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Wednesday, August 23,1978
University Daily Kansan
Harper says students' interest is strong
By TOM ZIND Staff Writer
Since the late 1980s when student involvement on college campuses peaked,
belief has been that student interest has shifted away from campus issues to more
Mike Harper, University of Kansas
Mike Harper
Reorganization and revitalization are the rewards of this year's class officers as they proactively build a reputation.
Class officers plan parties for students
Both individually and collectively, the class officers are planning events that they hope will bring life back to an almost forgotten group.
"The class officers in the past few years haven't done a whole lot to promote their office." Tad Wilson, sophomore class president, said.
"I think it would be beneficial both to the classes and to the University if they got involved."
Wilson said that the board of class officers will sponsor several all-University events next year to promote interest in their organization and to benefit the University.
"We're planning on a Big Blue Rally before the first home game. We'll like to get a couple of kegs and really get things going," he said.
"WED' ALSO like to sponsor a University open house next Spring. What we'll do is send letters out to prospective KU students inviting them up for a day and then pairing them up with a friend, so they can really see the University in action rather than just see the buildings.
Wilson said that funding would not be a problem. He said that the board of class officers had been promised support by the Student Senate and the Alumni Association.
In addition to working on the all-University events, Wilson said that he and the other sophomore class officers would promote class cards which would entitle students to attend all sophomore class events.
"We're planning several parties for the sophomores." Wilson said.
Wilson said he didn't foresee any problems with attendance.
'EVERYONE LIKES it as long as everyone does it,' he said. "If students know that an event's planned, if they know something's going to happen, they'll come."
"I think there's a real need for class officers, particularly for the junior class, she said. "So many of them live off campus that it's important to set them together."
Valerie Howard, junior class president,
said that class officers were important to
the school.
She said that the junior class officers were planning several parties for juniors, including a Fun in the Sun day at a local park and a pre-football game party.
She said that the officers would also like to organize a junior class honor society.
"We don't want to make the same mistake that previous class officers have made and not be involved," she said. "We really want to activities that juniors will want to attend."
FOR THE SENIOR class officers, the emphasis is on fun.
"Your senior year is an important year, but it should be a fun year too." Reveals the instructor.
Wiedeman said that in addition to planning the senior class gift, the H.O.P.E. award and traditional senior class tree officers plan to "party hearty."
Senior class gift tradition makes mark on University
"Partying is our business," Wiedeman said.
A few months after the University moved into old Fraser Hall from the North College to the University, four members started the tradition of class gifts when they gave the University an engraving, "The Temple of Karnak." The students also gave engravings as their senior gifts.
Since 1873, senior classes have been making their mark on the University by leaving such legacies as statuses, rare books, historical documents and crab apple trees to the University of Kansas.
THE CLASS OF 1894 established the student loan fund with $342.20, which was financed by a senior play. Since then, more than $43,000 has been contributed to the Kansas University Endowment Association to be used for student loans.
The Kansas Pioneer statue, which stands east of Fraser Hall, might still be stuck on the second floor of Dyck Museum if the class of 1920 hadn't given it a new base.
Students pass by many familiar campus landmarks, without knowing how the landmarks
PROBABLY ONE OF THE best-know senior gifts is the bronze Jayhawk in front of Strong Hall. The statue was a gift of the class of 1956.
The lawns and court north of Wescole Hall was a gift of the class of 1973, and the landscaping of Lindley Hall was a gift of the class of 1947.
The bulletin boards and benches in front
DURING THE LATE 1920s and throughout the 1930s, senior classes centered their gifts on the needs of the Union. The Pine Room was furnished by the class of 1938, the English Room by the class of 1938 and the Kansas Room by the class of 1939. The senior class donated $20 to buy and install a service elevator in the Union.
The Ballroom stage was a gift of the class of 1937. The class of 1928 bought furniture for the Union, and the class of 1929 bought a piano for the Ballroom. The chime clock in the Union's lobby was given by the 1922 senior class.
student senate president, agrees with the assessment of student interest, and says that student involvement today probably won't reach the proportions of that decade.
of Watson Library were given by the 1931 graduating class.
