IT
Thursday October 24, 2002 Vol.113. Issue No.44
Today's weather 44°
Tonight: 35°
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
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Tell us your news Call Jay Krall, Brooke Hesler or Kyle Ramsey at 864-4810
KANSAN
Sleepy students catch Zs. Jayplay
ZZZ
John Nowak/Kansan
"There's no such thing as a just war," says Kiran Jayaram, Kansas City, Mo., graduate student, voices his opinions at the peace rally yesterday at Wescoe Beach.
Students protest for peace
Cooler weather doesn't deter students, staff from spreading message
By Lindsey Hodel
lhodel@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Anti-war sentimentals raft out on Wescoe Beach yesterday afternoon at a protest against potential war with Iraq.
Despite cold, rainy weather, about 50 students, faculty and community members gathered and chanted messages like "No blood for oil," "Drop Bush not bombs," and "That is what hypocrisy looks like."
The demonstrators were protesting the recent actions by Congress that may have moved the country closer to war. On Oct. 10, Congress voted to pass a resolution giving President George W. Bush power to use American military force to remove weapons of mass destruction from Saddam Hussein's possession.
Concerned Active and Aware Students, a student group on campus, organized the rally to increase student awareness about the United States' involvement with the Middle East, Amanda Flott, codirector of the group, said.
"We are bringing awareness to the horrible things we are doing in the Middle East," the Omaha junior said. "We shouldn't be invading another country and trying to impose our values on them."
But some students at the rally did not share those views, shouting comebacks like "Bomb Iraq" as they passed the rally. Theo Furrow, Wichita sophomore, stood back and watched the rally while waiting for class.
"I think they are wasting their time," he said. "Nothing is going to be changed by a little rally on campus, but if it makes them feel better, more power to them."
Furrow also said he felt the war with Iraq was inevitable.
"Something needs to be done in the Middle East," he said. "War is most likely going to happen."
Despite detractors, student protesters addressed the crowd with demands for peace.
Anne Iverson, Le Mars, Iowa, freshman, talked to the crowd about the possibility of losing family, friends and fellow KU students who would have to fight in Iraq.
"The government is creating emotional appeals, using Sept. 11 to create fear and get people to support the war, so I decided to make my own appeal against military action," she said.
"That time they came back but now there aren't any guarantees because this could turn into a full-blowen war," she said.
Iverson said she remembered when several family friends fought in the Gulf War in 1991.
One problem right now is that students are not educated about the U.S. s students, Sean Ringey, Clearwater, junior, said. He said he thought the goals of the U.S. were geared more toward getting cheap oil than preventing terrorism.
"Students don't understand what is
going on, so they ignore it and don't care," he said. "It's a vicious circle."
Ringey said he hoped the protest would inspire students to become involved and express their opinions about military action in Iraq.
Yesterday's peace rally coincided with nationwide movements. Specifically, Flott is organizing a trip for KU students to Washington, D.C., to attend a national protest against a potential war in the Middle East.
"KU needs to join other universities whose voices are being heard," she said. "It's important that our campus be involved in the national movement."
Robbery ends in crash, arrest on campus
By Michelle Burhenn
mburhenn@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Despite his grandparents' worries, Alan McFann began working as a convenience store clerk less than two weeks ago.
The Great Bend sophomore said he had not been worried about a robbery while working. But, as a man pointed a gun at him early yesterday morning and demanded money, he was scared for a few seconds.
"When I took this job, I figured if something like this would happen it would happen," he said. "There would
be nothing I could do about it."
Eldon Brown, 27, of Lawrence, was arrested on campus early this morning after he robbed the 20-year-old KU student at gunpoint at a convenience store, Sgt. Mike Pattrick of the Lawrence Police Department said.
Brown is being held on a $25,000 bond in Douglas County Jail on charges of aggravated robbery, fleeing and attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, reckless driving and driving without proof of insurance. Douglas County District Court Judge Peggy Kittel set his preliminary hearing for Tuesday.
McFann said a man entered the Kwik Shop at 3440 W. Sixth St. just before 3
"I kind of expected something like this to happen. It's just the kind of person I am. It was just my luck."
Alan McFann Great Bend sophomore
a. m. yesterday. He said the suspect pulled clothing over his face and took out a handgun. The suspect then ordered him to give him money from the store's cash register and robbed the student of his wallet, McFann said. Pattrick declined to divulge the amount of money
the suspect took, but McFann said there was no money in his wallet and little money in the cash register.
An officer responding to the area saw a man who matched the description provided by the student driving a car near Second Street and McDonald Drive. The driver then committed a traffic violation. When the police officer turned on his emergency lights, the driver took off at a high speed and a pursuit began, Pattrick said.
