WEDNESDAY,JULY17,2002
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 7
Task force looks to increase visibility of student services
By Lauren Beatty Kansan staff writer
A task force at the University of Kansas is searching for better ways to offer services to students, but changes won't take place for at least a year.
Kathryn Tuttle, director of the Freshman-Sophomore Advising Center and member of the task force, said the group was looking at ways to restructure links between all student services, including the office of student affairs.
A survey issued by the task force found that only 17 percent of faculty, staff and graduate teaching assistants surveyed thought students were informed about the services available to them.
"We realize that communication is one of our challenges," Tuttle said. "One focus of the committee was to look for ways to communicate to students what services are available to them."
In a report to the provost, the task force called for a restructuring of student services with one "vice provost for student services" in charge of all student life organizations, like Counseling and Psychological Services and the Emily Taylor Womens Resource Center and all academic services like the Writing Center and Career and Employment Services.
Career and Employment Provost David Shulenburger said changes were necessary because of the
retirement of the current vice chancellor for student affairs David Ambler.
"Dave Ambler has served in that position for 25 years so there has not been a comprehensive look at the organization," Shulenberger said. "Now is the time to take a look."
Shulenberger said many changes could be expected, including a new tie between the office of admissions and the office of student financial aid.
"It probably couldn't be said that we have a comprehensive service," he said. "A number of students fall through the cracks because of the way we are organized"he said.
Mary Lee Hummert, professor of communication studies, will take over Ambler's job Aug. 1. During her time as interim vice chancellor for student affairs, much of the restructuring would take place, Shulenberger said.
"The general thrust will be toward consolidating student support services under the vice provost and a number of things will be added to that position," he said. "There will be a number of changes during the next year. I'd like to have the bulk of the reorganization done by the time we select the person for the new position."
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Contact Beatty at Ibeatty@kansan.com. This story was edited by Matt Stumpff.
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NYC mayor attends ceremony for WTC victims, families
NEW YORK (AP) Workers and victims' family members gathered Monday at a Staten Island landfill to mark the end of a grueling and emotional 10 months for the search of human remains from the collapsed World Trade Center.
"We see the best and the worst," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, standing a few feet from a heaping mound of debris at the Fresh Kills landfill. "We are here because of the worst of humanity, the terrorists who caused so many deaths and so much pain."
"We will not forget 2,800 people who died ... to make this the best country in the world," said Bloomberg, who also praised the recovery workers for helping "to give us some closure."
Just before the start of the ceremony, Bloomberg shook hands with and kissed some of the victims' family members.
He told one woman who lost a loved one on Sept. 11: "What I always do is I think about my own kids, if I lost them. I don't know what I would do. Twenty-eight hundred people died for this country. What we have is their memories."
John Tedesco, a firefighter from Engine 9 in Manhattan, N.Y., who sifted through the debris with hundreds of other firefighters, police officers and sanitation workers, was philosophical about finishing up the work.
"It has to end sooner or later. You can't keep going on. There has to be a stopping point, but there will never be closure because so many people haven't been found."
John Tedesco NY firefighter
The landfill became the final stop for debris after Sept. 11 as trucks and barges began hauling rubble from the World Trade Center to be sifted one last time for remains, personal property and criminal evidence.
The University of Kansas Presents THEATRE
Kansas Summer Theatre 2002
Two new plays based on reminiscences and oral histories about the early period of Kansas history
John Gronbeck-Tedesco's
Prairie Fire Partl: Lift-Off Partl: Flight & Denouement
When dynamic historical events are made possible through everyday human struggles seldom remembered...
Featuring: The Euphoria Stringband
Directed and Choreographed by Marianne Kubik Scenic and Lighting Design by Delbert Unrub Costume and Mask Design by Mark Reaney
7:30 p.m. July 12- 14 & 19- 21, 2002 Crafton-Preyer Theatre
Reserved seat tickets are on sale through the KU ticket offices University. Theatre, 864-3982; Lied Center, 864-ARTS; SUA Office, 864-7469; and on line at www.kutheatre.com; $10 public, $5 all students, $9 senior citizens; VISA and MasterCard are accepted for phone and on-line orders.