Tomorrow's weather
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KS STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PO BOX 3585
TOPEKA, KS 66601-3585
Kansan
Thursday will continue to be cooler and cloudy.
Wednesday
March 4,1998
Section:
A
Vol.108·No.113
Online today
Exchange Coke collectibles and play the bottle game at the Internet site of the University's latest corporate sponsor.
Vol. 108·No.113
Sports today
http://www.coke.com
Kansas forward Raef LaFrentz has been named Big 12 Conference Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
SEE PAGE 1B
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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Professors bound by book law
State limits free textbooks for instructors
By Gerry Dayle
gdayle at kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
A new ruling by the Kansas Commission on Governmental Standards is closing the book on free examination copies of textbooks for professors.
The ruling, which was published in the Dec. 18, 1997, issue of the "Kansas Register," states that accepting free desk copies of textbooks and newspapers valued at $40 or more is a violation of the State of Kansas Conflict of Interest laws.
A University of Kansas faculty member may accept these materials, but if he or she leaves the
University, the materials must be relinquished to the library. Additionally, professors may not give or sell the books to anyone.
The ruling was prompted by Arthur Morin, a professor at Fort Hays State University, who in September 1997 asked the commission whether free textbooks were the property of the professor or the state.
The ruling probably would not affect professors at the University too much, said Provest David Shulenburger. Teachers still could keep and use the books, Shulenburger said.
He said that there had been no complaints from the faculty about the change, and no one would be adversely affected by the ruling.
(USPS 650-640)
"I think people understand the circumstances," Shulenburger said. "People can go ahead and request the books, get them and put them on the shelf. They
remain there until they leave the University."
Laurence Draper, professor of microbiology and president of University Senate, said the ruling probably would not affect him as a teacher. As long as textbooks still are accessible and can be used by faculty, the policy is not a problem, Draper said.
"It's not really a problem," he said. "I have all sorts of books. If they want me to give them to the library, I'll give them to the library. I might like to give them to schools that need them and don't have them, but if that's the law, that's the law. If the state wants them, the state can have them."
Although the policy prevents professors from giving textbooks away, the educational process would not be negatively affected, he said.
The policy is benign as long as it does not hinder professors' abilities to get free textbooks,
said Jan Kozma, professor of French and Italian.
Kozma said that her department received about five or six textbook packages per basic French and Italian course, and that each package cost about $75.
"I have no problem with the policy," she said. "I would have a problem if we had to buy examination copies. We check so many copies that we couldn't possibly afford to buy all the ones sent to us."
As long as teachers are able to get the materials they need to be effective in the classroom, the policy will not affect students much, said Michelle Etnire, Overland Park senior. Faculty teaching methods would not be altered, so education would not change, Etnire said.
"I don't think it's that big of a deal," she said. "It might be kind of an inconvenience. And it could be hard to have to give them back. People can grow attached to books."
On the books
Professors may not give away or regard as personal property free examination copies of books and newspapers which cost more than $40.
A December 1997 ruling by the Kansas Commission on Government Standards states that faculty members must turn over such texts to the library when leaving the University.
M. D. Bradshaw/KANSAN
Prehistoric project
Steve Lowe, Kansas City, Kan., junior, spends the afternoon sketching fossils in the base-ment of the Natural History Museum. Lowe was working on a project Monday for a graphic design class. Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
Senate to consider Headquarters bill
Budget shortfall recurring problem for crisis center
By Marc Sheforgen
mssheforgen@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
A bill to provide emergency financing for the Headquarters Counseling Center is included in legislation for tonight's Student Senate meeting.
Headquarters, 1419 Massachusetts St., provides free 24-hour mental health services including counseling and education to University of Kansas students, faculty and staff, and Lawrence residents.
Headquarters is asking Senate for $5,935 to pay for rent, utilities and personnel services.
"There's no question that the kind of help that we provide for KU students is worth way more than the amount of money we are asking for from Student Senate," she said. "It's a really good investment."
Senate allocated $38,400 for Headquarters this year after allocating $48,300 for Headquarters last year.
She said that the center provided services to about 1,000 individuals per month, half of whom were KU students.
The difference of almost $10,000 has left Headquarters' budget short, said Marcia Epstein, director of Headquarters.
Pat Mazumdar, graduate senator, said he was concerned with Headquarter's budgeting. Mazumdar said that Headquarters also asked Senate for additional
Headquarters Counseling Center
- Current Senate allocation: $38,400
- Requesting: $5,935
Purpose for request: to pay for rent, utilities and personal services
Location: 1419 Massachusetts St.
financing this time last year. He said repeated requests for additional financing were an unacceptable trend for any organization.
