+
Volume 128 Issue 68
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Kansan.com
+
The student voice since 1904
ON KANSAS' BEHALF
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Professor Stephen McAlister with his daughters, Sofia and Mara, by the front steps of the Supreme Court the day of the argument. McAlister argued in front of the Supreme Court in favor of Kansas suing natural gas companies.
KU professor travels to Washington, D.C., to argue in front of Supreme Court
ALLISON CRIST
@AllisonCristUDK
Stephen McAllister, E.S., and Tom W. Hampton distinguished professor of law, recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to argue in front of the Supreme Court. The Kansan spoke with McAllister about the case and his experiences in Washington.
KANSAN: What was the case about?
MCALLISTER: It had to do with a bunch of natural gas companies doing various things to conspire to raise natural gas prices. They ended up making more money than they should've by overcharging institutions like schools, hospitals and even private organizations. So, Kansas, along with about 20 other states, joined together to sue these natural gas companies. I argued on their behalf.
KANSAN: What was the opposing argument?
MCALLISTER: The case came down to the states versus
the federal government. The federal government came in on the side of the gas companies, who were arguing that only federal law applied to them, and state law that prohibits artificially inflating prices couldn't be applied. But, because of antitrust laws that make free markets fair and competitive, the plaintiff was able to prove the companies cheated by jacking up prices way higher than they needed to be.
KANSAN: When will a decision be made?
MCALLISTER: I made my argument on Jan. 12, and they will make a decision after hearing the rest of the cases at the end of June. This isn't something controversial, so it might even be sooner than that.
KANSAN: What are the consequences if the case is lost?
MCALLISTER: Well, the institutions won't receive any payments or recover any of the money that they overspent while paying these
natural gas companies. But even if the suit isn't won, the companies won't be able to overcharge in the future. It will also help deter people from conspiring in the future.
KANSAN: How did you decide to go to Washington?
MCALLISTER: Once the states came together, I was asked by
the Kansas Attorney General to submit a brief explaining how the states had a right to take this issue to court. This would've been my seventh time arguing in front of the Supreme Court.
KANSAN: Why was this case important to you, personally?
MCALLISTER: I was born
and raised in Kansas, so everything is important to me when it concerns the state. If it's important to Kansas, it's important to me. Secondly, my legal career has always been connected to the courts in some way, and it all fits in my wheelhouse of interest.
KANSAN: Out of the seven, what has been the most interesting or fun case you've argued?
MCALLISTER: They've all been really fun. In some ways, the most fun I had was with Kansas vs. Nebraska, a case I argued over fall break this last year. It concerned the Republican River that winds through Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas, and how Nebraska was taking more water than their fair share. It was complicated, and the justices were struggling to sort it all out. In other ways, I'll always favor an argument I made four years ago when I was appointed by the court, and ended up with a case nobody wanted to defend. It was an honor they plucked me out.
KANSAN: How have you improved through the years arguing all of these cases?
MCALLISTER: In plenty of ways. One thing that's definitely helped me once I got to the Supreme Court was teaching constitutional law here at KU. Being in a classroom day in and day out, explaining and taking questions has made me more comfortable compared to the first time I argued. Even though I have done it multiple times, I still get nervous, but not nearly as much.
KANSAN: Have you become a better teacher after arguing in front of the Supreme Court?
MCALLISTER: Definitely. Just like teaching has made me a better lawyer and a better advocate, my advocacy has made me a better teacher. I bring my life experiences into the classroom, and stay in touch with the Supreme Court. It's a two-way street.
Edited by Garrett Long
Psych professor to retire in May
LILY GRANT
lilygrant38@gmail.com
Holmes taught multiple generations of students and said he will miss students the most. He connected with many of them long after they graduate, he said.
Dr. David S. Holmes, professor of abnormal psychology and general psychology, will retire at the end of this semester after 43 years of teaching at the University.
"I am proud of the fact that I have been able to teach so many students so much, and that they remember and talk about what they learned later in life." Holmes said.
He taught many students whose parents also had a class with him.
"I haven't just taught students; I've taught families," he said.
He's taught about 22,500 students in all of his years at the University, and he has "loved every minute of it."
Morgan Henry, a junior from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., is a former student of Holmes. She describes his teaching style as engaging and driven, and recalls Holmes using actual case studies as examples in class.
"He was able to make things relevant to us. He always kept it interesting." Henry
said. "It's hard, because he's been here for so long. He'll definitely be missed. He's made a huge impact on the school."
