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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
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KANSAN
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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
MONDAY FEBRUARY 11,2002
ISSUE 90 VOLUME 112
Students say mix-ups cause unpaid tuition, disenrollment
By Maggie Koerth Kansan staff writer
About 450 students were dropped from their classes last Tuesday because they didn't pay tuition on time, according to the registrar's office. Several of those students said miscommunication with the University of Kansas was to blame.
John Tyburski, Lecompton graduate student, said he missed his payment deadline and ended up having to petition to re-enroll. He also had to pay a $100 late fee.
Diane Goddard, comptroller, said that if students weren't receiving bills it was likely because the students hadn't updating their billing addresses.
Tyburski missed his fall enrollment and went to late enrollment last month instead. He said he'd done that before.
That wasn't the only miscommunication Tyburski said he encountered. He assumed the cashier windows at Carruth-O'Leary would be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., like most offices on campus. But the windows are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. He also said the cashiers told him he would have to wait until Friday to begin the re-enrollment process. He later found out that it was best to get it done sooner.
"I blame it on being a graduate student. Normally, I go to late enrollment and they mail me a bill, and I pay it," Tuburski said.
This time Tyburski received no bill in the mail. Because of this, he didn't realize when the payment deadline was until he glanced at his schedule Wednesday.
"If they are going to drop you, they should at least be able to tell you what to do."Tyburski said.
Dana Goble, associate comptroller, said there had been a lot of confusion about cashier hours this year because the hours hadn't been printed in the timetable like they normally were.
"I assume it happened when the registrar's office changed the timetable format," she said. "We've made sure it'll be fixed in the next timetable."
Goble said the cashiers closed at 4 p.m. so they had time to balance their drawers.
Goddard said this semester was odd because students normally waited much longer before they could re-enroll.
Goddard said the cashiers were trying to help when they told people to wait.
"You can't re-enroll until you've been dropped and it usually takes a long time to drop because it's done one person at a time." she said.
Other students also experienced confusion.
Both Brian North, Overland Park senior, and Cliff Fowles, Assaria sophomore, said they had problems getting Academic Management Services and the University to share the correct information.
AMS is a service that allows students to pay their tuition in installments instead of one lump sum. North and Fowles said KU had either lost or never received record of their payments to AMS. North nearly got dropped from his classes because of the mix-up and Fowles did.
"The lady I talked to said things like this happen a lot." Fowles said.
Laura Newell, AMS representative, said if there was a problem it was likely caused by students not getting the paperwork in on time.
"We send info to the university as we get it," she said. "They can check it online every hour if they want to."
Goddard said students who were dropped because of problems with AMS needed to get in contact with the comprotiler's office.
Contact Koerth at mkkoerth@ku.edu. This story was edited by Eve Lambert.
With 105 Merit Scholars, University in top 10 again
By Mike Gilligan Kansan staff writer
The University of Kansas is ranked in the top 10 public universities in enrolling National Merit Scholars for the third year in a row.
The University is ranked No.10, with 105 National Merit Scholars enrolled this year, according to University Relations.
Each year since 1999 the University has enrolled more than 100 National Merit Scholars.
The National Merit Scholarship is widely considered the most prestigious
award for graduating high school seniors. According to the National Merit Scholarship Web site, only 8,000 of the 1.2 million students competing for the award receive the scholarship. Students are selected by their PSAT scores and academic achievement.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway said he was pleased with being ranked in the top 10.
"It says something about the academic value of KU," Hemenway said. "The standards are very high as a consequence of having that many National Merit scholars so all students strive to be better."
But Hemenway said he couldn't predict whether or not the proposed budget cuts would affect the amount of scholarships the University gave out.
"All the money for the National Merit scholars comes from private funds." Hemenway said. "The number of scholars we attract should not be affected by the budget cuts."
Hemenway said he thought the number of scholars would increase next year.
Hemenway said he was not concerned that the number of National Merit Scholars decreased from last year.
