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Volume 128 Issue 64
Wednesdav. Januarv 21.2015
Kansan.com
The student voice since 1904
WAITING FOR OBAMA
Kansas students, Lawrence citizens have chance to see President Obama speak
Students line up on Tuesday to get tickets to the President Barack Obama speak. Tickets were given out at the Kansas Union and Douglas County Fairgrounds.
SKYLAR ROLSTAD
@SkvRolSports
Long lines of people stretched all morning and afternoon in two locations in Lawrence on Tuesday — the Kansas Union and the Douglas County Fairgrounds — as many waited hours to secure their tickets for President Barack Obama's speech at the University on Thursday.
ALI DOVER/KANSAN
Only seventh in the line this afternoon at the fairgrounds was 100-year-old Lawrence resident Fern Coffin, who was getting her first chance to see a presidential speech. Coffin has lived through 17 presidencies and both World Wars.
"I want to see President Obama because he has been my favorite president," Coffin said. "I have always admired him since he took office."
She began waiting with family members at 10 a.m. for the tickets to be given out at 5 p.m. Although she has experienced so many changes in politics, her main motivation to see Obama was her interest in his changes to education.
"President Obama has done a lot for education in this country and I hope he can continue to make education more easily-accessible," she said. Coffin worked as a teacher for 41 years before retiring in 1980.
Tickets for the University's faculty, students and staff were handed out by the Student Uniqn Activities ticket office
The fairground staff didn't disclose how many tickets were handed out at the University, and encouraged anyone who didn't get tickets in the morning to go to the fairgrounds that afternoon.
starting at 9 a.m. The line wound along Jayhawk Boulevard and many students had been waiting for hours before the box office opened.
Toward the end of the line at the fairgrounds, University students took a second chance at a ticket. Kansas junior Jhonatan Batrez from Kansas City, Kan. arrived at the end of the general public line at around 3 p.m. He hoped to get a ticket at the Kansas Union on Tuesday morning, but had to leave the line for class.
Lawrence residents wait in line for tickets to Obama's speech at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Among those in line was 100-year-old resident Fern Coffin. Coffin said she has always wanted to see Obama speak.
Batrez was particularly interested in hearing about Obama's plans for immigration reform, but was mainly excited to see the president in person.
"I've never been so close to the president," Batrez said. "When I knew that I would have a chance to see him speak, there was no way I wasn't going to take it."
ALI DOVER/KANSAN
town and I was like 'that's kind of interesting,' Nagle said. "I didn't think there would be this many people, but it will be cool to say I went."
"I saw the article that said President Obama was coming to
Joe Nagle, a sophomore information technology major from Wichita, was drawn to the fairgrounds for a ticket after his roommate suggested he should go. Nagle didn't attempt to get a ticket Tuesday morning but received one in the evening, although he only joined the line an hour before tickets began being distributed.
Before becoming a student at the University, Nagle served in the Army for four years. Although he doesn't take a particular interest in politics, he wanted to see Obama for the opportunity to see the first sitting president at the University since 1911.
Edited by Garrett Long
ANNA WENNER/KANSAN
Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little sent out a University-wide letter Tuesday to address the issues of racial inequality. In the letter, she discussed discrimination and asked for the community to help "bridge the racial divide."
Chancellor addresses racial inequality in letter
TIM MCGINNIS
@tim_mcginnis
Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little addressed issues of racial inequality in a university-wide letter Tuesday, urging students, staff and faculty to confront intolerance.
In her letter, Gray-Little continued discussion on discrimination and asked for the Lawrence community to help "bridge
"We must confront fear, distrust, and misunderstanding head on," said Gray-Little. "We can start in our own community by engaging in honest, open and respectful dialogue that honors the dignity of each of us as a human being."
The University has attempted to inform students and faculty about inequality through forums,
the racial divide" and strive for equality.
classes and events, such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Day events celebrated this Monday. However, Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Blane Harding, does not think that enough is being done.
Harding said it's good that King's work is celebrated but thinks not much is done to continue his movement. Although Martin Luther
SEE RACE PAGE 2
University to begin offering Spanish minor in Fall 2015
KELLY CORDINGLEY
@kellycordingley
A Spanish minor will be offered beginning Fall 2015, according to a press release from the University yesterday. This addition comes three years after Student Senate passed a resolution to support the new minor in 2012 amid push from students.
"We are thrilled to widen access to our curriculum to more students," said Robert Bayliss, director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, in the press release. "We're eager to see how future graduates will utilize the knowledge they gain through the minor."
The press release states that Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. In addition, the University's Spanish program is one of the top in the region, according to the press release.
"Spanish is becoming more prevalent," he said. "Having background in other languages improves your chances of getting a job, and it's beneficial in life. I've taken French classes here to gain experience in language, and knowing a Spanish minor is now offered gives more opportunities."
Nathan Bachynski, a sophomore from Dover, Pa., said hed like to broaden his language knowledge, and this minor opens a new door for him.
Students who wish to add the minor will take courses in language, culture and literature, as well as a new course for both minors and majors, Spanish 101.
"Faculty and students worked closely to develop a program that maintains top-quality instruction and meets students' needs for future career paths," said Stuart Day, chair of the Spanish and Portuguese department, in the
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OPINION 4
"I'd tried to teach myself Spanish, and it was kind of hard," he said. "Having something where you can take courses and have that structure would give you a foundation on which to build."
Jack Rooker, a sophomore from Los Angeles, said had a Spanish minor been offered when he was a freshman, he would have taken it to better assist him in his future profession.
"Because there are certain demographic trends, it makes it more important to be multilingual," he said. "I want to be a doctor, so if I could have that ability, it would help me better help my patients."
press release.
Rooker said this minor would also give him a better chance to gain the knowledge needed to be able to communicate effectively with patients and families.
Edited by Alex Lamb
List of colleges under Title IX investigation expands to 94
CLASSIFIEDS 3
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SPORTS 7
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Washburn University was the first school in the state of Kansas to be added to the national list on July 1, 2014. Last year the Office of Civil Rights found six schools had violated Title IX in 2014.
Barnard College of Columbia University and Purchase College are the most recent additions to the list of colleges under federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.
The department is now looking into 97 investigations at 94 col-
conduct regardless of whether or not a criminal investigation is conducted.
Riley Mortensen
leges and universities across the country, including the University of Kansas and Kansas State University, for evidence of violations when handling sexual assault cases under the gender equity law Title IX.
Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex and also includes sexual harassment and assault. Under Title IX, universities and colleges are required to respond to reports regarding sexual mis-
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