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news
Kansan staff
NEWS MANAGEMENT
Editor-in-chief
Vicky Diaz-Camacho
managing editor Kate Miller
Brand & creativity manager Hallie Wilson
Digital operations editor Anissa Fritz
Print Production Manager
Candice Tarver
ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT
Business manager Gage Brock
Sales manager Katie Bell
Associate news editor Cassidy Ritter
News editor Kelly Cordingley
SECTION EDITORS
Sports editor Scott Chasen
Associate sports editor Shane Jackson
Arts & culture editor Ryan Wright
Associate arts & culture editor Christian Hardy
Opinion editor
Maddy Mikinski
Chief photographer Caroline Fiss
ADVISER
Investigations editor Miranda Davis
Sales and marketing adviser Jon Schlitt
Астана, Ломтевка, KS., 66045
The University Daily Karen is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Karen are 50 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at the Karen business office, 2015 Dale Humon Development Center, 1000 Sunnyvale
The University Daily Konsor (USSN 0746-4967) is published on Monday and Thursday during the academic year except fall break, spring break and exams. It is published weekly during the summer session excluding holidays. Annual subscriptions by mail are $52 plus tax. Send address changes to The University Daily Konsor (0745-2104) DAILY HUMAN
Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue.
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Kansan files First Amendment suit against University
▶ KANSAN STAFF
@KansanNews
Editor's note: Editor-in-chief Vicky Diaz-Camacho was not involved in the production of this story.
In response to alleged violations of its First Amendment rights, the University Daily Kansan filed a civil suit against University Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little and University Vice Provost for Student Affairs Tammara Durham on Friday, Feb. 5.
The lawsuit alleges University Student Senate cut the publication's funding in response to concerns about content. Editor-in-chief Vicky Diaz-Camacho and former editor-in-chief Katie Kutsko are listed as plaintiffs on the case, as well as the publication itself.
In the complaint, the plaintiffs ask a federal court to reinstate the Kansan's funding, which was cut last year by the University Student Senate. The plaintiffs name defendants Gray-Little and Durham, who both allegedly allowed the First Amendment violations to follow through despite the Kansan's meetings with them demonstrating the effects of the funding cuts.
The complaint details action by the University Student Senate stemming from May 2014, when the Kansan published an editorial calling for reform of the Student Senate election process.
According to the complaint, when the Kansan came before Student Senate the following year for annual fee review, funds were cut from $2 per student to $1 per student, which resulted in a $45,000 loss of funding.
KANSAN.COM/NEWS | MONDAY, FEB. 8, 2016
The official reason for the funding was a reduced publication schedule, but the complaint alleges Student Senate members used the negative coverage as a basis for cutting the funding in a retaliatory move.
The complaint alleges that committee-member-at-the-time Emma Halling told a Kansan reporter a significant reason for the funding cut was "because some of the coverage had been really problematic in the past." The lawsuit also claims committee members said the funding cut would allow the Kansan to "fix their content" and seek funding again the next year.
Erinn Barcomb-Peterson director for media and news relations at the University, was not available for comment.
"As a result of defendants' actions, plaintiffs [the Kansas] have been chilled in the exercise of their fundamental rights under the First Amendment," according to the complaint. "Plaintiffs, therefore, have suffered and will continue to suffer irreparable harm for which there is no adequate remedy of law."
The $45,000 cut forced the Kansan to eliminate 13 paid student staff positions and to leave its News Adviser position unfilled, the complaint says.
The Kansan is working with the Student Press Law Center for the case. The SPLC published a release earlier today detailing the complaint.
This story is developing and will be updated.
Fourteen students spent their winter breaks in Ala. developing bamboo prototypes for a nonprofit
Lexi Bradu/KANSAN
Students create bamboo prototypes for nonprofit
▶ KATIE HAYES
@Katie_Hayes0
"This immersive experience is a great way for students to practice what they know and push their comfort zones. They have to pick up new skills fast," Design Department Chair Andrea Herstowski said in a press release.
Rebekah Winegarner, a junior from Overland Park, was another student who participated in the project.
Fourteen Design and Architecture students spent their winter breaks in Greensboro, Ala. working to end poverty through push bikes and paddleboards made of bamboo they harvested from Greensboro farms. The students worked 10 to 14 hour days for two weeks designing and building the prototypes.
The pushbikes and paddleboards are sold at a local nonprofit bike shop, HERObike, in Greensboro, Ala.
Veronica Villhard, a sophomore from St. Louis, Mo. and one of the 14 Design and Architecture students, said the presence of the group impacted the community. She said the pushbikes and paddleboards helped the community by creating a cash flow and additional jobs, especially at the local bamboo farms.
"I chose this program because I wanted an environment where I could keep working on the same interesting design problem until it was solved without any of the peripheral distractions of extra classes or everyday life," Winegarner said.
The students spent their days designing, building, rebuilding and testing the prototypes.
HERObike, owned by the Hale Empowerment and Revitalization Organization, is a community development group that seeks to end poverty in rural areas around Hale County.
