Monday, September 11. 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Judge orders bank to show residents money
Watkins women to get statements mailed to hall
By Jason Krail
wriher @kanson.com
Kansan staff writer
A national bank will have to answer questions from the women of Watkins Scholarship Hall about the handling of a trust fund designated for hall improvements, a judge ruled Friday.
Residents of the hall say Watkins and Miller scholarship halls, which both benefit from the trust, need upgrades and repairs. But the trust has returned less interest each year for the last 15 years. The Watkins women filed suit against Bank of America, which manages the trust, demanding access to detailed accounting of the fund's
investments and expenses.
"We're glad that a decision has been made after waiting these many months," said Jennifer Scott, proctor of Watkins and one of the 13 women who filed the suit in February.
Douglas County District Court Judge Jack Murphy ordered Bank of America to detail expenditures from the fund and show why its annual return has decreased while its principal continues to climb. The University transfers the quarterly payments from the trust fund to the KU Endowment Association.
In 1984, the fund earned about $200,000, but its yield has decreased every year since and was down to $84,000 in 1999. Meanwhile, the principal has climbed from $1.8 million in 1984 to $3.5 million in 1999, according to the ruling.
"The accountings do not provide sufficient information to enable
the court to determine whether the trustee is fulfilling its obligations under the terms of the trust," Murphy wrote.
The bank filed an objection to the suit, claiming the residents are not beneficiaries of the trust and have no legal grounds to challenge the accounting of the fund. The University also filed a motion in the case asking the judge to declare the University the trust's sole beneficiary.
But Murphy ruled that the residents benefit directly from any hall improvements made with the fund and have a legal right to know how the money is being used.
Lynn Bretz, interim director of University Relations, said that the University was glad the case was moving forward, and that claims that the halls have not been kept up were unfounded.
"The University is confident that the trust has been handled respon
WHAT IT MEANS
what happened: Douglas County District Court ruled that Bank of
District Court ruled that Bank of America has to allow the women of Watkins Scholarship Hall access to a detailed account of the trust fund that was designed to fund improvements and repairs on Miller and Watkins scholarship halls.
What this means: The 13 women who filed the suit against Bank of America will see exactly where the
money, namely the interest on their account, has been spent.
account, has been spent. What's next? The bank filed an objection to the suit, and the University also filed a motion asking the judge to declare the University the trust's sole beneficiary. A scheduling conference will be Friday, Sept. 29 to set dates for the hearings at which the bank will respond to the suit.
sibly," she said. "Those residents claim that the halls are not well-maintained, and we strongly disagree with that."
David Brown, attorney for the Watkins residents, said the halls needed a number of upgrades, including air conditioning. He also said the University had tried to conceal the report by declaring itself sole beneficiary of the trust.
"The University has done everything it can to prevent a hearing
on the issues raised. It has argued that the students are not beneficiaries," Brown said. "To say it's wanted this hearing all along is insincere, to be generous."
The suit also notes that the Endowment Association has withheld the leftover interest not used each year in a fund that has accumulated more than $1 million. That money should have been used for improvements as the trust directs, the suit said.
However, the suit only requests access to how the trust fund has been allocated.
Ken Stoner, director of student housing, said the amount of left-over interest had shrunk after part of the money was used for roofing and window work at Miller this summer. The University is planning upgrades to the electrical line that runs to Watkins, Miller and the surrounding scholarship halls because the halls' current electrical systems cannot support central air conditioning, he said.
"Money accrues in that fund until it can be used for a major improvement." Stoner said of the leftover fund at the Endowment Association. "That money is used for improvement of those hills. It's the only thing it can be used for."
A scheduling conference will be Friday, Sept. 29 to set dates for the hearings at which the bank will respond to the suit.
reen Party gains Feeding amazes, appetizes audience
— Edited by Erin Adamson
Green Party gains diverse following at the University
By Kursten Phelps
wrier@kanson.com
Kansas staff write
It's not just elephants and donkeys anymore.
