THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2009
NEWS
7
CONSTRUCTION (CONTINUED FROM 3)
difficult for those who needed handicapped parking.
Betty Childers, a senior administrative associate at the University Registrar office in Strong Hall, has a handicapped parking pass because she suffers from arthritis in her feet, legs and hips, which makes walking long distances and taking stairs difficult. Childers said she typically parked at the far end of Strong Hall or behind Snow Hall. Childers said she had to arrive early just to get a parking spot.
"Being here at 7:30 and I can't find a parking spot is very frustrating," Childers said.
Childers said the parking situation had also affected other co-workers.
"I've had conversations with several people with blue and gold permits about them having to park in the red zones and they're unhappy with that," Childers said.
According to the KU Parking and Transit Department, the gold passes are for employees approved by the provost, blue passes are for faculty members whose age and years of service add up to a minimum of 62 years and red passes are for all University employees.
Some staff members said they were upset about the disruption of parking permits because they felt that their service and dedication to the University should earn them the privilege of parking in the gold and blue spots.
Childers also has difficulties with the Park and Ride system running from the Union parking garage. She said it wasn't a good option for people with disabilities because of having to adjust to the bus schedule, but said she relied on it when she couldn't find a close parking spot.
Those with gold permits can park directly in front of and behind Strong and Bailey Halls, whereas the red parking zone is located farther down the hill on Memorial Drive.
“If Park and Ride weren't running, it would be really horrible,” Childers said.
Childers said that although parking had been difficult with the construction, she knew it was necessary.
"It was so uneven before," Childers said. "I'm sure it will be a nice parking lot in the back, but time will tell."
DOWNTOWN
Edited by Kristen Liszewski
Annual film festival offers classic Hepburn and Tracy
BY MIKE BONTRAGER mbontrager@kansan.com
The annual Downtown Lawrence Film Festival starts this Thursday with a showing of "Woman of the Year," a 1940s film starring Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. This is the first of six films starring Hepburn and Tracy that will be played during the summer.
The festival starts at 8 p.m. in the empty lot next to the parking garage on Ninth and New Hampshire Streets with live music performed by the band Two Much Fun, free popcorn and prize drawings that will include t-shirts and gift certificates. The movie begins at 9:15 p.m. and will be projected on the wall of the parking garage.
Those attending can bring blankets or lawn chairs. In case of rain, the festival will be moved to the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St.
Jane Pennington, director of Downtown Lawrence Incorporated, said this was the third year for the event and that the past two had attracted between 250 and 300 people. Pennington said the festival was originally conceived as a film noir festival, which would include darker films with crime, murder and sexual themes. This year the board of Downtown Lawrence Incorporated wanted the films to be more family friendly.
Duane Peterson, parks and recreation special events supervisor, selected the musical acts preceding the films. Peterson said Two Much Fun was a local band that had put on good performances before and had a variety of styles he thought people would enjoy.
Dan Hughes, president of Downtown Lawrence Incorporated, has been involved with the festival all three years and will act as master of ceremonies for the event. Hughes
FILM FESTIVAL
SCHEDULE
June 11: Woman of the Year
June 25: Without Love
July 9: State of the Union
July 23: Adam's Rib
August 13: Pat and Mike
August 27: Guess Who's
Coming To Dinner
said people in the past had enjoyed the film selection and that he thought this year's theme of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy would have the same resonance. He said he hoped there would be a younger audience attending the event.
"Having the film festival outdoors and projecting it on the side of the parking garage is kind of a novel way of showing the films," Hughes said. "It's free, there's free popcorn, you can bring your family and it's a great way to kind of spend the evening."
"Woman of the Year" won Academy Awards for best writing and original screenplay in 1943.
Edited by Zach White
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