The pursuit continued until the driver lost control of his Toyota and hit a light pole north of Jayhawk Boulevard and Sunflower Road, Pattrick said. He then
1
Students can vote in election without going to the polls
Wes Wedman, Owasso, Okla., senior,
got an unexpected phone call last week:
a recording of President George W. Bush,
reminding him to sign up for an absentee
ballot and to vote for Republican candidates
in the Nov. 5 election.
By Aaron Passman
apassman@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
"It was kind of weird getting a call from the President, but I was glad I got reminded about absentee ballots." Wedman said.
Wedman is one of many KU students who received the President's phone message. Regardless of what political party students are affiliated with, many organizations on and off campus are trying to make sure students vote, even if they do not make it to the polls.
Kansas now refers to absentee ballots as advance voting ballots, and they are available to anyone wanting to vote in advance of the election.
Patty Jaimes, Douglas County Clerk said that students needed to fill out an application for an advance voting ballot and mail it in to the County Clerk's office before the ballot could be mailed out. The County Clerk's office must receive all advance voting ballots by Nov. 5
Jaimes said she did not know specifically how many students had requested advance ballots this year, but she expected a larger number of students to vote by advance ballot than in the past because so many student organizations had been on campus encouraging students to vote.
Mark Goode, vice president of KU Young Democrats, said his group had worked with the Douglas County Democrats to push registration and advance voting ballots to students. One of their goals, Goode said, was to register 500 to 600 KU students and offer them advance ballots.
Josh Steward, events coordinator for KU College Republicans, said his group had worked with the Student Legislative Awareness Board to register students to vote.
"Just being able to vote is extraordinarily important," said Steward, Hays sophomore. "So if you can't be here to vote on Election Day, it's great that the system accommodates us like that."
Students can get applications for advance voting ballots from the County Clerk's office or download them from www.absenteeballot.net/Kansas.htm.
Student Senate doles millions of dollars
SEE CRASH ON PAGE 10A — Edited by Amanda Sears
By Caleb Notheir
cnothweh@ku.edu
staff writer
Students may not realize that one of the Student Senate's responsibilities is channeling millions of dollars to University organizations and student groups.
Of the 10 Big 12 conference student governments that entrust money-distributing responsibilities to their student government, KU's Senate has the second largest budget.
Each year, KU's 80-member Senate has the responsibility of allocating approximately $14 million to University organizations and student groups. The money comes from each semester's student fee of $281.00.
Student Body President Jonathan Ng said Senate managed $2 million of that sum in distributing money directly to student groups and internal costs, and $12 million in the approval of the budgets of Watkins Memorial Health Center.
Money in the Big 12
Colorado: $27 million
Kansas: $14 million
Nebraska: $13 million
K-State: $9 million
Texas Tech: $5 million
Iowa State: $1.5 million
Oklahoma: $520,000
Texas: $513,000
Oklahoma State: $130,000
Baylor: $42,000
Texas A&M: Independent board
Missouri: Independent board
Ng said the responsibility of allocating this money spoke well of Senate's credibility.
This responsibility of approving the budgets of the university health centers, recreational centers and student unions is the reason KU and the University of Colorado boast large budgets. Colorado leads the Big 12 in the amount of money it distributes, allocating nearly $27 million to different university entities.
Robinson Center, and the unions.
"It adds legitimacy to our Student Senate and the student representation in any University issue," Ng said. "It fits in line with money talks."
Richard Johnson, dean of student life said Senate was given a high level of decision making because it was funding student services, organizations and activities.
The Kansas State University Student Governing Association has the same responsibilities in budget approval and allocation as KU, but controls $9 million. The University of Nebraska allocates approximately $13 million a year.
The Student Government Association at Texas Tech University has a board that oversees the allocation of nearly $5 million. But the Board of Regents has the final say in the board's decisions. Jon Mark Bernal, external chief of staff with the student government, said having
Student governments pay officers in myriad of ways
By Caleb Nothwehr
cnothwehr@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Working as the official voice of the student body brings more benefits the just prestige. At the University of Kansas and universities throughout the country, most student government officials receive compensation for their work. But, most of those same officials agree that the compensation is not enough.
Student body president Jonathan Ng receives, after taxes, approximately $480 per month. In addition to a salary, both Ng and vice president Loren Malone receive gold parking passes, worth $180. Malone, as an outof-state executive member of Student
Senate, receives in-state tuition.
But Ng said he didn't seek his position for its monetary benefits.
"The main point is, regardless of pay, perks and benefits, you should do this job because you want to do it," Ng said. "I consider my paycheck as an extra."
Throughout the Big 12 Conference, universities have different ways of compensating their student leaders.
At Iowa State University, the student body president, vice president and finance director receive free tuition as well as free room and board. These benefits are paid for through the student government budget, collected from the student fee.
SEE BENEFITS ON PG 10A
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