8A
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2009
FINANCE
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Budget cuts may keep University planes grounded
BY MICHELLE SPREHE msprehe@kansan.com
With several departments in the University facing the possibility of budget cuts, some may not be able to afford to continue using the University's two private aircraft.
If departmental budget cuts make using the University planes unaffordable, programs such as medical outreach, grant seeking and the Kansas Honors Program would have to restrict their travel locations. To continue operating as they are now, the money not spent on the private aircraft would be spent on driving costs, commercial airfare and hotels.
"It's a budgeting decision that's made on a departmental level," said Lynn Bretz, director of University Communications.
The planes, a 1997 Cessna Citation Bravo jet and a 1999 Beechncraft King Air C-90, were purchased with private funds through the KU Endowment Association.
"No state tax dollars and no tuition dollars have ever been used for the purchase of either plane," Bretz said.
The University departments that use the planes pay per in flight hour, which have hourly rates of $1,625 for the Citation Bravo and $785 for the King Air. The hourly rates are used to pay for the fuel and maintenance costs of both planes.
"It enables a medical center based in the extreme eastern part of the state to serve all of the state," Bretz said. "Our medical mission – that's the thing we'd like to protect most, if possible." Bretz said.
The planes cost $700,000 in operational fees each year, which is covered by state funds, Bretz said.
The University of Kansas Alumni Association makes about 25 flights each year to counties in Kansas to recognize high school seniors who rank in the top 10 percent of their class as a part of the Kansas Honors Program.
Jenny Memmott, Lecompton graduate student, has flown on one of the planes as many as 40 to 50 times to play the piano at Kansas Honors Program dinners and ceremonies.
More than 300 flights are made each year using the planes; the majority of the flights are for medical outreach, when doctors from the KU Medical Center fly to rural cities in Kansas to provide medical care to those who cannot afford to drive. The medical outreach program helps about 2,500 people each year.
"It makes a lot of places accessible that wouldn't be," Memmott said. "It's certainly not very feasible to drive to Garden City and come back in one night."
The two University planes cost $700,000 of state-funded money per year.
Of the 40 Kansas Honors Program events this year, 25 are
cost of flying
-Salary and benefits for pilots and scheduler
-Insurance
Pilot training
This covers:
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Insurance
This Beechcraft King Air C-90 is one of the University's private planes. It is expected to see less action in the future, as budget cuts make its $785 per hour charge harder to afford.
- Fractional ownership payments for the Beechcraft King Air, which the University owns half of through Executive. AirShare
flown to and 15 are driven to.
"The plane is essential when we have to go across the state and get back to classes and jobs." Jennifer Sanner, senior vice president of communications for the Alumni Association, said.
The use of the planes has also helped officials from the Spencer Museum of Art have face-to-face meetings to discuss grants and meet with potential donors.
"Any time you can meet one-on-
one with donors and granting agencies, they get to know you," Carolyn Chinn Lewis, assistant director of the art museum, said. "I think it's much more conducive for future dollars."
Edited by Casey Miles
PARKING
(CONTINUED FROM 1A)
and am paying off the garage each year."
Hultine and Gillaspie discussed a discounted nighttime parking permit, which would allow students to park in a well-lit garage for a cheaper price than other student permits.
"Whenever there's a game day, I don't even bother looking for a spot on campus."
Gillaspie said for now, walking was probably the best option for students who needed to get around on campus during
said. "That minimal number of uses wouldn't really justify a parking pass, so we weren't necessarily sold on the night-time pass."
"Students would only have to pay if they want to park on campus on game nights." Gillaspie
games.
While the idea wasn't officially mixed, Gillaspie said he didn't think students would advocate spending money on a pass that would only be useful on a handful of game nights.
ALEX TRETBAR Wichita freshman
Alex Tretbar, Wichita freshman, said he agreed with Gillaspie's advice. Tretbar said although he was annoyed at the inconvenience of game-day parking, he would just continue to hit him.
teeth and walk.
