Volume 124 Issue 114
kansan.com
Friday, March 9, 2012
Local economy better City reports upswing in 2011 PAGE 2
LAWRENCE
The ordinance applies to the red shaded area in downtown Lawrence. It will only affect public spaces.
City bans glassware during tournament
LUKE RANKER
Iranker@kansan.com
The City of Lawrence aims to maintain safety in the midst of March Madness.
Sergeant Troy Squire of the Lawrence Police Department said the ordinance doesn't stem from any specific incident.
The City Commission unanimously approved Tuesday a temporary ordinance that would prohibit the use of glass bottles and other glassware on streets and sidewalks in the downtown area during the weekends of the Elite Eight, Final Four, and Championship games of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. The ordinance defines the downtown area as Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire Streets from 6th Street to 13th Street.
"We're just trying to be proactive," he said. "We want to make it safer than it was in 2008."
He said that the University student community, and the rest of Lawrence, have maintained order well in that past and no significant issues have come up during past NCAA tournaments.
Brandon Graham, bought Jefferson Restaurant, 743 Massachusetts St., in May, 2011, and bought Papa Keno's Pizzeria, 1035 Massachusetts St., in January. He said he doesn't know what operating those businesses during the tournament will be like, but he doesn't expect crowds to be a problem.
"I give the public the benefit of the doubt." Graham said.
He said the ordinance shouldn't affect bars because people are already prohibited from leaving drinking establishments with open containers. And, Graham said, Papa Keno's uses plastic cups
Ordinance Time:
12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 24,
2012, through 6:00 a.m. on Monday,
March 26
12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 31 through 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 3
NCAA Men's Basketball
Game Times:
Elite Eight: March 24-25
Final Four: March 31
Championship: April 2
He said he would have more staff on hand if the Jayhawks make it to the Sweet 16, to provide quality service for the increased number of customers and help maintain order.
instead of glass.
"It's a no-brainer public safety issue," he said.
Squire said along with broken glass causing injuries, glass can be used as a dangerous projectile. He said plastic containers are much less likely to cause injury or property damage.
Squire, who assists the city in planning for NCAA tournament crowds, said the police would have a significant presence downtown during the Final Four weekend. Squire said he couldn't give specifics about how the police and city plan to deal with a large crowd, but did say a number public safety and sanitation were considered.
"With that many people, plus alcohol, bad things can happen," he said. "We want eliminate as many things as possible."
Edited by Ian Cummings
CLASSIFIEDS 11
CROSSWORD 4
RAISING STUDENT FEES
Students will see a 3.5 percent increase in fees next semester
BREAKING THE BANK
ELISE REUTER
ereuter@kansan.com
The Student Senate Finance Committee plans several changes for next year. To fund the changes, student fees will be raised next school year.
A breakdown of student fees for the 2012-2013 school year shows that new employees for health and counseling services, and inflation are major parts of the $15 increase per student passed in Student Senate's finance committee Wednesday night.
SPORTS 12
SUDOKU 4
The new fee rate is a 3.5 percent increase from last year's student fees.
"The largest increase is $8.30 for Student Health. This is partially due to inflation and changes in the way services at Watkins will be provided to students, accounting for $6.50 of the increase. A new after-hours counseling hotline and a new licensed clinical social worker account for the remaining $1.90 of the fee under Counseling and Psychological Services."
The transportation fee was also increased by $2.50 to pay for a new bus route, Route 19 and a new Saferide route servicing students living in Southwest Lawrence.
Other increases include a $3 increase to Student Recreation Fee, a $1.10 increase to legal services, and a $0.25 increase for Renewable Energy and Sustainability that was supplemented by decreases in other fees.
Some senators expressed concerns that the fee increases would be too much of a burden for students on top of paying tuition and
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 5
"I honestly don't think this fee package is posing a threat to students" well-being," said Finance Committee Chair Josh Dean during Wednesday's meeting.
Max McBride, an Overland Park freshman, agreed with Dean, but it is important that these increases don't happen every year.
Breaking down the $15 fee increase
"I don't really mind too much, but the fact that they're continuing to raise them [the fees] is frustrating, because how much more money do they need to operate?" McBride said.
