Tomorrow's weather
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PD BOX 3585
TOPEKA, KS 66601-3585
kansan
Cooler tomorrow with partly sunny skies.
Wednesday
July 22,1998
Section:
A
Vol. 108 . No. 158
Online today
Help pick the new Monopoly piece that is soon to be added to the popular board game.
Vol. 108·No.158
Sports today
http://www.monopoly.com
Walk-on quarterback Jake Letourneau may receive a scholarship one year early because of the loss of backup Akili Roberson.
SEE PAGE 1B
Contact the Kansan
News: (785) 864-4810
Advertising: (785) 864-4358
Fax: (785) 864-5261
Opinion e-mail: opinion@kansan.com
Sports e-mail: sports@kansan.com
Advertising e-mail: onlineads@kansan.com
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Utilities warn to reduce power use
Blackouts are possible to conserve electricity in wake of heat wave
By Jerry Jackson
(USPS 650-640)
Kansan staff writer
The recent Midwestern heat wave that has claimed 81lives as of Monday has claimed a new victim; the power supply.
Representatives from Kansas Power and Light and Kansas Gas and Electric issued a Peak Warning to their customers throughout the state Monday and extended the warning into today.
A Peak Warning indicates that customers should set their air conditioners to 82 degrees between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. and only use high-energy-consumption appliances, such as washers, dryers and dishwashers, after 10 p.m.
Richard Good, community-relations manager for KPL, said that all customers should take the warning seriously.
"Because of the heat, the power market is extremely tight across the entire Midwest," Good said. "The power companies just can't meet the demands being placed on them right now."
In expectation of the record-breaking, triple-digit temperatures across the state this week, both KPL and KGE are preparing for the potential of rolling blackouts, the temporary cutoff of power to areas that are using too much electricity, Good said.
Similar rolling blackouts have occurred in Denver, where power was cut to areas of the city in 30-minute intervals. The Public Service Company of Colorado has issued warnings that blackouts may be necessary again throughout this week.
Good said that if KPL implemented rolling blackouts, the intervals probably would last closer to an hour.
"Those kind of blackouts can be avoided in our area if customers conserve energy." he said.
Both KPL and KGE officials are working with local power-company officials
to inform them of the potential rolling- blackouts' schedule. Those customers affected by the blackouts would be notified in advance if possible.
At the University of Kansas, facilities operations has taken several measures to deal with the power shortage and the possibility of blackouts.
To help prevent the possibility of blackouts, the power companies already have curtailed power to interruptible customers, which are high-energy users under contracts that allow their power to be shut off during periods of high usage. The power companies also have asked their 150 highest-usage customers to voluntarily reduce their power consumption.
Gary Weishaar, associate director of engineering for facilities operations, said that the University did not have an interruptible contract with KPL, so the University had to take action on its own
Facilities operations sent out a campus-wide e-mail on Monday with a list of steps that faculty and staff should take to reduce power consumption.
POWER CONSERVATION TIPS
When possible, cook in a toaster,
microwave or broiler oven. They use half the energy of a regular oven.
Use ceiling and portable fans to circulate cool air better.
Walk through your home or office and turn off any nonessential electrical equipment.
Close drapes to shut out sunlight, particularly those on west windows.
- Keep lamps and televisions away from the thermostat, where their heat causes a higher reading than the average room temperature.
- Courtesy of Kansas Power and Light and Kansas Gas and Electric
Weisharai said that in addition to the email, facilities operations had shut down several redundant air conditioners in various campus buildings.
"We want the people on campus to understand the seriousness of the situation," he said.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES
Children show off their homemade miniature art cars along Jayhawk Boulevard. The parade of toy cars was put on by the Hilltop Child Development Center's Gold Room class last Friday. Photo by Graham K. Johnson/KANSAN SEE PAGE 3B FOR STORY,
Smartcard not smart enough for bus lines
By Liz Wristen
Kansan staff writer
The University of Kansas Smartcard is not quite so smart.
Why is the Smartcard not so smart? The card, introduced to students at the University last spring, should allow students many advantages on campus, one of which is the ability to use it as a bus pass.
This is what many KU students and administrators think, as well as Nicole Skalla, transportation coordinator for KU on Wheels.
That claim does not ring true at this time.
