Volume 128 Issue 72
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Kansan.com
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The student voice since 1904
UNION MAKEOVER
Memorial Unions committee looks into redesigning the Kansas Union
CONTRIBUTED BY GLARK | HUESEMANN
Architecture firm Clark I Huesemann created conceptual plans for the Kansas Union, changing the layout. The plans aren't finalized, and David Mucci, director of Memorial Unions, said the plans are very much "in the works," possibly beginning in 2018.
CONTRIBUTED BY CLARK I HUESEMANN
The above concept by architecture firm Clark I Huesemann shows what the fourth floor of the Kansas Union might look like after a redesign. The plans aren't currently finalized.
CHANDLER BOESE
@Chandler_Boee
For the past two years, the KU Memorial Unions committee has looked into a project to redesign aspects of the Kansas Union to reflect what students want.
Director of Memorial Unions David Mucci said the University is evaluating which changes reflect students' desires. Mucci said the plan was sparked by the University-wide "Master Plan" initiated in 2013.
To begin with, the steering committee at the Memorial Unions conducted more than 50 focus groups that involved about 86 students and 59 faculty and staff. The initial idea was to consider creating a union in the center of campus, around Wescoe Hall.
However, the University's "Master Plan" conflicted with the idea, Mucci said. Instead, the Memorial Unions staff decided to work on improving the Kansas Union.
A steering committee used data from the focus groups to assess necessary changes to the Union. A majority of participants asked for more natural light and open space. The committee also visited student unions at other universities, specifically the University of North Carolina State and the University of Wisconsin.
From there, the committee created an abstract idea of how the Kansas Union could be reimagined.
"Essentially it was, if we had
our dream project, here's what the Union would look like," Mucci said. "It really [reflected] student interest in opening up the building, bringing in natural light, [and] expanding space."
The local architecture firm Clark | Huesemann created a series of plans in December. Although Mucci said the project is still very much "in the works," the proposed plans show significant changes to the Union's current layout.
For example, the Roasterie on the fourth floor would expand to the front of the building, closer to Jayhawk Boulevard.
"The idea was access to jayhawk Boulevard to make
[the shop] more open and porous — bring people in, expand our coffee operations," Mucci said.
More lounge space would be added on the first through fourth floors, including a revival of a restaurant or club on the first floor. One plan showed a restaurant as part of the bookstore on the second floor.
the other major change, at least as reflected in the current plans, would remove Jaybowl, the Union's bowling alley. Mucci said the steering committee was unsure whether bowling fit into the new plan, especially if a club were established on the first floor.
The director of Jaybowl, Becky Swearingen, was unavailable for comment.
However, much of the plan is still up in the air. Some considerations, particularly the financials of the plan, have not been addressed yet.
"We're looking toward fiscal year 2018 for a possible start," Mucci said. "There's really no funding for this. What we're really looking at is a recreation fee that sunsets in 2017 that might yield some significant dollars, without requiring additional fees increases on students."
Edited by Vicky Diaz Camacho
Common Book for 2015-2016 year selected
KWANG HYUN
@Chwangwiti
The University has selected "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway as its common book for the 2015-2016 school year. This is the first time the University appointed classic literature as the Common Book, making KU one of few schools in the nation to do so.
"We do not have a specific genre that we choose from," said Howard Graham, associate director for academic programs of First-Year Experience. "We choose from whatever the community has put forward to the nomination process."
According to several book reviews, such as Barnes and Noble and The New York Times, "A Farewell To Arms" is considered one of the best American novels to come out of World War I. The novel is about an American ambulance driver's journey before and during World War I, and his love story with an English nurse whom he meets during his journey. Hemingway also depicts the harsh realities of war and the pain of lovers caught in its inexorable sweep, according to First-Year Experience's website.
the steering committee narrows down the list of nominees down to about five books for the final group of nominees. Then, the selection team, which consists of three faculty members, three students and three staff, uses a rating scale rubric to rank the
Last year, the Office of First-Year Experience received 100 unique nominations. There were more than 100 nominations, but several books earned nominations from more than one person. The nominations came from the University Daily Kansan and its website, accessible to any person with a KU online login. The administration staff of the Office of First-Year Experience also sent emails to all KU faculty members to encourage nominating books.
books, which determines the quality of the book and the benefits the University can get it from it. The team finalizes the selection by discussing and selecting the book that would be the best for the students and the University.
The Common Book for the 2014-2015 school year was "The Center of Everything" by Laura Moriarty, an associate professor of creative writing at KU. The book is considered a contemporary book, which tries to connect students' daily lives with the protagonists.
"I did get my Common Book for this year, but I haven't read it yet," said Ryan Oliver, a freshman from Independence. "It didn't interest me enough to read it."
Oliver is a bigger fan of classic literature than contemporary books.
"I would have read it [the Common Book] if it was a classic literature instead," said Oliver.
Hemingway's work was
chosen this year because the book focuses on World War L. The University's World War I Commemoration Committee has a high number of programming opportunities put together through the year 2017-2018, and the book is a crucial part.
"The quality of the writing is a strong reason [why the book was selected]."
"The quality of the writing is a strong reason [why the book was selected]," said Graham. "All of those things together — the timing, the quality, the program opportunity — I think that made it the best candidate amongst the finalist group."
HOWARD GRAHAM Associate director of academic programs, Office of First-Year Experience
The Committee pushes
SEE COMMON PAGE 2
Westar Energy installs light in campus 'rape lot'
ALANA FLINN
@alana_finn
After a general concern from students about lack of campus lighting, Student Senate has successfully worked with Westar Energy to increase the wattage of lights between 12th and 14th streets, and has placed a new light pole on 14th and Louisiana streets.
The increased wattage will help light the path near a lot
In a previous Kansan article, Capt. James Anguiano of the Public Safety Office said the name has been around for a long time, and that there used to be another lot also referred to as the rape lot. Public Safety didn't have records of sexual assaults happening at either lot, one of which no longer exists.
commonly referred to as the "rape lot" by many scholarship hall residents.
Student Body Vice President Miranda Wagner saw a need for a new light pole at the location because many students, especially females, were concerned for their safety in unlit locations.
"I think it's just kind of general knowledge that
"In recent history, we haven't had any incidents reported there," Anguiano said.
SEE SENATE PAGE 2
Index
CLASSIFIEDS 7
CROSSWORD 6
ARTS & FEATURES 5 SPORTS 8
OPINION 4 SUDOKU 6
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2015 The University Daily Kansan
MIRANDA DAVIS/KANSAN
et from Student Senate
Don't Forget
Westar Energy installed a light pole in this parking lot at no cost to the University after a request from Student Senate.
To thank your mail carrier.
It's Thank a Mailman Day.
Today's Weather
90 percent chance of snow with winds N at 15 mph.
HI: 26
LO: 6
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