KU catches up with Bucklev amendment
By DEBRIECHMANN
Staff Renorter
When a law was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1974 allowing students to review their academic files, universities were required to develop their own set of guidelines concerning the law.
However, until last week, the University of Kansas has never had a detailed policy of when students' educational files could be reviewed or who could review them.
David Amber, vice chancellor for student affairs, said yesterday that KU started developing a new course.
The law, commonly called the Buckley Amendment, in the past was outlined in a pamphlet that discussed policies that affected student rights and responsibilities.
Ambler said the new set of guidelines was designed to assist those who were guardians of the records in
determining when and by whom the files could be seen.
IN 1974, final regulations were made by the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, but Amber said KU officials at that time saw no need for a more detailed policy.
Mike Davis, University general counsel, said he thought part of the delay in getting KU's policy written concerning access to academic files was not a violation in the office of the vice chancellor for student affairs.
Since 1974, KU students have been protected by the Buckley Amendment, officially called the Family Emancipation Law.
THE DETAILED POLICY about the accessibility of academic files will be printed and distributed to departments on campus and will be available to students upon information concerning their rights to review their files.
Discussed in the report are the rights students have
to see their files and to challenge information they think is incorrect.
Students do not have access to the following educational records, which are related to a student and maintained by KU or by a party acting for the University:
- Medical and psychological records maintained in connection with treatment, which are not available to patients.
- Records created by an individual staff member that are not revealed to any other person.
- Records of the Security Division of the KU Police Department maintained for law enforcement purposes. Educational records cannot be disclosed to the KU Police or Parking Services for their use.
- Records that contain only information relating to a person who is no longer a KU student.
- Financial records of a student's parents submitted as part of a financial aid request.
without a student's consent. Teachers and other officials of the same university who have a "legitimate education interest" in the records do not need written permission to review them.
see part of our equipment
SOME OUTSIDERS can review student records
The University can grant an outslider's request to see a student's file under the following cir-curations:
- to persons in a health or safety emergency
- to financial aid personnel in conjunction with an application for financial aid.
- to authorities complying with a judicial order or subpoena if an attempt has been made to notify the authorities
Grades cannot be released to anyone if the student is a legal adult and is financially independent. A person who has been admitted to grade XIII may
The University Student Health Service has the right to report to the Kansas Department of Health the names of students who have certain communicable diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis or to report to local health officials of any student who is wounded by a deadly weapon.
Kansas Board of Regents regulations, however, provide that KU may not withhold grades from a parent or legal guardian of a student who is financially dependent.
Any student may challenge any information he thinks is incorrect or misleading. No hearing under this policy can be guaranteed to a student challenging the grade, nor can the accuracy of recording the grade is in question.
Any KU student has the right to inspect his educational records in various departments of the University and KU must comply with the request within 45 days after the request is made.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
COOL
The University of Kansas—Lawrence. Kansas
Tuesday, October 24,1978
Economic plan is nothing new
See story page three
Room refurbishing
Staff photo! by TRISH LEWIS
The rooms on the third floor of Strong Hall are receiving a lot of attention by a building and grounds workman. New flooring and plaster for the walls are the major priorities.
StudEx chairman to resign
Bv TAMMY TIERNEY
Staff Reporter
Although he said yesterday the idea was not his own, Phill Kauffman, Student Senate Executive Committee chairman,
"We had a short discussion Friday," he said. "The lead editorial made Mike vry upset."
The editorial called attention to a StudEx meeting last week at which members had to be called from home to office on Friday. One of the staff members, the quorum was "alarming because the Executive Committee (StudEx) is made up of all committee chairmen—the elite".
Krauhn said he had agreed to resign so that he could evoke more time to his schoolwork and job, not simply because it was his birthday.
HE SAID that he and Harper had decided that Kraufman would announce his resignation at a Studex meeting.
"I was told that everything would be handled in a normal manner and that I would simply make my resignation as head of the team."
A press conference was called by Harper Friday to announce Kaufman's resignation, although Harper announced at the conference that anything he said would be published in a future book. The press conference because he was certain Kaufman would resign.