But, Mazumdar, who is sponsoring the bill to finance Headquarters, said Senate should bail out an important service if it is in trouble.
"This is a really useful, productive, essential organization for this University and for Lawrence's community as well," he said. "I think that if the Senate has the money, they should give it to them."
The money, if allocated, would come from the Senate reserve account, funds that Senate allocated to organizations last year but that the organizations did not spend.
Tom Preheim, Senate treasurer, said that it was wrong to finance Headquarters with reserve account money. He said that the money should be used for financing emergencies involving Senate-run services such as KU on Wheels.
Preheim said he thought that the sponsors of the bill turned to the reserve account for support because the unallocated account was running low. He said that he did not agree with this means of obtaining money.
"I think it sets a bad precedent for other groups to come and look to the reserve account when they have a need for funding," he said.
City votes to modify sidewalks, drain grates
By Jeremy M. Doherty
donerty@kansan.cor
Kansan staff writer
University of Kansas students and Lawrence residents can expect Iowa Street's storm grates and sidewalks to receive a makeover later this year.
Members of the Lawrence City Commission decided unanimously last night to approve two recommendations calling for modified drain grates and wider sidewalks along Iowa Street. The area in question is near the Lied Center and University residence halls on Daisy Hill.
However, Mike Wildgen, city manager, said that it was unlikely that all of the recommendations would be completed because of a lack of funds in the city's budget.
In its report, the commission estimated that the grate modification project would cost $6,300. The cost of widening the sidewalks, which stretch from 23rd Street to 6th Street, was estimated at $113,490, said to the report.
"There's only about $75,000 for non-motorized items." Wildgen said. "This will have to compete with handicapped ramps, bike clubs and intersections without curb cuts."
Given the limited funds, city commissioners prioritized the recommendations. The drain grates and the sidewalks between 23rd and 19th streets will be the only projects funded.
Work will begin on the modifications following the completion of the 1998 budget. Wildgen said.
Jim Turner, president of the Lawrence Bicycle Club, proposed the drain grate project to the Traffic Safety Commission last December. He said that for at least three years, the grates had been unsafe for bicyclists.
"Thus far, we've just had to avoid them," Turner said.
The grates' metal bars run parallel to the flow of traffic. The gaps between the bars are wide enough for a passing bicycle tire to fall through easily, Turner said.
Blazing trails
The bicycle pathway along Iowa Street from 23rd Street to the overpass between 15th and 19th streets will be widened, increasing it to a width of 10 feet.
M. D. Bradshaw/KANSAN
Counseling helps students cope with midterms
By Lisa Stevens John
ljohn@Kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
For students who wander into midterm exams unprepared, Jim Kreider, a counselor at the University of Kansas' Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), has a one-word definition: stress.
Relder said that many students who fell behind in their studies could be swamped midway through the semester.
said. "Then they miss a class, get behind, and think, 'I'll get caught up next week.'"
"Some folks start the semester with good intentions," Krelder
Before they know it, they are at midterms, and they have a lot that is unfinished, Kreider said.
Kreider said that to help students deal with midterm stress, the first objective was to identify the major sources of stress and then begin
taking steps to deal with the stress.
taking steps to deal with the stress. He said that CAPS taught stress-management skills, such as stretching and breathing exercises and relaxation techniques, Kreider said.
CAPS teaches stress-management skills during group sessions on Tuesday nights at Watkins Memorial Health Center.
However, sometimes just learning how to study is important, Kreider said.
"Many high school students really haven't had to study all that hard, especially if they're bright,"
"You can get coffee, and it's bright," McNeel said.
Ryan McNeel, Overland Park senior, said he liked to go the cafeteria to study.
Sometimes finding a comfortable atmosphere for studying can help reduce stress.
Kreider said. "And then they get to college and may not even know how to study."
Dave Clark, Derby junior, bit into a hamburger as he studied for a test in population biology. Clark had been studying in the cafeteria for about two hours.
"I can't concentrate at home," Clark said. "There's always the stereo or the food or the TV going on," Clark said. "So I have to go to the library or somewhere else where I can't be distracted."
While some students work on dealing with midsemester stress, other students offer advice on how to be prepared for midterm exams.
"Don't stress," Katie Feldmann, St. Louis senior, said.
Bill Cutler, Omaha senior, agreed
"Behaviors," he said. "If I
other, Omaha senior, agreed.
"Relax," he said. "If you studied and have gone to class, you'll do fine."