"Student interest and involvement will go up because we're going to hit a low point soon; we are at a point where students are going to say, 'The regents can't do that to us,' or, 'the Legislature has got to give us more money.'"
Harper said the Senate opposed the administrations plans to move the statue of former KU law professor Jimmy Green from its present site in front of old Green Hall to a site near the new law building. A final decision was made to leave the statue at its location on dayhawk Boulevard, and instead student involvement for the outpause.
Harper was speaking specifically of the issue of student versus state funding of schools.
The class of 1959 started the Honors for the Outstanding Progressive Educators (HOPE) fund with $2,000 and the provision that the interest from the fund be awarded each year to an outstanding faculty member.
At the same time, however, he foresees a gradual trend back to the level of interest in the field.
APATHY, WHICH he said is a problem at most schools, may not be as big a problem a KU. "We tend to think it not apathy" that would be involved if we asked them to,
Another issue that Harper termed trivial but indicative of student interest was the Jimmy Haskins challenge.
ONE DISPUTE that occurred over funding in the spring was the issue of the renovation of Memorial Hall. Harper said that the athletic department was planning to use the school's budget for Victory Club, a private restaurant at the stadium. He said plans were being made to add a glass-enclosed VIP section to the restaurant, and that the Senate objected strongly to the plan. The Senate finally agreed to fund the project through donations, he said.
Student involvement is a matter of convincing students that it is in their own best interests to become active and concerned with their representation on campus, act
THE CLASS OF 1972 decided to give three BOEP Awards as their gift so there would be no need for a separate class.
Increased communication with the student body is a practice that Harper and his advisors have encouraged. He said that since his election to a Senate seat during his freshman year he has relied on communication through monthly newsletters sent out to campus
The tradition of giving the University a gift by the senior class is long-standing. Most, but not all, of the graduating classes are furnished with a bird-bath, stone benches or trees.
Through the generosity of graduating seniors almost $200,000 in gifts and scholarship funds has been given to KU since the custom originated 104 years ago.
In addition to newsletters and posted notices informing students of opportunities to meet with their representatives, Harper said that this semester the Senate would take advantage of a Student Senate Week and a Student Senate fall retreat.
He says the newsletters contain information us to what the Senate is doing and what he thinks will happen.
According to Harper the fall retreat will enable senators to meet to discuss plans and strategy and that Student Senate Week will allow senators to talk to the student body. Student Senate Week is scheduled two weeks after the traditional country club
HARPER SAID  one ain't of Student
State Week to capture the interest
of State Week
"At least somewhere along the line we are looking for some type of involvement and commitment from freshmen and sophomores," he said.
Of incoming freshmen Harper said, "We hope they'll have a role either by serving on boards or committees or by being senators or class officers."
Harper said committees have not been emphasized enough in student government and that they do serve an important purpose.
Committees are our outlet for people to get involved in our organization without taking a direct role.
At least half of the Senate's 121 members are freshmen and sophomores. Harper said he was encouraged by the interest in the subjects taught in summer when students during summer orientation last June.
Any student can apply for membership on any of the seven standing committees
He said involvement with people and groups, the sense of accomplishment, the responsibilities of the decision-making process and the lessons of organizing and compromising were benefits that he has gotten from the job.
"Even if students are not interested in getting involved, they should give it a try, and once they are in, something interesting might come up to keep them involved," he
HARPER SAID he had confidence in the potential of the Senate to arouse student interest and he suggested that students get involved.
WHEN HARPER was campaigning for president in February with his running mate, Ruggie Robinson, there were five candidates. One of them, He said these were the campus bus issue, the legal services issue, recreation, campaign the Senate and the creation of research posts.
On the subject of compromising, Harper said, "It's important for everyone to realize that to the most extent possible the wishes of others are involved must be considered and weighed.
Harped said he became involved in the semester in his college career for several reasons.