Student fees will total $443.95 with the increase. The University's account of next year's student fees is here:
http://udkne.ws/zu01mi
The new total for student fees would be $443.95, compared to the $428.95 from this past school year. This increase is greater than the rate of inflation, which was reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to be at 2.9 percent in January 2012.
loans. However, others noted that most of these fees, especially the health and transportation fees, would pay for themselves.
Another significant change proposed for next year, is the renovation of Wescoe Beach. The estimated total cost would be $288,000 to $325,000, depending on the layout and lighting on Wescoe Beach. The main idea is to add trees and move seating to make the area more of a social hub for students. The two
"I know we're all paying a lot for student loans, but if it pays for an activity that you use on a regular basis, then I think it's worthwhile," said John Hartner, a graduate student from Barrington, Ill. "From a student's perspective, we have no damn money, and we're strapped for cash. Money is clearly an issue, but the $15 for the services it goes towards is worth it."
existing lights would be moved out closer to jayhawk Blvd., and an additional light would be added to make the area safer at night.
The money contributed by Senate will be taken out of the reserve, so students will not see any fees for the project.
Edited by Max Lush
The finance committee also decided to have the Senate assist with funding the People of KU Magazine, by contributing $1,631 to help with printing costs. The magazine is put out by International Family Association, and is specifically written towards international students, who account for over 2,000 students at KU.
"I would love it if they renovated it, because I think Wescole is very drab," McBride said.
While the bill might seem high, several outside sources are driving down the cost. The Office of the Chancellor will match Student Senate's contributions to the project. As far as lighting is concerned, the Campus Safety Advisory Board and the Office of the Provost will both contribute to fund the lights.
ELECTION
Kansas republicans vote Saturday
LUKE RANKER
Index
Free State High School will host the local Kansas Republican Presidential Caucus Saturday.
LUKE RANKER
lranker@kansan.com
University assistant professor of political Science Michael Lynch said the Kansas caucus is more important in this election than in past elections, because the Presidential candidate has usually been determined before the Kansas caucus is held.
According to a fact sheet provided by University of Kansas College Republicans' president Ashley Moretti, students who are 18 years or older by March 10 registered as a Republican before Feb. 17 can vote at Free State High School on Saturday, as long as they live in the same congressional district as the University. If students don't live in the same congressional district as the University, they can still vote in a provisional ballot at the local site. Voters should bring a valid ID, which will prove state residency.
KANSAS CAUCUS FORMS OF VALID ID:
- A Kansas Driver's License or no-driver's identification card
- A concealed carry of handgun or weapon license
- A US Passport
Source; Kansas Federation of College Republicans
- A public assistance identification card issued by a government office
- A student identification card issued by an accredited postsecondary institution of education in the state of Kansas
- An employee of identification document issued by a government employer
all contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2012 The University Daily Kan
Burdett Loomis, a University professor in political science, said he predicted Rick Santorum will probably be favored in the Kansas Caucus, because he has a strong support from social conservatives.
Presidential candidates Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romeny, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum will appear on the ballot.
"The general rule is that strongest supporters are the ones that come out," Loomis said.
Loomis said Mitt Romney, who took a lead over other candidates on Super Tuesday, has a strong chance of wining the GOP nomination, but Santorum is not far behind.
Loomis said Kansas' role in the presidential election is greater during the GOP primaries, because Kansas is a traditionally Republican state.
"If Santorum wins Kansas and couple other states, he can argue it's not over," he said.
Lynch said caucuses laster than regular primaries, because voters have the opportunity to hear
Lynch also said voters who arrive at 10 a.m. will have to listen to about 30 minutes of speeches before voting. Speeches will repeat through out the voting period, and voters should expect the high school to be crowded, as there is only one caucus site in Lawrence.
speeches supporting each candidate on the ballot before they cast their votes. He said Evangelical Christians and other very conservative Republicans are more likely to vote during a caucus, because they are more willing to take the extra time. Lynch said this demographic of voters supported Mike Huckabee in the 2008 election and will most likely support Santorum this year.
He said students who want to vote in Saturday's caucus should expect to spend more time at the polls than they would during other elections.
"Presidential politics will leave the state after Saturday," he said.
"You aren't just showing up and voting." Lynch said.
— Edited by Corinne Westeman
Don't forget
Tabling and organization visits for Student Senate elections will begin Monday.
Today's Weather
Brisk winds and sunny 5-10mph
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