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CAMPUS/AREA UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, March 1, 1994
Graduates recruited for center
By Angelina Lopez
Kansan staff writer
Imagine sipping a cool beer in the warm sun while Max Lucas, dean of architecture and urban design, and Bob Frederick, athletic director, grill students' hamburgers.
This will not be a dream for students who attend the Class of 1994 Cookout, where deans and faculty will cook for the students. The cookout is one of many events sponsored by the University of Kansas Alumni Association to recruit graduating students. Beginning in March, the Alumni Association will send out mailers and sponsor events to promote its organization to students who will graduate in May.
"We want to teach every graduate that they can still be a part of KU after they leave the campus," said Jodi Breckenridge, director of student activities for the Alumni Association. She said that the Alumni Association offered many ways for Alumni Association members to stay involved with the University. For example, groups of KU Alumni Association members across Kansas and the country organize activities to bring KU alumni together. These activities range from professional society gatherings to art events or volleyball games, she said.
"The activities are so vanied because KU has such a diverse population," Breckenridge said.
She said that while she recruited students, she also hoped to erase some of the misconceptions about the Alumni Association.
"One misconception, she said, was that many students believe only rich old men can go into the Adams Alumni Center, 1266 Oread Ave.
"The building is very classic, but at the same time it can be intimidating to students," she said.
Breckenridge said that everyone was welcomed by the center to use facilities open to students.
She said that another misconception about the Alumni Association was that students believed they had to pay tons of money to be involved. But membership dues are only $25 a year for the first three years and $35 a year for the following years.
Students who are graduating and interested in becoming members can try a six-month free membership, Breckenridge said. This membership allows them to dine at the Learned Club, the private dining club at the alumni center that is open only to Alumni Association members, and to take part in any Alumni Association activities.
Alumni Association events
The Alumni Association on Beach to Teach — April 18-19
Representatives of the Alumni Association will harden information and talk to students about the organization in front of Wescoe Hall.
Faculty of 1994 Cookout — April 20 Faculty and students will cook burns for graduating students at the Adams Alumni Center parking lot.
Adams Alumni Center tours — April 26
the center will offer tours to students interested in the facilities.
Valerie Bontrager / KANSAN
Klissa Rueschhoff, better known as the Candy Lady, throws candy kisses out to fans at the Kansas women's basketball game last night. Rueschhoff usually goes to the men's home games and one of the women's during the season. "I'm not sexist, just poor," she said.
'Candy Lady' has sweet spot in Allen Field House
Win or lose, KU hoop fans always get just desserts
By Roberta Johnson Kansan staff writer
She is a Santa Claus to all KU basketball fans.
Klissa Rueschoff, known as the Candy Lady, has tossed treats to students before basketball games for five years.
"If I was a millionaire, I'd throw candy all the time," she said. "Unless I'm in the poor farm, I'll do it until my 110."
Rueschoff decided to give treats to the students as a way to get to know her "fan club." The students took notice of her intense enthusiasm during games, she said.
"One day a couple of students said they wanted to meet me because they said I'm a real Jayhawk fan," she said. "I met a bunch of them at half time, and they said they were my fan club.
"If they're my fan club, I figured I should give them a treat."
She usually gives candy at all men's basketball games but at only one or two women's games each year.
"The expense is great, and the student turnout at women's games is not as great," she said. "But I think that people should support women's games."
She has gone to at least five women's games this year, although she had not yet thrown candy at one this season until last night.
For 10 years, Rueschcoff said, she has owned men's season tickets, near the foul line on the southeast side of Allen Field House.
"The first time we went to a game, Jim warned me that the people around us were pretty crazy," she said. "Afterward, he just shook his head and said, 'I guess that won't be a problem.'"
In 1983, she met her husband, Jim,
a season ticket holder since 1968.
The couple married 10 years ago. "We planned our wedding around the Big Eight Tournament," she said.
"I love them all," she said. "Every time I get a chance to visit with students, I'm delighted."
Although the couple has no children, Rueschhoff said she didn't need any. She already has 26,000 of them.
Rueschhoff said she was a role model for the type of fan she would like to see in the student section.
