KANSAN
11, 2009
NEWS 3A
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2009
BEADS (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
"I would assume there would be a fair amount of them caught and trapped," Tate said, "but they might be light enough to float and then wouldn't settle well. Settling is an important part of the treatment process."
be ingested by marine animals and can cause health problems with animals because of the persistent presence of plastic.
Tate said beads would be washed back into the Kansas River if they
made it past the treatment process. The Kansas River connects with the Missouri River, then the Mississippi River, and ultimately empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Plastic beads could add to the degradation of marine life in the Gulf.
According to the American Chemical Society, plastic can easily
from incorrect plastic disposal on land.
According to a study by the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, the world's oceans contain about 100 million tons of plastic, and 80 percent of the plastic comes
The foundation said that plastic outweighed zooplankton, which are small animals at the base of the marine food chain, by a ratio of sixto-one, and that marine animals could easily confuse the plastic for food.
Alexis Friskel, body care buyer for the Community Mercantile, 901 Iowa St., said exfoliating washles at the Merc contained only natural ingredients, not plastic.
She said she thought MyChelle Dermaceuticals Fruit Enzyme Scrub and Desert Essence scrubs were the most popular face scrubs
sold. Friskel said customers at the Merc appreciated the clean products it offered.
"We've been very conscious with what we've chosen," Friskel said. "And I think our customers see that."
BREAK (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
— Edited by Heather Melanson
"This is just the reality of the work-place, and you will have to adjust to it." Hartley said. "I think everyone coming out of school and starting to work full-time goes through a period of adjustment to the work schedule. Many people are not used to having to be at work every day at 8 a.m."
Hartley said she worked through college and never had time off for spring break. She said not having vacations as a professional was not a big adjustment for her and said it might not be for some students, either.
"Students who work off-campus jobs do not typically get a spring break from work, so it may not be much of an adjustment for them." Hartley said.
Jarrod Morgenstern moved to New York City last August and works
as an assistant account executive for MS&L,a communications firm.
Morgenstern works between 45 to 55 hours every week and said it was "sobering" to decide when to take vacations. He said it would be most difficult working through the coming summer — his first as a full-time employee — with no break.
"It's what adults do." Morgenstern said. "You don't have a fall break, a winter break, or a spring break, but you do get a paycheck, and that's not that bad. It's what life is. Everybody can do it — but it takes a bit of getting used to."
Morgenstern said he remembered last year's spring break, when he took a camping trip for a couple of days in Southeast Missouri. The year before that, he went to Chicago, where he watched the Jayhawks play in the
NCAA men's basketball tournament.
This year, Morgenstern is using part of his two weeks of vacation time to come back to Kansas and breathe the Midwestern air, he said.
"I'm getting a little mini-spring break," Morgenstern said. "But the work is piling up while I'm gone, so it's a little different."
Carr said that although she would miss vacations like her spring break cruise, in this tough economy she was thankful just to have employment next year — vacations or not.
"Oh, I'm extremely grateful," Carr said. "I'm grateful to even have a job anywhere. I have a job I absolutely love and I'm moving to an awesome place to do it. I'm definitely grateful."
Edited by Chris Hickerson
RESEARCH
Scientists to test new oil extraction methods
athompson@kansan.com
BY AMANDA THOMPSON athompson@kansan.com
David Newell, assistant scientist with the KGS, said most oil wells in Kansas drilled straight down into the earth.
The Kansas Geological Survey will soon begin testing new ways of getting oil out of Kansas ground.
The KGS received a $248,000 contract from the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America last week.
Lynn Watney, senior scientific fellow with the KGS, said the end goal of the new research and testing was to revitalize older, depleted oil sources in Kansas.
The new procedure the KGS will test will involve a spider-like series of tubes extending from a single oil drill. The tubes would allow for more contact with the ground and more contact with potential oil.
Watney said research would be conducted primarily at the Hillsboro oil well in western Kansas. The well currently produces about 10 barrels of oil a day, far above the state average of three.
He said he hoped to increase the number to 40 barrels per day with
new pumps and tubing technologies.
"It isn't bad right now, we're just trying to make it a lot better," Watney said.
Ben Ramaker, Allegan, Mich. graduate research assistant, has been involved with other oil energy research at the University in the past, and he said he had high hopes for this research project.
"For every barrel of oil produced here it gives revenue generated from taxes to the state," Ramaker said. "Local companies like trucking move the oil to pipelines, so they can also make money. It's good for the state of Kansas."
Newell said about 95 percent of the fluid drawn out of the ground was water, with a small amount of oil mixed in.
"These new pumps will pull a lot more fluid," Watney said. "When you pull more fluid, you pull more oil. The efficiency is what we're testing."
Newell said the spider-like tubes would be several thousand feet under the ground, and said there would be less of an environmental impact with the new pump and tubing system.
