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Volume 128 Issue 56
Wednesday. December 3, 2014
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Kansan.com | The student voice since 1904
FASHION
Ferguson demonstration sparks racial conversation
WILL WEBBER
@wmwebber
Students gathered on the steps of Wescoe Beach on Tuesday afternoon to demonstrate their frustration with the response to the Ferguson jury decision made last week. The event was part of #KansasBlackOut week, which began Monday with a march.
Caleb Bobo, a junior from Chesterfield, Mo., coordinated the demonstration in order to increase visibility of concerned black students on campus and encourage conversation among all groups. Bobo's hometown is only 30 minutes from Ferguson, but he said he believes the issue affects society as a whole.
While Ferguson coverage has dominated both news and social media outlets, Bobo emphasized the need for personal conversation and physical demonstration as a means to better understand and mitigate insensitive backlash.
"I want people to see that there are students here on campus who are upset not only about the case itself, but about the response from the public," Bobo said.
"People are comfortable saying things on Facebook and Twitter that they wouldn't say to people's faces," Bobo said. "If someone does feel like that, I encourage them to come out and express those opinions, but posting on Facebook doesn't make you an activist, and I feel it's a cheap way to say something insensitive you wouldn't say to someone's face."
The demonstration was originally planned for noon at Strong Hall to maximize visibility, but it was moved to Wescoe Beach because Strong Hall is not one of the University's designated areas for student assembly.
"These designated areas are designed to make sure classes can go and people can pass through," said Tim Caboni, vice chancellor for public affairs at the University. "We want students to hear their message, but also walk by and get to class without having their day interrupted."
it takes 30 seconds to type #SupportFerguson and be done, and it's a good sentiment, but this carries more weight with a little time."
JACK MITCHELL Sophomore from Olathe
Students were permitted to protest campus sexual assault issues in front of Strong Hall earlier in the year, but only as an exception because the designated areas of Wescoe Beach and the Stauffer-Flint lawn were blocked from campus construction at the time.
Bobo and others gathered on Wescoe Beach minutes before noon to make signs expressing their thoughts on Ferguson
and racial matters in general, while two other students wrote the names of victims of police brutality in chalk on the sidewalk. The group mostly comprised black students initially, but students of multiple ethnicities joined in while passing.
Jack Mitchell, a sophomore from Olathe, had no prior knowledge of the event, but stood in solidarity after stopping to read the signs. Like Bobo, Mitchell saw a disparity between discussion on social media and in public settings.
"I think [public demonstration] is better because it's more active than Twitter," Mitchell said. "It takes 30 seconds to type #SupportFerguson and be done, and it's a good sentiment, but this carries more weight with a little time."
— Edited by Kelsie Jennings
the group briefly moved across Jayhawk Boulevard to take photos beneath the flag pole of Strong Hall, but emphasized the need to comply with University policies. The demonstration ended shortly after, and succeeded in fueling the conversation, Bobo said.
"I want students here at KU to know you can protest peacefully and still make a difference," Bobo said. "When they see African-American students being upset and they see that people care, they may think, 'Wow I might have called those people in Ferguson ghetto or thugs, but are these students thugs?'"
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
KansasBlackOut demonstrators stand on the steps of Wescoe Hall on Tuesday to protest the Ferguson grand jury's decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson.
KANSASBLACKOUT EVENTS THIS WEEK
Wednesday, Dec. 3:
A statewide, online "event" where students are encouraged to post a selfie with the hashtag #KansasBlackOut and also post why they think Ferguson matters.
Thursday, Dec. 4:
Students can discuss Ferguson and "why race matters" at the Ballroom in the Kansas Union at 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 5:
Individuals from the universities participating in #KansasBlackOut will end the week by meeting in Topeka at the Washburn campus.
Black Student Union Twitter account
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
There are several construction projects in process on campus right now including two new Daisy Hill dorms, an athletic dorm on Naismith Drive, a new business school and the DeBruce Center that will be attached to Allen Fieldhouse. All projects are set to be ready by their estimated completion dates.
Construction mostly on schedule
DEREK SKILLETT
@derek_skillett
Throughout the fall semester, there have been a number of major construction projects happening on the University of Kansas campus.
These projects include the construction of two new dormitory buildings on Daisy Hill, construction of McCarthy Hall on Naismith Drive, construction of the Capitol Federal School of Business and construction of the DeBruce Center, the facility attached to
As for the two new residence halls, crews are currently placing air sealants on the outside of the building and are starting to lay brickwork on the north building, said Diana Robertson, the director of Student Housing.
Crews are also building the fifth floor of the south building and are planning on putting a roof on both buildings before snow arrives, Robertson said. Construction is expected to be completed in July.
Allen Fieldhouse.
"With winter approaching.
we're definitely trying to get to where [the crews] can be focusing on interior work while it's really cold or snowy in the wintertime," Robertson said.
"I really don't mind the construction," Dotterweich said. "I know it's going to look nice in the long run."
Dotterweich said he does not find the construction to be too loud, but he has heard of students complaining about
Jacob Dotterweich, a sophomore from Olathe, lives in Templin Hall, which is on the north side of Daisy Hill.
the noise. Robertson said she has not received any complaints about construction on Daisy Hill.
"I think that most of the work is far enough away from the halls to have not been too disruptive at this point," Robertson said.
Construction on McCarthy Hall, the new dorm on Naismith for student athletes, has fallen behind schedule, Robertson said. Robertson said the
SEE WORK PAGE 2
Task force seeks to partner with GaDuGi
The chancellor's sexual assault task force is in the early stages of drafting a formal partnership with advocacy centers such as GaDuGi Safe-Center and the Willow Domestic Violence Center to recommend to the chancellor.
"It's an understanding that KU is partnering with them for services that don't have a conflict of interest;" Murphy said.
The University will adopt the national practice by modeling the agreement after the White House's partnership statement, said Angela Murphy, co-chair of the task force.
MCKENNA HARFORD
@McKennaHartford
Leaders from GaDuGi and the Willow Center spoke at the Nov. 7 task force meeting about their roles with survivors and their current relationships with the University.
Both centers currently serve to students and the campus, but the formal partnership will provide better support and more connections, said Chrissy Heikkila, the executive director of GaDuGi. The formal partnership would not require a change in services.
"Any time we can streamline services to survivors and create better access to support, the better," Heikkila said.
Index
The centers provide services the University doesn't, such
CLASSIFIEDS 9
CROSSWORD 6
"We have always been good partners, and I intend for that to continue." Rose-Mockry said. "We serve as a bridge to make sure that all the right people are coordinating services."
A care coordinator, Sarah Jane Russell, was recently hired by the University to help students navigate University processes and collaborate with GaDuGi and the Willow Center to make sure students receive support, said Kathy Rose-Mockry, director of the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity.
The care coordinator position is currently only funded for one year. Rose-Mockry said the position will be essential in the future because of its connections on campus and its collaborative nature.
CRYPTOQUIPS 6
OPINION 4
The task force is also discussing changing the reporting procedure of the University to include a phone call to an advocacy center so students have access to that support.
"I don't know if [the University is] equipped to support survivors the way we can," Heikkila said. "We can provide a safety net."
as 24/7 hotlines and support groups. GaDuGi representatives are also able to go to the hospital with survivors when rape kits are necessary.
SPORTS 10
SUDOKU 6
Edited by Alyssa Scott
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2014 The University Daily Kansan
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