TODAY'S WEATHER: Partly cloudy, high in the low 70s. JAYPLAY: University Dance Company performance premieres tonight.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
TALK TO US: Contact
Kursten Phelps or Leita
Schultes at (785) 864-4810
or editor@kansan.com
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
THURSDAY NOVEMBER15,2001
WWW.KANSAN.COM
ISSUE 57 VOLUME 112
Some disagree with bombing during month of Ramadan
By Ryan Malashock Kansan staff writer
United States bombing missions in Afghanistan may lead to controversy if battles continue after tomorrow.
U. S. military efforts are set to collide with religious tradition — the beginning of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.
For Muslims worldwide, Ramadan signifies a month of peace, intense worship, daily fasting and humble reflection on life.
Ninety-nine percent of the people living in Afghanistan are Muslim, but Ramadan might be the last thing on their minds when the holiday begins Friday.
Beverly Mack, associate professor of African-American studies, has taught a Women in Islam class at the University of Kansas and has spent time in Muslim-populated areas around the world.
Mack said fighting in Afghanistan during Ramadan was a touchy issue. She said it would be difficult for the U.S. to respect the ways of Islam in regards to Afghanistan because Muslims in the country do not practice Islam in its "true sense."
sense.
"War is war," Mack said. "In war, people would surely attack us on any holiday. If these were good Muslims observing Islam in a good way, then this all wouldn't be happening."
Mack said since the Taliban took control, women in Afghanistan have been largely discriminated against, which is against the teachings of the Quran, the Islamic holy book.
Quran, the Islamic way
"If we were dealing with devout Muslims, I'd feel differently," Mack said. "They haven't followed their rules, so why should we?"
Asma Rehman, Kansas City, Mo. junior, disagrees with Mack.
She said Ramadan was a time of peace and fasting and should be respected no matter what the circumstances are in Afghanistan.
stories are in argument.
"Even if someone doesn't adhere to Islam to the fullest, it's still a special month to any Muslim," Rehman said.
Contact Malashock at 864-4810
Regents up credit minimum
Unscheduled proposal increases junior-senior hour requirement to 54
By Luke Daley and Paul Smith Kansan staff writers
The Kansas Board of Regents unanimously approved a policy yesterday that could keep Kansas college students in school longer.
The Regents increased the number of upper-division courses required for a baccalaureate degree to a minimum of 54 credit hours.
credit hours.
Now, the Regents require 40
junior/senior credit hours out of the total
124 required to graduate.
The policy approved yesterday by the Regents, who oversee all state highereducation institutions, will not take effect until Fall 2003.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway said that whether the policy would apply only to incoming freshmen in 2003 or to all students enrolled during the 2003-04 academic year was unclear at the meeting.
The proposal to increase the upperdivision minimums came from Regent Jack Wempe, a Lyons Democrat. The proposal was not a scheduled item on the Regents' agenda. Wempe did not return phone calls late yesterday.
phone calls to you today.
“This sort of took everyone by surprise,” Hemenway said. “Students will need to look at their degree programs and see how this will affect their progress
toward a degree."
toward a degree.
Pam Houston, director of undergraduate services for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said the new policy was a dramatic change to the previous Regents policy.
change to the previous "To require 54 credit hours at the junior/senior level would pose significant problems for most of our students," Houston said.
Justin Mills, student body president, who attended the meeting, said he was displeased that the Regents did not seek the advice of KU students, administrators or faculty.
"I just don't understand how they could make that decision without the students' input," Mills said.
Although each school has different general education and upper-division course
requirements, Houston said it would be difficult for CLAS students to meet both CLAS general-education requirements and the Regents requirements.
"When you bring the degree requirements into the mix as well, I think it would take most students more than 124 credit hours to graduate," Houston said.
Hemenway said that the motivation for the new policy was unclear and added that both Regents staff and KU administrators in academic affairs would begin looking at the effects of the Regents policy today.
Scaredy-cat: Stuck in a funk on a trunk
Contact Daley and Smith at 864-4810
Top: Mindy Fisk, Alta mont freshman, climbs a tree between Stauffer Flint and Wescoe halls to rescue a trapped kitten. Unable to coax the cat into her hands, Fisk climbed back down and waited with other bystanders for help. They waited until Facilities Operations workers arrived with a cherry picker to try to pluck the cat from the tree. The cat was frightened by the noise of the vehicle and ran down the tree and was eventually caught.
Right: Mindy Fisk, Altamont freshman
uses her sweatshirt for protection against the claws of a frightened kitten. Fisk attempted to help rescue the kitten from a tree between Stauffer-Flint and Wescoe halls yesterday morning.
Photos by Anthony Reyes/KANSAN.
DRIVERS ESCAPE ACCIDENT WITHOUT SERIOUS INJURY
Emergency crews work the scene of a two-vehicle crash yesterday afternoon. A northbound 2001 Ford Ranger driven by CJ Snow, Lawrence freshman, collided with a Nissan Altima at the intersection of 26th and Iowa streets. No serious injuries were reported. The driver of the Nissan was taken by ambulance to Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
Repeated classes could affect professional school status
By Paul Smith Kansan staff writer
Professional schools might be allowed to give admissions preference to students who have not used the course repeat policy.
Student advocates voiced concern last week that professional schools, which have autonomy in setting admissions standards, would reject students who had retaken courses.
who have reteated on who the retake policy, approved by Chancellor Robert Hemenway last summer, will allow students to repeat any class beginning next semester in which they receive a D or F in order to boost their grade point averages. The original grades will remain on the transcript.
James Carothers; associate provost, said that the draft set of instructions now being considered for advising would ensure that only the repeat grade would be calculated into the student GPA considered by the professional schools but the original grade could be factored into admissions decisions.
"I don't think we'll have a problem as long as students understand that there are no guarantees of admission," Carothers said.
Carothers said. The clarification of how the course repeat policy was needed so that students would be given clear and consistent advising, said Carothers.
The professional schools are allied health, architecture and urban design, business, education, engineering, fine arts, journalism and mass communications, pharmacy and social welfare.
The deans are now considering the draft set of instructions.
Bill Fuerst, dean of the School of Business, said that his
school would consider both the original and repeat grades.
"The University has given us the opportunity to make final decisions on individual admissions based on all information available." Fuerst said.
He also said that the policy would not have a great impact on the school.
"Our average GPA in last year's class was approximately 3.4, so we don't anticipate using the full history," Fuerst said.
Nick Lerner, Albuquerque junior, said it made sense to give admissions preference to students who did not use the course repeat policy.
"If someone passes a class the first time, it might mean they're a better overall student," Lerner said.
INSIDETODAY
Contact Smith at 864-4810
WORLD NEWS ...2A
HOROSCOPES ...2B
WEATHER ...4B
CROSSWORD ...4B
COMING IN TOMORROW'S KANSAN
NEWS: Panelists explain why students should value the Wetlands.
FOOTBALL: Kansas looking for a Saturday victory and a bright spot in the season
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall