14
Wednesday, August 24,1977
University Daily Kansan
KU to help victims of Roeland Park bank failure
By VENNIE WHITE
Staff Writer
The Office of Student Financial Aid has agreed to help University of Kansas students whose money was frozen in accounts at the Kansas Savings and Loan Association in Roakland Park when that firm was closed by court order last month.
The loans will be made at 6 per cent interest and will be due Aug. 1, 1978, said Jeff Weinberg, associate director of financial aid. Weinberg said the loans would be made with funds from the Kansas University Endowment Association.
The Kansas Savings and Loan Association was closed July 30 by order of the Johnson County District Court and the state Savings and Loan Commission. Until the financial problem is resolved, are records including savings accounts, are unable to be withdrawn.
WENBERG SAID HE hoped that the problems involving the institution could be straightened out within a year. But if they are not, he said extensions on the loans would have to happen.
Weinberg said he had so far talked to about 50 students who needed loans after the savings and loan was closed. Weinberg, who lost money himself when a bank failed, said he expected to see many more during enrollment week.
"I've been there," he said. "I know what they are faced with."
fortunately for the students involved,
Weinberg said KU was better prepared than
other schools to handle this emergency
and ensure availability of University endowment funds.
weinberg said most of the students and parents who came to him for assistance had never applied for financial aid and would have applied if the savings and loan had not closed.
"SOME PARENTS' entire savings for their children's education are inaccessible," he said.
"Other students cannot get their hands on their summer savings of two or three hundred dollars," he said. "That demonstrates the magnitude of the problem."
Weinberg said he encouraged other students with financial needs to come to the financial aid office in 28 Strong Hall.
"These families did not create the problem, and we are glad we can be of assistance."
Scholarships and guaranteed student loans for this semester already have been awarded, but there are other alternatives, Weinberg said.
One alternative is the federally insured student loan program, which provides loans to students through banks in their hometowns.
STUDENTS WHO ARE unable to find such a lending institution may be able to obtain loans through a proposed State of Kansas Guaranteed Loan Program.
Funds through this "Lender of last resort" program will be available in November or December at the earliest, Weinberg said.
Before the program can be implemented, bonds must be sold to finance the loans. Because of this uncertainty in the program, such bonds would not guarantee loans would be available.
Balfour fields gripes in ombudsman's role
Staff Writer
Solving problems has always been a part of William Balfour's life, whether he was serving as a physician, University of Kansas faculty member or vice chancellor of the university. He is the first University ombudsman. Balfour will have a new set of problems to work on.
Balfour's appointment as ambudsm, recommended by the Advisory Committee on Campus Grievances, is for 12 months on a half-time basis. He also is employed half-time by the University as a professor of cell biology, human biology and physiology.
As ambudsman, Balfour will be responsible for handling student, staff and faculty grievances not accounted for by Affirmative Action, the University attorney or the vice chancellor for student affairs. He also may recommend procedural changes within the University after some experience with individual cases.
BALFOUR SAID THIS week he would act as a mediator for people with complaints against the school but he would not be an advocate for any certain group.
"Listening is a large part of the job."
Bafouna, from Africa, also help explain
the concept by making others "buy."
By MARTHA FASSETT
Balfour said he thought the majority of the problems he encountered would come from the approximately 5,000 students employed by the school. Until the ombudsman position was created, these workers had no place to take grievances about hiring or firing practices.
Balfour said he also hopes to streamline the grievance process because "it is cumbersome for students to fight through the student grievance procedures."
But some complaints, such as those between students and faculty, could be handled better by the chairman of the department involved or the dean of the school, Balfour said. If the student isn't satisfied with the response from these sources, he can then take his problem to the ombudsman.
CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS, such as
Ebay have their own ambudman,
Bafour saffron.
Students planning to participate in this new program will be considered for short-term loans to cover tuition costs, Weinberg said. If funds through the new program become available during the fall semester, can be used to repay the short-term loan.
Veterans interested in this loan program should come to the VA office in 301 Carruth O'Leary at 11 a.m. beginning Sept. 1 for group meetings on the program.
