TODAY'S WEATHER: Partly cloudy with a high of 64. BASKETBALL: Women get first victory of season against Fort Hays State.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
TALK TO US: Contact
Kursten Phelps or Leita
Schultes at (785) 864-4810
or editor@kansan.com
KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
MONDAY
NOVEMBER 12, 2001
WWW.KANSAN.COM
ISSUE 54 VOLUME 112
Possible hike in housing fees upsets students
By Jeremy Clarkson Kansan staff writer
SWINGIN' SHED
In light of a proposed student housing rate increase, Dashon McNeely said he planned to look for an apartment next year because he would get more space for his money.
money.
A plan to the Board of Regents from the University of Kansas will raise student housing rates by $294 for next year, a 6.8 percent increase from this year's rate of $4.348.
"I don't think that it could be easily justified seeing as how the bare minimum of housing is $2,000 or more for a semester," said McNeely, Los Angeles freshman.
The Board of Regents will consider the University's plan for preliminary approval at a meeting this week.
McNeely said he didn't expect the increase to be easily received by parents and students.
Ken Stoner, director of Student Housing, said that although the economy affected the rate change, he hoped the new rates would be adequate through June 2003.
However, he said there was a possibility the proposed price increase might go higher before it's scheduled to take effect July 1.
RATE INCREASE
What happened? The University submitted a plan to the Board of Regents to increase student housing rates by 6.8 percent next year.
"It's a pretty uncertain economy." Stonersaid.
What does it mean: if approved, student housing rates will increase by almost $300.
What's next: The Board of Regents will consider the plan for preliminary approval this week.
Stoner said.
Traditional residence halls will not be the only housing units affected by the proposed rate hike. Stoner said there would be a $188 increase in scholarship hall rates as well.
Cathy Houts, Prairie Village freshman and Oliver Hall resident, said that until the other dorms were renovated like Lewis Hall and Templin Hall, the price should not be raised.
not be raised. She said she would not be living in student housing next year, and said she thought the price increase would probably encourage more students to consider other options.
other options.
Despite the increase, Stoner said the University's housing rates were still $906 below the national student housing average and among the lowest in the Big 12 Conference.
Contact Clarkson at 864-4810
The white barn on David and Margaret Shirk's property just north of Lawrence is rented out for parties and receptions year-round. The Shirks said the money made from such events goes primarily to the upkeep of the hundred-year old structure.
Barn a long-standing student party haven
by Eve Lamborn Kansan staff writer
Buses trundled back and forth Saturday night between the University of Kansas and a barn buried in the quiet countryside northeast of Lawrence.
Inside the barn, members of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority met up with their mystery dates. Warmed by space heaters, they danced beneath flashing disco lights, creating an island of light and noise in the middle of a still November night.
June Brown, Coffeyville freshman and Alpha Chi Omega member, said the atmosphere was warm, bright and relaxed.
Since 1966, various KU students have come to the barn of David and Margaret Shirk for different events. Students say the barn creates the perfect atmosphere for a party.
Margaret Shirk said her grandfather built the barn in 1900 after coming to the 300-acre farm, a couple of miles northeast of Lawrence, in 1865. Her father was born on the farm. So was she. She grew up there and said one of her two daughters would inherit the farm.
Margaret and David Shirk both attended KU and they still go to all the football and men's basketball games.
David Shirk was captain of the football team in 1938, then coached the freshman football team after he graduated from KU in 1959. He spent many years teaching high school biology and coaching both football and basketball. Margaret Shirk also graduated in 1939, with a business economics degree.
economic studies She said she and her husband rented the barn out to KU groups because they liked students.
"We just do it to have the kids," she said. "We have a big barn with electricity and no animals."
The Shirks don't advertise the barn, but word-of-mouth advertising keeps them busy year-round. Margaret Shirk said their busiest month was October, but groups go out to the barn into the winter and in the spring.
