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Volume 128 Issue 70
Kansan.com
Monday, February 2, 2015
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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The student voice since 1904
CIRCUS ACTS
NICHOÍAS CLAYTON/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chairman John Rubin, a Shawnee Republican, asks a question during a Kansas House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee hearing on legislation reducing penalties for first- and second-time marjuana possession Wednesday. Supporters acknowledge that the state's budget woes are part of the reason they're pushing the measure.
ANOTHER GO
Legislature hears medical mariuana bill for second time
KELLY CORDINGLEY
@kellycordingley
The bill to legalize medical marijuana in Kansas has once again been introduced and referred to the Public Health and Welfare Committee.
State Sen. David Haley, D-Kansas City, Kan., first introduced the bill in 2010 only to have the bill die in committee. He reintroduced the bill for the 2015 legislative session.
"It's a safe alternative to many prescription drugs, and it doesn't make sense to demonize it," Haley said. "We're going to keep pushing this."
Haley said medical marijuana will help relieve effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and help senior citizens cope with painful health issues such as glaucoma or cancer. He also said he noticed too many law-abiding citizens being held or arrested for possession of what he said is a benign substance.
"I believe in crimes that fit the times," he said. "If a crime doesn't match the danger it poses to a person, it doesn't make any sense."
When Haley began working on this bill, nine states and Washington, D.C. had provisions legalizing medical marijuana. Now, 23 states and D.C. have such laws.
"I'm confident that medical marijuana will be made available in all 50 states in
the future," Haley said.
Haley said he doubts the bill will pass this year because Kansas tends to be less open to change than other states.
"I don't know what state we'll be," he said. "Maybe we'll be No. 24, which I doubt. The learning curve in Kansas is an issue. We're slow to learn and to grow."
The Cannabis Compassion and Care Act would mimic what the 23 states and D.C. have set up. The bill would create a patient registry with identification cards, set up dispensaries and outline the health conditions that would be eligible for treatment with medical marijuana.
Joe Preblud, a sophomore from Denver, said his home state benefited from legalizing marijuana by imposing heavy taxes on marijuana, while allowing people who need marijuana for medical needs to get access.
"What we did in Colorado is great because it allows people with stress disorders and PTSD to use something better than prescription drugs in some case," he said.
Preblud said there are still issues with regulating marijuana, such as people still buying from dealers who purchase marijuana from growers, rather than from the heavily taxed dispensaries. However, Preblud said he was glad to see some Kansas legislators pushing for the legalization of medical
mariiuana.
"I think medical marijuana should be available everywhere in all 50 states because it has so many benefits," he said. "If all states legalized it, the feds aren't going to come shut it down because it really is beneficial to so many people."
Last time the bill did not go any further than the committee, and Haley predicts the same will happen this time.
"This is a state where many people and elected officials feel that if it was good enough for our forefathers and our ancestors, then it's good enough for us." Haley said. "Just because something always was, certainly doesn't mean it's the way it should be. We're steeped in yesteryear. Kansans aren't open to change."
Regardless of what Kansans think of medical marijuana, Haley said it is crucial for constituents to voice their opinions to their state legislators.
"It is important for those who read this to contact their legislators in their own district and to express their opinion," he said. "It is important to share what they think — on both sides of the issue — with their senator or state representative so the issue will continue to be debated."
Edited by Yu Kyung Lee
NICHOLAS CLAYTON/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Eric Voth, chairman of the Institute on Global Drug Policy and a Topeka doctor, argues during a Kansas Senate committee hearing that marijuana is dangerous and legislation to partially legalize its use would harm public health.
Study: Debt leads to post-grad problems
TIM MCGINNIS
@tim_mcginnis
Student loans are taking a toll on families. According to a recent study at Pew Research Center, roughly four in every 10 households headed by an adult under the age of 40 are struggling with debt to some extent.
These most recent numbers are the highest on record. Additionally, students who did not take out student loans had a net worth seven times greater than those who did.
coordinator, said most of the students that come into her office need help managing their student loans.
"We take a look at the student's loans, and help them come up with a plan to pay them off after graduation," Bayo said. "We want students to be able to pay off their debt in a responsible and simple way."