It's not just elephants and donkeys anymore. The Green Party has made its way to the University of Kansas to battle political apathy and make the government work for the people.
The KU Green Party developed out of the organizers' experiences working on a petition drive this summer to get Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader on the presidential ballot in Kansas, said Sarah Hoskinson. KU Green Party president.
"There is a great deal of interest and support out there for Green Party values," said Haskinson, Burrton junior. "The Green Party is growing everywhere. Interest is growing because people are waking up. People are tired of having their health, their jobs, their education, and their children's future jeopardized so that the rich can get richer."
Galen Turner, KU Green Party vice president, said equality issues were a major theme in the party's ideals.
"The Green Party is strongly into egalitarian causes," said Turner, Lawrence junior. "It's for the representation of the people in government, not the representation of big money and special interests in government."
Turner said the variety of issues addressed by the party attracted a diverse group of supporters.
Despite the diversity of members of KU Green Party, Turner said political inactivity was a major concern for most.
At the first meeting, you looked around, and you've got some hippies, some so-called preppies, and some people like me in jeans and T-shirts because that's all we have," he said.
"We want to get people interested and hyped up to want to make a difference." Turner said. "There's not a national party, only state parties, so the full character of the party is yet to be completely formed. There's a place to make some sort of a difference, and the instant you make some sort of a difference, you realize that you can make much more of a difference, and that's how things change."
or other meetings. Hoskinson said about 18 people attended the first meeting. Activities planned for the rest of the year include showing films, having information tables, speaking to classes and sponsoring discussions to raise awareness about the Green Party.
"Many students are apathetic about the political process and choose not to vote because they are disillusioned by what they see going on in the world and/or don't believe they have any power." Hoskinson said. "When you multiply that mindset by millions of people who feel the same, you come up with a populace that renders themselves powerless.
"If we truly want to live in a free democracy, we all must participate in it on a daily basis. We must become active and informed and we must vote."
- Edited by Kimberly Thompson
Joshua Meyer, Overland Park senior, and Matthew Hislope, Cloi, Mich, junior, are forceced by Maureen Perry, Minneapolis sophomore, and Megan Schemmel, Shawnee senior as Roeland Park senior Xavier Rice looks on. Meyer and Hislope invented the "Evening of Forcefeeding," which took place Saturday night at Murphy Hall. Photo by Brad Dreier/KANSAN
By Meghan Bainum
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Eight open mouths were the center of attention at a Saturday evening feeding frenzy.
Sixteen forcefeedings and 50 pounds of food later, the audience left, amazed at what they had witnessed during "An Evening of Forcefeeding" at Murphy Hall.
"Actually seeing someone eat a dozen hard-boiled eggs was bizarre," said David Borys. Overland Park sophomore.
Some members of the audience couldn't believe what they were seeing.
But hard-boiled eggs were only the beginning. Performers endured two two-minute forcefeedings of such delicacies as hot dogs, uncooked matzo balls and pistachio pudding.
The audience watched, egging the performers on with cheers, clapping, foot stomping and chants of "Puke! Puke!"
Though none of the performers lost their lunch, so to speak, there were some tense moments for the participants.
Gavier Rice, Roeland Park senior, was forcefed hot dogs and mini-marshmallows.
"The entirety of a hot dog was lodged down my throat," he said. "That's a lot scarier than you would imagine."
Emergency medical technicians were on hand to make sure the participants didn't bite off more than they could chew — and swallow — successfully.
For more photos from the force-feeding frenzy, see www.kansan.com.
Hislope said that he and Meyer were happy with the show.
"It went very well, pretty much as expected," Hislope said. "We're really glad the paramedics didn't have to do their jobs."
Rice said he agreed to do the show because he thought it was a joke.
"When someone says they're going to forcefeed you for their show, you think they are joking," Rice said. "But then I went to school and saw the posters."