"Whenever there's a game day, I don't even bother looking for a spot on campus," Tretbar said. "Usually I'll have to find a random parking spot a long ways away and just have to walk."
Hultine said she understood why students would be upset
with game-day parking, but said the bus system and Park and Ride were the cheapest alternatives to walking. Hultine said students should know that higher forces than the parking department were at work if students need to drive to the library or the residence halls.
"It's so counterintuitive, we're here to go to school, not just watch basketball," Hultine said. "But I've always said trying to stop basketball parking is like trying to push the tide away from the shore."
Gillaspie said Senate would continue to work to find the cheapest way to give students more campus parking spots on game day. He said Senate was currently looking at areas around the University Career Center and Watkins Memorial Health Center for student-only game-day lots.
Gillaspie said he didn't know what would happen.
lots restricted on game days
Edited By Sam Speer
Date
Saturday, Feb. 7
Wednesday, Feb. 18
Saturday, Feb. 21
Sunday, March 1
Saturday, March 7
Opponent
Oklahoma State
Iowa State
Nebraska
Missouri
Texas
Game Time
2:30 p.m.
7 p.m.
3 p.m.
1 p.m.
3 p.m.
Restriction Begins
8 a.m.
5:30 p.m.
8 a.m.
8 a.m.
8 a.m.
Where that is West of Burge Union
Non-game day pass required Yellow, Blue, Red
West of Murphy Hall
Gold, Blue
Between Allen Field House parking garage and Burge Union
Yellow
East of Allen Fieldhouse
South of Horejsi Center
West of Oliver Hall
Yellow
Yellow
SALSA
(CONTINUED FROM 1A)
Oklahoma, Nebraska and as far as Boston. Mass.
Aqui, the drummer and a singer for the band, said the band had previously performed at the University and regularly appeared in clubs around Lawrence.
Aquit said Friday's performance would feature many Caribbean rhythms to make people dance, including Cuban beats, Dominican Meringues and Colombian
"You can be somebody with two left feet or you can be a ballroom dancer and you'll have fun no matter what." Aqui said.
Edited by Justin Leverett
Cumbias.
Brady said SUA plans to host another dance event on March 6. The Swing Soiree is expected to feature swing dancing with a live band. For more information about this event, go to www.siaevents.com.
WHO: The event is sponsored by Student Union Activities.
WHAT: A night of salsa dance lessons from the KU Ballroom Dance Club and live music from Son Venezuela.
WHERE: The Gridiron
Room in the Burge Union
WHEN: Tonight 7 to 11
HOW MUCH: Free
BAYSINGER (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
The SAAC also helped convince students to pass a ballot referendum for the rowing boathouse.
"We came together as an entire student athlete group, not just SAAC, but student athletes as one cohesive group." Baysinger said. "I think of how powerful our voice can be when we speak up on behalf of all student athletes."
Baysinger also said he was lucky to be working with the student athletes at the University.
"SAAC is a grassroots thing." Baysinger said. "National SAAC can only be as strong as the conference SAAC, the conference SAAC can only be as strong as the SAAC groups at each institution."
Heferon said Baysinger's time with SAAC benefited the large group of student athletes at the University.
"He's a perfect reflection of what we've built," Hefferson said. "Seeing his success wasn't any surprise to us, but it's really encouraging to be recognized not only by conference but by all schools."
Baysinger said the importance of SAAC was paramount in the legislative process of the NCAA. The feedback SAAC provides on legislation is key to helping conference officials and athletic directors decide how to vote.
"It is absolutely important that they're talking with student athletes to make sure the decisions are in the best interest of the student athlete," Baysinger said.
nin Jay cith in
In recent years, Baysinger and the national SAAC tackled legislation such as making junior-high athletes off-limits to college recruiters. At the recent convention in January, the NCAA passed the legislation.
Baysinger said that 2008 was a slow year legislatively, but that he expected more projects this year.
"I think there's going to be a multitude of proposals coming through this year," Baysinger said. "Once we get into the legislative cycle come June and July, there's going to be a lot of work to do there."
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