Volume 124 Issue 16
kansan.com
Monday, September 12, 2011
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011
CAMPUS
PAGE 5
Student Senate holds first committee meetings
JESSIE BLAKEBOROUGH
jblakeborough@kansan.com
The first Student Senate Committee meetings of the 2011-2012 academic year took place Sept. 7. Members learned about parliamentary procedures and began voting on legislation.
The Student Senate is required to fill 20 percent of seats on various boards and committees across campus. To fulfill this requirement, Student Senate breaks into four committee categories: students' rights, finance, multicultural affairs and university affairs.
Committee meetings are utilizing electronic clicker systems to record attendance this year. There will be a click-in question at the beginning and end of each committee meeting. Gabe Bliss, student body vice president, explained the importance of committee
being timely.
"You have to be here the whole time, this system ensures that," Bliss said. "If you miss one by coming in late, you will be counted for half attendance." For committee member
McCrov
three absences from a committee meeting will result in a consultation with executive secretary Alek Joyce. The first meeting after three absences, a member only has speaking rights and cannot regain their voting rights until the second meeting.
A bill must be passed in two committees before it goes through to full senate. If approved there, it goes onto the president to sign. If the president doesn't sign a bill passed by full senate within 10 academic days, the bill will become active on its own. The more heated debates traditionally take place in the finance and students' rights committees.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
The finance committee oversees student fees and the allocation of those fees to student groups on campus.
"Anything with a dollar sign comes through us," said Josh Dean, the finance chairman and former vice presidential running mate for Renew KU coalition.
The finance committee had 18 bills on the agenda for the first meeting covering the funding of everything from KU Environs to the African
Drum Ensemble Club. Dean said that the amount of funding requests the finance committee receives varies from week to week based on whatever people submit.
New student groups must meet the following requirements to receive funding from Student Senate:
open to all University students
- open to all University students
- have additional club members outside of the executive staff (the president, vice-president and treasurer)
- be registered in the Student Involvement and Leadership Center
If any student group meets these requirements, they are immediately eligible for $200 for basic operating costs without needing to specify funding needs.
Previous presidents Mason Heilman and Michael Wade Smith refused to appoint a chief justice to the court, leaving it unbalanced with only four justices. Smith attempted to disband the court altogether but was denied.
"There's no reason finance needs to be a scary gauntlet." Dean said. "It can be a fairly straightforward process."
The students' rights committee passed all four bills on its agenda, including a bill about the court of appeals. Since its creation in 2008, the court of appeals has been a contested issue in Student Senate.
STUDENTS' RIGHTS COMMITTEE
Student rights chair Aaron Harris and co-author of the bill to amend student rules and regulations article four, student court of appeals, feels that the court hasn't had its full strength since its initial creation. Harris said that his goal is to make the court more transparent and heard.
Billy McCroy, a court of appeals justice since the group's creation, sat in as a representative of the court in the student rights committee.
"We are the very important checks and balances for Student Senate," McCroy said, "These changes will restore the full power of the original intent of this court."
The court of appeals has the final say on interpretation of rules and regulations in judicial reviews. Other tasks of the court of appeals include putting student groups who are found guilty of abusing Student Senate funding on probation, giving written warnings to executive officers not ful-
"We are forcing this issue now" Harris said. "Student execs and justices are going to have to get alone."
"The court can't do anything without a complaint filed however," Harris said. "They cannot call their own hearings."
If the bill is passed in full Senate, student body president Libby Johnson has until Oct. 24 to appoint a chief justice or else the court of appeals will be able to put in their own
nomination.
"In the past few years since its creation, the court of appeals couldn't fully do its job," Harris said. "I want the court to have its full strength and that means filling all of the seats."
Eligibility requirements for a court of appeals justice are limited to anyone who has spent one year as a full time student and will be a student during their term as a court of appeals justice. Neither candidates for the spring
filling their duties and in certain cases can remove executive officers from their positions.
Student Senate general elections or students who have served as a senator or executive officer on the previous year's Senate are eligible.
"Anyone who has seen a student senate election knows they can be contentious," Harris said. "Everyone deserves a fair hearing without bias or animosity."
Edited by Mandy Matney
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Thirteen escape unharmed from Tennessee Street blaze
MIKE GUNNQE/KANSAN
A house burned on the 1300 block of Tennessee Street Sunday. All occupants escaped unharmed, but the house suffered severe damage.
IAN CUMMINGS icummings@kansan.com
All of the occupants escaped with no injuries, but the fire destroyed virtually all of their possessions, and the house is severely damaged. At least 13 people were in the house, including seven students who lived there, according to James Hennahane, a sophomore from Leawood. Hennahane said he was asleep inside when the fire started.
Fire engulfed a house on the 1300 block of Tennessee Street around 6 a.m. Sunday.
"We're just so happy everyone
offer help obtaining textbooks, temporary housing and emergency funds. Students can donate household items and money at collection boxes located at the Student Union Activities office in the Kansas Union or at the office of the Jayhawk Towers.
Lawrence-Douglas County Fire-Medical is investigating the cause of the fire, according to Sgt. Randy Roberts, a Lawrence Police Department spokesman.
Hennahane was one of the last to exit; neighbors lent him shoes and a shirt. He watched the fire from outside as a propane tank on the porch by the grill exploded, destroying part of the roof. He said every part of the house was damaged by fire and water.
Andrew Adford, a sophomore from Moorpark, Calif., was one of the first to discover a sofa on fire on the porch. After waking several people on the first floor, Adford saw that the fire had grown out of control and consumed the porch.
Chance Penner and Matt Gasper contributed to this story.
"The fire alarm was going, but people were still sleeping," Adford
sald. After helping to warn people on the second and third floors, he exited the house through a third-floor fire escape.
Index CLASSIFIEDS 11A CRYPTOQUIPS 4A SPORTS 12A CROSSWORD 4A OPINION 5A SUDOKU 4A
John Kindscher, a sophomore from Leawood, also was asleep when the fire started.
got out alive," he said.
"You don't really have time to think," he said. "Just try to get everybody and get out. The fire started so fast, and the smoke was so thick."
Some residents will stay with family in the Kansas City area while they make decisions about what to do next. Kathryn Tuttle, the Vice Provest for Student Success, contacted the students Sunday to
Edited by Laura Nightengale
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2011 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
This is the last week to add or drop a class. Make sure your schedule is set. You can't do this one online — stop by the registrar's office.
Today's weather Forecasts done by University students. For a more detailed forecast, see page 26 HI: 94 LO: 61