Volume 124 Issue
kansan.com
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
A NECESSARY EVIL
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self's annual boot camp, which focuses solely on conditioning, is in full swing PAGE10
Still searching... Kansas' defense is looking for what it does best PAGE 10
LAWRENCE
HOUSING'S HOUSEKEEPERS
CHRIS NEAL/KANSAN
Michael Nobo, left, and Karishma Bhakta, right, work at the front desk of McCollum Hall Monday night. The two have been resident assistants for the past three years.
Fun and duties; the life of an RA
DANA MEREDITH
dmeredith@kansan.com
When Karishma Bhakta wakes up in her room every morning, she's already at work.
Bhakta, a senior from Salina, is a residential assistant in McCollum Hall. She's one of 127 students employed by the department of student housing in an "undergraduate live-in position," which includes residential assistants, scholarship hall proctors and food board managers.
In the 2011 student housing handbook, the University defines a residential assistant's duties as "advising and guiding residents, communicating information, fostering a sense of community and enforcing student housing policy"
But what shape does that handbook definition take in the real world?
For the students living the jobs, it's as diverse as filling out paperwork, bailing out flooding lobbies and getting their floors together to watch "America's Best Dance Crew" or "Jersey Shore" every week. It's balancing school work, work duties, and, ultimately, just being a friend to their residents.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm a full-time big sister," Bhakta said. "I'm not going to love them all of."
them time. I mean, I'm stressed too. But in the end, I'm there for them."
For residential assistants, the first six weeks of the school year are crucial.
BUILDING COMMUNITY
That's when they focus on planning a plethora of social activities for their residents, many of whom are first-year students at the University.
"You kind of just feed them opportunities to come out and meet somebody," said Michael Nobo, a senior from Topeka and residential assistant in McCollum Hall.
Nobo said that most students decide within those first six weeks whether they'll come back to the University the next year or not. By constantly putting themselves out there, he said, residential assistants try to make a positive, supportive first impression.
The social programs, which occur throughout the year, include cooking grilled-cheese sandwiches once a week, group dinners in the dining hall and playing ultimate frisbee as a floor.
Residential assistants are also encouraged to build personal relationships with residents. Bhakta
SEE RESIDENCE | 3
John Connoly, right, and Laurie Waggoner celebrate in the Lawrence City Hall after the city ordinance to add gender identity as a protected class passed after a three year effort. Citizens crowded the hall for close to three hours to await the decision.
HANNAH WISE/KANSAN
ORDINANCE PASSES
City approves gender identity anti-discrimination policy with 4-1 vote
HANNAH WISE
hwise@kansan.com
Lawrence became the first city in Kansas to amend their human relations code to include protection against discrimination for gender identity after the city commission voted four to one to pass the measure.
Citizens will now have protection against discrimination based on their gender or on how other people perceive their gender. The city will now define gender identity as "gender-related identity, appearance, behavior, and other characteristics of an individual, as perceived by the individual or another, and without regard to the individual's actual or assigned sex at birth."
The definition is very similar to ones used by the cities of Kansas
Commissioner Bob Schumm said in his remarks that he could not allow any discrimination to continue if he had the power to stop it. Commissioners Hugh Carter, Mike Dever and Mayor Aron Cromwell shared his sentiment.
City, Mo., and Chicago. The commissioners presented concerns over whether or not the entire law will stand up in the court system if it is challenged.
Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies professor Milton Wendland said the legislation will help remedy discrimination that may be happening already, but more importantly will "help alleviate the sort of possibility that those things could happen for a lot of people and that includes people who don't identify as trans."
Supporters of the ordinance sat throughout the meeting hall wearing rainbow ribbons pinned to their shirts. Citizens opposed were also represented in the meeting and outside of city hall protesting the ordinance.
More than 150 people filled the city hall Tuesday evening.
Citizens brought up concerns about public bathroom use and whether or not private companies would be required to construct additional bathrooms for transgendered individuals. Businesses also expressed concern over transgendered pebole being relatable to their clients in the community.
Cromwell said in his remarks that many of the issues against the ordinance "tell flat" in his mind.
Students also spoke in support of ordinance. Jeremy Atkinson, a senior from Lawrence has spent his time supporting the ordinance and
talking to the commissioners about his position.
"It feels better to know that the community is one that is going to value everyone," he said. "It is going to make some people's lives easier and it is not going to hurt anyone."
A similar ordinance was proposed in 2009 and 2010 to the Lawrence Human Relations Commission but failed to move to the city commission. Scott Criqui is a member of the human relations commission and voted to support the measure in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
its inspiring. I can't talk without crying." Criqui said.
He has worked with the commissioners to know that they would support the ordinance to pass this year.
SEE ORDINANCE 13
CAMPUS
Marriage equality provokes discussion during panel
KAYLA OVERBEY
editor@kansan.com
Dale Carpenter, professor of civil liberties law at the University of Minnesota, spoke in support of same-sex marriage and said that legalization would bring a tangible benefit to millions of citizens without harming traditional marriages.
Panelists debated the legalization of same-sex marriage at the Kansas School of Law yesterday, but they did agree on one thing: the controversy may soon fade as public support grows.
"I see every reason to believe same-sex marriage will benefit everyone in this country;" Carpenter said at the panel discussion presented by the Kansas Federalist Society.
He contested the idea that same-sex marriage would harm heterosexual couples and the ideals of marriage.
"This rush to same-sex marriage is a passion of the hour" Schowengerdt said. "This is such a radical change that it will produce a harmful effect on society."
Dale Schowengerdt, an experienced litigator, argued against legalization of gay marriage during the discussion panel.
According to a May 2011 Gallup poll, a majority of Americans now support recognition of gay marriage as the issue becomes less controversial and more mainstream.
"I don't see how my relationship is made stronger because someone else's relationship is undermined," Carpenter said.
"I feel people are for same-sex marriage. Most of America does not mind it," Williams said. "They're like, 'Let people get married, we don't care.'"
During the debate, Carpenter said taboo issues of the past are nationally accepted without question today. He compared same-sex marriage to the women's movement of equal rights in the 1960s and 1970s.
Some event participants said the case for same-sex marriage would soon be a problem of the past.
Joshua Williams, vice president of Queers & Allies at the University, said the debate is losing impact.
Samantha Horner, president
BOTTLES ON THE BEACH
MIKE GUNNDE/KANSAN
SEE MARRIAGE 13
Rob Underwood, a sophomore from Great Bend, places a used water bottle in Delta Chi and Delta Delta Delta's design for one of the contests in an event for homecoming on Tuesday. Underwood is part of the Delta Chi fraternity which has teamed up with the Delta Delta Delta sorority for the event. "Everything will be recycled and it's a blast and bonding with the brothers." Underwood said, "whatever we can do to help." Chalking of murals will go on tomorrow with good events during the week.
Index CLASSIFIEDS 9 CRYPTOQUIPS 4 SPORTS 10
CROSSWORD 4 OPINION 5 SUDOKU 4
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2011 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
It's getting chilly outside, so wear socks!
Today's
weather Forecasts done by
University students. For
a more detailed forecast,
see page 2A.
HI: 82
L0:56
Oh hey sunshine!
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