Harper's goal for this semester on the bus issue is the addition of two routes to north Lawrence, where he said there is an increasing population of students.
this semester because the price of a
semester bus pass has gone up to $25 from
BECAUSE THE transportation issue is becoming so complex with more students riding the buses and costs going up, Harper wants to make some changes. He wants the transportation board to assume full control of the bus system so that he can plan the budget for years in advance. He said the routes need to be run more efficiently.
The Senate is responsible for maintaining a contract with the Lawrence Bus Company to operate transportation for students to and from campus. Harper said he foresees problems in the existing arrangement with company because of the rising costs of service.
Another priority, Harper said, is the creation of a system whereby students could take advantage of free legal aid from the University. The service, which would be paid for with student fees, would handle a wide range of student legal problems. The university's lawyers would use the service to solve landlord-tenant disputes.
"It's not possible to please everybody, but it's important to recognize the opinion of those who don't."
The research center, a priority that has already been realized, provides money for students to research issues that the Senate deals with.
Starting the service, which calls for one attorney and several paralegal assistants, is scheduled for January, 1979, according to Harmer.
The original idea for the program grew out of the increasing complexity of syntactic features.
*“BECAUSE STUDENT government is so complicated, we need all the information we need.”*
"We offer students a minimal amount of money to research issues and we are working on offering them college credit also."
The transportation issue is one which the Hatch says will be important this summer.
Next year's budget calls for the amount to go up to $2000, which Harper says is a more reasonable figure.
According to the付, our can cash amount available for paying researchers, $500, is not enough, since this amount can only pay about three people.
Harper said that his top priority in the recreation area was the completion of seven new trails.
He said he hopes the $70,000 project will be completed this semester.
Evidence of increasing costs is noticeable
Harper is confident that his five priorities will have been met by the time his term is over.
"I can say that by the time we leave office these things will have been done."
HARPER, WHO is a senior in political science this semester and is planning on going to law school after receiving his bachelor degree, says that as a politician, though on a lower level, he has the problem of living down the Watergate syndrome.
He said that people are interested in issues, but that they are turned off by the noise.
"When we were campaigning and going to different living groups we figured that people didn't know about care about student government, but we found out that more people know about the issues of student government and the University and things that they want to see."
"What they are tired of is the same thing that every voter is tired of; the people who come and make the promises and then never do anything about them."
Harper said that regaining respectability or student government is a rebuilding problem.
"SOMEHOW, WE'VE got to make people believe that, yes, politicians can be honest, involvement can be helpful, not every politician is a criminal."
Harpel said the traditionally low voter turnout at election time does not detract from the importance of his position or that of the Senate.
According to Harper, student government is necessary because of its funding responsibilities and because of the services it provides to students.
"Students stand to lose a lot without student government and representation not only in terms of benefits but in terms of opportunities, someone there to look after their interests."
Harper said that in his meetings with Chancellor Dykes and Del Shankel, executive vice chancellor, he discusses a variety of tonics.
IN HIS POSITION as president Harper says that one of his more important duties is to meet with University administrators, the state legislature, and the Board of Regents.
"In my meetings with administrators, we discuss anything I feel the University could be doing to better student academic life and University life in general.
marser said in that his monthly meetings with state legislators and members of the
Board of Regents he discusses topics ranging from student fees to tenure for professors. He added that as Senate Chair he is the chief lobbyist for the student body.
One of the problems that Harper sees with the Senate is the fact that it is unable to anticipate long-range problems. He said, however, that the Senate was heading in the right direction with the implementation of the research center.
In his remaining six months as president, Harper said that he would like to see the Senate make some accomplishments as a result of his efforts to increase his effectiveness as president.
"WHAT I AM really trying to do in the long run is to eliminate the people that stand between me and the senators and the student body," he said.
Other changes that Harper said should be made in the Senate organization are the elimination of the position of transportation director, and the inclusion of the StudEx chairman as a functioning member of the Senate.
Harper said that he would like to see the elimination of the position of the Complaint Service Director because of the bureaucratic nature of the position.
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