The University Daily
University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas
KANSAN
Friday, September 3, 1982 Vol. 93, No. 11 USPS 650-640
Survey says most '82 grads approve of education at KU
By DIRK MILLER Staff Reporter
An overwhelming number of 1982 KU graduates are satisfied with the education they received, according to the results of a survey conducted by the office of institutional research and planning.
Eighty-three percent of the graduates said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their education, and 89 percent said they probably knew what University if they were to attend school again.
"Compared with national students of student satisfaction, this survey shows that KU graduates recognize and appreciate the quality of the academic programs at this University," said Chancellor Gene A. Budig, after a look at the highlights of the survey.
The survey had a response rate of only 46.7 percent; 1,157 seniors either did not respond or turned in unsurable surveys. A similar survey, in 1977, had 1,054 respondents in 1977, and a response rate of 43.2 percent.
a total of 875 faculty members and 180 graduate teaching assistants were named to a list of the "five finest teachers" the seniors had as instructors at KU.
"This is a tremendous endorsement of the quality of our teaching faculty." Budd said.
Some changes were made in the 1977 survey by the office of academic affairs and the office of student affairs. The new survey was then mailed to 2,173 seniors who expected to graduate in May 1982. Data from the survey was processed on the University's computer system.
Most seniors were satisfied with the availability of courses offered by the University in their major field. Seventy-three percent of the students had completed a course with the number of courses in their major.
Seventy-five percent said they were satisfied with the ease of obtaining courses in their major field, and 78 percent reported they were satisfied with the intellectual challenge of the courses.
The integration of courses in their majors was rated satisfactory by 74 percent of the respondents, and the quality of instruction was satisfactory to 73 percent.
Most seniors said their advisers were not too helpful with career plans—only 38 percent rated the advisers helpful. Advisors were rated higher than those who rated them less, a percent of the seniors rated them satisfactory.
Seventy-three percent of the respondents said they found it easy to meet with instructors
Library facilities were well-rated. Watson Library hours were deemed satisfactory by 78 percent of responding seniors, the materials and
holdings were esteemed by 67 percent of the respondents, and 68 percent found library assistance helpful.
Educational goals set by the seniors provided interesting data. Developing a particular philosophy of life was embraced as the most significant goal by 90 percent of the respondents. Understanding and relating to other people and their needs was considered a particular field of knowledge were two goals deemed significant by 94 percent of the responding seniors.
Preparation for employment in a career or professional area was a goal rated highly by 92 percent of the seniors, as was an understanding of concepts and principles in broad areas of learning. An appreciation of the fine arts is a significant goal by 84 percent of the seniors.
Student services that were found satisfactory or helpful by a majority of the seniors were: the summer orientation program, student financial aid, student employment services, job placement services, student health services, intramural programs and equipment, residence and scholarship hall facilities, the Kansas Union and Satellite Union food services, Student Union Activities programs and the Kansas Union Booksbooks.
Budget cut, they say, cuts learning
Faculty concerned
By STEVE CUSICK Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
Some faculty members at the University of Kansas say KU cannot maintain its current academic quality if students are forced to sit in steamy, overcrowded classrooms.
And the public should know that the dip in quality is a result of state budget cuts, they say.
The faculty members voiced their concerns yesterday at a meeting of the University Council. About 40 council members, both students and faculty, attended the meeting.
"I teach better when I am not perspiring and not about to fall over," said Joane Wyrick, associate professor of occupational therapy.
She said many of the instructors in her department were drained of energy Wednesday after teaching in warm classrooms.
"I think the public has a right to know that we're not teaching as well."
we're learning to teach it.
In order to cut utility costs, University officials recently shut off the air conditioning units in many campus buildings.
Wryrick addressed her concerns to Robert Cobb, executive vice chancellor. At the meeting, Cobb fielded questions about University budget cuts.
"The University has to be very aggressive in telling people this hurts," said Scott McNail, professor of sociology, referring to recent cuts in KU's budget.
