Volume 124 Issue 131
kansan.com
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
CAST YOUR VOTE
Naming the rockwall: Top three finalists are announced PAGE 3
CAMPAIGNING KICKS OFF
KUnited and SPQR make final preparations for election
VIRAJ AMIN
vamin@kansan.com
With Student Senate elections approaching on Wednesday and Thursday, KUnited's presidential and vice presidential candidates, Hannah Bolton and Brandon Woodard, prepare for the strenuous week.
Bolton, a junior from St. Libory, Neb. and Woodard, a junior from Topeka, have been working hard to get students to vote for them in the upcoming election since the end of spring break. Bolton and Woodard said that they have been tabling and that they plan to send out emails and create Facebook events to ensure that more students vote.
"We have been chalking a lot. It's a great way for people to see our name. We have also been chalking our website. The amount of people that have viewed our website has been tremendous." Woodard said.
"We have really been pushing social media, Twitter and Facebook, even if they Google KUnited, it will take them right to our home page and they can find out more of our platforms and what we want to do if elected."
Bolton and Woodard said the platform that has caught the most attention from students is the goal of stabilizing a common grading system between all academic departments.
in the Greek community. We have received positive feedback and it seems like students want to see the grading system cleaned up" Woodard said.
"Stabilizing the grading system has been very well accepted among people in the scholarship halls and
Another platform that has caught students' eyes are the cell phone charging kiosks that will be located on various parts of campus. Bolton and Woodard said students spend a significant amount of
"Whether or not they are voting for us,we want students to be aware of student government and that their money funds so much for student government."
"We will use these two days as an opportunity to show students how easy it is to vote, just by going to the ku.edu homepage," Bolton said. "Whether or not they are
time using their phones for research and communication. They said they want to provide a way for students to charge their phones in a convenient and accessible place.
Bolton and Woodard also plan to build on platforms that have been in place for the last couple years.
BRANDON WOODARD junior from Topeka
On Wednesday and Thursday Bolton and Woodard will be located on Wescoe Beach and the surrounding area on Jayhawk Boulevard. The University Events Committee gives permission for the running coalitions to be at Mrs.E's.
"KUnited always forces the administration to look at ways to reduce tuition cost. Two or three years ago passed the tuition compact to decrease student debt, and that is something we will continue to work on in the future." Bolton said.
voting for us, we want students to be aware of student government and that their money funds so much for student government," Woodard added.
Voting spiked from 12 percent two years ago to
Brandon Woodard, a junior from Topeka (left), and Hannah Bolton, a junior from St. Libory, Neb. (right), are running as KLUnited's presidential and vice presidential candidates.
21 percent last year. Bolton and Woodard would like to see this trend continue.
When asked about campaigning strategies and election plans, KUinited's opposing coalition, SPQR, or "Senatus Populus Que Ramenus," which is a play on words of a Latin phrase about the ancient Roman Republic, declined to comment. SPQR also cancelled a debate with KUinited that was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon without further explanation. In a previous Kansan article, student body president and vice president candidates Gus Bova and Claire Kerwin said their campaign focuses on decreasing student debt, changing the leadership in Student Senate and performing grassroots debates with students.
TRAVIS YOUNG
— Edited by Jeff Karr
WEATHER
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
A class gathers outside to enjoy the sunshine and warm temperatures. Students take advantage of the nice temperatures by studying outdoors.
Spring weather lures students outside
As spring continues to bloom, students are taking advantage of the warmer weather by spending more of their time outside. Whether they are studying, exercising, or simply appreciating nature, students can take full advantage of spending more time outside.
MARSHALL SCHMIDT
mschmidt@kansan.com
"When given this beautiful weather, we take the opportunity to sit outside and study," said Brett Hidaka, a senior from Overland Park. "It raises everybody's spirits."
Hidaka and his classmates Jen Berman, a senior from Dallas, and Hayley Mallen, a senior from Leawood, spent Monday afternoon studying for a test for their urban geography class on the lawn west of Anschutz Library. While studying outside can be a refreshing change from studying inside. Hidaka said it's also hard not to get distracted or accidentally take a nap.
In addition to preparing for her test, Berman enjoys people watching and looking at the trees on campus during her outdoor study sessions.
Berman's feelings while outdoors are backed up by science too. A study by the Harvard Medical School found that increased, but limited sun exposure increases Vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is linked to fighting osteoporosis, cancer, depression, and heart attacks, according to the study.
"I feel my best when I'm outside." Berman said.
Mallen's favorite part of spring is being able to exercise outdoors.
"it's fun to go out in the morning, design it's still cool," she said. Harvard's study also found
spending more time outdoors helps increase one's overall happiness, concentration and ability to heal from injuries.
Mallen and her roommates, in their first year in an actual house off campus, decided to plant a garden this year where they are growing herbs and perennials.
Mallen also said she enjoys the many on-campus activities that are available outdoors now.
"People are together, and everyone's happy," Mallen said.
Student elections will be held tomorrow and Thursday.
STUDENT SENATE
Vikaas Shanker
attempted to establish debates so the candidates can discuss their platforms," said Adams, referencing unsuccessful tries by the Dole Institute of Politics and the University Daily Kansan. "So there's a Q&A session because we feel it's important for the student body to be able to ask questions to prospective candidates."
"Multiple organizations on campus
Election Commission to hold forum for students
Keith Adams, the commission chair, said the session is open to all students and all candidates are welcome to answer questions. KUnited, SPQR and independent candidates were all invited.
Edited by Max Lush
Students win national moot court competition
The KU Student Senate Elections Commission is holding a Q&A session at 4 p.m. today in the Alderson room of the Kansas Union to give students an opportunity to learn more about the candidates.
LAW SCHOOL
Thirdyear law students BWinters from Owatonna, Minn., and Christi VanBiarcum from St. Louis, won best brief in the Herbert Wechsler National Criminal Law Moot Court Competition in Buffalo on March 31.
Two University Law moot court teams recently won awards in national competitions.
Winters said a brief is a written presentation to a court advocating for a position. Their brief was about whether or not the eighth amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment allowed a 14-year-old convicted of homicide to be sentenced to life without parole.
CLOSSIFIED 7 CRYPTOQUIPS 4 SPORTS 8
CROSSWORD 4 OPINION 5 SUDUKU 4
"Winning best brief was a great honor," Winters said. "We put a great deal of effort into the brief and to see it judged as better than 25 other teams' submissions is great validation for the time and hard work we expended."
Another moot court team, Evan Jarrold and Sean Foley, both third year law students from Overland Park, won best brief earlier in the year at the Mardi Gras Sports Law Competition in New Orleans.
The pair spent about six weeks
Kelsey Cipolla
researching the issues, compiling data, writing and editing the brief before the competition.
All contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
The KU Community College Leadership Symposium will be held in the Kansas Union today from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Today's Weather
Mostly sunny, northeast wind around 10mph.
Sunshine and the livin's easy.
19