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Sports: Freshman guard Tamecka Dixon shines for the No. 8 Jayhawks. Page 11.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VOL.103.NO.78
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
KANSAS STATE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TOPEKA KS 66612
ADVERTISING:864-4358
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12. 1994
(USPS 650-640)
Additional plan threatens Washburn
By Jamie Munn Kansan staff writer
Topeka may soon add its university to the Kansas Board of Regents, but that plan might face an uphill climb if an attached plan to increase higher education funding is rejected.
Gov. Joan Finney has recommended that the Legislature incorporate Washburn University into the Regents' system. But she said last night in her State of the State address that she would not approve that action unless the Partnership for Excellence also was passed.
Ray Hauke, director of planning and budget for the Regents, said he had expected two separate bills — one for
Washburn and one for the Partnership — to be proposed in the state legislature this session.
But if Washburn is accepted and the Partnership is not, "it is likely to become an issue that would divide the state." Hanke said.
The Partnership for Excellence is a proposal that would increase tuition costs for the state's universities, said Bob Friauf, head of KU's University Council. The revenues would go specifically to faculty salary increases instead of a general state fund.
David Monical, executive assistant to Hugh Thompson, president of Washburn, said the university was looking forward to the two ideas.
Incorporating Washburn in the Regents' system also would strengthen Washburn's academic programs, he said.
"Given that Washburn already receives $6.3 million in state general funds, including them would result in better jurisdiction of the state investment and management of that money," Hauke said.
"From our prospective, it's important that all of the pieces be passed," Monical said.
Monical said that although Washburn has been a public institution since 1941, it has never been integrated entirely into the Regents' system. But he also said that Washburn had received state funding since 1961.
The integration of Washburn also would allow the university to offer more academic resources in Topeka,
Monical said.
But Friauf said he was concerned that Washburn might be accepted without increased funding from the Partnership proposal.
Although Washburn and KU have the only two law schools in the state, Friau said the two universities probably would not fight over students. However, they might compete for funding, he said.
"If Washburn is accepted but not the Partnership for Excellence, it's going to be very bad," he said.
Friedau said that although tuition has increased at KU over the past 10 years, faculty salaries were, in general, only about 85 percent of the average of its peer institutions.
Passage of the Partnership plan would increase faculty salaries up to 100 percent of the average within two to three years, Friau said.
NEWS: 864-4810
Monical said the two bills would need to be approved by both houses of the Legislature before any action was taken.
"This is not something that will be done in a few weeks," he said.
The proposal to incorporate Washburn was approved by the Regents at their last meeting Dec. 15.
Finney's speech raises doubts
In addition to KU, the Regents preside over Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburgh State University and Wichita State University.
Governor sets agenda in final state address
Amy Selt / KANSAN
Joan Finney, in her State of the State address last night, supported the inclusion of Topeka's Washburn University into the state's Regents system
By Stephen Martino Kansan staff writer
Depending on which side of the aisle you were sitting on last night, the chambers of the Kansas House of Representatives were either comfortable or a little chilly.
Democrats warmly embraced Gov. Joan Finney's last State of the State address. But Republicans were cool, saying it lacked leadership and direction.
Finney outlined a legislative agenda that included the addition of Washburn University into the Board of Regents and support for the Partnership for Excellence, a proposal to increase the salaries of Regents' professors to the average of peer institutions. She is also seeking the legalization of casinos on Native American reservations, establishment of initiative — means for the public to introduce and pass legislation by statewide vote — and the creation of an elected state auditor position.
Finney said that the Partnership was necessary because Kansas was failing to attract and keep the best educators for its universities.
Finney's fiscal year 1995 budget calls for an 5.1 percent increase in financing for higher education, the largest increase since fiscal year 1990. She earmarked $34.4 million for the Partnership, of which $14 million would come from increased student tuition and $20.4 million from the state general fund.
"Students agreed to the increase, and they realized their tuition was lower than students at most other state universities," she said.
The Student Advisory Committee, composed of student body presidents, endorsed the plan to the governor, which will result in a 9 percent tuition increase for the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and Wichita State University students and a smaller increase to other Regents university students. All nonresident students will see a 13 percent increase in tuition if the legislation
passes.
Republican legislative leaders said that was far from certain.
"This plan could spend us into a big problem," said Senate President Bud Burke, R-Olathe.
He said that numbers presented in the governor's budget did not appear to add up with the state's income and fixed expenses.
"We can do this for one year, but our dilemma is in the second and third years." Burke said.
Speaker of the House Robert Miller, R-Wellington, said he was surprised by the plan's expense.
"I thought it would be half of the $25 million proposed," he said. "It is going to be awfully hard for the Legislature to come up with that money. I think the price tag is too high for the Partnership for Excellence right now."
Miller was critical of what he called a lack of leadership in the governor's speech.
"It was disappointing that she blew
an opportunity to set an agenda in her last year," he said. "She has spent more time promoting Indian gaming than on education and health care."
Finney's speech was interrupted nine times by applause, mostly coming from the Democratic side of the room and the gallery, where her family was sitting.
"The governor announced last year she wasn't seeking another term because she didn't want the important issues to become political bombshells," said House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, D-Wichita. "The governor knows what she wants to accomplish in her last year and I think you will see her take a more active role in seeing that her goals for the state are met."
But Miller said he was not discounting Finney as an active participant in the Legislature this year.
"The governor has been very unpredictable throughout her term," he said.
Local legislators critique speech
Kansan staffwriter
Lukewarm speech and staged applause was what State Sen. Sandy Praeger, R-Lawrence, said she thought about Gov. Joan Finney's State of the State address last night.
