tend to be a community that is impacted by gendered restrooms or
gendered spaces, so for the Rec. they have multiple gendered spaces," Brooks said. "Having gender-neutral restrooms is a comforting thing, a positive juncture for a community that gets discriminated against
at the Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity said these restrooms are a step in the right direction for equality.
frequently."
Arnold said there was no question whether the Rec Center should make these three restrooms gender neutral.
SEE REC PAGE 2
Four University juniors nominated for national scholarship award
KATHERINE HARTLEY
@kat_hart9
Four juniors have selected as nominees for the Udall Scholarship, a national award that honors the legacies of Arizona congressmen Morris and Stewart Udall. Its purpose is to reward students for leadership, public service and commitment to issues related to American Indian nations or to the environment. The Udall Foundation will give out 50 scholarships of up to $5,000.
Advisors will find out about the winners today, and the results will be officially announced online May 1.
Frederick Gipp, a graduate of Lawrence High School in Lawrence, is a journalism major with an emphasis on strategic communication and the current vice president of the First Nations Student Association. He is also a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, performs in Native American powwows in Lawrence and across the country, and is involved with the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
KANSAN: What would you say is your proudest moment within your involvement with the First Nations Student Association and the Native American community in Lawrence?
Frederick Gipp
Jennifer Stern
Ashlie Koehn
Gabrielle Murnan
GIPP: "My proudest moment is seeing us actually be engaged in the community. This year our organization has made huge strides in developing an identity for itself. Last semester I helped out a lot with the fall powwow, and I also developed a panel to coincide with the powwow to make it more effective. Seeing our recognition, and the support from Dr. [Nate] Thomas (KU's provost for Diversity and Equity) announcing the formation of the new relationship with the Haskell Bridge Program
during that time really was cool. Just being an advocate for Native Americans, that's my proudest moment here. I've really found my own passion and drive and so it's led me to develop more of an initiative and motivation to go forward and find new opportunities."
KANSAN: What are your goals for the future and for your involvement with the Native American community?
GIPP: "I really want to help the university increase
its presence in the Native American community because we have the opportunity here, I believe. Ultimately, I really want to help Native American youths go to college and stay in college and graduate and make that a continuous process. That would create a new social norm, because there aren't that many Native Americans that are going to college because we have such a high attrition rate in the country, and so I want to offset that trend and develop a new social norm for Native American youths to look up to and actually have something to aspire to."
Gabrielle Murnan, a graduate of Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, is an environmental studies and political science major with a minor in public policy. She received the 2013 KU Sustainability Leadership Award and works as the Environmental Studies Student Ambassador coordinator in the KU Office of Public Affairs.
KANSAN: How did you originally become interested in environmental studies and climate change?
MURNAN: I decided to go into environmental studies because of where I grew up. I'm from Pittsburgh, Kan., which is an
SEE AWARD PAGE 2
University Senate report calls for extended benefits for same-sex couples, domestic partnerships
A recent report of the Task Force on Domestic Partner Benefits recommends the University take heed of the federal decision to extend federal benefits to same-sex couples.
According to the report and mirroring the results of the 2010 report, the University continues to "discriminate against KU faculty and employees with domestic partners." With the recent repeal of protected status for LGTB state workers by Gov. Brownback, the report said the actions by the state "can be viewed as one more hostile gesture in the effort to secure rights and benefits for
The report also calls for more information to be gathered on how this decision would affect the University, and how it would be implemented.
University Senate president Jonathan Mayhew said in an email that extending such benefits for domestic partners is important for the University because it will help bring in new students and faculty who look for a place where they or their partner can receive benefits.
"A change to improve benefits will likely aid hiring and retention." Mayhew said in an email. "Given the negative climate for LGBT people in the state of Kansas, this issue is especially relevant."
The University Senate was charged with evaluating the changes in domestic partner benefits since a previous 2010 report, and figuring out ways for the University to adopt extensive benefits for people in domestic partnerships.
"I think the report could be a catalyst for further action by the administration on working towards improving benefits," Mayhew said in an email.
the domestic partners of KU's faculty, staff, and student constituents."
the task force also looked at the climate change since its previous 2010 report, especially the growing number of states legalizing same-sex marriage. With Alabama becoming the 37th state to do so, the committee report said "this committee believes that, in the effort to attract and maintain the best of faculty, staff, and student contingents, the domestic partner benefit agenda must include same and other sex partners who remain committed and unmarried."
"A change to improve benefits will likely aid hiring and retention. Given the negative climate for LGBT people in the state of Kansas, this issue is especially relevant."
JONATHAN MAYHEW University Senate president
"It will require concrete action by the central administration of the University to implement the recommendations in the report," he said in an email. "These recommendations will benefit those in domestic partnerships, as well as those wanting to see a University more welcoming of diversity."
For the changes proposed by the task force to take effect, Mayhew said the University must take action to diversify and create a more inclusive atmosphere.
The report ends with a final assertion by the committee that "benefits to nonmarried committed partners of employees is essential to a mentally and physically healthy workforce."
Don't Forget
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
Senior hurdler Michael Stigler jumps over the last hurdle ahead of 2012 champion Bershawn "Batman" jackson in the invitational 400-meter hurdle event at last years' Kansas Relays. Stigler was named National Athlete of the Week this week.
Kelly Cordingley
Hurdler Michael Stigler named National Athlete of the Week after record performance at Texas Relays
OPINION 4B
A&F 5B
Following his performance at the Texas Relays this past weekend, Kansas senior hurdler Michael Stigler was awarded U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Player of the Week honors.
Stigler finished the prelimits with a time of 50.4 seconds, and went on to seal a Texas Relay three-peat in the 400 meter hurdles after finishing with a time of 48.44 seconds. That record-breaking mark
PUZZLES 6B
SPORTS 10B
"It just shows that people are paying attention to the work I've been doing and exactly what I've been doing on the track," Stigler said about the award. "It's an honor and it shows how good our coaching staff is here at KI."
Stigler's previous personal best was recorded two years ago at the 2013 NCAA Championships, where he timed in at 49.19 seconds.
was Stigler's personal best, a school record and the world-leading time for the event this season.
-G.J. Melia
CLASSIFIEDS 9B
DAILY DEBATE 7B
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