Harper said he did not make an official announcement Friday because Kaufman had called and asked him not to. He said the Kansan editorial did not prompt him to ask for Kaufman's resignation.
Harper did not specify what the management problems were, but said Kaufman's resignation was the first step in clearing up Senate management problems. He would not discuss future plans.
"I THINK the problem in the Student Senate is a management problem, not an apty problem," he said. "Pill's resignation solves a management problem with StudEx."
"Phill really had no choice in the matter," Harper said. "He works for us and I have authority over him, so I'm not a bad guy."
Kaufman said he did not agree with Harper's solution to Senate management problems.
"I've very easy to sit on top and say, 'here's a problem, I'm going to start eliminating people,'" he said. "I'ts much harder to say, 'there's something wrong, how can I help. I don't have to worry about it with the people around him. He's trivially to do it all himself."
"Apathy in the Student Senate has been around a long time. If he thinks it's a management problem, then it's a shame he won't remove himself from his management position."
"That's for me to know " he said.
"I don't agree that the management problem stops with StudEx." he said. "I think the editorial made that clear. I
Variety marks lenses' popularity
KAUFM SAID he thought Harper's efforts at problem-solving were misdirected.
don't agree that if I resign, all the Senate's problems will be corrected.
Although he thinks he is being taken advantage of by Harper, Kaulman said, he does not mind resigning.
"I think Mike Harper is wrong in asking me to resign and expecting that it will alleviate all the problems in the Senate, but I am not really giving in to him," he said. "I'm not sure why I should give in, or I'm not my nature to give in to something unless I want to."
Choles Pohl, an optometrist with offices at 83 Vermont St., says contact lens use has increased as more types of lenses have become available.
Staff Reporter
Kauffman said he was disturbed by Harper's plans for an early announcement of his resignation.
Bv LESLIE GUILD
"It was my impression that Mike would not say anything.
I felt an obligation to that agreement. Obviously, he did."
*
"The vast majority of my patients now want contacts," Pohl said. "Years ago, contacts were worn only by those who played athletic games or were extremely
New types of contact lenses and competitive prices have increased the use of contacts, according to a Lawrence optometrist.
vain. But the soft lens contacts have definitely increased contact use."
The soft lens contact, first marketed by Bausch & Lomb, is designed to fit the curvature of the eye and expand, or breath, with the eye as it moves.
ALETTA SPARKS, a representative of Vent-Air Specialists of Kansas City, Mo., said four types of contacts were available through the firm's laboratory.
Pohi said he treated three or four patients each day who wore contact lenses.
"Hard lenses, which average $9 a pair,
are the most common type of contacts
purchased, mainly because they've been on the market for about 25 years. "Seaaks said
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"But soft lens contacts, which average $299 a pair and have been out about a year and a half, are a close second. And lenses and cosmetic lenses are available."
Sparks said bifocal lenses were prescribed for persons who are both near-ward and far-sighted. She said the Vent-Air lens had a complete edge of bifocal, which allowed the patient to see bifocal focus as the contact lens moved on the surface of the eye.
Sparks said cosmetic lenses, which change the color of the eye, were not often used.
"OUR COSMETIC sales are usually to "porsons who are in movies, acting or television," she said. "These lenses are harder to care for and can be worn only for special occasions, and who want to adjust the color of their eyes usually be tinted contacts instead."
Tinted contacts increase the original eye color, unlike cosmetic lenses, which acclimate to the environment.
Problem-solving satisfies Balfour
BY JAKE THOMPSON Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
A former vice chancellor for student affairs now has a job that he says combines the best of the administrative world with the best of the teaching world.
William Baifour, professor of physiology and cell biology, became the University's first chair in the field yesterday that the umbassadum's job of mediating between the students and the faculty is now one of his responsibilities.
"The biggest difference in being away from the administration building in town is that people don't call him. He said, "They don't think I'm part of the problem. People who come to me know our problems."
Balfour served eight years, from 1968 to 1976, as executive vice chancellor, in what he called some of the most tense times of the University.
BALFOUR'S OMBUDSMAN office is the same as his teaching office, 329 Haworth. He serves part-time as ambassador and part-time as professor, teaching two classes.