"It's really just a matter of chewing." Schemmel said. "I ate as much as I could, but your mouth gets dry, and you start to gag."
After the eight performers were forcedef their fill of food, they turned on the directors and forcefeeders. Hislope and Meyer were stripped down to their underwear and forcedef the remaining food.
At the end of the night, food was everywhere.
"It was messier than we could have ever expected," Meyer said. "There was food everywhere, in our ears ... in our underwear."
As for the meaning of the performance, Meyer said it could mean different things for different people.
After giving the performers a standing ovation, many in the audience left the performance hungry. "I'm going to Taco Bell," Borys said.
- Edited by Erin McDaniel
"We were just trying to present a spectacle that hasn't been seen around here before," Meyer said. After giving the performer a standing ovation
Students help pay some study abroad professors' expenses
By Jennifer Valadez
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Professors at the University of Kansas who take students abroad may be getting an all-expenses-paid trip, but they're not just doing it because it's free.
Beau Pritchett, study abroad coordinator, said although professor expenses were typically figured into student costs in faculty-led programs, that was not always the case.
He said that in cases where students were not contributing to the instructor's expenses, the funding may come from that instructor's academic department or through grant money from another source.
Anna Drewry, Lawrence senior, said
"Either way, we still need to account for all expenses," he said. "Everything cannot be for free."
"Either way, we still need to
account for all expenses.
Everything cannot be for free."
Beau Pritchett
study abroad coordinator
she had no objections to having an accompanying professor's costs figured into her expenses. Drewry participated in the British Summer Institute in 1999.
"It's a worthwhile experience if you go with the intent of studying; we need those professors," Drewry said. "My reason for going wasn't just to have a cheap view of a country. I need to be able to have a professor teach me about the country I'm in."
Pritchett said that these professors' time spent abroad was not a vacation.
"The professor accompanying does have responsibilities," he said. "Depending on the program, the budget will include all of their expenses."
Adrienne Rivers, professor of journalism, led a group of students in journalism studies to Ghana, Africa during the summer, but her costs were not paid for by the students. Rivers said her duties went further than coordinating the trip for the students, that she was there to be a friend and help the students.
Susan MacNally, assistant director of study abroad, said that before the trip instructors were responsible for marketing their program and speaking to interested students. During the program the instructor assumes full responsibility for the group, acts as the primary contact in case any emergencies occur and is in charge of program expenditures. After returning, the instructor accounts for and subscribes a
full report on all funds.
Essentially, MacNally said, the cycle repeated itself if the instructor continued to spearhead the program.
David Wiley, outreach coordinator for study abroad, said the direct exchange program was the more cost-efficient route for those looking to study abroad. The cost for the program is in-state tuition and fees.
Wiley said the professor-accompanied programs tended to be more focused because they emphasized courses specific to the University.
For students, the cost of the professor-accompanied program is approximately $7,500, while a direct exchange averages just less than $5,000.
"It's more specific to what a KU student is wanting." Wiley said. "They introduce the student to topics important on our campus."
Off-Campus Recycling Opportunities
Lawrence makes it EASY to recycle off Campus!
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Hillcrest Shopping Center · 9th & Iowa
Checkers Food Store * 2300 Louisiana
√ Hy-Vee Food & Drug
Westlake's Hardware • 6th & Kasold
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✓ Lonnie's Recycling • 501 Maple
WalMart Community Recycling Center
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EVOLUTION: the real issues
Leonard Magruder, President of Sons and Daughters of Vietnam Veterans-KU
Daughters of Vietnam Veterans-KU
Chapter, interviews Dr. Matthew Buechner, Architect of Molecules
Assistant Professor of Molecular
Biosciences in the first of a new series "The University Under Fire"
"The University Under Fire".
CABLE CHANNEL 19 • 7:30-8:00 PM•
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11.
(to join chapter call 843-3737, no dues)