Friday April 10, 1998
ISSUE STUDENT THE SENATE OF ANNEX SENATE
9A
Peer escort, officers top coalitions' safety lists
By Laura Roddy
roddy@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Both Student Senate coalitions propose to increase campus safety measures, but they disagree on where Senate efforts should be focused.
The Delta Force coalition plans to implement a program called SafeWalk in which escorts walk students between on-campus locations at night. Three or four pairs of uniformed students, each including one male and one female, would carry flashlights and radios and patrol designated areas on campus from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Amy Cummins, Delta Force candidate for a graduate seat, said a similar program was used when she attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
"Students feel safe and comfortable escorted by their peers." Cummins said. "I'm confident it would work here."
Butler: Independent
Delta Force collected more than 1,000 signatures in support of the program The
coalition petitioned Monday to put a referendum on the ballots asking whether students would support the program with a $1 fee increase.
Brad Finkeldei, chairman of the elections commission, said the signatures on the petition had to be verified before the referendum
could be placed on the ballot.
Heath: Delta Force
"We really
We really see the SafeWalk program as a complement to current programs," she said.
The Campus Cause coalition's proposal includes expanding Saferide's operating hours and increasing the number of vehicles. The coalition plans to seek corporate sponsors to pay for the
increases.
Campus Cause also plans to lobby the Kansas Legislature for money to finance additional campus police officers.
"The best way to provide safety is with more armed officers," said
Yoder: Campus Cause
John Vagli, Campus Cause candidate for a residential seat.
Campus Cause also wants the administration to increase campus lighting and blue phones without increasing student fees.
"I don't think that students should have to pay for lighting on campus," said Kevin Yoder, Campus Cause presidential candidate. "Safety is a basic necessity."
Delta Force
- Implement SafeWalk, a program in which pairs of student escorts patrol campus at night and walk students between on-campus locations
Coalition Campus Safety Proposals
Aaron Profitt, independent Nunemaker candidate, also said he thought safety measures could improve.
Campus Cause
"I like the idea of an escort system using students," Profitt said.
He said financial impact needed to be considered with any plan and the escort system could be the most cost-effective.
■ Expand Safeferide's operating hours and number of vehicles
■ Increase lighting and blue phones
■ Lobby for more police officers
Wendy Butler, independent Nunemaker candidate, said she
supported the expansion of Saferide if it would not increase student fees.
Butler said she and Dion Jones, Campus Cause candidate for a non-traditional student seat, had been working on a bus route to the bars downtown on weekends.
Senate elections stir debate about fee increases
She said a long wait for Saferide could lead students to drive drunk.
"I think the major problem with Saferide right now is that you have to wait so long." Butler said.
By Melissa Ngo
mngo@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Student Senate elections start Wednesday, and one of the candidates' issues is how to deal with fee increases.
Campus Cause wants to send all fee increases to a referendum for a campus-wide vote. Delta Force wants to increase student participation through surveys and forums.
"Students should have a say
Scott Kaiser, Nunemaker senator, transportation coordinator and Campus Cause candidate for student body vice-president, said although students did not have the chance to approve fee increases, they would have a voice if increases were sent to referendum.
before they pay." Kaiser said.
During last year's elections, Senate voted on a referendum concerning graduate teaching assistant health care, Nogle said. This year, the issue on the ballot will be the continuation of residence hall polling sites.
Emily Heath, Center for Community Outreach co-director and Delta Force candidate for student body president, said increasing student participation through grassroots activity would be better.
"Sending fees to referendum every time would not be cost-effective," Heath said. "Holding forums would inform students about the issue in a neutral way and allow them to have input."
A referendum vote during Senate elections would cost $400, the amount needed to print 5,000 ballots, said Audrey Nogle, elections commissioner. A referendum at a separate time would cost at least $3,025 for 5,000 ballots and three polling sites.
Delta Force collected more than 1,000 signatures on a petition to add the issue of raising the campus safety fee to the ballot next week.
Anthony Nicholson, Delta Force candidate for an engineering seat, said the Campus Cause referendum proposal would not benefit students because it was too expensive.