"Working with a sustainable material to create exciting products with talented people for a company making a positive impact within its community was an opportunity I had to be a part of. I feel very fortunate to have been one of the two sophomores chosen to be a part of the Greensboro team."Villhard said.
"The things that kept everyone working hard were really just the small successes in our design work. Whenever we would have a successful prototype or found an easier or faster or sturdier way to build something, the design nerd in us would tingle. The energy of
those small triumphs kept everyone excited to keep going," Winegarner said.
Chelsea Anderson, a junior from Overland Park, said the long days were beneficial to the project.
"It's quick and you're working 12 or so hours a day. However, you also get so much done in a short amount of time. Many of our professors say, 'Fail fast, fail hard,' Anderson said.
Students learned about time management and what to do if a design does not work, according to the press release.
"I remember everyone was pretty tired after a week of failed prototypes and was not ready to restart the building process with the new and improved designs," Villhard said. "It was when our team of Graphic Design students presented the name and awesome branding they had come up with for the push bikes and paddleboards that boosted the spirits of the team again."
A Kickstarter has also been created to help support the community of Greensboro through HERObike.
- Edited by Deanna Ambrose
Diversity plan now open for student feedback
@lara_Korte
► LARA KORTE
©larga, Korte
The University is calling for feedback on its Diversity Action Plan for 2016.
In a statement released Jan. 28, Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Sara Rosen shared a list of action items to "ensure members of the KU community are understood, accepted and successful in their individual pursuits."
Jill Hummel, communications manager for the Office of the Provost, said the action items tie closely with the diversity initiatives put forth in "Bold Aspirations," the University's strategic plan for 2012-2017. However, Hummel said, after the events of last semester, the plans have been reevaluated and adjusted
"I think everyone is aware from discussions that took
place last fall that there are issues we really need to deal with as a University." Hummel said. "Some of those may not have been on the radar of those who made the diversity and inclusion framework."
Hummel said Rosen will lead the overall plan with various deans and administrators taking charge of individual tasks.
The plan is divided into four areas, Communication and Accountability, Education and Training, Recruitment and Retention, and Campus-Wide Strategic Framework.
For Communication and Accountability this spring, the University is looking to "expand the ability of Institutional Opportunity and Access (IOA) to investigate reports of discrimination and sexual ha-
Each area includes expectations for Spring 2016 as well as the 2016-2017 school year.
and plans to come up with tactics to attract diverse professors and students to campus.
rassment," as well as increase funding for the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity.
As far as Campus-Wide Strategic Framework, the University will host the fourth Annual Diversity Symposium on April 12 and work on ensuring the diversity initiatives presented in the "Bold Aspirations" plan are implemented.
When it comes to Education and Training, the University will host the second annual Cultural Competency Conference on March 10 and 23, and provide diversity training and workshops to department chairs as well as train all IOA staff.
University Retention and Recruitment will see a "complete review of KU faculty mentoring programs and develop models to support underrepresented faculty success," according to the plan,
Earlier this year, the provost hosted an all-day diversity training for all deans and vice provosts. According to the Diversity Action plan, the provost will be looking at ways to expand capacity for similar training sessions on campus.
After reading through details of the plan, students can access an online form and share their reactions with the University. All comments are confidential. Initial comments for the Diversity Action Plan are due Feb.15.
Hummel said the office has received some feedback since the plan was posted last week. Although most of the comments have been positive, Hummel said, there has been some concern the University is not moving fast enough with diversity initiatives. Hummel
said she believes it's important for the University to do what it can in the short term, but said institutional change can take more time.
"For lasting and effective change, we have to look at what's causing the problem, what barriers are in place, and how we change those barriers and remove those hurdles so they're not an issue in the future," Hummel said.
"It's not completely comprehensive. We're really interested in hearing new ideas and adding to that list," Hummel said, "It's definitely not the end of the conversation."
Rosen, along with other administrators, will continue working to implement the initiatives presented in the plan. Although the cutoff for initial comments is Feb.15,Hummel said the office is intent on continuing feedback and suggestions for the plan.
DIVERSITY PLAN OF ACTION SPRING 2016
Initial comments for the Diversity Action Plan are due Feb. 15.
Although the cutoff for initial comments is Feb. 15, the office plans to continue receiving feedback for the plan.
Provide a diversity workshop for department chairs
Review and develop processes to attract diverse applicant pools in all faculty, staff and administrative hires.
Complete diversity and equity work group's evaluation of the MU Advising Corps model as a means for KU to recruit more first-generation, low-income and students of color to KU and set them up for success.
Develop a diversity framework that includes action steps and metrics that can be integrated into KU's next strategic plan.
On March 10, the University will host the second annual Cultural Competency Conference, providing diversity training and workshops to department chairs as well as training ICA staff.
Ensure that staff in the office of Institutional Opportunity and Access (10A) receive diversity training.
Implement a comprehensive set of strategies and tactics designed to attract an academically qualified, diverse applicant and admit pool.
University will host the fourth Annual Diversity Symposium on April 10.
Source: University of Kansas Office of the Provest
Gracie Williams/KANSAN
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