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Volume 128 Issue 52
Monday. November 24, 2014
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Kansan.com | The student voice since 1904
Web rules may slow student access
ERICA STAAB
@EricaMarieStaab
IACQUELYN MARTIN/ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Barack Obama shakes hands with then-nominee for Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler in May 2013 in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Obama touched off an angry debate Nov. 10 over government regulation of Internet service, coming down on the side of consumer activists who fear slower download speeds and higher costs but angering Republicans and the nation's cable giants who say the plan would kill jobs.
President Barack Obama's efforts to strengthen "net neutrality" could help University students by ensuring content such as YouTube and Wikipedia remains free and delivered unhindered, University experts said.
"There are no toll roads on the information superhighway," Obama said in a video released Nov. 10. He urged the Federal Communications Commission not to adopt new rules that would allow Internet providers to charge content providers for faster content delivery to their customers.
In May, the FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler had proposed a plan that would prevent companies from slowing or blocking customers' Internet while still allowing Internet providers to implement a two-tier system, in which customers could pay more to be on the "fast lane."
University experts say such a two-tier system would impact students by comparatively slowing their content consumption and increasing the price of some content depending on how fast it's delivered.
Currently, there are no rules banning Internet providers from charging content providers for fastlane service. The best example of this is Netflix and Verizon, said Jonathan Peters, a University journalism professor who specializes in First Amendment and media studies. He is also working in an affiliate research position exploring big data and Internet governance in the KU Information
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Key players in the net neutrality debate:
Federal Communications Commission The FCC is considering new regulations that would create a two-tier system allowing Internet providers to charge companies such as Netflix more money for faster Internet service for their customers. It would mean some consumers would get their content slower from companies who don't pay for the faster delivery service, according to the FCC website.
Obama Administration The president spoke out against a two-tier system in a video release, saying that all Internet traffic should be treated equally or neutrally and that providers should not be able to discriminate against content providers who won't pay fees to get higher speed service.
Internet Providers Big companies such as Comcast, Time Warner Cable and AT&T are supporting the new rules being weighed by the FCC. Some are already charging certain content providers to provide content via a "fast lane," said Jonathan Peters, a University journalism professor who specializes in First Amendment and media studies. He is also working as an affiliate researcher exploring big data and Internet governance in the KU Information and Telecommunication Technology Center.
Content Providers — Netflix, Google, Yahoo and other major content providers oppose the new rules proposed by the FCC. They do not want the Internet providers to be able to charge them for faster service, Peters said.
Food drive puts meals on tables for Thanksgiving
ADAM JAMIESON
@SenorJamieson
A charity called Just Food of Douglas County has decided to take the initiative to feed 1,200 families for Thanksgiving. At the end of October, they identified families in the Lawrence area in need of help to enjoy this important part of the year. Aided by University organizations such as KU fights Hunger, Navy and Air Force ROTC, and the Chancellor's Office, Just Food has been able to lower the number of families in need to just 436, as of Friday. A donation of $14 can be used to provide an entire Thanksgiving meal to a household of seven.
This campaign is being run by Elizabeth Keever, chief resource officer at Just Food.
"I used to work in politics, but felt like I could do more to help the community through a nonprofit and be more involved," Keever said. "I was raised where there was always plenty of food on the table, and some of my favorite memories are sitting down to eat with my family. The idea of people having to go without that is unimaginable, and that's how I get up and go to work everyday."
According to a press release from Claudia Larkin at KU Memorial Unions, KU dining and the KU Bookstore recently raised about $2,000 to donate to the shelves of the Douglas County Food Bank, which partners with Just Food.
Administrative offices at the University have also gotten involved.
"The Chancellor's Office, General Counsel and Provost Office all share a suite, and we try to do a food drive each year for [the] Just Food pantry as an office," said Sharon Parnell, associate business manager of the Provost's Office. "Some staff members from some other offices see the signs and donate items too. A couple of us staff members contact the pantry each year to have the bins delivered and make signs to hang in the office. Whoever sees the signs is welcome to donate food."
