THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
CHANCELLORI 1
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2011
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A: We are just in the process of a curriculum revision, the process started two years ago. You have to start out with a conversation about what every student ought to be able to know or do and you define which courses they need to take to be able to do those things, which ones currently meet those goals and which ones do not. This takes a lot of time. By the time the new requirements are in place the current junior and senior classes will have graduated.
Last year, we had 124-hour requirements. But with the approval of the Regents, we were able to reduce that to 120 hours. The general education requirement is a part of that. Right now, it is 72 hours and other universities have a much smaller requirements which means the students, after they do the general education, have a lot more flexibility on selection of courses, double majoring in a way that means they don't have to add up semesters at the end of their fourth year. Hopefully, it will be more modern, easier to understand, and allow students flexibility, while at the same time making sure that the basic knowledge and skills are covered.
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Citizens of Osceola, Mo. have demanded the University to change its mascot, which they claim has ties to domestic terrorism, in reference to a Civil War raid led by Sen. Jim Lane in 1861. What is the University's reaction to this news?
A: We considered their suggestions yesterday from 5:00 p.m. to 5:01 p.m. It has been taken into consideration, we are not planning on eliminating the lajayhawk name from our mascot. I hope the people of Osceola have some worth while things to do. And we take that suggest with the spirit in which it was sent.
Q: The anti-abortionists with graphic images have gotten a lot
of students talking. How was the group able to be on campus?
A: There are guidelines about things we can ban or allow on campus, and while some of those displays may be personally offensive to people who walk by, they do get cleared. This issue comes up on many campuses. But unless there is something that violates a university, town or state law or is something that is harmful to others in some way, we have to be very careful about preventing someone from expressing their point of view. Which groups you let on and don't let on becomes a difficult issue. There are students who want that on campus.
Q: Groups like these often bring about discussions of freedom of speech and expression. What would you say to address some student concerns in this area?
A: I think we have to be very careful in what we screen out. There is obviously a group of
students on campus who support this kind of information and there are other activities and issues that those students don't want that others do and I think one of the hallmarks of a university and university community is the opportunity to see and hear different points of view and some times we are not going to agree with everyone's point of view but it is important to have these discussions about these different ideas.
Q: With more talk of the Big 12 splitting up, is the University considering other options?
A: Obviously, this is a time of instability — the appearance and reality of it. We have to say that while the Big 12 is our preference, we have to look at other options in case the Big 12 doesn't stay together. We are still working on maintaining the Big 12 and on thinking about what we will do if it is no longer here.
Q: How important is geography
in terms of which conferences the University can seriously consider joining?
A: I think geography is relevant, but less than it used to be in terms of conferences. The benefits of Big 12 is the geographic coherence. Any of the other conferences that we could go to means a lot of traveling for our students athletes which will mean additional kinds of cost and time. The distance, primarily, is a concern because of the wear and tear on the students and faculty and how much time it will take to travel.
U: With classes picking up steam, what advice do you have for students with advising concerns?
A: First, they should go to advising appointments. I think the main thing I would say is that surely it is up to the University to provide a well-trained staff, but then it is up to our students to not wait to the last minute and to go an extra time (as a opposed to going the least possible). It requires students being there on time and early enough in the semester. I suggest going early and often.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like the student body to know?
A: This is the time we will be submitting our applications to the National Cancer Institute designation, this is our first opportunity to do it. We will be submitting it next week. In terms of additional faculty and research programs and the capability that has increased in having newer cancer treatment available for people in this region and close to where they live - this has the potential for significant treatment impact, research impact and economic impact for the University.
Edited by Mandy Matney
CAMPUS
Drivers fuel popularity
MARSHALL SCHMIDT
mschmidt@kansan.com
Every day, bus drivers provide an instrumental service to students and the community as they travel routes to and from campus.
Unlike other public transit systems, KU on Wheels finds itself carrying more passengers. This is due a great deal to the University going fare-free for the last three years. Students now pay a flat fee as a part of their student fees.
This led to KU on Wheels, in association with the City of Lawrence, winning the 2010 Federal Transit Association Ridership Award. The award was based on ridership increasing 138 percent in the first year of implementation, according to the Kansas Public Transit Association.
As a result of the increased ridership, the busing system helps traffic flow and makes campus greener.
"Buses keep cars off the road," said Kaiser. "Because of how full we run the buses, it helps with traffic congestion and is more environmentally friendly."
Although the KU on Wheels bus drivers who make this system possible are not allowed to speak to news media, Danny Kaiser, Assistant Director of Parking and Transit, provided insight into the duties of the drivers.
"Students are a livelier group," said Kaiser. "The energy is infectious, and they are a more enjoyable group to work with."
Dealing with a different type of population than most public transit workers are used to — young college students — drivers enjoy the change of pace.
Students also enjoy the energy that some bus drivers show while making their routes. This makes for a more enjoyable riding experience.
"Some drivers are more outgoing, and students pick up on that," said Kaiser.
Besides ensuring the safety of passengers and maintaining a schedule, drivers also face the challenge of
educating new KU students on how the transit works.
"Sometimes the only experience on a transit system students have is on a yellow school bus," said Kaiser of the University's freshmen.
While providing a safe, convenient way to campus, bus drivers also take much pride and enjoyment in their jobs.
Charity Workman drives a route between The Grove Apartments and the Lawrence Campus during the week and enjoys the variety of work included in her job; although navigating an enormous vehicle through Lawrence every day isn't without some challenges.
Driving on campus is the most difficult part of the job, she said.
route schedule.
"You have to be super aware," Workman said, "There's students and traffic everywhere. Your situation changes constantly."
"You have to have good judgment, because if you make one mistake, you're going to hit someone or something," she said.
As a bus driver, Workman has to have a great deal of patience to
Workman also appreciates the connections she has been able to make with others.
"The friendships are rewarding, not just with the students, but with the other bus drivers," said Workman. "I have a lot of fun."
Although she is not affiliated with KU on Wheels, Workman still cooperates with the other bus drivers on campus.
"Even though we work for different companies, we've become a team," said Workman. "If you don't work together, the bus system would fall apart."
Edited by Josh Kantor
MONDAY 30C WINGS
23RD & JOWR
LAWRENCE
Monarchs migrate through Midwest en route to Mexico
Butterfly tagging event draws 500 to Baker Wetlands
MARY EDWARDS medwards@kansan.com
Margaret Stratley, a Sioux Falls, S.D., resident, reaches her 10-foot butterfly net up into a tree in hopes of participating in one of nature's most incredible phenomena.
Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico for warmer weather during the winter months. On their way, thousands of butterflies stop in Kansas to refuel on the nectar of the yellow Biden flower found in the Baker University Wetlands, located along 31st Street between Haskell and Louisiana Streets.
Monarch Watch and the Jayhawk Audubon Society, a nature conservation group in Douglas County, host the Monarch Tagging event every year, allowing groups of students, families and butterfly enthusiasts to participate in tagging the monarchs before their trip to Mexico. The event, held Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., drew about 500 people.
Orely "Chip" Taylor, a professor of ecology and founder of Monarch Watch, stressed the importance of the tagging event.
"Everybody needs to get out and experience the wild," Taylor said. "We need to get out and enjoy nature, and this is one of the opportunities to not only enjoy and participate in this incredible phenomenon, but also to contribute to science by learning about these butterflies through their tagging."
Stratley has been following the butterfly migration for many years and finally made the trip to Kansas to help tag butterflies, something that she has always wanted to be a part of.
"I always say you can learn a lot from a butterfly," she said. "The environment is so sensitive. One change in a plot of land can flip-flop the balance of a butterfly's habitat and can change that area forever."
Conservation has been one of
the main goals of Monarch Watch ever since the group began 20 years ago. Some of its biggest efforts have been to conserve the milkweed and nectar needed for butterfly migration and development. In the conservation effort, the group sells Monarch Waystation Seed Kits for $16 on its website. The kits includes a variety of seeds for plants essential to monarch development as well as a guide on how to create a monarch waystation.
However, many groups attended the event to learn about butterflies and to simply enjoy nature at its best.
"I think, especially for girls, it's important to get them out of their comfort zone and to get them out into nature," said Mary Mason, a Lawrence resident and Girl Scout Troop 1553 leader. "They need to experience things they may not have been able to experience otherwise, and they need to get into volunteering for a good cause."
Edited by Rachel Schultz
Tri Delta Welcomes our New Members!
Tyler Bessey - Lauren Bridge - Isabella Brooks - Rachel Bullock - Payton Bulmer
Pamela Carper - Kaylee Carreira - Mariah Childs - Maddie Christie - Tara Cisneros
Claire Dykstra - Katie Filina - Jessica Garrett - Taylor Gaston - Laura Goldstein
Sarah Graves - Megan Greene - Stephanie Honn - Chloe Huxol - Allie Klaus
Jenna Loyet - Taylor Marquess - Paige Mastorakos - Jackie McCullough
Kelli McCurdy - LaRissa McKean - Meredith Megaffin - Samantha Morris
Brianna Ottley - Amanda Pittman - Courtney Poe - Erika Reals - Emily Rohde
Katie Rolig - Mackenzie Schulte - Amanda Segro - Megan Slater - Ashley Stone
Julia Stremme - Carley Trentman - Kate Watson - Madelyn Whitfill - Lauren Woody