Wednesday, September 13, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 3
Dinosaur mounting almost complete
By Jennifer Dartt Special to the Kansan
Anthony Maltese, Overland Park senior, cleans the ulna of a camarasaurus named Annabelle in the basement of the Museum of Natural History. The project should be finished this semester. Photo by Thad Allendor/KANSAN
Annabelle's bones are slowly coming back together.
Scientists have worked daily for more than a year to mount Annabelle — one of the most complete longneck dinosaurs ever found — on the fifth floor of the Museum of Natural History and expect to finish this semester.
When she was alive, Annabelle stood 12 feet tall and was 50 feet long. But the lack of space is forcing builders to put the bones together in a crouching position to fit in the space provided — a hallway about 25 feet long with an 8-foot-6 inch ceiling.
An excavation team from the University of Kansas discovered the skeleton in Wyoming during summer 1997. The team included Craig Sundell, a graduate student in paleontology, and T.J. Meehan, a former graduate student in paleontology. After two years of excavation, the team has recovered four longneck dinosaurs, called camarasaurus.
The excavators named Annabelle after the ranch owner's wife.
Larry Martin, head of vertebrate paleontology at the museum, said that the team discovered Annabelle in the crouching position she will be displayed in.
"It is believed that she was bogged down by mud and starved to death in the position that we found her," Martin said.
Sundell remembers when the excavation team uncovered the skeleton.
"When we found Annabelle, we just started at the tail and worked our way up, and all I kept saying was, 'They're
lining up, they're lining up."
Although most of the bones in the exhibit will be real, the bones in the skull, neck and ribs will be plaster casts of the original bones. Those bones' weight makes them difficult to display.
After Annabelle is finished, Martin said the team will prepare the bones of a baby camaraasaur, another of the four
found in Wyoming. Annabelle is unofficially scheduled to be finished around Thanksgiving.
Although the process of excavation and construction has been taking place since 1997, the team is making record time.
"Normally, from discovery to exhibit takes six years: three to excavate and three to set up the display." Martin said.
"We're doing it all in three."
Sundell said he thought the excavation team might even get special recognition for the speed of its find.
"We may get in the Guinness Book of World Records for collecting the largest longneck dinosaur in only six weeks," he said.
— Edited by John Audlehelm
Kansas water rules need revision, EPA says
Proposed standards to be discussed tonight in Topeka
By Matt Merkel-Hass writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
The EPA has proposed revised standards for the state to meet minimum requirements.
The state of Kansas is not doing enough to protect its water quality and has standards inconsistent with the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency says.
A public hearing on the proposed standards will take place at 6:30 tonight in the Kansas History Museum Annex, 6425 W. Sixth St., in Topeka.
The EPA was forced to examine Kansas' water quality standards after the Sierra Club of Kansas and the Kansas Natural Resource Council brought suit against the EPA, alleging that that the EPA had
not enforced the Clean Water Act. The EPA settled by proposing new standards for the state.
At issue are ponds on private lands, effluent flow from wastewater treatment facilities and more than 1,400 streams and lakes, which are subject to lower pollution control standards because they are classified as secondary use or for wading and fishing only. Primary use is classified as waters used for complete immersion or swimming.
Dale Armstrong, a representative for EPA Region Seven in Kansas City, Kan., said that the state had generally done a good job of water quality standards but that a few weren't compliant.
"The Clean Water Act assumes all waters should be acceptable for primary use." Armstrong said.
Under the proposed standards, the state would have to provide evidence of why a stream or lake was classified as secondary use, Armstrong said.
Sharon Watson, public information director with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said
forcing the KDHE to test the streams and lakes would unnecessarily tax the resources of the department, forcing cutbacks in other areas.
"We believe the standards we have in place now are adequate and safe," she said. "Money will be diverted to address issues that we don't think need to be addressed."
Another proposed change would be more stringent controls on the discharge of effluents into streams or rivers, which would primarily affect wastewater treatment plants. Watson said the KDHE estimated 385 municipalities would be affected, including Baldwin City, DeSoto and LeCompton.
She said that many cities had already upgraded their facilities but that it was difficult for smaller communities to upgrade theirs.
Armstrong said the BPA estimated the changes would cost the state of Kansas about $2 million annually.
Another change that has been hotly contested is applying water quality standards to all private land. Current state law does not allow the state to go on private property to regulate
water quality. Armstrong said some had construed the standard as the EPA going after farm ponds, but it was a provision in case a water quality issue arose on any private land.