Bayo said many of her clients have loan and credit card debt because students have no experience in dealing with these monetary issues.
One of the reasons for this increase in debt is because many students find that loans are the only way to pay for rising tuition costs. This issue is prevalent at the University, where tuition has risen each year since 1994. Tuition for nonresident students at the University is currently $24,831, while tuition for resident students is $9,548, based on 30 credits per year, according to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
"It is difficult for some people to handle student loans and a credit card at the same time," Bayo said. "That is a lot of responsibility for many students."
"Most of the people who give you the loans make it easy to pay them back," Donnelly said. "The most important thing is finding a job so you can."
Patrick Donnelly, a sophomore from Chicago, said he should be able to pay off his student loans as long as he is able to get a job after graduation.
Although college loans lead to debt in multiple areas, the Pew study indicated indebted college graduates do achieve a higher average income than students without a bachelor's degree. Bayo said with a good plan in place, most students are able to pay off all their debt in about a 10-year time frame.
While college loans are one source of the student debt issue, credit cards can aggravate the problem. Managing money can be a challenge for the many college students who have to pay back loans and pay for the cost of living. However, the University has implemented organizations that help students with their monetary needs.
Jessie Jacobe, a sophomore from Chicago, said he took out student loans because it became too difficult to pay out-of-state tuition.
"Student loans can be a difficult thing to deal with for college students, but it is an investment in their future that will pay off greatly," Bayo said.
Student Money Management Services is an on-campus organization that helps students responsibly manage their money while they are in college and after they graduate. Fatou Bayo, the organization's project
While rising tuition is one of the reasons behind student debt, another important factor is whether students get a job after college.
"Loans are the only way I have to pay for school because my mom is the only one that
works, and she has to pay for three kids to go to college," Jacobe said.
Edited by Kayla Schartz
ALI DOVER/KANSAN
A bowler picks out a bowling ball in preparation for her turn at Saturday night's Bowling Luau. The event raised money for academic scholarships.
Index CLASSIFIEDS 12 CRYPTOQUIPS 6 SPORTS 14 CROSSWORD 6 OPINION 4 SUDOKU 6 * All contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2015 The University Daily Kansan
ALICIA GARZA
@Aliciaoftheudk
The School of Education teamed up with Scot Pollard, a School of Education alumnus and retired NBA player. Saturday to raise money for academic scholarships in its first Bowling Luau.
School of Education teams up with Scot Pollard for fundraiser
@Aliciaoftheudk
Participants were able to sign up in teams of five
fun," Pollard said. "We know the School of Education does the golfing tournament every year, but we wanted to do something different. Not everyone golfs, but everyone bowls. The luau theme was just to add some fun to it, and Dawn actually came up with that."
SEE BOWLING PAGE 2
Former student charged with misdemeanor sexual battery
"We just decided we wanted to do something
All students and alumni were encouraged to dress in lau-themed clothing for a fun tradition that Pollard and his wife, Dawn, came up with.
to bowl or pay to sponsor a lane. More than half the lanes at Royal Crest Lanes bowling alley were filled with bowlers and sponsors.
A 20-year-old former University student was charged Wednesday, Jan. 28, with misdemeanor sexual battery in connection with an incident in April 2014 at Gettrude Sellards Pearson residence hall.
The man, who was 19 at the time, allegedly sexually assaulted a 19-year-old
was later released on his own recognizance. "Own Recognizance," or OR bond, means a suspect can sign himself or herself out of jail on the condition he promises to appear at all future court dates.
The suspect's next court hearing is scheduled for April 6 at 1:30 p.m.
female student in a dorm room between 3:30 and 4 p.m. on April 8, the Kansan reported. The victim said she and the suspect were acquaintances.
KU Police arrested the suspect the following day but he was not charged and then was released from jail. The case remained open and a new complaint was filed in December, according to court documents.
— Riley Mortensen
The man was booked and charged Wednesday, but
Don't Forget It's winter outside this week.
Today's Weather
Mostly sunny. 0 percent chance of rain. Winds SW at 5 mph
HI: 30
L0: 22
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