Volume 124 Issue 56
kansan.com
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
good, you ing the a result d.
Schultz
BURNT OUT
Previously approved graphic labels on cigarettes overturned
MARSHALL SCHMIDT
editor@kansan.com
A new requirement for graphic labels on cigarette packages was blocked by a U.S. district judge Monday, the Associated Press reported.
ANSAN
Tolefree
The labels, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, would have featured images of healthy lungs next to smoker's lungs, cigarette smoke close to an infant's face and a dead smoker on an autopsy table, among others.
Whether using hookah, chew, cigars or cigarettes, most students face the issues of the use of tobacco and its risks at some point during their years at the University.
Current smokers are aware of the risks associated with their habits. Jerry Goscha, a junior from Salina, smokes 10 roffled cigarettes daily.
"It seems that nonsmokers are ignorant that we are aware of the ramifications of smoking," Goscha said. "We think about it. We're not oblivious to the fact that we're slowly killing ourselves."
Having quit for six months a fe
CULTURE
MIKF GIINNOF/KANSAN
Students should consider financial commitment before bringing home a pet.
Pet adoption not always the answer
KAYLA MITCHELL
editor@kansan.com
Two fuzzy blurs of fur speed by as Drew Perry, a senior from Wichita, watches with a smile. Perry's cats, Mr. Rumples and Kristopherson, energetically wrestle one another before crashing into a table, sending papers flying. They look healthy.
But a moment later, Perry stops the cats and pulls out a long syringe, the "Pill Popper", sticking it down Mr. Rumples' throat as the cat resists with more strength than one would expect. The process is not an easy one.
Two months ago, Perry said his cats caught an intestinal virus that he initially thought could be treated. However, seven veterinarian visits, four medications and an $1,100 bill later, he still does not have an answer.
"The scariest part was the uncertainty and not knowing whether I was going to have my
cats after this," he said. "If my parents had not helped me pay for the costs, the cats would have gone back to the shelter, or worse, put to sleep."
In addition to the initial cost of adoption, the first year of owning a pet includes many more expenses, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). The extra costs, which consist of food, litter, toys and other accessories, can range from an estimated $1,300 to $1,850 for dogs, depending on the size, and $1,035 for cats.
The reality is that many people often underestimate the costs of owning a pet, resulting in animals being returned to shelters, said Dori Villalon, executive director of the Lawrence Humane Society.
After that, Villalon said, dogs and cats can cost up to $500 to
PRICEY PETS
SEE PETS ON PAGE 5
TECHNOLOGY
IAN CUMMINGS
Responsive Internet provider
icummings@kansan.com
Internet service in student housing should be moving faster this fall. If it isn't, students may want to call and complain, because that seems to be working.
Jack Martin, director of strategic communications for the University, said he was aware that some students living in residence halls and scholarship halls complained about their Internet service early this semester.
"Apogee has been really responsive to that," he said. "They have a really good customer service process."
Nick Coamey, a freshman from Chicago, said he purchased Apogee's basic Internet package because he doesn't use the Internet very much.
Apogee, Inc., the Austin, Texas-based internet provider for student housing, increased the bandwidth it provides to students in October in response to continued complaints about slow connections, according to a statement from Apogee and released through the University's Office of Public Affairs. That increase came after Apogee doubled its base speeds in late summer, also in response to student concerns.
The base speed is now eight megabits per second (Mbps), with speeds of 15 and 20 Mbps available for those who will pay for upgrades, said Michael McCormick, a spokesman for Apogege. He said the upgrades represented no additional cost to students and would be in place until wireless upgrades are completed next year.
"Some people on my floor will complain about their Internet, but I've had no problems with it," he said. "It's the perfect speed."
STUDENT HOUSING INTERNET UPGRADES
OLD SPEED (as advertised at www.myresnet.com) NEW SPEED (as of October)
Basic Package $98/semester 1 Mbps (megabytes per second) 8 Mbps
Middle Package $138/semester 10 Mbps 15 Mbps
Top Package $158/semester 15 Mbps 20 Mbps
SOURCE: APOGEE, UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Those increases are not yet reflected on Apogee's online menu (www.myresnet.com), which still advertises a base download speed of 1 Mbps for residents of Jayhawk Towers Apartments. The basic package costs $98 per semester, and upgrades to 10 Mbps and 15 Mbps cost $138 and $158, respectively.
"If I needed more speed, I'd go to a higher tier," he said. "But it's been fine, so I'm sticking with that."
Apogee's middle-tier package has been "decent" for Andrew Martino, a freshman from Overland Park.
Student housing does not yet have complete wireless coverage in every building, but Diana Robertson, director of student housing, said Apogee is not at fault for the delay. For example, while all scholarship halls and towers A and D of Jayhawk Towers have complete wireless coverage, towers B and C and the residence halls do not. Robertson said the University chose to push back installation of wireless equipment in some buildings to minimize the disruption caused by extensive rewiring.
wiring" she said. "They were never designed to handle that bandwidth."
"Some buildings have 30 or 40-year-old
Wireless installation is scheduled to be completed in the remaining buildings by summer 2012.
Stouffer Place Apartments has wireless coverage through modems installed by Apogee, which plans to install a new wireless network there by August.
"I believe we're on target with both of those projects," Robertson said.
Meanwhile, a local Internet provider continued last week to seek support in competing with Apogee for customers in student housing. Joshua Montgomery, president of Community Wireless Communications (CWC), has asked the University to allow him to offer his services on campus. The University has denied that request.
"We have no plans for that," said Barry Swanson, Assistant Vice Provest.
Montgomery said his company was unfairly left out of the bidding process, in which the University invited eight out-of-
CLASSIFIERS 11 CRYPTOQUIPS 3 SPORTS 12
CROSSWORD 3 OPINION 4 SUDDUK 3
SEE APOGEE ON PAGE 5
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2011 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget Bring a page of the paper to tonight's basketball game against Fort Hays State.
Today's weather
Hi: 50
Forecasts done by
University students. For
a more detailed forecast,
see page 2A.
Slight chill, eh?