According to the umbassador's job description, Bailour will have access to all administrative officials of the University and all school records. He does not have the authority to action against decisions or to circumvent existing University rules and procedures.
Besides handling problems brought to him, Balfour said he also could point out potential problems among KU students, staff and staff members and recommend changes.
LAST WEEK ABOUT 700 students were awarded over $100,000 in VA loans, Tyson said. The loans carry seven per cent interest and payment begins nine months after graduation with up to ten years to pay, he said.
THESE SHORT-TERM loans must be repaid within a few weeks after enrollment. Students who plan to apply for these short-term loans should do so at least 24 hours before enrollment.
Tyson said banks in Lawrence did not offer federally insured loans.
Eligible students can receive $750 for fall and spring semesters and $500 for summer.
In addition to loans, the VA offers $85 a month for up to 12 months for tutoring students and maintains a file of courses Tyron said, also will refer non-veterans to these tutors.
Students who are taking at least six hours leading to a degree and who have been unable to obtain a federal insurance loan are required to be in writing to Wilson Tyson, a clerk in the VA office.
Weinberg said several thousand students a year received short-term loans and a significant portion of KU students received some type of financial aid. The financial aid office has files on about 18,000 currently enrolled students, he said.
for a total of $2,000, providing their expenses exceed their incomes by that amount, Tyson said.
People with grievances should make an appointment with Balfour at his faculty office, 329C Hawthorn Hall. The new ambassador said he would try to be available between his classes and committee meetings.
About 6,000 students applied for financial aid for the 1977-78 school year, and about 3,000 awards were made. Both of these are record figures, he said.
"BUT THERE IS a program somewhere for almost anyone who needs it," he said. "Many students are surprised at what we have to offer."
Weinberg said many students did not
come to the financial aid office because they thought they were too old, their parents had too much money or their grades were not high enough.
In addition to programs available through the financial aid office, loans to veterans and the dependents of deceased or disabled veterans are provided through the Veteran's Administration (VA).
EVEN THE BEST OF US NEEDS TO USE UDK CLASSIFIED ADS. RAIN OR SHINE CALL 864-4358 OR COME BY 111 FLINT.
THE UDK
This Friday SUA is sponsoring a free concert with free beer at Potter Lake. The bands Nairobi Riot, Hot Foot and J.T. Cook will begin playing at 1 p.m.
NOT GOOD ON HOUSEHOLD
GOODS, SUEDES, OR FURS
WITH THIS COUPON
HILLCREST 925 IOWA
DOWNTOWN 111 MASS.
MALLS 711 W. 23RD
(MAIN OFFICE) 843-0895
SUA plans Ervin talk
Comedian George Carlin, who canceled an appearance at KU last spring because of ill health, will be at Hoch Auditorium Oct. 15. The Band will Be held at Hoch this秋 on Nov. 5.
Former U.S. Sen. Sam Ervin of North Carolina heads the list of nationally known speakers and bands that will appear at the University of Kansas this fall.
The Vickers Memorial Lectures and the Spencer Lectures, which annually present public figures from the media, politics and other areas, have not been scheduled yet.
Erwin, who presided over the Senate
crime committee at KU Quaid as part of SU^A Forum series.
SUA also is planning a bus trip to the Fleetwood Mac concert in Kansas City at Kemper Arena Sept. 16. Tickets for the trip on sale today at the SUA ticket window.
There also is a possibility that the Texas swing band Asleep at the Wheel will appear at Hoch Sept. 10. Woodman said that the Asleep at the Wheel concert had been laid up several months ago, but that problems with the poster committee have placed that concert in doubt.
Woodman said Kris Kristofferson an Rita Coolidge will perform in Allen Field House Nov. 12. He said that SUA tried to get Kristofferson for homecoming on Oct. 15, but that scheduling conflicts prevented it. Woodman said there now is no concert scheduled for homecoming, but he still is participating with several groups for that date.
SUA also said it had been negotiating to bring Andrew Young, the controversial U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, to KU. No agreement has been reached, however
Mark Woodman, in charge of lining up concerts for SUA, said several appearances have been scheduled that are now "89 per cent sure."