THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013
PAGE 3A
NATIONAL
SNAP budget cuts affect Douglas County
CALEB SISK
CALEB SISK
csisk@kansan.com
National budget cuts to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, commonly referred to as food stamps, are set to affect a number of Douglas County residents. Nearly 320,000 Kansans will see the effects of these cuts, and close to 8,700 of them are right here in Douglas County.
These cuts stem from funds provided by the 2009 economic stimulus package not being replenished. The stimulus provided extra funding to the SNAP program in an attempt to counter the effects of the recent recession.
Officials at Just Food, a local food bank that provides healthy food to low-income individuals, attest to the implications these cuts will have on needy families.
"Every time food stamps are cut we see an influx of people. When we look at the numbers of people we serve and the amount of funding being cut, we will need to make up for over 31,000 lost meals," said Elizabeth Keever, director of operations at Just Food.
As the winter months approach, the effects of these cuts are expected to intensify.
"People will feel it during the holidays. Kids who are in school won't have access to assisted lunch programs, so they will have to make up those meals with less assistance from SNAP." Keever said.
Another option for those who will need to make up for the gap in funding left by these cuts is local food pantries. One such pantry is the Lawrence Interdenomina-
tional Nutrition Kitchen, or LINK. Located in the basement of the First Christian Church on 10th and Kentucky, LINK provides hot meals every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.
"This organization is around mainly to help those that need it, but it also provides a safe environment for these people to congregate and interact," said Greg Moore, director of LINK.
"When we look at the numbers of people we serve and the amount of funding being cut,we will need to make up for over 31,000 lost meals."
ELIZABETH KEEVER Just Food director of operations
Moore has been the director at LINK for 6 years now and has made it his mission to improve the quality of life for poverty-strikeen families in Lawrence. Moore is assisted in this mission by over 45 different church and civic groups from the surrounding community. Some volunteer groups come in once a month while others only come in once a year.
One such volunteer is Larry Schlosser, a retiree and member of the First Presbyterian Church. Schlosser and his church come to LINK on the first Tuesday of every month to volunteer. Although this is unpaid volunteer work, Schlosser still says it's important.
"It's rewarding in other ways. I'm working with a lot of great people and putting something back into the community," Schlosser said. "And by having multiple groups do this it spreads the burden and makes the process a lot easier."
Moore expects to see more people coming in for meals outside of his regulars.
"With these budget cuts we expect to see an increase in attendance as people realize their food stamps won't cover all of their meals," Moore said.
Calvin Barnes has been a resident of Lawrence his entire life, but only started receiving food-related assistance around six years ago when he sustained an injury that continues to keep him from regular work.
"I cut yards and stuff but I'm not able to work a lot because I'm hurt," said Barnes, "So stuff like this helps a lot when I need to eat but I run out of food stamps."
So while Congress debates whether or not to extend the extra benefits outlined in the Recovery Act, those in need continue to worry whether they will be able to feed their families. It is organizations like Just Food and LINK that will be forced to pick up the slack and bridge the gap left by these budget cuts.
Calvin serves to put a face to the problem. Most of these people are attempting to make ends meet by working, but are unable to, due to one circumstance or another.
Anyone interested in helping out by donating or volunteering should visit linklawrence.org or just-foodks.org for more information. Edited by Sarah Kramer
Edited by Sarah Kramer
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
People wait in line for a free hot meal at Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen in the basement of First Christian Church at 10th and Kentucky.
Senate passes resolution on same-sex couple benefits
STUDENT SENATE
Student Body President Marcus Tetwiler addresses Student Senate at the meeting on Wednesday night. Senate addressed election reform, sexual assault and equal benefits for same-sex couples on campus.
FRANK WEIRICH/KANSAN
kklein@kansan.com
KAITLYN KLEIN
Last night's full Student Senate meeting focused on election reform and a resolution to encourage the University to give equal benefits to same-sex couples on campus.
Vice President Emma Halling also addressed the issue of consent and sexual assault in response to the Al Jazeera report published last week. Halling urged the men of the University to get involved.
"This is not a women's issue." Halling said when addressing Senate.
Two male senators asked what men could do to help and address the issue, and Halling suggested men could attend the Title IX monthly round table, join Commission on the Status of Women and use their positions in other groups to bring the issue to the table.
"We need men to step up and go out to their individual communities," Halling said, "and really change the culture among their peers where it's OK to tell a fellow guy, 'hey this behavior is not OK.'"
Election reform moves forward
Both bills passed, and an amendment to the election commission bill added stricter time limits on tabling and campaigning.
Encouraging equal rights on campus
Two election reform bills were presented and discussed, with one focused on defining the terms of the election process, and the other outlining the role of the election commission.
Student Body President Marcus Tetwiler said this legislation is a first step, and reform will only impact students "if the work of our good senators continues to the next and final phases" of election reform.
The most significant change adds caucuses to the election process. The caucuses would allow coalition members to vote on who runs for president and vice president.
Halling presented a resolution that would serve as a call to action
for university officials on same-sex rights.
The resolution references the University's strategic plan, called Bold Aspirations, the University's statement of diversity and inclusion, and the University's nondiscrimination policy. These reinforce the idea that the University should ensure same-
tion of the student body's stance on same-sex rights.
sex partners have the same rights as heterosexual couples, similar to other universities who offer faculty and staff with same-sex partners benefits such as healthcare and paternity or maternity leave.
The resolution passed. University officials and area media outlets will receive resolution as a representa-
it's a civil rights issue for our generation and for the people who are working and taking classes at the University of Kansas," Halling said.
Edited by Sarah Kramer
monday, in honor of Veterans Day,
KU ROTC will lay lyears at three
campus war memorials with Taps
played at the Campanile at 4 p.m.
POLICE REPORTS
Emily Donovan
Information based on the Douglas County Sheriff's Office booking recap.
- A 29-year-old male was arrested yesterday on the 1700 block of Learnard Avenue on suspicion of driving with a suspended, revoked or canceled license. A $100 bond was paid.
- A 21-year-old male was arrested Tuesday on the 1300 block of 16th Street on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia and theft of property. A $2,500 bond was paid.
CRIME Husband allegedly shot and killed wife because of health concerns
Larry L. Hopkins, a 67-year-old Lawrence resident, was charged with first degree murder in the shooting death of his wife, Margaret Hopkins, 61.
Officers from the Lawrence Police Department responded to a report of a shooting on the 1600 block of West 2nd Terrace at approximately 8:45 a.m. Tuesday. They allege Hopkins shot his wife because of her ongoing health concerns.
A $150,000 bond was set. The court date is set for Nov. 13.
Emily Donovan