"I don't believe Roy Williams would want a group who name-calls like the Antlers," she said, referring to a group of University of Missouri alumni and student basketball fans.
"I don't believe in insulting the referees or players," she said. "But I don't mind booing."
Rueschoffh has worked in various KU offices for 15 years and now is a secretary at the Institute of Public Policy and Business Research in Blake Hall.
Rueschhoff is originally from Utah but came to Lawrence in 1979. At KU she finished earning the credits needed to graduate from the University of Utah.
"I fell in love with Lawrence, but I hate Kansas weather," she said. "When I retire, I'm going to move somewhere else, but I'm going to be close enough to fly back to the games."
Senate to hear spending bill
Process would make senators more money-wise
By Heather Moore
Kansan staff writer
Student Senate might see red if a resolution preventing further spending doesn't pass this Wednesday.
Last week, the Senate finance committee passed the resolution by acclimation — the highest recommendation legislation can get.
Chad Browning, administrative assistant and sponsor of the bill, said the resolution would not prevent groups from coming to Senate for money.
"In no way will this exclude them," he said. "It makes Student Senate consider the budget. Often senators look at the merits of a bill and fund them even though it might be detrimental to the budget."
Senate cannot fund an organization unless the resolution is suspended or repealed, Browning said. This process would make senators think about their financial responsibility.
"Even if this resolution fails, it makes people think about deficit spending and future spending," he said.
Browning said that Senate spent too much earlier in the year.
"I think Senate spent a lot too early without realizing second semester spending needs," he said.
How Senate would feel about the resolution could not be predicted, Browning said. He said that he knew that people were divided on the issue.
"In some instances, Senate felt different than the finance committee."
Senate spending Student Senate's unallocated funds for the last five years are as follows:
Micah Laaker/KANSAN
he said. "If they look at it as an attempt to stop, it will fail. If they look at it as not etched in stone, it will pass."
Chad Taylor, Senate finance committee member, said that he supported the resolution.
"The biggest advantage is that someone is saying, 'We need to practice good fiscal policy,'" he said. "It will set an important foundation for Senate. It's good that the resolution is brought to the forefront to make people aware that Senate is over budget."
Eric Medill, finance committee chair, said that he wouldn't support the bill because a worthy group might deserve funding.
"If a group, like Day on the Hill, came up and had good things to do, they are deserving of it," he said. "If doesn't mean that they can't get money, it means that we don't want to fund them."
Senate reserve fund covers overspending
By Heather Moore
Kansan staff writer
A reserve account will cover this year's overspending.
Student Senate may be over budget, but it's not bouncing checks.
Money that Senate spends over the unallocated account for student organizations is taken from a reserve fund. The unallocated account is money that which Senate reserves when its budget is set for a fiscal year. The account usually is used for funding the special projects of organizations.
The reserve fund is a savings account of money that was budgeted, but not used, during the past years. About $180,000 is in the fund, said Jeremy Haas, Senate treasurer.
The reserve was dipped into after $6,346 was spent in group funding on Feb. 16. These bills caused Senate to spend $2,630 of the reserve fund.
This year's unallocated account originally was set at $62,521. When League of Kansas Students disbanded in January, $20,000 of its funds were put into the unallocated student account, making this year's total unallocated account $82,521.
The group, which comprises the
University of Kansas, Wichita State University, Kansas State University and Washburn University, lobbied on behalf of student issues at the Kansas Legislature.
The remaining $10,000 of the group's unused money was put into the reserve account.
Haas said the reserve account was not high in comparison to other schools. He said Kansas State had about $2 million in its account.
Eric Medill, finance committee chair, said the reserve account originally was created for the Transportation Board in case of a crisis. The board now has its own account.
Chad Taylor, Senate finance committee member, said there had been discussion about using the reserve for programs of KU's multicultural center.
Chad Browning, administrative assistant, said the relation of the unallocated account and reserve fund could be compared to a student's personal budget.
"It's like dividing your check book into two areas," he said. "$150 is for food and $350 is for rent. If you spend $175 on food, you've spent $25 of your rent money."