Yet, despite her views toward the speech, Praeger said that she was reserving judgment on Finney's proposal to include Washburn University in the Regents system and begin financing of the Partnership for Excellence.
"I don't believe that the speech shows an aggressive agenda whatsoever." Praeger said.
"It makes me very uncomfortable that the Partnership for Excellence is tied to Washburn," she said.
Praeger said that student support for the Partnership was vital to its
success.
"KU will be hurt the most because it has the largest number of out-of-state students," she said.
State Rep. Barbara Ballard said she agreed that caution with regards to Washburn and the Partnership would be the best policy for now.
"I am always concerned when we take on new plans without being able to fund our current needs at appropriate levels," she said.
Ballard was much more complimentary of Finney's speech, saying it was a good job and a positive overview of her accomplishments. Still, she said she did not know what would be the end result of the Washburn/Partnership issue.
"Bills aren't one way or the other," Ballard said. "They are not black or white."
New loan process limits lines
By Denise Nell Kansan staff writer
Students who receive federal Stafford and federal FLS loans were greeted by fewer lines when they went to fee payment this semester.
A new system called Electronic Funds Transfer allows the University to transfer the lump sum of students' Stafford or FLS loans directly into their accounts at KU, making it necessary for students to stand in only one line.
Diane Del Buono, director of the Office of Student Financial Aid, said that in the past the loan recipients had to stand in line for fee statements first. If students owed money, they would have to stand in a cashiers line. If not, they would have to stand in line to have their checks endorsed and then they would go on to a refund line. The old process included the possibility of standing in as many t as three lines.
Del Buono said that the new process also made a significant difference in the amount of time the financial aid staff needed to process the checks.
With increased efficiency, Del Buono said, the staff is available to process new loan applications, which could mean more money for more students in the long run.
Del Buono said that 45 percent of students who received loans were getting Stafford or FLS loans. Although Mercantile Bank of Lawrence is the only lender participating in the EFT program, Kathe Shinham, director of the Office of Comptroller, said she was optimistic that more lenders would soon begin using the system. By next fall, she said, most campus-based loans from participating lenders — including Perkins loans and loans for Health Professional students and disadvantaged students — should be using the system.
Bill Green, Chico, Calif., senior, has been receiving Stafford loans for four years. He said the shorter lines were not worth having the University control his loan money.
"If you at all, the school any money at all, KU can take it out of your check," he said. "It's not worth it."
But Angle Calton, Lawrence sophomore, said she thought anything that would shorten lines was worth trying.
"It was awful," she said. "Last year I think my line was over an hour, and then I had to go to another one. It must have been a fire hazard in that place."
Del Buono said the EFT system was popular with most students.
"I was very pleased with the response we got from students at fee payment," she said. "We had a couple who made a point of coming up to us and saying 'we really like this much better.'"
KU Opera's production of "The Mikado" offers humor and romance in an exotic Japanese setting. Page 9.
Fun at the Opera
Determination cures Study Abroad costs
By Angelina Lopez
With dreams of gazing at Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower and studying French with a gorgeous French professor, many students run up the steps of the Office of Study Abroad.
However, cold reality dashes their dreams when they discover the price tag of a year in France: $7,900.
Kansan staff writer
Before they throw up their hands, students should realize that money is available for those that want to study abroad as long as they have tenacity to search for it.
"A lot of what it takes to be able to go abroad is creativity," said Mary Elizabeth Debicki, director of OSA.
She suggested that a person receiving a scholarship contact the group he or she is receiving the money from and ask them to double it. A student also could go to a local newspaper and offer to send them a story a week in exchange for the paper sponsoring his or her studying abroad adventures.
The first step OSA takes in assisting a student, Debicki said, is figuring out a typical budget for a student studying abroad. This includes tuition and fees, room and board, travel, personal expenses, books and passport. The office compares that budget against the student's budget at KU.
"When you figure out the cost of a study abroad program and what you're paying here, it isn't that much more," Debicki said.
She said certain programs only cost $2000 more than a student's regular KU budget.
For a non-resident student, spending a semester abroad may be cheaper than spending a semester at KU. A non-resident student pays an average of $5,325 a semester, while a semester in Costa Rica costs only $3,750.
The next step is to visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. Although a student may not have qualified for financial aid while he or she was at KU, Debicki said, the extra money needed to participate in the program may allow him or her to qualify for
"We hate to advise students to take out loans because loans never go away," Debicki said. Instead of loans, she suggested applying for scholarships and grants.
loans while studying abroad. Through the financial aid office, students may be eligible for loans, grants and scholarships.
The Institute of International Education is offering $8000 per semester to students who study languages and cultures that are less commonly chosen for study abroad. For example, Debicki said, if a student wanted to go to Paraguay, he or she would have to study Guarani, the native language, rather than Spanish.
Kirk Hardinger. Overland Park senior,
If worse comes to worst, students can always turn to the old-fashioned way of getting money: working for it.
Departmental scholarships from the Kansas University Endowment Association, averaging $500, also are available for foreign study, and Watson Library has several books that list study abroad scholarships.
Foreign currency
The following types of aid are available from the Office of Student Financial Aid to students who want to study abroad:
Pell Grant
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
Perkins or NDS Loans
Stafford (GSL)
Supplemental Loan for Students
Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students
KU Endowment of Departmental scholarships (Awarded by Department and OSFA)
Source: Office of Study Abroad KANSAN
worked 40 to 50 hours a week last summer at a lumber yard in order to go to Alicante, Spain, last fall.
"It was worth it," he said. "I needed a break. Now I'm back, and everything's new."