SEE SCHOLARS ON PAGE 5A
Top 10 Public Universities Chosen By National Merit Scholars
University of Texas — 233 students University of California, Berkeley — 231 students
Texas A&M University — 171
University of Florida --- 158
University of North Carolina --- 141
University of North Carolina — 145
University of Georgia — 115
Iowa State University — 110
Ohio State University — 109
University of Oklahoma 105
University of Kansas — 105
AARON SHOWALTER/KANSAN
Hundreds celebrate Chinese New Year
Pamela Wong, Kansas City, Mo. resident, performs a traditional Chinese fan dance as part of the Chinese New Year celebration. Over 300 people enjoyed a variety of talent from the local Chinese community last night in the Kansas Union Ballroom.
By Leah Shaffer Kansan staff writer
The Lawrence community and University of Kansas students came together last night to ring in the Year of the Horse.
Tomorrow officially begins the Chinese New Year, or the Year of the Horse, and in celebration, the Chinese Student and Scholars Friendship Association sponsored a party at the ballroom in the Kansas Union. About 300 people attended the event, which included singing, reciting poetry, games and traditional dances.
For Qinyi Cheng, a graduate student from Shanghai, this marks her first Chinese New Year away from her family. Cheng said that having the whole Chinese community members come together for the event helped her deal with home-
"I think its a good opportunity for American students to learn about Eastern culture," said Lili Chen, president of the association and a senior from Sichuan Province in China.
According www.chinapage.com, the calender counts on a 12-year cycle. Animals are used to represent each year. Last year was the year of the snake, and this year will be the Year of the Horse.
According
SEE NEW YEAR ON PAGE 5A
Chen said that the holiday originated in ancient China when people believed in a beast called "Nian" which translates to "year." People
were afraid of the beast so on New Year's Day they would use firecrackers and wear red clothing to frighten it away. Chen said that such traditions continue to this day, but the new year is now a time for family get-togethers and celebration.
Two bills seek cloning ban. KU expert doubtful
By Sarah Hill Kansan staff writer
New bills in the Kansas House of Representatives could ban some forms of cloning research in Kansas.
State Rep. Mary Pilcher Cook, R-Shawnee, introduced two bills to criminalize cloning of humans and destroying embryos to harvest stem cells.
The ban means that no research on reproductive cloning or embryonic stem cell harvesting, public or private, would be allowed in Kansas
Mary Faith Marshall, professor of medicine and specialist in bioethics at the University of Kansas Medical Center, said no cloning research was taking place at the University now, but the legislation could stop future attempts.
"Because it holds so much promise for the future, many clinical scientists will want to be able to use it," she said.
This is the second year Cook introduces bills with this purpose. Both bills are based on similar legislation introduced in the U.S. Congress. Last year, Cook added an amendment banning human cloning to a bill on state funding for research facilities. The amendment didn't pass the State Senate. But Cook said she was confi-
SEE CLONING ON PAGE 5A
Cloning Terms:
Reproductive cloning involves using genetic material to create an identical human being. Therapeutic cloning is a technique involved in the harvesting of stem cells for research.
Source: Mary Faith Marshall, professor of medicine and specialist in bioethics, University of Kansas Medical Center
No place like home: Kansas grads come and go
By Warisa Chulindra
Last spring when most of her classmates were searching for jobs nearby, Amanda Tyson was determined to find a job in New York City.
By Warsi Chamhura Kansan senior staff writer
"I never wanted to stay in Kansas
because of the lack of diversity, and I wanted to live in a place where a lot of things happen," the 22-year-old Kansas native said. "No offense to Kansas, but not a lot of things happen in Kansas."
Born in Osage City, Tyson grew up in Pomona and Melvern and was valedictorian of her 21-member class at Marais
Des Cvgnes Valley High School.
She graduated from the University of Kansas last May with a social work degree and a 3.86 grade point average.
Tyson is an example of brain drain a phenomenon that involves some of the brightest college graduates seeking employment outside of Kansas.
"We talk a lot about the brain drain, and we know that it occurs," said Bill Lays, director of labor management information for the State of Kansas. "But we don't have the numbers."
SEE GRADUATES ON PAGE 5A
INSIDETODAY
CAMERA ON KU ...2A
STATE NEWS ...6A
WEATHER ...6B
CROSSWORD ...6B
COMING IN TOMORROW'S KANSAN
MEETING: Coverage of the ad hoc tuition committee meeting this afternoon.
MARDIS GRAS:With Fat Tuesday tomorrow, revelers get ready to celebrate
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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