McNall said the University should not continue professing to be improving academic quality when the onsite was actually occurring.
The University trimmed $3.17 million from its operating budget to meet Gov. John Carlin's request this summer for some state agencies to cut their budgets by 4 percent.
Cobb told the council he did not know whether more budget cuts would come down the road.
Wryrick said she did not disagree with the move to shut off the air conditioning.
She would rather see the utilities cut than jobs or salaries trimmed, she said.
Wryrick said students were being nickelled and dimed to death by having to pay for things such as photocopying and paper that the University used to provide.
"It's costing you more to go to school this semester," she said.
In other business, the council:
- heard a report from James Seaver, chairman of the Senate Executive committee. Seaver reported on the committee's summer activities.
- approved SENiEx appointments to the council committees, University Senate committees and
Suspect, 18, bound over for Oct.25 murder trial
Staff Reporter
Rv CAROL LICHTI
But William J. McTaggart III's testimony in the hearing was not convincing enough to prevent the judge from bounding Bigenwall over for trial.
In testimony that surprised the district attorney's office, a witness for the prosecution in the preliminary hearing of Lisa Dawn Biwantan said yesterday that killed a bulletman on June 9.
District Judge James Paddock set Bigenwal's murder trial for 9 a.m. on Oct. 25.
Barbara Michener, 501 Ohio, pedaled down Louisiana Street yesterday morning while transporting Ben Morris, 5, left, and her son, Galen, also 5, to school on a cart.
murder trial for 9 am or 08 a.m.
Bigenwat is charged with the first-degree
Bigenwall is the daughter of Joseph and Lisa
Bigenwall. McTagann is the son of William
Mulligan.
The prosecution contends the two juveniles took Hatchell's wallet and dumped his body under a bridge in southwest Douglas County.
murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping of her granduncle Donald L. Hatchell, 49, Route 4. The prosecution contends that Bigwalt and McTagkart killed Hatchell after confronting him at the Bigwalt home, also on Route 4, while her parents were on vacation.
MtTaggart, 15, had previously testified in his own trial that Biggenau had fired the shot that
See TRIAL page 5
The weekend should be sunny and warmer with highs around 90. There is a chance of thundershowers Monday, but otherwise warm temperatures are expected.
The low tonight will be between 55 and 60 with south winds at 5 to 15 mph.
Today will be sunny with highs in the mid-80s.
Stephan pondering legality of proposed quorum change
By DAN PARELMAN Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
The Kansas Attorney General said yesterday that he would stop the lawrence City Commission from raising its quorum from three to four, before a judge could determine, if he determined the move would be illegal.
"Unless the law was very clear, I would not hesitate to stop such toomfooilery," Attorney General Robert Stephan said. A quorum is the number of members of a body necessary for that group to conduct official business. The commission has proposed to raise its quorum to allow commissioners to discuss business in private, which, with the quorum of three, was
illegal under the Kansas Open Meetings Act. The Open Meetings Act states that a majority of a quorum of a government body, twopeople in the county, must not meet in private tedious official business.
At a meeting last month, the commission, at the request of commissioner Tom Gleason, decided to discuss raising the quorum. Gleason said yesterday the present quorum frustrated the commissioners' ability to communicate with each other.
BUT STEPHAN said the intent of the Open Meetings Act was to insure that government
See QUORUM page 5
Kav says lower interest rates would create jobs
Editor's note: This is the fourth in a series of interviews with candidates for local, state and national offices.
today's interview is with Republican Morris Kay, who is vying for the 2nd District congressional nomination. Kay is opposing Democrat Jim Slattery in the Nov. 2 general election.
Kay, a partner in Lawrence insurance firm, was a six-year member of the Kansas House of Representatives. He was the Republican nominee in the 1972 gubernatorial election, which he lost to Robert Dole. He is also the chairman, a post from which he recently resigned to run for Congress.