He was teaching on a limited basis during those years, he said, and problems with his new computer system.
"Those were interesting times, when I was up all night and had to teach a 7:30 a.m. class."
In his role as ornbudsm, he said, the situation has changed.
"A lot of it is like the practice of medicine in that you're trying to solve a problem for someone else."
Balfour said as ambudman he received about three calls a week, mostly from colleagues and patients who asked questions. He said he advised those callers, tried to contact specific administration officers, and also reported the
BALFOUR SAID he saw the job of ambulant as an alternative to the official staff.
"It's amazing how unique the problems are," he said. "It's hard to categorize them. The greatest group would be personality problems between students and their teachers. The second largest group is those with a background of University rules and regulations."
Balfour has kept notes on 116 of the complaints he has received during the last 10 months. Many are about student's problems with course grades, requirements, disagreements with the instructor and conflicts with exam scheduling.
Students want to get into courses, out of courses, higher grades, new instructors, fewer fines and better definition of the graduation requirements, Balfour said.
HE ALSO SAID he had received calls from faculty members who wanted to know their rights concerning funneling students. He also informed the staff of parking assignments and fines and requesting explanations about the University's tenure and sabbatical policies.
Much of the job is being a good listener, he said.
"Frequently I think of myself as still being in student affairs," he said. "A lot of the work is explaining to a student the reasons for a ruler or a grade."
Balfour he did he not miss the job of vice chancellor because of the administrative problems.
"Budgets, that's a terrible job," he said. "I don't miss them. Also I used to have to worry about how the administration applied to the Kansas and I don't do that anymore."
Buffair了 the ombudsman's job was to keep the administration aware of student problems.
"WHAT I ENJOYED most about the job was sitting down with the students and advising them. Of course, that's part of the job I still have."
"One of the big problems this fall was that several students were being called for jury duty," he said. "Students were between the faculty saying 'if you're not in class you can't vote' and the faculty saying that if you didn't appear you would be cited for contempt of court."
"I told Dr. Shankel of the problem and he sent a letter to the faculty requesting that he teach me."
Del Shankel is executive vice chancellor of the University.
Balfour said he had met with several grievance committees, the chancellor, the executive vice chancellor, the Senate Executive Committee, the American Association of University Professors and other campus groups to solve problems.
Overall, he said, he is satisfied with the job he has done.
"THEER ARE TIMES when I say to myself, 'Balfour, you could have done that better,'" he said. "In a general way, I have learned the higher education and KU in particular; higher education and KU in particular." I see I have gained more knowledge than most people about the University."
Lecture draws complaint; committee will investigate
By SAM VAN LEEUWEN
Staff Reporter
The Brown Bag Lecture series, sponsored by the Graduate Students Presenting an Alternative, a campus-sponsored organization, will continue at 12:30 p.m. in front of Wescoe Hall, but at a lower volume.
Yesterday's speaker, Rick Harvey of Norman, Oka, was too loud for at least one assistant instructor in Wescow, who complained that he was wearing a mittee, which approves campus activities.
Steve Schonberg, a member of a Lawrence religious organization affiliated with the American Society for the appreciation of the lecture series was to bring the bible and Jesus Christ to the attention of people on campus. He said the lecture series would continue through Friday if there were no students.
"We'll do whatever we need to do to comply with the events committee members."
ACCORDING TO events committee guidelines, approval to express one's views
on campus is not needed as long as the expression does not disrupt the operation of campus.
Ann Eversole, chairman of the events committee and director of the office of student organizations and activities, said Mr. Benson was one complaint about yesterday's lecture.
Eversole said she would monitor today's lecture to make sure it did not interfere with her work.
Anita R. Kay, an assistant instructor in French and Italian, said she was trying to give a quit to her 12:30 p.m. French class when Harvey was speaking.
"I had to yell over the speaker so my students could be," Kay said. "It is unfortunate that serious students, trying to accomplish something in a regularly scheduled class, should have been so inconvenienced."
MEMBERS OF the class, which is held in 4659 Wescoe, complained that they could not concentrate enough to finish the quiz, Kavsaid.