"The fear that we're going to be out there violating people rights is not true," he said. "We feel the Clean Water Act requires states to be able to regulate private reservoirs for drinking water or lakes in subdivisions."
Charles Benjamin, attorney for the Kansas Sierra Club and adjunct professor of environmental studies, said the goal of the new standards was to eventually have better water quality.
"All of these things should have been done years ago," he said. "Part of the frustration is the Clean Water Act has never been fully implemented in Kansas."
Benjamin said that it was important to stop the pollution where it was occurring rather than shifting it downstream.
"It would force the internalization of costs so naturally the polluters are opposed," he said.
- Edited by Warisa Chulindra
New Coke price with smart card is slight discount
ay Karen Lucas
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The University of Kansas promotes the use of the smart cards at campus Coca-Cola vending machines primarily to ensure more efficient and safer money handling as well as give students and staff a price break, administrators say.
"We don't want a lot of cash handling on campus," said Theresa Klinkenberg, University director of administration. "It's safer to have the cash in as few locations on campus."
Since Aug. 1, customers have been paying $1 in cash for a 20-ounce bottle, while those who use smart cards continue to pay the old price of 85 cents. The price of a 12-ounce can still costs 60 cents - with cash or a smart card.
Lindy Eakin, associate provost for support services, agreed. He said the use of the card would reduce the amount of cash handling by those who service the machines for Coca-Cola adn would help cut down vandalism and theft.
Klinkenberg said the smart card also made it possible to offer Coca-Cola products at a lower price.
"We wanted a way to hold the price if we could," she said. "This was a good compromise. The cash price goes up, but the card price stays the same."
Although Katy Haas, Overland Park senior, said she understood why the University wanted to encourage the use of the card, she didn't think the price difference was fair.
"If you're not using a smart card, you shouldn't have to pay more," she said. "It's a penalty to those not using their smart cards." The decision to raise the cash price was made last summer by a partnership council of representatives from the administration, Coca-Cola and Treat America, a company that services vending machines. The University, which made an exclusive vending agreement with Coca-Cola three years ago, receives a 55 percent commission on the sales price, Klinkenberg said.
In an earlier Kansan article, Toney Anaya, public affairs director for the Mid-America Division of Coca-Cola Enterprises in Albuquerque, N.M., said the new cash price was consistent with that of most other vendors in the area. In Lawrence, prices hover around $1, whether the beverages are purchased in a vending machine or in a store.
A 20-ounce soft drink is $1 and a 12-ounce can is 55 cents in campus vending machines at Kansas State University, which began a contract with Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co., of Marysville last January. Although customers must pay the same price for a bottle whether they use cash or their debit cards, Tom Schellhardt, associate vice president for administration and finance at Kansas State, said offering the cardholders a lower price was an option worth considering.
"We would want to consider that promotion of the debit card once we have a significant number of machines with debit card technology," Schellhardt said.
- Edited by Erin McDaniel
CAMPUS THOUGHT POLICE The Beginning in the War Protests of the 60's
A documentary based on interviews with Vietnam vets by Leonard Magruder, President, Sons & Daughters of Vietnam Veterans - K.U. Chaapter
Alcove D, 3rd (restaurant) floor, Kansas Union, 1-2 pm, Thursday, Sept. 14
to join the chapter call 843-3737
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Student Shuttle on Gamedays!
What: NEW KU Student Shuttle Bus - FREE!
Catch a Ride to the Game on Jayhawk Gameday Saturdays!
Pick up at designated bus stops at Daisy Hill Dorms & Jayhawk Towers. Drop off on Jayhawk Blvd. at the top of the Hill.
Where:
Rides begin 2 hours prior to kick-off and run until kick-off. Two return trips after the game.
When:
The KU Student Shuttle Bus can be identified by the big student banners hanging from its sides. Get to the bus stop early to make sure you get a ride. Show your KU I.D. to ride free.
HAWK CLUB Tailgate Kick-off Event!
Home Opener vs. UAB • Saturday, Sept. 16 • 6pm
What: Free food and drinks!
Where: At the top of Campanile Hill
When: Begins at 4pm
All current HAWK Club members are invited to the HAWK Club tailgate party. Pick up your official club T-shirt and get ready to sit in "The Nest" during the game. Bring your KU I.D. to verify club membership.
To Join HAWK Club:
To Join HAWK Club:
Stop by the Ticket Office in Allen Fieldhouse or Call 864-3141 www.kuathletics.com
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