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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 20,2002
State proposes cuts
By Sarah Hill Kansan staff writer
A Kansas House committee yesterday recommended a higher education budget that included $5.5 million in budget cuts for the University of Kansas.
If approved by the Legislature, the cuts would reduce state appropriations to KU from the previously proposed $138.7 million to $133.2 million. The new budget, for the fiscal year that begins in July, was ratified by the Kansas House education and
legislative budget committee. If approved, it would reduce state aid to all six Board of Regents schools by a total of about $27 million, 3.8 percent less than was allocated this year.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway said the shortfall in state appropriations for KU would be more than just four percent. Because of state-mandated annual salary increases and the fixed cost of health insurance, KU's budget shortfall would be closer to $15.4 million, he said.
This means the University would have to find other sources of revenue
or other ways to cut costs.
"We would have to find ways to keep the University open," he said. "We'll have to look at whether or not to cancel some programs, there could be a hiring freeze, and we might not be able to replace people who retire."
who retire.
State Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence, said the cuts were "devastating," but the committee passed the budget because it had no alternatives.
The Legislature would have to approve tax increases, such as the proposed new cigarette tax, to avoid
cuts, she said.
cuts," she said.
"We do have to submit a budget,
but we can avoid cuts if we have alternatives," she said.
Ballard said that the state needed to increase its revenue to prevent the budget cuts.
"We've never experienced budget cuts this deep," she said. "We have to look at every option that is available to us."
Contact Hill at shill@kansan.com. This story was edited by Justin Henning.
It's ironic, because she lost all her physical strength, and I lost all my material possessions." — Derek Hein, former resident of 1216 Ohio St.
Students begin to heal
Ex-tenants of fire-ravaged Ohio house have begun getting their lives back to normal
PHOTO BY AARON LERNER/KANSAN
After suffering extensive damage from a fire on Jan. 25, the house at 1216 Ohio St. remains standing until the owner decides its fate.
By Rachel Keesee
Kansan staff writer
The five former residents of a house at 1216 Ohio St. that burned Jan. 25 are slowly picking up the pieces of their lives.
the piece of the
Derek Hein, a Washburn University student
and former resident of the house, said the past few weeks had been rough.
we've all had a tough time coping," Hein said. "But my girlfriend has been really supportive. It's ironic, because she lost all her physical strength and I lost all my material possessions."
Hein and his girlfriend, Lindsey Evans, Marietta, Ga., junior, jumped from the second floor to escape the fire. Hein sprained his ankle and Evans suffered four compressed vertebrae. She still wears a back brace, Hein said.
Hein said his ankle was better, but his right knee gave him trouble going down stairs.
sun wear a back brace. "She's doing better, but she's still in a lot of pain." Hein said. "She's back in classes and at work—kind of. She's a hostess and they have her working one to one-and-a-half hour shifts."
"Upstairs is fine, but I think walking on crutches put a lot of pressure on my right knee," he said.
Aside from the physical injury, Hein said he had to deal with reminders of the fire.
"You get freaked out by the smell of barbecue grill smoke or cigarette smoke or something burning in the fireplace," he said. "It's amazing how much it reminds me of the fire. It kind of makes me queasy."
Partly as a safety precaution, Hein said he got a new puppy. His previous dog, Alko, died in the fire after waking Hein and Evans, helping them escape alive.
Aiko was named after a Grateful Dead song. The new dog is named after a musician, he said.
"I named my new dog Django," Hein said. "I sometimes make the mistake of calling him by my
other dog's name, but I'm learning."
The five former housemates have met to talk things over with their families, Hein said, even though they are now living in separate homes. They all asked that only Hein speak with the media.
Matthew Gader, Topeka sophomore, is living with his brother in Lawrence.
Matt Medling, Lawrence junior, moved in with his parents.
Tom Fleming, Free State High School student has a house in Lawrence.
Hein said he and David Wolfe, Topeka sophomore, were planning to move into an apartment
together in March.
together in math.
"We're good friends and we all still hang out," he said. "Everybody's got their school books back, and professors have been helpful in getting things figured out."