Some people choose to donate money in lieu of food, and it is used for items that will target hunger more effectively. This drive is still accepting donations, but Just Food is collecting them today.
The specific organization dedicated to fighting hunger at the University is aptly named KU Fights Hunger. Keever said they are a major partner in their shared goal of eradicating improper nutrition in Douglas County.
Just Food is now entering the clutch time part of their campaign. Thanksgiving is just a few days away, and there are still 436 families, who will otherwise have no meal.
Any students interested in getting involved with this effort can still do so by going to justfoodks.org/donate/ or calling (785) 856-7030 with a donation of $14.
Edited by Emily Brown
Campus to switch to single-stream recycling
AMBER VANDEGRIFT
@AmberVandergrift
Currently, recycling areas on campus have different bins for different materials, like newspaper, cans and bottles. But Jeff Severin, director for the Center for Sustainability, said next semester, the campus will switch to single-stream recycling, which means all recyclable materials can go into the same bin.
Severin said the current system on campus has not been cost effective, because it takes several hours to sort through the bins to make sure they contain the proper materials.
"People are just really used to having one bin for their curbside recycling at home, and I think that's kind of showed up in our streams as well." Severin said. "People haven't been doing as good a job of sorting things into the containers in the hallways."
Waste reduction manager for the University, Eric Nelson, said with single stream, the recycling will be taken to a material recovery facility, where technology and workers
sort the materials.
"They can be a lot more efficient using ... sorting technology than just the human element," Nelson said.
Severin said the new single stream bins will be released in phases, but the University will be changing contracts in early January and should have the new bins across campus by early next semester.
ERIC NELSON University waste reduction manager
He said with the money saved on labor, he hopes they can put that labor into other services, like adding more bins on campus.
"We are rolling out some new recycling bins early in the semester that we hope to have across all of campus eventually." Nelson said. "And
"We are really hoping that it gives students, faculty and staff more opportunities to recycle."
that's really going to bring us a bin standard, so every time you see that bin, you know what can go in that bin."
Nelson and Severin both said the new system should make recycling more convenient.
"I think it would make it a lot easier, because then you could just throw everything you think should be recycled into one spot. ... If we just have one system, then you just recycle everything and it should lead to more recycling." Werle said.
Joe Werle, a sophomore from Shawnee, said he recycles now, but thinks single stream could ultimately cause more recycling.
"We are really hoping that it gives students, faculty and staff more opportunities to recycle," Nelson said.
"We really want to see our campus diversion rate increase, getting more things out of the trash can, out of the landfill and putting those into recycling," he said.
Nelson said he hopes to get the University close to or above the national average in recycling.
Edited by Yu Kyung Lee
ROCHELLE VALVERDE/KANSAN
Members of the First Nations Student Association discuss a part-time position to facilitate the Haskell Exchange Program at a panel on Friday. It was the first panel meeting to discuss the position.
University creates position to support Native Americans
ROCHELLE VALVERDE
@RochelleVerde
The University of Kansas is creating a part-time position to better facilitate the Haskell Exchange Program and support Native-American students.
Nate Thomas, vice provost for diversity and equity, said a Haskell community coordinator position will be open for applications in a few weeks. Thomas said the coordinator will serve as a student mentor and community builder, as well as
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"We want to work on building community so that [Native American] students feel a sense of belonging." Thomas said. "So students feel like they're not surviving, but thriving."
Thomas announced the position at a panel discussion Friday hosted by the First Nations Student Association. The lack of representation and support of Native Americans at the University was a key theme at the panel, "Shadows of Education: Native American Quest for Education Equality."
a liaison between Haskell and the University.
Panelist Blane Harding, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, said there
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Currently, there is no position uniquely devoted to the relationship between Haskell and the University. The numbers of Native-American freshmen entering the University have been in overall decline since 2008, dropping from 60 that year to 14 in 2013, according to the University's Office of Institutional Research & Planning.
Don't Forget
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