Nogle said the issue would be on the ballot if all of the signatures were verified.
"It would either cost students $3,000 every time we vote, or we'd have to wait until the end of the year to vote," Nicholson said. "This would cripple Senate if it had to wait until the end of the
year for the fee increases."
Ben Walker, Nunemaker senator and Campus Cause candidate for a Nunemaker seat, said referendum costs should not be a problem.
"If the fee is not urgent, then it doesn't have to be voted on until the end of the year," Walker said. "If the fee is urgent, then we should hold a special referendum to allow students to have a voice."
Kaiser agreed costs should not deter referendums.
"Paying $3,000 for a referendum would be pennies for each student." Kaiser said.
The campus fee has increased from $139.50 in 1988-1989 to $214 for next year.
Nicole Skalla, subcommittee member and Delta Force candidate for a Nunemaker seat, said each year, three or four of the groups financed by the campus fee had
Campus fee components
The campus fee for 1998-1999 includes fees for student health operations, facilities, maintenance, repairs, equipment and facility additions; child care center construction; Student Senate; environmental improvement; student union building renovations; women's and non-revenue intercollegiate sports; student recreational services and centers; sports clubs; student media; campus lighting; educational opportunity and campus transportation.
their portion of the fee reviewed.
This year, one of the decisions included increasing the campus transportation fee by $1, she said.
There are three other ways to acquire financing for large projects, said Scott Sullivan, student body president.
If the issue involves students and faculty, it can go through Senate Executive committee and University Council, Sullivan said. If the issue involves students, they can ask for financing through the administration.
Another financing option is to request funds from the state legislature.
"To receive money from the state legislature, you need to get whatever you want into the governor's recommendations, and that comes out in January," Sullivan said. "To get it into the governor's recommendations, you need the help of the Board of Regents."
But even with the governor and the board's support, the legislature won't necessarily fund the issue, he said.
What people weren't looking for on the first Easter.
Instead, people were searching for the body of Jesus of Nazareth. A man who had claimed to be God. A man who said he would prove his deity by bodily rising from the dead. No other religious leader has made such a claim and backed it up with such an event.
If you would like to find out more about this remarkable man, contact one of us, or see the website at http://www.leaderu.com/TellMeMore
Clay Welcher Associate Professor of Architectural Engineering
Ken Demarest
Professor of Electrical Engineering
and Computer Science
Eric Moyer Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
George Schaeffer
Professor of Naval Science
Carey K. Johnson
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Elizabeth Tepp Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Elon W. White
Assistant Professor of Human
Development and Family Life
Cal W. Downs
Professor of Communication Studies
Carl Burkhead Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Nowhan Kwak
Professor of Physics
Jerry D. Swearingen Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
David Petz Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Donna Tucker
Assistant Professor of Physics
and Astronomy
Bodro Vimer
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
See What Spring has in Store for You
1525 West 6th·843-9922
Save 25% to 65% percent every day on famous brands including: Banister Shoe, G.H. Bass Outlet, Big Dog, Book Warehouse, Bugle Boy, Claire's Accessories, Corning Revere, Dress Barn, Dress Barn Woman, Famous Footwear, J. Crew, Jones New York, L'eggs/Hanes/Bali, Leather Loft, London Fog, Mikasa, Oneida, Rocky Mountain, The Hot Spot, Van Heusen, Vormehr Gallery, Wallet Works, and More.
Join us for exciting Spring Events:
Every Wednesday 9am - 10am: Baby Parade on the River Level.
Saturday, March 21: Quilt Raffle at West entrance to support Meals on Wheels.
Saturday, April 4, 10am - 2pm: Employment Marketplace, sponsored by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.
Saturday, April 4: Children's Miracle Network Bake Sale at West entrance, sponsored by L'eggs/Hanes/Bali/Playtex
March 2 - April 12: Jones New York Event in Support of Breast Cancer Research in Suite 310. Purchase a scarf and $10 will be donated in support of Breast Cancer Research.
LAWRENCE RIVERFRONT PLAZA
35 Stores = Downtown Lawrence (785) 842-5511
Mon.- Sat. 10, 9, Sun. 12-6