TODAY'S WEATHER: Sunny with a high of 47. See page 6B. SPORTS: Football coach Mark Mangino signs his first class.
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 7,2002
Sex question derails bill
Student Senate rejects legislation to fund ads for University blood drive
By Sarah Hill Kansan staff writer
After a speech by the student body president, the Student Senate Rights Committee failed to pass a bill last night that would fund University Daily Kansan advertising for the KU Blood Drive.
The committee voted against the bill primarily because of a question on the blood donor's information sheet that asks if the donor is a man who has had sex with another man since 1977.
Justin Mills, student body president
said he supported the blood drive but did not think Senate should sponsor discrimination against gay men.
"Every year, we essentially say, 'This is bad, but we'll give you money anyway,' he said. "By giving the group the money, we say that it's OK."
Mills said that not donating money could be the first step in fighting discrimination. He said this was the third year the advertising bill had been presented, and it had been passed each time despite of debate about the question.
Andrew Bailey, journalism senator, presented the bill for the second time this semester.
The bill passed the rights and finance committees two weeks ago, but before Senate could vote on the bill, it was
SEE BILL ON PAGE 1A
Teacher consultation required in grade appeal
By Maggie Koerth Kansan staff writer
University of Kansas students who wish to change their grades may face a long road of appeals and paperwork.
In the past, students who thought their grades in a class were unfair would first have a hearing at the departmental level. If the outcome of that hearing was unsatisfactory, they then had the option of forking other hearings at the school and University Judicial Board level, said Molly Mulloy, an administrative assistant to the board. The board is made up of students and faculty who hear appeals of grades and academic misconduct.
Two years ago the University changed that policy to streamline the process, Mulloy said.
Now, students who want to appeal a grade must first speak with their teachers.
"Most people are able to work it out on that level," Mulloy said. "If they can't, each department has their own procedure for handling grievances. The Judicial Board handles only appeals now."
Mulloy said less than 10 students a year brought their cases to the board, but she couldn't talk about the outcome of
First: Talk to your teacher. Most grade disputes can be cleared up this way.
How to change a grade:
- Second: If that doesn't work, you can ask for a hearing. Each department has a different procedure for this.
SARA SHEPHERD/KANSAN
different procedures
Third: Hearing decisions can be appealed within 30 days to the University Judicial Board. Both teachers and students can ask for the appeal.
Keep in mind: The University of Kansas Ombudsman can help mediate an agreement between you and your teacher or department.
Source: Molly Mulloy, administrative assistant to the Judicial Board.
the cases.
Bailey Kivett, Halstead senior, said talking to her teacher helped her get a grade changed. When she was a sophomore, Kivett took an Introduction to Fiction class. She got a B in the class, but
SEE GRADES ON PAGE 6A
Broadcast journalist Cokie Roberts speaks to a crowd at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Roberts was presented with the 2002 William Allen White Foundation's national citation yesterday.
ABC News anchor receives KU award
By Mike Gilligan Kansan staff writer
Americans have been more informed about Islam and Afghanistan since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks because of the press, said Cokie Roberts, chief congressional analyst for ABC News.
"I think we've done a good job." Roberts said. "Americans knew about the holy month of Ramadan. I don't think we could have said that before."
before.
Roberts received the William Allen White Foundation's national citation yesterday at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union in front of about 500 people. She is also the co-anchor of the ABC News Sunday morning broadcast, This Week with Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts.
Roberts began her speech with several anecdotes, including one about her mother, who was the representative of former President Bill Clinton to the pope.
"Not much changed," Roberts' mother told her about going from Bourbon Street in New Orleans to the Vatican. "There are still men in dresses."
After her introduction, Roberts focused her speech on William Allen White and his contributions to journalism.
"His wisdom came from a childlike absence of cynicism," Roberts said. "He was outspoken but not cynical about his country."
Roberts also spoke about the role of women in journalism, particularly
SEE AWARD ON PAGE 6A
Budget cuts force fine arts shop to close for weekends
By Leah Shaffer
Kansan staff writer
The shop is closed — for the weekends, at least.
The School of Fine Arts has decided to cut weekend hours for the materials workshop, also called the "Common Shop." The shop is where fine arts students can work on projects ranging from sculptures to wood works.
