University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, September 25, 1990
Campus/Area
3
Kansas legislators hope to equalize state employee benefits
By David Roach
Kansan staff writer
The Kansas Legislature's pension plan came under attack last week from legislators who want to equalize benefits received by other public employees in the state.
State Rep. Joan Wagnon, D-Topeka, announced Thursday that she had found a way to balance pension programs offered to public employees by the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System with those offered to state legislators.
About 1,800 employee at the University o Kansas could be affected, along with most city, county and public school employees in Douglas County.
The Legislature voted to offer itself increased benefits in 1987
Wagnon said that recent federal legislation
prohibited companies from offering more
employees. Benefits must be equified by the
company.
She said that the IRS was expected to extend these regulations to the public sector.
Fension benefits are calculated by multiplying a person's final salary by the years of employment and then by a percentage rate. The rate is 1.4 percent for public employees and 2 percent for legislators who sign up for the enhanced benefits.
Charles Dodson, executive director of the Kansas Association of Public Employees, said that if the state did not take measures to increase its salaries in 1980, his organization would sue the state.
Wagnon said that she was drafting a proposal that eventually could be introduced to the Senate.
plans and allow the state to avoid a costly lawsuit.
"It's my contention that it's time to be proactive about this," she said.
State Sen. Alicia Salisbury, R-Topke, criticized Wagon's proposal at a news conference Friday, saying it would add $100 million annually to the state's budget.
"I would propose that we provide equity by reducing the legislative pension and not only save the taxpayers $100 million annually but save them further by reducing the cost of the additional pension to legislative officials," she said.
Wagnon, whose district includes a large number of state workers, said that her goal was to equalize pension benefits regardless of what the final level of benefits was.
"What is outrageous is not that it pays so
much money, but that it treats legislators differently from everybody else. she said, "I don't want to be a party to it."
Salisbury said that she voted for the republic, but that she did not sign up for the apportionment.
"I did not realize the implications this bill had for elected officials," she said. "It was a mistake."
Wagon said that phasing in the benefits would cost closer to $20 million.
"I agree with Rep. Wagann in terms of equity," she said. "I think we must take this opportunity to make things equitable, but I will pay the taxpayer's cost to the taxpayers, of about $10 million."
"By phasing it in, we will control the costs on it," she said. "This will not be a budget problem."
that will shape the costs."
Wagton said that after the special pension was approved, there were several attempts
"They never went anywhere because the Republican leadership wasn't serious about it."
"I think that I have found, with this federal legislation, the dynamite to move the Legislis."
"It's pretty clear to me that you can introduce those kinds of bills until the cows come home, and they're not going anywhere," she said.
Three attempts to repeal the legislation were made by a committee during the 1990 legislative session.
Salisbury served on that committee.
Boundary proposal suggests students north of 15th attend new high school
By Elicia Hill
Kansan staff writer
The Lawrence school board heard the first reading last night of a proposal that would establish attendance boundaries for a second high school
Students who live north of 15th Street or within walking distance would attend the new school.
Board members said students living within an board bounded by Wakaraisu Drive, Carpe River and the Ferry Bridge.
considered to live within walking distance of the new school site. However, students living in subdivisions that exit only onto 23rd Street would attend the existing high school.
Superintendent Dan Neuenwander said the purpose of the boundary was to insure an area that is safe.
School board member Alice Fowler said the board was most concerned with main issues related to the school.
"One of the biggest things we're concerned with is that both schools experience other
cultures and walks of life," she said. "We do not want a school of 'have's and haven'ts."
his lawrence parent, Kenneth Cage, said he did not want his child to be separated from her friends because of the 15th Street boundary line.
Fowler said that not all teachers would
"Let's not tear kid apart who live on one side of the street as opposed to the other," he said. "Let's not kid ourselves. The new school will get the best teachers."
want to move to a new school.
"A brand new school does not mean that a kid will get the best education," she said.
The board said that any child who began one school would be allowed to continue attending the same school. Parents will have received a letter from their student will finish his high school education.
to make sure that the new school will not be an elitist school," she said. "We have studied the area with city planners and with people all over the city. But we also have included review to review it periodically to make sure that we stay as balanced as we possible can."
