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THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
EDUCATION
Gray-Little talks with ROTC members about retention
vamin@kansan.com
Tuesday afternoon marked the first time the Chancellor of the University of Kansas met with members of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) in the Military Science building.
The Air Force ROTC program hosted Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little in an open house to show her the facilities and to give her more information about the programs.
"This was a good opportunity for me to learn more about the goals of the program, the people that are there and the needs of the program," Gray-Little said. "They seemed pleased with the changes in the building and would like more funding for students who are out of state."
Air Force ROTC Detachment Commander Montague Samuel said their goal was to make the University aware of the ROTC programs and show what the programs offer to the University. Samuel said there are currently 57 members enlisted in the program and 35 are on scholarship. The average GPA for members of the Air Force ROTC is 3.0.
"We wanted to show Chancellor Gray-Little that we are working for the University and we are also out there recruiting for the University by bringing in quality students," Samuel said.
One issue brought up during the meeting was the lack of retention in the ROTC program, and Samuel said the support from the Chancellor and the University could go a long way in helping students stay in the program.
"Economic times are tough right now, but if you complete our program, whether it is through the Air Force, Army, Navy or whatever, you will have a job waiting on you even if you don't stay in the military and make it a career. You will still have that experience," Samuel said.
Chancellor Gray-Little said she was pleased to hear about programs underway to upgrade the building.
"The ROTC program is a part of a long tradition at the University and it is outstanding that we have one of the highest ranked programs in the country," Gray-Little said.
Edited by Max Rothman
CRIME
PASSING THE TORCH
New York woman faked cancer to get donations for wedding
GOSHEN, N.Y. — A New York woman admitted Wednesday that she faked cancer to con donors out of money and services for her wedding and Caribbean honeymoon.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jessica Vega, 25, isn't likely to do any time in state prison, court officials said, but will have to repay $13,368 to her victims and remain in jail until her sentencing May 15.
She pleaded guilty in Orange County Court to scheming to defraud and possession of a forged instrument charges.
In 2010, Vega spread the word in her Hudson Valley community that she was dying of leukemia and wanted a "dream wedding"
to Michael O'Connell, the father of her infant daughter, in the few months she had left.
Donors stepped up with rings, an embroidered wedding dress and a time-share in Aruba for the honeymoon. Other contributions included food, wine and hairdressing.
Vega was living in Montgomery, a town 60 miles north of New York City, when she launched the scam, which picked up steam when her story was featured in a local newspaper, the Times Herald-Record of Middletown.
AP PHOTO
But after their May 2010 wedding, O'Connell came to the newspaper with questions about her story and the couple divorced.
An Orange County Grand jury indicted Jessica Vega, 25, with grand larceny and scheme to defraud. According to the indictment, Vega accepted thousands of dollars in donated services and goods after claiming in 2010 that she was dying of leukemia.
TYLER BIERWIRTH/KANSAN
Brandon Woodard, a junior from Topeka, speaks during the Student Senate meeting Wednesday night after officially taking over as Student Senate Vice President. Woodward won the KUUnited election with Hannah Bolton, a junior from St. Libory, Neb., who, after tonight, is stepping into the shoes of student body president. Together they are primarily focused on stabilizing a common grading system between academic departments and reducing tuition cost.