The students are frustrated with this and other budget cuts.
Industrial Design Student Association will have its first meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at 1339 Vermont St. Apt.2. to discuss these concerns.
Tom Brantman, Overland Park senior and the president of the association, said he wanted the meeting to be a gathering of all fine arts students and faculty who were concerned about budget crunches and especially the loss of Common Shop hours.
Brantman, an industrial design student, said he thought the fine arts department had gone too far for the sake of cutting costs. He said the loss of weekend hours would be hard on students.
"For a lot of people, you're busy with other classes during the week," he said. "What's at sake is the professionalism of our education. We want clean work spaces, new desks, stuff that's been fought for years."
Brantman said it was not just industrial design students that would be affected by the change in hours. He said other fine arts students used the shop.
Lance Rake, associate professor of design, said he understood why the students were upset about loss of hours.
"It's something that will impact their work." Rake said.
However, Rake understood that the budget crunch had left the school with little options.
"Anywhere you take out money now will be painful," he said.
Vickie Hamilton-Smith, director of communications for the School of Fine Arts, said the decision was made as a result of a meeting with the design department chair, the dean of fine arts and the staff member in charge of the shon.
Hamilton-Smith said there were two main reasons for cutting the hours. One reason was to tighten the budget.
The other reason was safety. Hamilton-Smith said the Common Shop needed to be manned by two people to ensure that students get help around
SEE DESIGN ON PAGE 6A
Students to head to national music competition in March
By Adam Pracht
Kansan staff writer
Amir Khosrowpour and Chris Nierman share a love of music. Next month in Cincinnati, Ohio, the University of Kansas students will have the rare opportunity to share that love nationally.
Khosrowpour, who plays piano, and Nierman, who plays trumpet, advanced from the state competition last November in Pittsburg to compete at regionals last month. At regionals, they won first place in their divisions against musicians from eight other states. Their achievements earned them a place in the national competition March 18 in Cincinnati.
"Music has really become a large part of my identity," he said. "It just seems like it's a constant in my life. It's given
Khosrowpour, an Irvine Calif., junior, said that while he was nervous about nationals, it would be important to stay relaxed during the competition.
Nierman, a Lincoln, Neb., senior,
said that music was central to his life.
“It’s a big deal,” he said. “I just kind of treat it like any other competition. It’s probably the biggest one I've ever been in. Getting this far, I'm sure the level of competition will be outrageous.”
me some frustration. It's given me a sense of fulfillment when I achieve things."
He said he arranged a difficult program comprised of a 60 minute program and a 20 to 40 minute concerto. Nierman will play four pieces in a 40-minute program.
If Khosrowpour wins at nationals, he will receive a Steinway piano worth $50,000.
Both musicians grew up in musical homes. Khosrowpour said his parents loved classical music and started him
on piano when he was 7 years old.
Jack Winerock, professor of piano, worked with Khosrowpour for about three years. He said that Khosrowpour improved in that time.
"He's always had the potential to be into the music," Winerock said. "I would say it's the deepening of the interpretation, the more powerful interpretation that has been the most satisfying."
Amir Khosrowpour, Irvine, Calif., junior, poses with his instrument in Murphy Hall. Khosrowpour will be competing in the Music Teachers National Association competition in March.
Both of Nierman's parents were musicians. He started taking lessons on trumpet in the fifth grade.
Christopher Moore, assistant professor of music, gave Nierman trumpet lessons for 4 years. He said that Nierman was a role model to other players.
JILLIAN THORPE/KANSAN
"He just has great humility," Moore said. "Which I think is key to success in any profession."
Contact Pracht at apracht@kansan.com. This story was edited by Sarah Warren.
INSIDETODAY
LOCAL NEWS ...2A
HOROSCOPES ...2B
WEATHER ...6B
CROSSWORD ...6B
COMING IN TOMORROW'S KANSAN
NEWS: ACTOR DANNY GLOVER SPEAKS TODAY.
TECHNOLOGY: FIND OUT WHY CELL PHONES ARE REPLACING HOME PHONES.
rne 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. Subscribes can be purchased at 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
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