The house at 1216 Ohio St. had no working smoke detectors, and Hein said he and the other residents had filed a complaint with their landlord, Ashley Funderburk.
Funderburk, who owns four other properties in Lawrence, declined to comment for this story.
Contact Keesee at rkeesee@kansan.com. This story was edited by Andy Gassaway.
Burge experiences increase in traffic
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA NEFFKANSAN The new fitness center in Burge Union has brought more students.
PHOTO BY CHRISTINA NEFF/KANSAM
Bill Towns, operations supervisor for KU Memorial Unions, said he thought that the new fitness center had drawn more students.
By Leah Shaffer
The Burge Union has seen an increase in traffic this year because of the opening of a new fitness center there last fall.
Kansan staff writer
The Burge center has replaced Robinson Center as the work-out destination of Julie Rogowski, Palatine, ill., sophomore. Rogowski said she preferred the Burge center
He said the number of people entering the Burge Union had dramatically increased compared to the previous year.
because of the newer equipment, access to television and music and daytime hours.
Julie Welsh, Overland Park senior, works at the center on Mondays and said it was always filled with students waiting to use the machines.
"I haven't been to Robinson since this opened," she said.
Rick Rosenstengle, associate director for facility management in recreation services, said the fitness center was a way to give something back to the students who had been paving a recreation fee.
"The equipment is definitely better." she said.
The center was also a place for them to test new equipment, which could be used in the new student
recreation center. Ground breaking for the new center is set for Friday, Apr.12.
Rosenstengle said the Burge center had 2,386 visits counted in January and the numbers were increasing. He said more than 75 percent of the users were freshman and sophomores and almost 80 percent of the users were women.
Rosenstengle said that Recreation Services had yet to determine whether it would keep the fitness center after the new one was built.
"If there's a need for it, we'll look into that," he said.
Contact Shaffer at lashafter@kansan.com. This story was edited by Jeremy Clarkson.
Students speak out about tuition
Hill
Responses compiled by Jessica Tims and Caroline Boyer. Kansan staff writers
Heard on the
Q: How do you feel about the tuition increase?
"As long as the benefits actually help out the
students and help out the facilities that we have, that would be a lot better for the school. But if they are hiking up the cost just for their own good, just so they have more money, I don't think that's very good." Marcus Bush, Hoffman Estate, Ill, sonhomore
COMING IN TOMORROW'S KANSAN
"I don't necessarily think it is needed, not right at this moment; it can wait. We have a lot of money at this University. They suck us dry already" Sarah Johnson, Topeka senior.
"I think it's good if it'is going to go towards pay for teachers because I think that there's a big problem with that, but other than that I really don't know what they'll use it for." Lauren Hardy, Manhattan, N.Y. sophomore.
"I think people come to KU because it's affordable and cheap,but if it's gonna be going up,they'll be putting it totally out of the price range of everybody. That's fair to students when we come here looking for a cheap, affordable in-state school and we're not getting it." Keith Park freshman
INSIDETODAY
Ferris, Overland Park freshman
"If it's going to go towards helping out some sort of program or building or something we really need, then I say fine. I'm paying in-state, and I don't think it's high at all. Other people who are in-state at other states don't pay nearly what we do, and we have a beautiful
campus, and I think if it's going toward a program or something we really need, I have no opposition to that at all." Natalie Gervat Overland Park sophomore.
Q: How do you think the tuition increases will affect you?
"I know for me it's probably going to be tougher to try to find the money." Fritz Gerald Esperance, Haiti junior.
CA,MPUS NEWS ... 3A
FACES ... 8A
WEATHER ... 4B
CROSSWORD ... 4B
"I already work two jobs now, so it means more loans. It means struggling a little bit more, eating less." Sarah Johnson, Topeka senior
Continued on page 6A
OLYMPICS: STUDENTS ARE ADDICTED TO WATCHING THE GAMES.
NEWS; SOME FOODS THAT CONTAIN HEMP WILL BECOME CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
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