By BRUCE SCHREINER Staff Reporter
A full scale offensive on high interest rates and federal deficits could put the economy back on solid ground, providing more jobs for students and recent graduates in a state forade commissar, said yesterday.
"Lowering interest rates would help bring about new jobs," Kay said. "That will help education in a real sense, and will be meaningful to (graduates) who can have the jobs, homes they want."
Kay, who was critical of the Federal Reserve Board's deliberateness in shrinking interest rates, said lofty interest rates absorbed many possible part-time jobs for students.
The chief aim of rocketing deficits has been high interest rates, Kay said. The 1964 KU
graduate said interest on deficits siphoned about $100 billion from the national treasury.
"Bringing interest rates down would provide a substantial savings for the federal government," Kay said. "An immediate drop (in interest rate) could be in millions or more, depending on how large the cut."
with lower interest rates, the long lines at unemployment compensation offices would dwindle, the tax base would be strengthened and deficits would fade away. Kay predicted.
Morris Kay
To throw a knockout bill to federal deficits, Kay said, Congress should resort to two other tactics — budget cuts and the proposed constitutional amendment to balance the budget.
Eliminating one Cabinet post and trimming expenditures in another one that has enjoyed a privileged position could save almost $45 billion, Kay said.
"When President Reagan was running for office, he proposed the dissolution of the Energy Department, which could save about $18 billion," he said.
"About $25 billion could be saved in the defense budget, according to a report by Secretary (of Defense Caspar) Weinberger, without reducing our defense posture."
Weinberger's report outlined potential savings that could be achieved by eliminating cost overruns and starting sound business procedures.
In advocating the balanced budget amendment, Kay said that Congress' refusal to recognize its own laws made the constitutional alternative the only realistic one.
"The constitutional amendment is a last resort, and we're there," Kay said. "In 1977 Congress passed a bill requiring a balanced budget, but Congress ignored its own law.
"It (the amendment) allows people to speak on
the issue. And it would establish a procedure so
that in the future we will not have the constant huge deficits that have gotten us into trouble.
But Kay disclaimed another potential combatant of surging deficits, higher taxation. He opposed the $99 billion tax increase measure passed last month, and praised the tax cuts passed during Reagan's first year in office.
"We have to allow people to move forward, and that can be done by letting them keep more of what they earn," he said.
In discussing financial aid possibilities for students, Kay said that both the government and private business should offer students incentives for pursuing an education.
Kay said he supported continuation of the student loan program, but he also advocated expanded monitoring by the government to guard against abuses.
"We need to make sure the loans are used by those with a need," Kay said. "They should not be given to students to borrow at low interest and then used as investment purposes."
"Inflation hurt harmless systems as much as anything," he said. "It makes it very expensive to run."
Kay said one obstacle to an effective higher education system, inflation, had been lessened because of the Reagan administration's economic policies.
being for the first time solo side back.
Turning to the nation's defense posture, Kay
"Reducing the growth of inflation was the first responsibility President Reagan had. With the reduction in the growth of inflation, we are seeing for the first time some real growth."
"If we can bring the Soviets to the negotiating table, and both sides negotiate in good faith, we can begin to achieve total disarmament of nuclear weapons on an equal basis," he said.
Before that happens, the United States must be viewed as strong, and one of the requirements for national might is a thriving economy, Kay said.
"That's why I'm fighting for a balanced budget," he said.
bugge. It is important Kay said alternatives to registration, such as improved incentives for joining the armed services, should be explored.
While Kay advocated disarmment, he criticized the recent nuclear freeze initiative narrowly defeated in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this summer.
"I would oppose it because it is a unilateral freeze," Kay said. "During the Carter years we were in a freeze situation and the Russians were adding a missile each week."
Kay denounced one weapon that has been used in an attempt to slow down Soviet expansionism
— grain embarges. He said many re-establish American credibility as a reliable supplier were improved with the recent Soviet grain export deal.
1. mark the one-year extension at least showed them we are interested in making sales." Kay said. "We have an oversupply of grain, so we need an aggressive sales program."