Wednesday, September 27, 2000 The University Daily Kansan Section A ยท Page 3 Finishing touches Tim DuBois, Lawrence sophomore, adds color to his sculpture's dreadlocks yesterday afternoon in the ceramics studio of the Art and Design Building. DuBois has been working on the project for a week for his Ceramics III class. Photo by Melissa Carr/KANSAN Chancellor extends time for credit/no-credit option By Jason Krall writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer Morrell, university registrar. Students looking to protect their GPAs from a difficult course now have another week to choose a credit/no-credit option. Commonly known as the pass/fall option, students may take one course per semester for a credit/no-credit distinction, instead of a letter grade. The deadline for choosing the option recently has been extended to Friday, Oct. 6. The Timetable of Classes lists the deadline as Friday, Sept. 22., but Chancellor Robert Hemenway approved the new deadline to allow students to choose the option during the fifth and sixth weeks of class. In previous years the choice was available during the third and fourth weeks, said Richard C. "Clearly, by the fifth and sixth weeks, a student can make a better-informed decision about how they'll perform in the class," he said. The option actually offers more protection against a damaging grade than the pass/fail options offered at other universities, Morrell said. Students who do not pass a course they take with the option don't receive a failing grade, but instead simply receive no credit. "It's all about managing your GPA," he said. "If there's a class where you're not going to do well and it may hurt your GPA, you may want that option." In order to receive credit, a student must earn at least a C grade. Students should go to their individual schools to declare the option. Students cannot use the credit/no-credit option for courses in their major. Gloria Flores, associate director of the Freshman-Sophomore Advising Center, said the deadline listed in the timetable and other publications was inaccurate because the later deadline was recently approved. "Student Senate petitioned to have it changed to the fifth and sixth week and got it approved after publication." she said. Anne Carty, Lansing junior, said she thought the deadline extension was helpful for students who weren't sure at first if they wanted the option. Carty used the option for an astronomy class last semester. "I think that's important because you've got to see how that first test goes before you know if you want to do it," she said. City joins power-rate battle Bv Matt Merkel-Hess writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer The Lawrence City Commission pledged its resources last night in the fight to keep power rates from rising. Lawrence gave its support to Topeka's battle against Wichita about whether customers in the two districts of Western Resources โ€” Kansas Power and Light and Kansas Gas and Electric โ€” should pay the same rates. Lawrence commissioners moved to provide up to $10,000 out of the estimated $80,000 Topeka would need for the legal funds. Lawrence, who are served by KPL, would pay higher rates. Western Resources has two divisions, KPL and KGE. Customers in the KGE division pay about one-fourth more for their power because of the construction of the Wolf Creek nuclear facility in Burlington. A full rate case with the Kansas Corporation Commission is scheduled to run from November until July, and the KCC has indicated it will consider whether KPL and KGE should be one utility or two. Although Western Resources has traditionally treated KPL and KGE as different utilities, KGE customers, including the city of Wichita, claim both districts should have the same rates and be one utility. Customers in Topeka and Lawrence oppose the rate increases and consolidation. Topeka officials said that in the KPL area, industrial users could see a power rate increase of 16 percent, and the residential increase could be as much as 20 percent. Commissioner Erv Hodges said a coalition of affected cities and large users in the KPL region should be created to share legal bills and represent the customers in this area. "It's time we showed a united front." Hodges said. "I think we have a responsibility to our citizens and industrial users that they don't get an unneeded rate increase." Bill Sepic, president of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, gave his support at the meeting to helping with the legal defense. "Nobody wants to see a 16 percent rate increase," he said. "We're going to have to pay for someone else's facilities." Sepic said that low energy costs were a selling point for recruiting new businesses and that increases would hurt the area's advantage, especially with the tight labor pool and low unemployment. In other action: The commission approved a lease of 12,16-passenger buses from MV Transportation, Inc. so that public transportation routes could begin in early 2001. The buses are being leased in lieu of permanent buses, which will not begin to be delivered until July. Two permanent buses will be delivered in July, five in October and the final five in November. - The commission approved the rezoning of a plot of land on 31st Street for a Sonic Drive-In. The plot is located in the SuperTarget planned commercial district, west of Iowa Street between 31st and 33rd streets. โ€” Edited by Wario Chulindro POST HONEY COMB 14 OZ. OR RAISIN BRAN RAISIN BRAN 20 OZ. 199 EA. CATCH A GLIMPSE OF YOUR FUTURE ATTEND THE 2000 BUSINESS CAREER FAIR KANSAS UNION BALLROOM TODAY 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. All KU students are invited to explore opportunities in business: - Visit with company representatives - View company displays and literature - Match your career goals with available jobs - Check out internship possibilities - Distribute your resume Sponsored by the Business Career Services Center For a list of companies attending stop by our office or check out our web site. 125 Summerfield Hall http://www.bschool.ukans.edu/bcsc Call for more information!! (785) 864-5591 The University Of Kansas School of Business