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Board rejects parking request
Commission turns down proposal to increase student parking times
By Cate Batchelder
catchelder@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
The Parking Commission yesterday voted 5-3 against a proposal that would increase student parking in two lots. The five votes against the proposal came from faculty and staff, and the three votes in
favor came from students.
Lot 35 is between the Military Science Building and the Multicultural Resource Center; lot 37 is between Malott and Haworth halls.
As it stands, students are not allowed in the lots until 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Only those with blue permits can park from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., anyone with a faculty or staff permit is allowed to park. At 7:30 p.m., the lots are free for all.
The parking proposal, passed by Student Senate, would have opened 48 spaces in the lots at 5 p.m. for all, leaving
20 clearly designated spots for faculty in each lot, totaling 40 for both.
Kyle Johnson, parking commission student representative, submitted the proposal.
"My purpose isn't to take away spaces from faculty," he said. "It's simply to free up unused spaces."
Johnson surveyed the lots in early December to see who was using the lots. His results showed that students were parking illegally in unused spaces, which were restricted to faculty.
The Parking Department conducted a lot survey in early March. In its results, 15
was the maximum number of faculty using the lots at 7 p.m. The number of people parking illegally always outnumbered those parking legally except on one day.
The commission e-mailed faculty and staff who worked in buildings near the lots. From received e-mails, 18 were for the proposal, 14 opposed it and 12 wanted a compromise. Johnson said.
Lynn George, parking commission member, questioned the e-mails that OK'd the proposal because some of the answering faculty left at 5 p.m. or used the parking garage. She said a lot of faculty left for dinner and came back to full
lots, probably because of students parking illegally.
John Augusto, parking commission member, opposed the proposal because of the confusion with current restrictions.
Current signs will be updated by the next commission meeting April 8, said Donna Hultine, Parking Department director.
The Parking Department will continue to monitor lots 35 and 37 and will also monitor lot 17 behind Summerfield Hall. The commission will discuss the issue again April 8.
KPR delays fundraising for events of Iraqi war
Promotion of donations pushed back a month for coverage of conflict
By Kevin Wiggs
kwiggs@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Kansas Public Radio announced yesterday that it would postpone its fundraising efforts for one month because of continued coverage of the war in Iraq.
KPR, the National Public Radio affiliate at the University of Kansas, will have fundraising from April 25 to May 2 instead of starting this week, as originally planned, said Janet Campbell, Kansas Public Radio general manager.
Campbell said the effect would be hard to determine, but they were not comfortable asking for money at this time.
"People depend on us to provide information," she said. "The effects will not be seen overnight, but we can see the writing on the wall."
While it's hard to say how this delay will impact donations during the fundraising week, judging from the mailing campaign, donations are lacking so far this year, Campbell said.
"We are about $25,000 behind what we normally have at this time." Campbell said.
Phil Wilke, KPR's media manager, said new people listening to war coverage might be able to help with donations.
"We have lots of new listeners tuning in for national war coverage," he said. "We just don't know what to expect; there is no precedent. But we'll still be able to pay our bills. The money will just come later."
George Norton, a volunteer at KPR, said he agreed with the decision and thought fundraising would be better if it was pushed back.
"It's the smart thing to do." he said. "Right now people's focus is elsewhere. If we did it now, there would be divided interest, but the people who have given in the past will continue to do so."
Campbell sets the budget in June with expected income, so the majority of the effect will be seen in two months when the next budget is established.
"There will absolutely be an effect in two months," she said. "There won't be the money to do what we've always done."
"I met with staff and looked at what others were doing," she said. "National Public Radio did away with their fundraising, so, in a way, the decision was made for me."
Despite the possible effects, Campbell stands by her decision.
Edited by Jason Elliott
Testing the pressure
Mike LaBonte, physical plant supervisor, tests a fire hydrant near Budig Hall yesterday afternoon. According to Bob Rombach, University fire marshal coordinator, the government regulates that all hydrants be tested once every four years to make sure adequate water pressure is available. Rombach said that, to measure pressure, the water was put through an orifice containing a gauge that gave it a reading. The reading was then applied to a chart to determine the flow. A good flow is 1,200 gallons per second with 60 pounds per square inch.
Lindsey Gold/Kansan
Ceremony honors whistle
By Amy Potter
apotter@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
In its early years, it was known as the punctuality enforcer, keeping professors within the time restraints of their classes and students on time.
"I think you can make a case that the steam whistle is as much apart of the oral tradition of KU history as crimson and blue and the Rock Chalk cheer." Henry Fortunato, KU historian said. "It's a sound that links generations of Jayhawks."
Ninety-one years later, the whistle at the University of Kansas still plays the same role as time keeper.
Fortunato gave a brief history of the whistle. He said there was often conflict
To celebrate 91 years of Tooty Toot's presence at the University, a ceremony was held yesterday in the Kansas Union, where the whistle is on display.
between faculty and students over the accuracy of the whistle.
Among 45 people present at the ceremony were 91-year-old Clarence Knapp, who operated the whistle for more than 20 years. Knapp pushed the button to start a 91-Toot Salute.
"Chancellor Strong once instructed the entire student body when the whistle blows get up and go," Fortunato said.
"I hope it blows 91 more years. I won't be here to hear it though." Knapp said.
Bob Sieber, physical plant supervisor, said he enjoyed the ceremony. He did admit that he hated the whistle at times.
"I hated it because I had to work on it," Sieber said. "In the winter time it always went bonkers. I had to be up there on the roof several times during the winter."
Casey Connealy, Leawood graduate student, attended yesterday's ceremony. He
SEE WHISTLE ON PAGE 10A
Lindsev Gold/Kansan
David Mucci, KU Memorial Unions director, presents the whistle in a dedication ceremony yesterday in the Kansas Union. The 91-year-old whistle, known as the "Tooty Toot" originated as a ship's whistle before it became the sound heard around campus.
Health center warns people of pneumonia
By Eddie Yang
By Eddie Yang
eyang@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
KU students returning from spring break were greeted with an e-mail from Watkins Memorial Health Center detailing the symptoms and risks of the multicountry outbreak of a new atypical pneumonia, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
The first known outbreak of SARS occurred in China from Nov. 16,2002, to Feb. 9,2003. During that period there were a reported 305 cases. On March 12,the World Health Organization issued a global alert about the outbreak and called for worldwide surveillance.
On March 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a travel advisory suggesting persons planning nonessential travel to Hong Kong, Guangdong and Hanoi postpone their travel.
SEE ILLNESS ON PAGE 10A
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