UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, April 8, 1994
5
Senate candidates searching for ways to fight voter apathy
By Heather Moore Kansan staffwriter
In most national elections, political campaigns fight against each other.
But in the race for Student Senate, the campaigns are designed to fight voter apathy.
Jennifer Ford, elections commissioner, said 3,995 students—or about 15 percent of the student body — voted in elections last spring. And in the past four years, an average of 14.5 percent of the student body has voted.
For the coalitions, the key to victory is getting the apathetic students' votes
Derek King, IGNITE candidate for an off-campus senate seat, said he had been campaigning at student organization's meetings but had run into uninterested students when handing out fliers and buttons.
"It's hard if you don't know them to convince them that Student Senate money is theirs and they need a voice," said King, Kansas City, Mo., junior.
Brad Neyman, an A.S. W.E.GO! candidate for a Liberal Arts and Sciences senate seat, said many students he had talked to said that the coalitions' platforms sounded the same.
"I tell them that it's going to be like that," said Neyman, Lenexa senior. "We all want the best for the University. Our coalition will do the better job."
Ken McRae, independent candidate for a School of Law senate seat, said he was using word-of-mouth to campaign.
"Ihave contact with a majority of the people in the law school on a daily basis," said McRae, Junction City freshman. "It's more effective for me to talk to people and get feedback."
Lucy Ridgway, IGNITE candidate for a Liberal Arts and Sciences senate seat, said she had been handing out fliers and answering questions.
"We want to make sure everyone is educated by explaining the hand-bills," said Ridgway, Kerrville, Texas, sophomore. "Everybody seems interested. There is some student apathy. As soon as I explain the issues, they want to know more."
Collin Reynolds, YOU candidate for an off-campus senate seat, said he encouraged non-traditional students to vote by promising them better representation.
"I want them to have greater access to campus events," said Reynolds, Independence, Mo., junior. "I don't believe the non-traditional interest
The complaints
Two complaints have been filed against candidates in the upcoming Student Senate election.
ing Student Senate election. Bill Gist, independent candidate for student body president, and Scott McDaniel, independent candidate for vice president of the Student Senate, were fined $10 for putting their campaign posters in classrooms, which is against University policy.
The IGNITE coalition must run an advertisement in the University Daily Kansan saying that the coalition's buttons were paid for by IGNITE. The complaint alleged that the buttons did not say who sponsored them, as required by University policy.
KANSAN
has been met to this point."
Dave Stevens, YOU candidate for a Nunemaker senate seat, said that despite apathy, he wanted students to know the issues in the cannage.
"I want to inform students on how Senate and SUA can work together to help all students," said Stevens, Wichita sophomore. "State lobbying is another issue."
Kansas House rejects Regents budget.
By Stephen Martino Kansan staff writer
TOPEKA — The Kansas House of Representatives rejected the Board of Regents budget, not once, but twice yesterday, stating that the state was violating the trust of university students.
The budget emerged from a joint House/Senate conference committee, leaving intact student tuition increases but recommending only a 2.5 percent pay increase for professors. The tuition increases were proposed in the Partnership for Excellence, a Regents proposed plan to increase faculty salaries to 100 percent of the average of each universities' peer institutions. The partnership recommended that the pay increases be financed through tuition increases and state support.
Several legislators rose in the cham
ber to speak against accepting the agreement, saying students had agreed to support a partnership between themselves and the state, not to make the only contribution.
"The conference committee has broken its agreement with the students," said State Rep. Betty Jo Charlton, D-Lawrence. "It wasn't the 'onesided thing.' It was a Partnership for Excellence."
Charlton made the motion both times to return the budget to the conference committee. It passed first by a vote of 66-54 and the second time, 69-55. An appointed conference committee will meet today to once again discuss the budget.
State Rep. Rochelle Chronister, R-Neodesha and member of the conference committee, said the senators on the committee were not inclined to budge from their position. Specifically, she said that State Sen. August
"Gus" Bogina, R-Shawnee, was committed to seeing all state employees, including university professors, receive only a 2.5 percent pay raise.
That logic, State Rep. David Adkins, R-Lewandow, defied what was reasonable to expect, given the economic conditions of recruiting professors.
"We cannot expect to hire high-quality university professors on the same standard that we hire other classified employees," he said. "If we want to attract a world-class history professor, we must be prepared to pay for it."
Yet, two legislators, State Rep Stephen Wiard, D-Council Grove, and State Rep. Ed McKehnie, D-Pittsburgh, said that students were the ones who were being abused by the actions of the Legislature.
"The state has not met its obligation and its part of the bargain with students," McKechnie said.
KU Men's Soccer club
presents Soccer kickoff'94
April 10 5-close Domestic Pitchers $3 USA -vs-Bolivia USA -vs-S. Korea On the BIG screen TV!
Before the party come see KU Men's soccer club play Baker University at Robinson East! Game starts at 2:30
Raffle for 2 world cup tickets! 18 & older admitted $3 cover to benefit KU Men's soccer club
Do You Have What It Takes?
The University Daily Kansan advertising staff is now taking applications for summer and fall
Do you have what it takes to succeed in the fast pace career world of today? To be successful one needs to understand how to deal with people, be responsible, solve problems, and of course have fun! The University Daily Kansan is a place where you can learn all these things and more. The Kansan advertising staff will give you
valuable real world experience in sales, communication and computer knowledge. Besides looking great on any resume, it is also a great place to meet people and make new friends! With all the Kansan offers, joining its staff could be the best career move you make as a student.
Applications are due by Friday, April 15th in 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
An informational meeting will be held Thursday, April 14th at 7:45 am in room 100 Stauffer-Flint Hall.