"Instead of drilling eight different wells, it's just a single well with perhaps seven or eight laterals extending out from it," Newell said. "There will be less of a footprint on the earth."
"It doesn't leave a footprint — there's no big hole, no pits," Watney said. "It's low impact in terms of working the well over, and extending the reach of the well eliminates the need for another well. Your profile is lessened."
Watney said there were a few hundred thousand oil wells like the well in Hillsboro that produced a marginal amount of oil, 10 barrels or less per day. Watney said about 18 percent of national oil production came from wells such as those
Watney said the new pump design would stand only a couple of feet off the ground.
"Potentially our technology could be extended to these other wells in addition," Watney said. "The idea of going with domestic energy production could help us reach our goal of being energy independent and in this case helping rural Kansas economy."
- Edited by Chris Horn
- "Please note that while a student 30 and age 45 or older can enter the Student Select Carding Account, an age 25 or older the Student Select Carding Account will be permitted to Free Simple Checking Account. FREE ATM balance updates up to $10.00 per month and credit balances up to $10.00 per month are allowed to 12 months per person."
"He was one of the first people to come up to me and make me feel welcome when I moved in," said Nick Voroshine, Sydney, Australia, junior.
Shane Glenn, president of SAE, declined to comment. He said no members were speaking publicly about Jason Wren or the circumstances surrounding his death.
Students at Oliver said Jason Wren had been kicked out of the residence hall for alcohol-related violations.
Before moving into the SAF house a week before his death, Jason Wren lived in Oliver Hall. Several Oliver residents said he was fun-loving, athletic and outgoing.
--records, especially records concerning behavioral issues.
Jay Wren said Jason had been given until Feb. 28 to leave Oliver. Jay Wren said that he had then contacted the Department of Student Housing to ask whyason had been forced to leave, but that a representative told him a privacy policy dictated that details remain confidential.
University Relations confirmed Jason Wren was a former resident of Oliver but would not comment on whether he had been forced out.
CAMPUS (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
Jay Wren said Jason had down- played his infractions, saying a resident assistant wrote him up after finding a shot glass, and later a beer can, in his room, and finally because he had been seen holding a beer can for a friend while the friend used the restroom.
Jay Wren said he would like to see student housing's privacy policy changed, giving parents more access to student housing
He also confirmed that there had been no sanctioned house event the night of Jason Wren's death.
"I looked up the law — they'n release full records to other scholastic institutions, they'll release it to financial institutions, but they won't release it to the parents," he said. "There needs to be an exception; they can't block out the parents."
Jill Jess, director of University Relations, said all housing issues were private, even after a former resident's death.
Brandon Weghort, national SAE spokesman, said a network of alumni was working to support the fraternity members and the police's investigation.
Weghort said that disciplinary action for the KU chapter was a possibility but that it was not being considered as of Tuesday afternoon.
"The sororites are all bringing by cookies, things like that," Perez said. "They're focusing on the good that can come out of a horrible situation."
Rueben Perez, director of the Student Leadership and Involvement Center, which oversees greek life, said the University had not yet considered revoking its chapter and would not make any decision until the police had completed their investigation.
Perez said University officials planned to bring more attention to the problem of drinking — especially underage drinking — by KU students.
Weghort said SAE had always educated members about the dangers of alcohol.
Interfraternity Council members declined to comment.
--records, especially records concerning behavioral issues.
--records, especially records concerning behavioral issues.
The Department of Student Housing declined to comment.
"It's a problem that permeates not just the Greek community but
He said members of the greek community were working to support the men of SAE.
Jay Wren said he acknowledged that Jason's death was also due in part to Jason's actions.
He said Jason was a Christian and had planned to have "in God I trust" added to a cross tattoo on his back.
Support from community, members in Kansas and Colorado as well as the family's faith were helping him through the grieving process, he said.
the whole campus," Perez said.
"He has no idea how much he's going to be missed."
"I know he's in God's hands and in a better place. It's the only thing that keeps my wife and I going—that one day, when our time is up, we're going to see him again. And I'm going to love him and hug him, and then I'm going to slap him on the side of the head and say, 'What in the heck were you thinking?'
"I know he'll say, I'm sorry Dad, I know I messed up. Can we go throw the ball?"
SAE is holding an open memorial service at 6:30 p.m. Thursday on their lawn. Jay Wren and his family plan to attend.
Another memorial service will be held in Highlands Ranch, Colo., on Monday.
Additional reporting by Adam Samson
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS funded by Student Senate
PAID FOR BY KU
PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT CANDIDACY INFORMATION DUE!
If you are running as a President or Vice President in the Spring Student Senate Elections, your Declaration of Candidacy form is due Wednesday, March 11, 2009 by 5pm.
Your signatures are due by Friday March 13,2009 by 5pm.
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You can find the forms online at http://groups.ku.edu/~election/Pages/forms.htm.
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