TODAY'S WEATHER: Possible rain with a high of 43. SPORTS: Men's Basketball team looking for revenge against Baylor.
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 15,2002
ISSUE 94 VOLUME 112
Regents get student pleas
By Sarah Hill Kansan staff writer
Students demonstrated yesterday at the Board of Regents meeting in Topeka in an effort to improve the dialogue about tuition increases.
The students delivered hand-made anti-increase valentines to the Regents, who will begin to hear tuition proposals in March.
"I think it's great for Student Senate to give valentines," said Chancellor Robert Hemenway, who attended the meeting. "Those sentiments are easy to agree with."
Jack Wempe, vice-chairman of the Regents, said he was glad that students came to the meeting to voice their concerns.
"Those sentiments are easy to agree with."
Robert Hemenway University of Kansas chancellor
"We've made it very clear for several
months that we want students involved in this process," he said. "We want them to understand the problems we face."
About 15 KU student senators and students demonstrated at the meeting as early as 7:30 a.m.
Kit Brauer, Association of University Residence Halls senator, said he was surprised at how willing the Regents were to discuss students' concerns.
AARON SHOWALTER/KANSAN
Student Senate members, from left to right, Travis Weller, Garden City junior, Maggie Beedles, Lawrence junior, and Karen Keith, Tulsa, Okla., junior, chat with Board of Regents member Janice DeBauge. Student representatives attended yesterday morning's Board of Regents meeting to deliver valentines and voice their opposition to tuition increases.
SEE PROTEST ON PAGE 3A
LINDSFYKILIANY/KANSAN
KU Ambassadors want more diverse membership
As one of two African-American members of the KU Student Ambassadors program, Latahia Scott, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore, feels that the organization is not representing the University well to incoming students.
By Leah Shaffer Kansan staff writer
When Latasha Scott, Kansas City Mo., sophomore, joined KU Ambassadors, she was surprised by the lack of fellow African-American students in the group.
"A lot of minorities in organizations don't even know what they are," she said about the ambassadors.
Scott had to explain to minorities in organizations that KU ambassadors were the people who "walked backwards" on campus and gave tours to prospective students.
KU Ambassadors are trying to spread the word that they are looking for more diversity. Scott said more minorities should be in ambassadors to reflect the diversity on campus for potential students.
"If they see minorities that give tours, they can relate," she said.
Jennifer Hall, Overland Park junior and publicity chair for ambassadors, said the group had two African-American students including Scott, two Hispanic students and three Asian-American students among its 89 members.
These numbers fall in line with the percentage of African American, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans on campus. For Fall 2001, 2.6 percent of the KU student population was African
American, 3.1 percent was Asian American and 2.4 percent was Hispanic American, according to the Office of Institutional Research and Planning.
Even with the comparable percentages, Eric Hays, Ellis graduate student and sponsor of KU Ambassadors, said that KU Ambassadors wanted to work on recruiting even more minorities.
To do this, Hays said that KU Ambassadors had visited organizations such as Black Student Union, First Nations Student Association and Asian Student Union to recruit new members for spring. Hays said the problem was most organizations learned about KU Ambassadors through word of mouth and that few minority groups on campus had a chance
SEE AMBASADORS ON PAGE 3A
Shop early for leases
Apartment search takes an early start, knowledge of rentals
By Melissa Shuman Kansan staff writer
It also requires an early start, as some Lawrence apartment complexes already have waiting lists for leases starting this August.
Shopping for apartments requires thrifty hunting skills and a knowledge of leasing agreements.
"They really need to start looking now so that they won't have to wait for a place to live," said Judy Gilliland, leasing manager for Tuckaway Apartments. 2600 W. Sixth St.
At Tuckaway, a two-bedroom apartment costs $750 and a three-bedroom costs $1,015 per month. To get a lease, Tuckaway requires a small fee for processing the application and a security deposit of one month's rent.
Gilliland said she made sure that either the parents or students were able to support the lease.
"We require a co-signer if each person on the lease does not make three times the cost of rent," Gilliland said. "It doesn't have to be a parent, it can just be a rich person who loves you."
Cornell Mayfield of Housing & Credit Counseling, Inc., 2518 Ridge Ct., has seen a lot of students who have problems with their apartment leases.
"I think a part of the reason they get taken advantage of is the housing crunch," Mayfield said. "They don't
Hints for Apartment Shoppers
- For apartment shopping online, check out this site:
www.digitaljayhawk.org/apt_dept/
For information about leasing agreements, go to these sites:
www.hcci-ks.org/Home.htm
www.ksu.edu/legal/handbooka.htm
nave a place to live and they don't feel they're in a position to argue."
Mayfield said that students who tried to sublease to get out of their rent payment often just end up in more financial trouble.
"The important thing to remember is not to sublease because the original tenant is still liable for the property," Mavfield said.
Mayfield cautioned students against paying too much for security deposits and against companies who ask for them before the lease is signed.
"You don't give anybody a security deposit until they've processed your application, and they've shown you the property, and the apartment you're going to live in has been checked out," he said.
Mayfield said complexes are only allowed to charge one month's rent for a security deposit on an unfurnished apartment, and half a month's rent for pet deposits.
"Some places will try to charge a pet rent each month, and more for the number of pets," Mayfield said. "If that
SEE APARTMENTS ON PAGE 3A
KU team to show some 'defense' at mock trial competition today
By Adam Pracht Kansan staff writer
With poise and confidence, Branden Bell stood in front of the bench, intent on winning the round.
The Tulsa, Okla., senior faced down his competitor across from him and said, "Madam, would you please state your name for the jury?"
Competitors in the mock criminal trial portray either attorneys or witnesses in a court simulation set in the fictional state of "Midlands."
Bell is a veteran member of the University of Kansas mock trial team.
One team plays the prosecution, the other defense. The 'judge' is actually the judge of the competition. The contestants are evaluated on how well they portray their roles and present the facts of the case.
The team has been preparing one case this season, which began last fall — a murder trial involving a secretary who allegedly murdered her former boss.
Today the members of the team travel to Washburn University for regional competition. If the team places in the top three, it will go to the national competition in Des Moines, Ia.
Penny Beesley, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore, said the team had a strong bid for one of coveted placements.
The freshman members are Katie Walker, Leavenworth, Dani Davey, Overland Park, Ryan Faulconer and Andy Foat, both of Colorado Springs, Colo.
While the team members are young— four of the seven are freshman— Beesley said they brought high school experience and intelligence to an already successful team.
SEE MOCK TRIAL ON PAGE 3A
INSIDETODAY
KIMRFLIY THOMPSON/KANSAN
Chris Kaiser, Overland Park senior, presents his case at a mock trial as Ryan Faulconer, Colorado Springs, Colo., freshman, takes notes. The team ran a dress rehearsal yesterday to practice for the regional competition that starts to morrow at Washburn University.
STATE NEWS ...6A
HOROSCOPES ...2B
WEATHER ...4B
CROSSWORD ...4B
COMING IN MONDAY'S KANSAN
SPORTS: A RECAP OF THE TOMORROW'S MEN'S GAME AGAINST BAYLOR.
NEWS: WHY ARE PROFESSORS LEAVING KU MED CENTER?
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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