THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 3
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16.2011
BUS FROM PAGE 1
friends at the residence halls last year. He has found the service to be very different than the campus transit system.
"When youre riding the bus around school, it's crammed, and you just want to get off of it." Powers said. "But these buses have a great atmosphere with everyone packed in and chanting."
This year was the first Halloween weekend Diefendorf had been driving and he expected more students than usual and tried to prepare for it.
Powers and his friends took two different buses that night and he noticed that the drivers on both buses were a part of what made the experience fun.
"The bus drivers were cooperative and had fun with us," Powers said. "They weren't too serious about the whole ordeal, and if they would have been, it would have made things a lot different."
One of the drivers Powers and his friends had that night was Ben Diefendorf, a 26-year-old University student.
"I drank a lot of energy drinks," Diefendorf said. "I tried to be happy."
and energetic. I yelled a lot, telling them where the stops are and tried encourag a fun, good time"
Despite his enthusiastic behavior, one problem he was expecting was vomiting.
"Usually I can tell who the pucker is going to be." Dieffordd said. "I always give them the trash can. We also have barf bags like on airplanes."
SafeBus experienced other problems that weekend because of the increased traffic. The buses have a 63 student capacity, and filled up more quickly than expected.
"There were waits," Diefendorf said. "Yellow bus would get full, so they wouldn't be able to pick up people at all, and people didn't understand."
"We have more than one bus that goes to some of the same places," Diefendorf said. "So it can save you time waiting."
Diefendorf pointed out that some of these issues could have been avoided if students read and understood bus schedules.
Briner acknowledges that transporting hundreds or thousands of intoxicated students every weekend comes with its challenges, but said they have experienced few problems this year.
"Other than some people trying to use SafeRide to party hop we haven't really had many problems," Briner said. "Which always makes any program run more smoothly.
The SafeRide and SafeBus committee is currently planning routes for next year, and with the number increases, Briner thinks there is a possibility that the services offered will increase.
"If we are able to free up some resources there is a possibility for expansion." Briner said. "But we don't know for sure yet."
If the program did expand. Powers, who lives on Bob Billings parkway, would use the service more frequently.
"I don't go downtown that much," Powers said. "The main reason is because the bus doesn't go where I live."
Regardless of whether the routes expand, Powers thinks his money is well-spent on the service.
"Everyone will be doing stuff that maybe they shouldn't be doing," Powers said. "But the program helps them get places and be safe, and I don't mind paying for that."
Edited by Mike Lavieri
FOOTBALL
Tickets on sale for game against Missouri in KC
Even though Missouri has officially declared that it is leaving the Big 12, Kansas still has one more game scheduled against the Tigers during Thanksgiving weekend at Arrowhead Stadium. Tickets went on sale Monday and fans are getting ready for what could be the final Border Showdown.
Missouri signed a contract with the Southeastern Conference earlier this month and it's still unclear whether Kansas will schedule to play Missouri in the non-conference schedule.
The rivalry is one of the ugliest in the NCAA and the football team is gearing up for it.
"Against Mizzou you want to hit a little harder, you want to play a little harder just because they are our border rival," said Ryan Burton, a junior running back from Colorado Spring. Colo. "This game means so much to everyone on the team."
However, the lack of wins for the football team in the conference isn't stopping fans from getting excited for the game.
"I did the color guard and it was
amazing seeing the division in it, like one side being red the other side being gold," said Vicky Hendren, a sophomore from Shawnee: "Unfortunately, I will not be able to go, but I will try to watch it on TV."
Fans can't buy tickets online, so they'll have to go to Allen Fieldhouse to purchase them.
In an email, associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said ticket sales are slow right now, but he said he hopes they'll pick up closer to game day.
LAWRENCE
-Breanna McCarthy
'Share the Warmth' takes coats for Salvation Army
While yesterday's weather may not have suggested it, the cold months are upon us and soon it will be time for students to dig into their closets for warm winter clothes.
Scotch Dry Cleaning Services is helping students clean out their closets by holding its annual "Share the Warmth"
coat drive. The drive has been going on since early October and finishes on Nov. 23.
Scotch manager Laurie Clark said this year's drive is ahead of schedule, but she expects more donations in the upcoming week.
"It as it starts winding down, people are like, 'Oh my gosh, I've got to get that in,' and so we start seeing a lot more toward the end of the drive in," Clark
said. "The last few days are usually very hectic with lots of donations."
Coats aren't the only clothes being donated. Hats, gloves, scarves and even blankets are all piling up at Scotch. Donated items will be washed and sent to the Lawrence Salvation Army, where they'll be distributed to those without winter essentials.
Steven Small
Regents to discuss room and board fees
CAMPUS
LISAAC GWIN
igwin@kansan.com
University students may once again face higher costs for on-campus housing and food services next year.
Members of the Kansas Board of Regents will convene on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss a housing and dining fee increase proposed by the Department of Student Housing.
Rates have increased over the past several years, but Director of Student Housing Diana Robertson said this is the first major suggested hike in the rate of on-campus living for the University in three years.
"We have worked really hard to try to keep the cost of living the same for our students since 2008," Robertson said. "But the way the economy has been, all of the market prices have gone up. We're experiencing a six percent increase in utilities, four percent increase in food and a three percent increase in labor."
According to a document used by Housing, "History of Room and Meal Plan Rates," the charge for a traditional two-person residence hall room for 2008-09 was $3,386. In 2011-12, the charge was $3,700. For a renovated four-person suite, the charge in 2008-09 was $4,484, and in 2011-12 was $4,994.
Students are currently paying about $7,080 per year for a regular double-occupancy room and board, according to the University Department of Student Housing. If the Kansas Board of Regents passes the budget plan at its next scheduled meeting in December, students would pay $7,258 — an increase of 2.5 percent beginning in the fall semester of 2012.
The University's increase is not the largest proposed for student housing in the state this year. The Kansas Board of Regents report shows Kansas State University with a plan that would increase its cost from $7,198 to $7,450, a 3.5 percent increase, while Pittsburg State University would increase its costs from $6,288 to $6,538,a 4 percent increase.
"I think it's expensive enough," said Zach O'Bea, a junior from Leavenworth living in Hashinger Hall. "To live in the same 12-by-12 room with another guy, sharing a bathroom with a whole floor, and now even free printing is gone. I think everything is just too overpriced as is."
Housing costs at Kansas universi
ties are below average for the Midwest. The average cost of room and board for four-year, public universities in the region is $8,194, according to the College Board's report, Trends in College Pricing, 2011. That figure includes universities in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
EVICTED
Edited by Mike Lavieri
Police block Occupy Wall Street protesters from entering Zuccotti Park in New York on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011. After an early police raid removing protesters, hundreds returned to Zuccotti Park carrying photocopies of a court order they say gives them the right to return to the park. The National Lawyers Guild obtained a court order allowing the protesters to return with their tents to the park, where they have camped for two months. The guild said the injunction prevents the city from enforcing park rules on the protesters.
BEBETO MATTHEWS/AP PHOTO
A Powerful and Unique Look at an American Classic
Reserved seat tickets are on sale in the KU ticket offices. University Theatre, 864-3982; Lied Center, 864 ARTS, and online at www.kutheatre.com. Tickets are $18 for the public, $17 for senior citizens and KU faculty and staff, and $10 for all students. All major credit cards are accepted. The University Theatre is partially funded by the KU Student Senate Activity Fee. The University Theatre's 2011-12 season is sponsored by the KU Credit Union.
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