Holmes said the most challenging part of being a professor was writing good exams, and the most rewarding is seeing the faces of his students when what they're learning makes sense.
Holmes said he is proud of the research he's published with his students, "the results of which in many cases changed what people thought and did." The first experiment he published with his students demonstrated that strenuous aerobic exercise reduces depression.
"A few years ago I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, and now there are some in Europe that I want to climb." he said.
Lately when Holmes said he walks to class, he looks around campus and sees the faces of the students he is really going to miss.
After Holmes leaves the University, he has a few more mountains to climb - and that's not figuratively.
He will continue to research and publish articles, and he said, "there is always one more wood-working project in my shop to finish."
Edited by Vicky Diaz Camacho
Water main break temporarily closes student rec center
The Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center is closed indefinitely following a water main break on Monday.
Yesterday, the basketball courts, racquetball courts and cardio/strength area were open from 4 until 8:30 p.m. in Robinson Center; however, equipment checkout was not available.
For Joe Preblud, a sophomore from Denver, Ambler being closed is a major inconvenience.
"It affects me because I need
my exercise to keep my weight and it is a good way to blow off stress by taking it out on the weights. Preblud said.
Tre Pedigo, a junior from Kansas City. Mo., was also put out by the indefinite closing.
Jimmy Rosales, a junior from Grandview, Mo., tried to go to Ambler yesterday morning, only to find it was closed.
"With the rec being closed, there is no convenient place to get any significant type of exercise." Pedigo said.
"I couldn't work out and it messed up my schedule," Rosales said. "I usually go right after my 8 a.m., and I went there
The center closed down Monday around 6 p.m. due to the water main break and students were not allowed in, while those already inside were allowed to finish their workouts before they left.
Ambler did not reopen at its normal time of 5.30 a.m. today. A new opening time will be determined once water is restored to the facility.
straight after [class yesterday] and it was closed."
Follow @KUAmblerRec on Twitter for updates.
Crews work on fixing the water main break near the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center on Monday evening. The break has caused the Rec to close indefinitely, according to its Twitter page.
- Alana Flinn
KATELYNN MALONEY/KANSAN
New director of student conduct to arrive in February
The University named KU alumnus Lance Watson as director of student conduct and community standards. Watson, who graduated from the University in 2007, will join the University on Feb. 23.
Watson previously worked at Northwestern University as the Assistant Director of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution. Watson will succeed former director Nick Kerhwald, who left Kansas to join the University of Kentucky in December of last year.
The responsibilities of the director are temporarily being delegated between Jane Tuttle, assistant vice provost for student success and Josh Jones, student conduct and community standards coordinator, as reported by the Kansan in November.
Riley Mortensen
KATLYN BALLARD/KANSAN
A judge ordered to expunge charges made against two men who were accused of sexually assaulting two women in Hashiner Hall last October.
MIRANDA DAVIS
@MirandaDavisUDK
Judge orders expungement in assault case
Douglas County District Court Judge Kay Huff ordered Tuesday to expunge the charges made against the two men accused of sexual assault in Hashinger Hall, according to a report from the Lawrence Journal-World.
The men, both 21 years old, were arrested Oct. 7 on suspicion of raping two women incapable of giving consent in Hashinger Hall, according to Capt. James Anguiano of the KU Public Safety Office. The alleged rapes occurred between 2 and 5 a.m. on Sept. 28 in the residence hall.
When the charges are expunged on a case, the records of the arrest and charges will no longer exist.
In December, the case against the two men was dropped and Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson said there was no
Index
CLASSIFIEDS 8 CRYPTOQUIPUS 6 SPORTS 10
CROSSWORD 6 OPINION 4 SUDOKU 6
An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation and used as evidence in court. The Lawrence Journal-World reported it requested the affidavits on Oct. 9 under a Kansas law that states a court must decide to redact, release or seal the evidence within 10 days of request for disclosure.
On Oct. 23, the probable cause affidavit in the arrests of the two men were sealed by Douglas County District Court Judge Barbara Kay Huff, according to Deana Sage, records department supervisor.
The Kansan requested records on Oct. 22, but the request was denied the next day.
At the time of publication, the Kansan could not independently confirm the expungement of the records.
longer sufficient evidence against the two men.
- Edited by Garrett Long
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2015 The University Daily Kansan
To enjoy the amazing weather today.
Today's Weather
Sunny skies with a 0 percent chance of rain Wind SSW at 25 mph.
HI: 72
LO: 37
+