School board member Barbara Ballard said the proposal was the best solution to the
The new high school bond proposal will be voted on in the Nov. 6 election. If the proposal passes, construction is scheduled to be completed in 1933 or 1994, Neuwanserd said.
"This boundary is the best that we can do
Center to offer new programs
Bv Chris Oster
Kansan staff writer
The KU Wellness Center will offer classes in weight loss and stress management for students and faculty beginning Oct. 1.
Robert Walker, new director of the Wellness Center, said this semester was the first time the topics had been offered in a classroom setting at KU.
"It's the first time they've had these offered as group classes," Walker said. "There should be good group interaction."
"We try to meet the mission of the University," he said. "If someone's not doing well because of health problems, I want to understand under the control of the individual."
He said the center, in Robinson Center, previously had offered help to individual students who had trouble coping with some problems of college.
Robin Dibble, a registered dietitian, will conduct the weight loss classes.
Dibble said she would work closely with individuals in her classes.
"It's less of a lecture format," she said. "It's pretty informal."
said. "It's pretty informal."
She said that while the eight-week class was short, she would not rush the weight loss.
"No more than two pounds a week," she said.
Walker, who is in his first semester at KU, will be teaching the stress management classes. He was a faculty member at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and has a doctorate in health education.
He said the stress reduction course would emphasize education and prevention.
"We'll make some recommendations," he said. "If there is a more complicated situation, we'll refer to the counselor much just want to identify stress."
In addition to the classes, Walker also plans health programs for the entire campus.
Robert Walker, new director of the Wellness Center, sorts through some papers on his desk.
Rumors of campus rapes untrue,but 2 sororities have reported break-ins
Bv Debbie Mvers
Kansan staff writer
Rumors about numerous rapes and widespread break-ins near campus sorority houses have spread around us. They are untrue, local authorities said.
A rumor that 12 rapes have occurred near campus sorority houses since the semester began left KU police officers scratched their heads, said LL. John Mullens. They were reported on campus this fall.
Recent Channel 9 news broadcasts reported the rage rumors, but Mullens said he thought they had not heightened fear on campus.
Break ins at two sorority houses on campus have been reported to the Lawrence police.
Two 19-year-old KU students living in a Kappa Delta sorority annex, 1003 College Drive, Baltimore police report, that between 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. 77, someone broke in through their bedroom window and wrote a threat on their computer.
Chris Mulvenon, Lawrence police spokesperson, said the police had a suspect in that case.
About 2 a.m. Sept. 18, the house mother at the Delta Delta Delta sorority, 1530 Oxford Road, heard a report according to Lawrence police.
About 9 a.m. she found that her bedroom window had been pried open and that mud had been tracked in, stuffing it still and the carpet next to the window.
Mulvenon said that the cases were being investigated as two serious incidents but that there was no evidence they were related.
Margaret Mattert, coordinator of greek programs, said that the two sorority break-ins were isolated, in incidents and that no one had been hurt.
She said greek houses on campus were paying more attention to the safety of their members because of five recent murders at the University
'I think that there probably is some fear. It's enough of a fear that it's making some people more cautious, so in that respect it's good.'
Margaret Miller coordinator of greek programs
of Florida in Gainesville.
"I think that there probably is some fear," Miller said. "It's enough of a fear that it's making some people more cautious, so in that respect it is that we should keep people tend to think they are invincible, so a little fear doesn't hurt."
Miller said that almost all sororites were locked 24 hours a day and that people in each house checked into the doors and windows were locked.
"Most of them are very secure places." Miller said.
Mullens said that in many cases, break-ins could be prevented by taking ordinary precautions.
Mulvenon said Lawrence police would increase patrols near campus sorority houses.
"What you try to do is just not provide a way in the first place and you try to put as many barriers as possible outside as possible." Mullens said.
Amy Gilbert, public relations representative for Delta Delta Delta sorority, said it was important for all the sorority houses or campus to communicate so sorority members would know the truth.
Women in her house are being more careful than usual, Gilbert said. In addition to making sure their houses are locked at night, they try to know where their roommates are, and they walk in pairs.
"I've lived here three years, and I feel safe," Gilbert said. "I feel safer here than I would living in an apartment."
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