Volume 126 Issue 36
Monday, October 28, 2013
kansan.com
STUDENT SENATE
ELLE TERNES/KANSAN
Student Body President Marcus Tetwiler addressed election reform at last Wednesday's Student Senate meeting. Senate proposed the use of caucuses to help coalitions determine the presidential and vice presidential candidates.
KAITLYN KLEIN
kklein@kansan.com
Most senators — whether arguing for or against the coalition resolution — agreed that the Student Senate election process needs improvement.
Last week's resolution to remove coalitions from the election process failed, but election reform legislation will be discussed in Senate committees Wednesday.
Until then, Marcus Tetwiler student body president, encourages students to speak up when it comes to election reform.
"We're going to have our door open and include as many perspectives on the legislation as possible," Tetwiler said.
Tewiler said he was pleased with the debate on Wednesday and thinks it's a good sign for the future.
"For as many senators to stand up
and say reform is necessary, it really gives us a lot of support going into the reform process". Tetwiler said.
The main changes to election rules and regulations focus on limiting coalitions to allow more students to be involved in Student Senate. Tetwiler's main goal with election reform is to increase representation for the student body and increase Senate outreach to the student body.
Current Senate rules define a coa
lition as "any group of students who temporarily unite to campaign for Student Senate positions as defined in Article II of Student Senate Rules and Regulations and are registered as a student organization with the Student Involvement and Leadership Center."
The proposed definition stems from the original rule, adding that coalitions must hold a supervised caucus to elect presidential and vice presidential candidates and
a second caucus to approve the remaining Senate candidates of the coalition.
The proposed caucuses would be supervised by the election commission and allow members of the coalition to vote for whom they want as the presidential and vice presidential candidates, where in the past there were no caucuses or formal rules on how the presidential and vice presidential candidates were chosen.
Tetwiler said he hopes the caucuses will allow for more transparency in the selection of the candidates.
"If coalitions are to exist, then they should maximize representation and allow for party members to elect the tops of their ticket," Tetwiler said.
Another component of the legis lation restricts the time coalitions
SEE SENATE PAGE 2
ACADEMICS
Honor societies can provide leadership opportunities
ASHLEY BOOKER
abooker@kansan.com
After opening his email to the same third or fourth congratulatory honor society email, junior Sam Jackson refused to pay a dime and put his information out there.
Jackson, from Waldorf, Md., said the invitation seemed like a spam advertisement. He compared the honor society acceptance emails to spam emails alerting recipients that they have won a new TV.
Like Jackson, many students think national honor societies are not credible and are a scam because they require membership fees.
Advisors, such as journalism school advisor Dan McCarthy, continually deal with questions from students about these organizations.
requirements for eligible members are set by each honor society, sent to the registrar and the individual's information is sent back to the society. Contacting future members is up to the society itself
Honor societies are, "only as essential as the student makes them," McCarthy said. "Nothing inherently looks good, but, if you can speak to how your experience on the Officer Board of NSCS (National Society of Collegiate Scholars) developed better time and resource management skills, it was worthwhile. Otherwise, it looks like resume padding."
For Allen Schaidle, a senior from Metamora, Ill., contacting him by email instead of mail wasn't a problem. Rather, it was deciding which national honor society to join.
There are many national honor societies that have chapters at the University: Golden Key, NSCS, Phi
JEFFREY MORAN
Phi Beta Kappa Chapter President
"Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and best known society in the country."
Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi to name a few.
The overall goal for honor societies is to promote the success of their students. But, each one has its own particular goals that separate them from the others.
"Because we invite students in their first year of college, NSCS offers the opportunity to fill leadership positions early on in a
"If students think service is important, GK is a great organization to join," Golden Key Advisor Precious Porras said.
Golden Key invites sophomores through seniors, but NSCS accepts freshmen as well.
student's career," NCS President Sondra Moore said.
Phi Beta Kappa's list of eligible members is quite different. Only students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who have completed 100 credits and have taken four semesters of a foreign language — or show equal represented skills — are invited to join.
"Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and best known society in the country." Phi Beta Kappa Chapter President Jeffrey Muran said.
Phi Kappa Phi is the second oldest national honor society. But unlike Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi extends its invitation to every discipline.
"We don't actually make the students across units (different schools) compete against each other, it is self-contained within the unit," Phi Kappa Phi Chapter President Angela Lumpkin said.
"It is important to only join the ones that are tailored toward your major or are considered the 'best.' I decided to join the two I am a part of (NSCS and Phi Kappa Phi) because I discussed them with faculty members," Schaidie said.
Certain distinctions should make the decision a bit easier, but if you can't decide, follow the advice of Schaidle.
Edited by Casey Hutchins
Honor Society Society Requirements Fees Benefits
Golden Key Top 15% of Sophomore, Junior or Senior $85 one-time fee $1 million in yearly scholarships, discounts (Geico, T-Mobile, Lenovo, etc.) graduate test-prep materials, study abroad opportunities, leadership-building conferences and career resources
National Society of Collegiate Scholars 3.4+ GPA in freshman or sophomore year. Students may nominate themselves $95 one-time fee $1 million in yearly scholarships, discounts (Geico, Hertz, T-Mobile, etc.), graduate test prep materials, study abroad opportunities, leadership-building conferences, networking and career resources
Phi Beta Kappa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences students only. 100 credits, 3.65+ GPA, average ACT: 32, taken 4 semesters of a foreign language or show equal represented skills $60 one-time fee Discounts: Colonial Williamsburg, and publications like The Key Reporter, The American Scholar and Financial Times
Phi Kappa Phi Atleast 72 hours and rank in top 7.5% for Juniors, rank in top 10% of class for Seniors, and Graduate Students must rank in top 10% of class $25 new member fee (nabation and membership stip fee combined) $35 yearly renewal fee or $320 new member active-for-life membership fee $500,000 in yearly scholarships for fellowships, study abroad grants, literacy grants and Love of Learning grants. Membership discounts (Dell and Apple products, T-Mobile, Geico, Eic.), networking and career
CLASSIFIEDS 9
CROSSWORD 5
CRYPTOQUIPS 5
OPINION 4
SPORTS 10
SUDOKU 5
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All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2013 The University Daily Kansan
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