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Volume 128 Issue 97
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Kansan.com
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
The student voice since 1904
WEEKEND EDITION
ARCHITECTURE
Architecture students selected as competition finalists I PAGE 3A
BEN BRODSKY/KANSAN
Spencer Museum of Art to close for renovations in April
KELLY CORDINGLEY
@kellycordingley
Spencer Museum of Art will close on April 12th to begin renovations. The museum is expected to reopen by mid-2016.
The Spencer Museum of Art will close its doors on April 12 for the first phase of renovations that will, among other improvements, expand the lobby, create more study spaces, implement floor-to-ceiling windows for natural light and
add a central staircase and elevator.
"The wonderful thing about phase one is that it really centers on our primary role as a university art museum," Director of External Affairs Margaret Perkins-McGuinness said. "A lot of emphasis has gone into aspects of the project that allows us to work
with faculty and students and student groups. These changes are really enhancing our ability to do that well and serve more students."
Perkins-McGuinness said the first phase is expected to be completed by mid-2016. Once it is completed, fundraising efforts for phase two will begin to completely renovate the
museum and expand it more fully.
Rachel Donovan, a sophomore from Olathe majoring in visual communication design, said she spends nearly every other day in the museum and looks forward to the upcoming
SEE ART PAGE 2A
University retention rates for black freshmen decrease in Fall 2014
JAZMINE POLK
@JazThejourney
A record number of black freshmen attended the University this fall, but 19 percent of those students have left the University, according to retention figures released by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) this week.
The retention rate of black freshmen has continued to decline from 2010, when the retention rate was 94.6 percent compared to 81.1 percent this year. Overall, the University retained 92 percent of its overall freshmen, and 89 percent of its minority students from the fall 2014 semester. Those percentages have generally remained steady over the past five years.
At the start of the fall 2014 semester, the 3,977-student freshman class included 238 black students. About 45 of those students have left the University.
KU developed several programs in the last few years to recruit and retain blacks and other minority students. Administration officials and student leaders said there are a number of reasons why black students leave after a short time on campus, including financial aid and academic preparedness, but also said they believe the primary reason is a lack of connection to the University.
"What it comes down to is could they find their place on campus?" said Precious Por-
FRESHMAN RETENTION RATES AFTER ONE SEMESTER.
FALL 2013
Overall students 3898 92.90%
American Indian/Alaskan 14 92.90%
Asian 153 96.80%
Black/Non-Hispanic 199 83.90%
Hispanic 291 91.40%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 3 66.70%
Multiple ethnicities 199 89.90%
Non-resident alien 50 100%
White/non-Hispanic 2955 93.60%
FALL 2014
Overall students 3977 92.00%
American Indian/Alaskan 10 100%
Asian 173 95.40%
Black/Non-Hispanic 238 81.10%
Hispanic 300 93.30%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 6 100%
Multiple ethnicities 27 91.20%
Non-resident alien 81 96.30%
White/non-Hispanic 2927 92.40%
ras, associate director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Porras and other officials say the University could do a better job of promoting and funding programs for minority students, including those that would help academic success, but they also said students need to take better advantage of existing programs themselves. She said although
there are many different organizations to choose from on campus, some students of color feel lonely and out of place
SEE FRESHMAN PAGE 2A
Student Senate breaks down next year's fees
ALANA FLINN
@alana_flinn
Editor's note: These changes must be approved by full Senate before they are official.
In Wednesday night's Student Senate committee meetings, finance committee finalized the fee review that will then go on to full senate next week. Included are fees that received an increase or a decrease as well as finance committee members' reasoning for the possible fee changes.
WHAT'S GETTING AN INCREASE
What: Student Health Fee-Operations
What they were previously funded: $118.44
What they will be funded now: $122.00
Why:"Health care costs are increasing across the board and in order for Watkins to operate sufficiently for students and above a negative account, it was increased 3 percent," junior finance chair Jessie Pringle said.
Don't Forget
What: Student Senate Activity Fee
"The campus transit contracts for three buses every couple of years and in order to fulfill that contract, it required an increase of one dollar and 10 cents."
JESSIE PRINGLE Junior finance chain
What they were previously funded: $19.50
Why: "We had a higher amount of requests through line and block, which increased the total amount we would need for line, block and Wednesday night unallocated account, so we increased it so we could provide more funds to more groups through all processes," treasurer Made-
What they will be funded now: $20.50
SEE SENATE PAGE 2A
Cancellor Bernadette Gray-Little discussed the University's budget cuts, achievements, and new dorms on Wednesday afternoon.
ANNA WENNER/KANSAN
To divide by two when given the diameter instead of r.
Chancellor's talk focuses on University development, changes
CLASSIFIEDS 3B
DAILY DEBATE 5B
KELLY CORDINGLEY
@kellycordingley
The cuts to higher education and importance of diversity at the University of Kansas were prominent topics during Wednesday's chat with Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little. Concern over the possible effects of the recent allotments by Gov. Sam Brownback in conjunction with the loss of $4.7 million are just some of the budget concerns.
PUZZLES 6A
SPORTS 1B
OPINION 4A
A&F 5A
However, Gray-Little focused on the ever-growing number of achievements at the University as well as her excitement for Commencement weekend and the families that will converge to celebrate their graduates.
Index
With the two percent reduction in funds, Gray-Little said the major question is whether or not the cuts will continue for upcoming years, in light of the state budget crisis.
BUDGET
"The question is how the states deficit will be addressed," she said. "It has to be either by finding additional revenue or making reductions. Of course we're
SEE TALK PAGE 7A
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2015 The University Daily Kansan
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