Volume 124 Issue 8
kansan.com
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
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KEEPING KU PRETTY
WORKING HARD WITH YOUR MONEY
On-campus departments make sure the campus stays green and clean MARSHALL SCHMIDT editor@kansan.com is spent on maintenance
"We keep the classrooms open and provide all the campus' needs from electrical to custodial to plumbing," said Mike Lang, associate director of KU Facilities Operations. Lang oversees 40 employees who fill the campus' landscape and construction duties.
With school back in session, campus resources need upkeep to endure prolonged exposure to students. Although largely operating behind the scenes, landscaping, maintenance and housekeeping personnel provide vital services across the main campus for students and faculty.
Derek Peterson, a member of the landscaping crew, takes pride in the work he has done in his eight years of service at the University.
"It's probably most important for the outer appearance of Lawrence," Peterson said. "People are attracted to KU because of the beautiful land-scaping."
While reworking the ground where the Bedazzler, a large sculpture made of dead branches, once stood, Peterson said he enjoyed learning new ways to treat plants and the variety of work. His current project includes grinding the former Bedazzler's stump out, which had died prior to its removal due to verticillium wilt.
Peterson's crew's efforts have paid off as KU's main campus is considered one of the most beautiful in the nation.
"The best part of the job is instant gratification. You can look over your shoulder and see the work you've accomplished," Peterson said. "Working in the heat can be rough at times, but our bosses are good about giving us frequent water breaks."
Approximately $1,250 per student
is spent on maintenance and utilities. Where all of that goes might be surprising. In academic buildings alone, every year approximately 102,240 rolls of toilet are supplied, 780,800 garbage bags are filled up and 132,000 light bulbs are changed. Facilities Operations employs 400 personnel and maintains 838 acres of grass, more than 11 miles of streets and 33 miles of sidewalks. Fuel consumed annually, including what is used by KU on Wheels, amounts to more than 250,000 gallons.
Housekeeping and maintenance also provide important work for student housing.
"Our maintenance staff provide a top quality experience for our residents," said Diana Robertson, director of Student Housing. Student Housing employs 60 custodial and 70 maintenance staff who maintain all on-campus residence halls, which consists of 62 structures.
While staff generally provide daily upkeep, maintenance and construction of facilities during the school year, summer is the most demanding season.
"Summers are busy and challenging for custodial staff," Robertson said. "It's the most difficult and physically taxing."
Summertime duties include deep cleaning, making general repairs and stripping and waxing all floors in the residence rooms in addition to cleaning up after camps and conferences held throughout the summer.
These efforts pay off by ensuring facilities are clean for residents and tours as well as maintaining the buildings over the long haul.
"We are proud of our staff's work," said Robertson. "They are very committed to serving the students well."
— Edited by Ben Chipman
Kenneth Terry, a member of the landscaping team of Facilities and Operations, tills the soil Tuesday afternoon where the Bedazzler and its tree were taken down. The tree died due to Verticillium Wilt and thorough tilling of the soil ensures that trees planted in this location in the future will not suffer from the fungus.
CLAIRE HOWARD/KANSAN
RELIGION
Islamic Center spreads 'the message of tolerance'
ALOK GUPTA editor@kansan.com
In the Islamic Center of Lawrence a silent revolution of religious tolerance is brewing. The prayer hall has rival sects Shites and Sunnis praying together promoting a high degree of intrareligious faith.
Worshippers like Hossein Gerami are among many overcoming the centuries of rivalry through active participation. Shiite and Sunni sects rarely pray together.
"I believe that Islam is one religion. As a Shia, I have no problem in mixing or praying with our Sunni brothers," Gerami said. Gerami is from Iran and belongs to the minority Shiite community, sometimes referred to as Shia.
Officials and members of the Islaamic Center admit that slowly the prayer hall is becoming a symbol of religious tolerance. Discrimination on the basis of community is ignored in favor of silence. Bandar Almatari, education secretary of the Center, said that there is no mosque in Lawrence and the Islamic Center is the only place for Muslims to worship.
"It's a democratic place for worship. We do not inquire about our visitor's religion, community, sect or race. Our Shia brothers,
through their participation, are spreading the message of tolerance and bridging the gap between two sects," Almatari said.
The visitors at the Islamic Center refrain from discussing the communities, although Sunnis constitute a majority of visitors.
Shiites and Sunnis both refrain to speak much about the joint prayers or interaction.
"it's a new phenomenon and it will take some time for a transformation. We are working together
Differences between the Sunni and Shiite sects stem from Islam's early history and arguments over Muhammed's successors.
to make the sound stronger," Gerami said.
Countries in the Middle East are divided according to the Shiite and Sunni communities. Only 10 to 13 percent of Mulsims are Shiites according to Pew Forum On Religion and Public Life.
Much of the politics and power struggle in the Middle East countries are based on the divide between Shiites and Sunnis.
"Ideally politics should be separate from prayers. It makes no
difference whether Shias pray in Sunni mosque or vice versa," said Beverly Mack, a courtesy professor of religious studies.
The common place of prayers and interaction is seen as a major development for Muslim youths. Raj Bhala, associate dean for international and comparative law, said this interaction between the two communities is a good example of intrareligious faith.
Lawrence Interfaith Dialogue is an organization that brings together followers from various religions, sects and faith. The organization works with the Islamic Center of Lawrence to promote religious tolerance. The common
HOSSEIN GERAMI Worshipper
HANNAH WISE/KANSAN Muslim men gather together during the call to prayer at the Islamic Community Center at 1917 Naismith Drive.
"We were overwhelmed by the proposal of Lawrence Interfaith Dialogue. Now we have sessions that promotes better understanding between two communities," Almatari said.
place of prayers and interaction is being seen as a major development for Muslim youths.
HANNAH WISE/KANSAN
— Edited by Laura Nightengale
CLASSIFIEDS 7
CROSSWORD 4
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 5
SPORTS 8
SUDOKU 4
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2011 The University Daily Kansan
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LO: 65
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