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NEWS
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KANSAN.COM
DEMANDS FROM
they can be more inclusive in their hiring.
"It's not just numbers. It's not just statistics," Rainey said. "It's a mentality change."
This demand should be looked at through Admissions and the Office of First-Year Experience, Rainey said.
6. Increase percentage of underrepresented domestic and undocumented students.
"We've seen throughout this past year, especially that there is not a strong push for increasing the domestic diversity; however, there have been goals set and plans of action put in place to increase international diversity," Rainey said. "And they are intertwining all of those numbers to make it seem as though KU is more diverse and it's increasing their diversity."
7. Immediate amendments to the Student Senate Election Code.
On Nov. 18, Student Senate reversed itself and lowered the general election spending cap to $1,000 after raising it to $2,000 earlier this semester.
The decision to raise the cap came under fire as many said it would be harmful to lower-income students who want to run for Senate.
In the statement, Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk said "this will create an extreme disadvantage to students who are already underrepresented on this campus and in the Senate chambers."
Rainey said the group feels satisfied with this action and considers this demand met.
8. Increase aid and assistance to active military and veterans.
In the statement, Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk said they feel the resources for active military and veterans are insufficient for fully integrating military personnel
back into campus life, stating their resource offices are "understaffed."
"Throughout the past couple years, we've had a lot of military personnel come to us and say, you know, they have issues with their professors not allowing them leave when necessary," Rainey said. "There may be issues of PTSD or not knowing how to adjust back to not only being a civilian, but to being a student. And that is so crucial in making sure that they succeed here at KU."
Rainey said the Office of Veteran Affairs would be a good starting place to address this demand.
9. Establish a team of multicultural counselors to specifically address severe mental illness and the
mental illness and the needs of students of color by fall 2016.
The statement from Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk said that, currently, students with severe mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder, are turned away at the University's Counseling and Psychological Services, or CAPS. According to the statement, "this presents a huge problems for students who cannot find treatment elsewhere due to financial/insurance complications."
In an email on Nov 12, Pam Botts, associate director of CAPS, told the Kansan that because of the nature of bipolar disorder, CAPS cannot responsibly manage or treat this disorder.
"We provide services that are within the scope of what we can reasonably and responsibly manage, given our resources and our mandate." Botts said in the email.
CAPS Director Michael Maestas told the Kansan that CAPS has been working with Student Senate to look at increasing staff numbers. That could take the form of an increase in student fees for the 2016-17 academic year.
In an email, Holdover Senator Taylor Zabel said that if an increase in student fees for CAPS is passed in the spring, Maestas and the Senate board will look at
placing counselors at the Office of Multicultural Affairs to assist students.
10. Ban concealed weapons from campus.
Rainey said that because students do not have much access to the Kansas Legislature, Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk is pushing for administration, Student Senate and University Senate to "use their voices in those spaces to make sure that concealed weapons are permanently banned from campus."
A bill passed by the Kansas Legislature allows concealed weapons in most public buildings in the state. Universities are exempt from this law until July 2017. With the deadline approaching, students and faculty have expressed safety concerns about allowing concealed carry on campus.
Earlier this month, a survey was sent out to students to get their opinions on the policy. Student Senate officers are hoping to bring those results to the Kansas Board of Regents as it drafts a new weapons policy to comply with the state law.
Additionally, Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk wrote in the statement that weapons on campus would "be used to terrorize students of color."
According to Kansas State Representative Dennis Highberger, in order to extend the deadline, the Kansas Legislature would need to change the statute. Highberger said that, as of right now, chances of that happening are slim.
Highberger said although he hopes the Legislature will take the concerns of Kansas Regents and its students into consideration, he doesn't see strong support for extending the exemption.
11. Remove all professors who assault, sexually harass, or engage in abusive relationships with students. Apply this policy retroactively as well, specifically to Dr.[name
expulsion of those that commit sexual assault.
Rainey said she believes the University's process for sexual assault investigations needs to be critically analyzed.
redacted]. Immediate
"Rape is unacceptable. KU must stop assigning essays as punishment. KU must stop allowing rapists/harassers, abusers to circumvent justice," the statement said.
Rainey said departments need to be holding professors accountable.
"We are also looking at the IOA as well as administration to make sure that there is a creation of a clear policy that removes these professors." Rainey said. "In addition to that, making sure that there is a fair process that they go through because this whole concept of well they were proven innocent and therefore they can return is kind of sickening."
12. Open investigation into Grant, Starling, et. al. case as a hate crime, beginning with IOA.
Currently, the Lawrence Police Department has filed a report and investigation is underway regarding Black Student Union president and Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk member Kynnedi Grant's experience with a hate crime, according to Sgt. Trent McKinley.
At the town hall forum on Nov. 11, Grant said she and her friends were assaulted after attending a house party on Kentucky Street. She said two white males verbally attacked her, put her in a chokehold and pulled a gun on her friends.
Grant said that when police arrived, they did nothing.
In the statement, Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk said the "Institutional Office of Opportunity and Access has a responsibility to any and all perpetrators associated with the Grant and Starling case".
McKinley said LPD is looking into the case and has been in contact with the University.
"It's still continuing to be an ongoing investigation, and we've
not made any arrests," McKinley said.
13. Reopen investigation into the murder of Rick "Tiger" Dowdell.
In summer 1970, Rick "Tiger" Dowdell, a KU student, was shot and killed by Lawrence police.
According to Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk, Dowdell was a "leader and advocate for black liberation during his time at Lawrence High School and KU".
McKinley said he is unaware of any action being taken to reopen this case, and said if an investigation were to take place, it would likely be done by a third party.
"Lawrence is a city, but it's completely centered around KU," Rainey said. "And I think that if administration was to seek out LPD and say, you know, 'This was one of our students. We, in the name of accountability, and in the name of justice we want to reopen this investigation. We want it to be looked at,' then I think that would hold a powerful weight. And it would also bring closure to a lot of people who were affected."
14. Establish a multicultural student government independent of current University of Kansas Student Senate
dent Senate.
Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk has demanded a multicultural student government because many members don't feel the current Student Senate has done enough to represent multicultural students.
Student Senate started impeachment proceedings on Nov. 18 for Student Body President Jessie Pringle, Student Body Vice President Zach George and Chief of Staff Adam Moon.
Rainey said Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk is working with students at the University of Missouri to see how a multicultural student government would work. The University of Missouri has "a very ideal situation going on where both of their student governments coexist and they
interact well," Rainey said.
The formation of a multicultural student government would be done through an election, and everyone would be welcome, Rainey said.
"As you've seen this year, they [Student Senate] have been less than willing to work with multi-cultural students to address our issues and so to a certain extent it's not really on us as to whether they're going to put their issues aside to make sure all students are being served," Rainey said. "We are by no means cutting ties with them and saying we will never speak with them."
15. Thorough plan of action from administration by Jan. 19,2016.
"While it may not be 100 percent obtainable to have all of these completed by the spring of 2016 semester,it is imperative that the administration and governing bodies show, thorough actions to resolve longstanding issues on campus," the statement said.
The Office of the Provost released a statement on Nov.17 addressing this demand.
"We are assembling a small advisory team of faculty, students, staff, and administrators," that statement said. "The group will deliver an action plan by mid-January that addresses challenges put forward by Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk, as well as concerns from others at the forum. The action plan will target retention and graduation rates of students, in addition to mandatory education, through facilitated sessions, on inclusion and belonging for all students, faculty, staff, and administrators and a plan for accountability."
Editor's note: A name is redacted because the individual has not been convicted.