"In order to use the Smartcard as a bus pass, special software had to be devised so that the card could work in
the buses," Skalla said. "We expected to have a pilot project this summer, and we expected to have the right equipment to encode the cards for use on the buses. We don't have that vet."
The University contracted the work with Cybermark, and the cards were manufactured by Cisa, an Italian company that designs locks. Cisa generally designs cards that may be used as keys for hotel rooms, but Skalla said that the company was working to manipulate the cards enough so that they could be used as readers for the bus system.
"I don't think Cisa realized the difference there would be with working on a bus program," Skalla said.
Skalla said she first heard of the plans to incorporate the card into the
bus system last spring. The University entered contract negotiations for the campus-wide Smartcard program last fall.
The University expected to receive the equipment for the buses by August 18, which was the deadline set by Cybermark. Skalla said that she hoped the University would receive the equipment by September 1. However, this setback will cause the University to rely on temporary passes provided by Cybermark. The passes will be similar to the temporary passes used by summer bus riders.
"Nicole is working with the University in the hopes that the school will provide us with help to allow our bus riders to get around efficiently," said Kevin Yoder, student body president.
Yoder said the Student Senate would work to keep any possible costs from being passed on to students or bus riders. KU on Wheels donated $7,000 to be used for the software, encoders and hand-held computers necessary for the buses. The University will pay $12,000 for the installation of the readers.
"The program was just handed to us, and now we must deal with it one way or another."
"I think the move to use the cards came too fast, not just for us, but for the University," Skalla said. "In a few years, after everyone is used to the cards, I think they will be a very valuable asset. Right now, the temporary passes are going to be more of a hassle, and I don't think students are going to like them."
GTAs to finally get health care after long fight with University
By Julie Sachs
Kansan staff writer
After a long struggle, graduate assistants at the University will finally receive a health care plan.
The Health Care Commission in Topeka decided July 16 that the University would pay an average of 50 percent of the total cost of the plan, said Mark Horowitz, Graduate Teaching Assistant Coalition organizer.
Details are still under speculation, said Provost David Shulenburger.
"There are still negotiations going on with the Health Care Commission," Shulenburger said.
"I consider this a success for GTAs and GRAs in our struggle to gain fair working conditions." Horowitz said.
The University will spend an estimated $500,000 on health care for graduate research and teaching assistants, said Kevin Armitage, GTA in Western Civilization.
Horowitz said that the Health Care Commission would try to offer two health care plans to GTAs and GRAs.
"It is kind of unfortunate we lost our fee waiver," said Mike Schmitt, GTA in psychology. "But health insurance is more important than a fee waiver."
Each plan would have costs that increase as the individual enters older age groups. Individuals would be grouped by three price tieres: under 25, 26-31 and 31 and older. Horowitz said.
The first plan would offer basic coverage.
It is basically the same plan available for all KU students at Watkins Memorial Health Center, Shulenburger said.
The second plan, called the GM Underrider's Plan, would offer more coverage at a higher price.
It is unclear whether the insurance that will be offered to GTAs and GRAs will cover medical expenses outside Watkins.
If the individual is older than 31 years of age, the Health Care Commission estimates that the GM plan would cost about $50 a month, Horowitz said.
This means that many graduate assistants would be paying an extremely high price if they wanted a more comprehensive plan, Horowitz said.
The average age of a University GTA is 29. Armitage said.
"For GTAs, 31 years and up, to enroll in high health care it means taking five percent of your income," Armitage said.
According to Health Care Commission estimates, individuals under 25 would pay about $15 a month for the GM plan.
"Since I'm young, it's a lot more inexpensive for me," Schmitt said. "It's going to mean that I have a lot more money for food and rent."
Horowitz said that he wished the rates were lower for the top age group.
"I hope this is something the administration will be willing to work with GTAC on in the future."
Despite the price, the coalition is happy with the results. Horowitz said.
"Since GTAC was founded in 1995, health care has always been the thing we fought for the most," Horowitz said.
CORRECTION
Because of a copy editing error, the title of the sober driver program was omitted from the story in the July 15 issue of The University Daily Kansas. The program is called "Hand 'em over to someone sober." For information on the program, contact Nicole Skalla, transportation coordinator of KU on Wheels, in the Student Senate office at 864-4644.
.
+
8