Section A·Page 3
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, October 16, 2000
Student Senate may fund political, religious groups
Supreme Court case allows universities to allocate money
By Kursten Phelps writer kanson.com Kanson staff writer Kanson staff writer
Campus political and religious groups may be able to get student money that previously has been kept away from them.
Student Senate's regulation that prohibits funding for those groups may change because of last year's Supreme Court decision that said individual students could not dictate which groups received money from the fees they paid.
Five University of Wisconsin-Madison students sued the Wisconsin Board of Regents for violating their First Amendment rights. They objected to the university allocating required student-activity fee money to student organizations with contrary political beliefs. The Supreme Court upheld
the university's right to require all students to pay certain fees and to determine which student groups would receive that money.
STUDENT
HONORABLE DEPT OF LASSS
SENATE
Ben Walker, student body president, said the implications from that ruling might mean that Senate needed to relax its funding regulations. He has contacted the University General Counsel for advice on what changes are necessary to comply with the ruling.
"It's an interesting issue because we're having a little bit of trouble getting specifics from general counsel," Walker said. "They've got a lot on their plate right now. They're in a transition period, and they've been a little bit slow. We need to talk with them before we make any changes."
Walker said if the regulations were amended, Senate likely would allocate money to religious and political groups for things like postage, office supplies and copying expenses. Senate still would not fund things like bringing speakers to campus.
"I don't think we've ever felt disadvantaged by not ever having funding from Student Senate. But if they did offer it,it definitely is something we
Lindsey Chalfant president of Campus Crusade for Christ
"In my opinion, it's a good thing," Walker said. "We're sitting on a $242,000 reserve account, so anything we do to make the finance guidelines less restrictive and allowing more money for our student groups is a positive thing."
Walker added that Senate probably would write in a provision prohibiting funding for student coalitions running for Senate elections. Those groups are now classified as partisan, along with groups like KU Young Democrats, College Republicans and the KU Green Party, which may benefit from possible changes in allocation rules.
Lisa Braun, Senate Finance Committee chairwoman, said the idea of funding religious and political groups would be a difficult adjustment for some committee members.
"I think that everybody has developed into the habit where we don't fund those things, so it will take time for them to adjust," Braun said. "I think everybody knows if it happens, it will be almost like a new law, and we don't have a choice. Once they realize that, they'll be excited."
Lindsey Chalfant, St. Louis senior and president of Campus Crusade for Christ, said she didn't have a problem with the rules. But if the requirements were relaxed, she said her organization would consider requesting money.
"I don't think we've ever felt disadvantaged by not ever having funding from Student Senate," she said. "But if they offer it, it definitely is something we would consider. It would be foolish not to look into it."
Edited by John Audlehelm
Reaching out for the environment
Long-time environmental and indigenous-rights activist Winona LaDuke waves to the crowd at the Lied Center. LaDuke, who is the Green Party vice-presidential candidate, spoke Saturday as part of the Honor the Earth Tour. Photo by Jamie Roper/KANSAN
Even with U-locks, bikes aren't theft-proof
By Rob Pazell
Kansan staff writer
Adam Petticep thought his bicycle was safe. After all, it was locked up with a U-lock, a lock recommended by the KU Public Safety Office.
But when Pettipie walked out to the bike rack at the Computer Center, his bike was nowhere to be found. "I was very surprised," said Pettipie, St. Paul, Minn., senior. "They're the best locks around."
But according to the Public Safety Office, 10 bikes were stolen last year on campus, and at least three have been taken so far this year.
PREVENT BICYCLE THEFT
Research and invest in a good quality bike lock.
After his bike was stolen, Pettipiece heard that the U-locks could be broken if a screwdriver was jammed hard enough into the area where the straight bar and the U bar connected. But Pettipiece said he still intended to continue using U-locks because they were the hardest to break.
Although the U-locks can be cut, the Public Safety Office still promoted the lock because they were more difficult to cut than the chain locks, said Troy Mailen.
"In most cases it's the cable- or chain-style lock that's been cut," Mailen said. "Very seldom do you see
- Secure bikes properly, using the frame instead of parts that can be removed
Patrick Burns, St. Louis senior, gives a wary look over his shoulder as he locks up his bike inside Stuffer-Flint Hall. The KU Public Safety Office recommends registering your bike in case the lock is broken. Photo illustration by Nick Krug/KANSAN
- Register bikes with the city so that they can be tracked down if stolen.
- Don't leave quick-release components — like seats and tires — unattended.
the U-lock cut. It's generally the hardest lock to secure."
Mailen said that because the U-lock took longer to cut through, more attention could be brought to the potential thieves.
Zak Sears, a salesman at Sunflower Outdoor and Bike Shop, 802 Massachusetts Street, said people tended to buy U-locks, but the shop promoted the cable locks because of their accessibility.
"You can lock up more of the bike with the cable lock." Seans said.
Sears said locks were good security measures, but bikes still could be stolen.
"If someone really wants to get your bike, they'll get it." Sears said.
Mallen said most of the new bikes
had quick-release components, which are parts that can be removed from the bikes' frames that make it easy for thieves to take away just the parts.
"We've had cases where a thief will just take a seat or wheels and leave the frame," Mailen said. "People should pop those items off, put them in their backpack and take them to class."
In addition to buying a good lock,
Mallen said it was important to register bikes with the city so the bike could be tracked down if it was stolen.
"Registration acts as a deterrent against theft," Mallen said.
Mailen also stressed a students' eyes were an important asset in finding their own bikes.
"Often times, the bike may be in use on campus," Malen said. "We've had a number of students in the past that located their own bicycles."