Groups that use the barn range from fraternities and sororities to the scholarship halls to The University Daily Kansan. Some KU groups have held events there for 30 years. Shirk said student groups from Baker and Washburn universities also rented the barn for parties, and they had even begun having wedding receptions there.
reception notes.
"It's just something to help keep the paint up and shingles on it," she said.
SEE BARN ON PAGE 3A
KU student dies Friday after losing control of car
Police investigation to determine if alcohol was involved in accident
By Courtney Craigmile Kansan staff writer
A 20-year-old KU student died early Friday morning after he lost control of his 1996 Acura on the west side of Lawrence.
Lawrence.
Chansanouk Sengchan, Winfield sophomore, was pronounced dead on the scene, Lawrence police Sgt. Mike Patrick said.
Patrick said Sengchan was eastbound on 15th Street, near Bobwhite Drive, when Sengchan's vehicle rolled and landed on its top. Police found Sengchan partially outside the car when they arrived.
Patrick said the investigation would determine if Sengchan was wearing his seat belt and if alcohol was involved in the accident.
This was Sengchan's first semester at KU. He was studying computer science.
Syvengsay said Sengchan loved computers.
"He was a really good student," Sengchan's roommate, Al Syvengsay, said. "He was always studying or on his computer."
computers." He would always be reading about computers," he said. "His goal was to be able to write his own programs one day."
Syvengsay was a grade above Chansanouk Sengchan in school, but the two were on the same soccer teams growing up.
He said they would still play soccer together when they had the time.
together. "I was always busy working, and he was always busy studying." Syvengsay said. "But we'd always find time to go kick the soccer ball around."
Chancellor Robert Hemenway released a statement about Sengchan's death.
death. "Our hearts go out to the Sengchan family," it said.
Contact Craigmile at 864-4810.
Preeti Krishan, Musqat, Oman, senior, left, and Ashvini Ganesh, Hyderabad, India, graduate student, perform a Rajasthani folk dance. The performance was part of the KU Cultural India Club's Diwali Dhamaka celebration Saturday night at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union.
By J. R. Mendoza Kansan staff writer
More than 400 people turned up to celebrate the Indian holiday, Diwali Dhamaka, Saturday night, sponsored by the University of Kansas Cultural India Club. Diwali Dhamaka means the Festival of Light.
Deepti Mathur, Topeka sophomore and one of the performers, said the festival was celebrated in northern India as the god Ram coming back home after killing the demon Ravan. She said that in south India people celebrated the festival for the day Ram was killed.
Rah was killed.
"It's kind of like Christmas in the United States," Mathur said.
Traditional cuisine, performances draw crowd to Indian festival
Mathur said that in northern India the festival was also celebrated as the prayer to the goddess of wealth, Laxmi.
"it's the triumph of good over evil," she said. "the goddess Laxmi follows the light,
Ruchi Indian Cuisine, located in Overland Park, catered a dinner in the Kansas Union which featured traditional Indian food.
INSIDETODAY
A performance followed the dinner at Woodruff Auditorium. Valentino Almeida, president of the organization and Bombay, India, graduate student, said a prayer was recited before the program to ask for blessings.
ings. "We ask that everything goes well for the hard work we've done," Almeida said.
which symbolizes happiness or goodness."
Besides dancing, the program also featured Almeida singing songs by a famous Indian singer and a skit about a father disapproving of his daughter's boyfriend.
U.S.NEWS ... 2A
HOROSCOPES ... 7A
WEATHER ... 8A
CROSSWORD ... 8A
applying Almeida said he was pleased with the turnout and that many who came were non-Indians.
SEE FESTIVAL ON PAGE 3A
COMING IN TOMORROW'S KANSAN
ANTHRAX: A meeting today will inform students of the University's plan in case anthrax hits home.
TOO MANY CARS: Read what will be discussed at the Parking Commission hearing tomorrow.
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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. Subscripions can be purchased at 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
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