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+ Volume 128 Issue ## 89
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Kansan.com
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
The student voice since 1904
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After changes to the bus routes on Daisy Hill, students were reported to have been mistreating the bus drivers. Months later, that mistreatment has stopped.
Daisy Hill residents finally accept changes to bus route
CHANDLER BOESE
@Chandler_Boees
Last semester, in response to some changes made to the University's bus routes, some of the students on Daisy Hill were demonstrating their annoyance by mistreating bus drivers. Now it seems as if the air has cleared as students adapt to the adjustments made by KU on Wheels and Lawrence Transit.
Despite such a negative initial reaction to the changes, this semester there have been no reports filed about mistreatment of bus drivers, said Jenny Erice, transportation coordinator at KU on Wheels.
Due to the construction of two new residence halls and the anticipated demolition
A time point that had previously been at McCollum Hall was moved, which upset a number of students. Due to this and McCollum's impending demolition, Erice said KU on Wheels moved the time point back to its original position.
of McCollum Hall, KU on Wheels and Lawrence Transit made a change to the bus route on Daisy Hill in the fall, Erice said.
Around the same time, two other changes in the bus route affected the Daisy Hill residents.
"We just left the time point as is because it's going to be changed no matter what once McCollum is gone," said Erice. "We didn't press the issue, essentially."
Because of frequent issues with traffic flow on Irving Hill
KU on Wheels also cut out a route 11 stop on Daisy Hill to shorten the commute for students taking that bus and living off-campus.
"People [wanting to stop on Daisy Hill] were really angry
Road, KU on Wheels took out a stop for the 42 bus at the intersection of Irving Hill Road and Engel Road.
"[The traffic] would cause the 11 to be late, which caused the 41 to be late, which backs up people who are trying to drive through," said Erice. "We just decided that it was beneficial to not have that bus stop there for the 42, since it stops on Engel anyway."
Students in Lewis and Templin were upset, because they now have to walk from McCollum if they ride the 42 from campus back to Daisy Hill.
Even though students were angry, there was nothing KU on Wheels could do about these latter changes, said Erice. But students' anger seems to have died down.
when the 11 would stop at the stop sign, but not open the doors," Erice said.
"I don't know if they got used to it, or the anger wore down, or people forgot about it, but whatever happened, they stopped treating the bus drivers so poorly." Erice said.
McCollum resident Haley Hauch, a freshman from Lakeville, Minn., said she rides the bus due to her living on Daisy Hill.
“[The bus routes] have sort of just become routine,” Hauch said. “We're all pretty used to it.”
Edited by Garrett Long
New legislation would repeal in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants
KELLY CORDINGLEY
@kellycordingley
Undocumented immigrants would no longer be eligible for in-state tuition if legislation heard in the Kansas House Committee on Education passes. A hearing on Tuesday drew flocks of K-12 students, opponents of the bill from the University and numerous proponents who gave testimony.
Carla Rivas-D'amico, a sophomore KU student who is from Venezuela but was raised in Lenexa, gave testimony opposing the bill.
"While my family and I are documented, I have lots of friends and acquaintances who are undocumented, so I'm very close to that cause," Rivas-Damico said.
since 2004, undocumented students have been able to
"I understand what's going on and I feel very strongly about justice for them," she said. "I think it's morally wrong to call someone an illegal. These are people. They're hardworking, and they live here and should have every opportunity that all Kansans have."
receive in-state tuition as long as they meet the in-state tuition requirements for all U.S. citizens. However, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach said that legislation should never have been passed.
Rivas-Damico, who also serves on Student Senate's subcommittee on status on minorities, said she sympathizes with the plight undocumented immigrants face.
"It gives incentive to violate the law," Kobach said during testimony in committee. "It's unfair to U.S. citizens who live in Nebraska or Missouri to pay
Words like "illegal" and "alien" are descriptors Rivas-D'amico said are cruel and used to lessen the worth of undocumented immigrants, making it easier to pass legislation that hurts their interests.
three times as much to attend our universities. Why would we do something unfair when it is also illegal?"
"When you dehumanize someone, it's a lot easier to rob them of an opportunity at an education," she said. "There was no mention from proponents of the bill of people, of families
"I understand what's going on and I feel very strongly about justice for them."
CARLA RIVAS-D'AMICO Sophomore from Venezuela
Representative John Alcala (D-Topeka) submitted written testimony for the hearing on Tuesday that referred to the bill as being based on "narrow-minded views placing blame on youth that had no say or choice when coming to this country." He emphasized that undocumented workers are not relying on handouts; rather they're working to achieve their dreams.
or humans who have desires and dreams and goals like everyone else. Even though I'm documented, they're still talking about my people and my culture."
"I have two kids in my district; one of them works at a grocery store sacking bags to pay for college" Alcala said. "[Proponents] talk about these kids being a drain on
New director of student conduct begins work
SEE TUITION PAGE 2
RILEY MORTENSEN
@Riley Mortensen
KU alumnus Lance Watson is the University's new director of student conduct and community standards. Watson officially took his post Monday.
Watson joins the ranks of administrative leaders to oversee the non-academic conduct system for individual and organizational accountability, including sexual assault and sexual harassment violations.
The University's former director, Nick Kehrwald, left in December 2014 to join the University of Kentucky. Kehrwald faced many issues on campus regarding sexual violence, something Watson sees as part of a bigger conversation, he said.
"That's definitely on my mind right now," Watson
said. "I think it's part of the larger discussion I hope to have with folks. I want to hear students out on that."
As director, Watson will help educate students in accordance with the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities and will also select and implement sanctions.
"The opportunity to come, and honestly give back to Kansas, is huge to me," Watson said. "KU gave me so very much as a student. I really believe in KU and I believe in the students."
Watson graduated from the University in 2007 and went on to complete a master's degree in counselor education with an emphasis in student affairs at Clemson University.
"I really sought to diversify
SEE CONDUCT PAGE 2
ALL DOVER/KANSAN
Madeline Dickerson, a senior from Eudora gives an introduction to the Student Senate Coalition Formation Caucus. Dickerson is a constituent of the newly formed Legacy coalition.
ALANA FLINN
@alana_Flinn
New coalition established
After a lengthy debate, a group of about 30 people decided on the formation of the Legacy coalition, which is now the first official coalition of the 2015 election season.
The first order of business Tuesday night was to focus on certain values that the coalition will maintain and strive for throughout election season. Progressive values, integrity, Jayhawk pride, safety and bridging a gap between diverse communities on campus were all mentioned by those in attendance.
For Sydney Studer, a junior coalition affiliate from Shawnee, establishing these values is crucial for Legacy's success.
"I think it's important because like we said, Student Senate needs to be revived," Studer said. "I think that our coalition is a group of people
OPINION 4
A&F 5
Coalition constituent Madeline Dickerson said Legacy also ties into "Jayhawk Pride."
"We're all cut from the same cloth," Dickerson said. "We're Jayhawks and that's something that will carry on with you for generations."
"I think Student Senate is a little broken right now and needs to be revived," Farlow said. "We have four years to make a huge impact on the University, and only one while in Senate... Legacy spoke to me because it's something you tie your honor to."
After the name decision,
Sophomore Garrett Farlow, a coalition constituent, said the name Legacy spoke to him on a personal level.
CLASSIFIEDS 7
DAILY DEBATE 7
that are really passionate about reviving that and making campus the best that it can be."
SEE LEGACY PAGE 2
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2015 The University Daily Kansan
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