Section A · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, December 9, 1997
Brown bag lunch to address concerns about intellectual property ownership
By Ryan Koerner
rkowner@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Students and faculty will have an opportunity to voice their opinions on intellectual property ownership Wednesday in the Walnut Room of the Kansas Union.
The University committee on intellectual property is inviting students and faculty to discuss intellectual property policy at an open forum and brown bag lunch at 11:30 a.m. The Board of Regents will write a policy on intellectual property this summer.
That policy will determine how much control, if any, the University will have over copy and patent rights of student and faculty works.
According to current practice, anything created — textbooks, creative works, student projects, inventions — by students or faculty is the sole property of the creator.
Whether that practice will change is unknown. For the most part, the feedback about an intellectual property policy has come
from faculty, said Laurence Draper, professor of biology and University Council president.
Carl Locke, chairman of the University governance study group on intellectual property and dean of engineering, wants the ad hoc committee to gather input, especially from students, about the upcoming policy.
Pat Mazumdar, Pittsburgh graduate student and Senate Executive Committee member, said he was concerned with how a policy may affect graduate students like himself who are studying and researching under an adviser.
"Graduate students are in an interesting position," Mazumdar said. "They aren't faculty, but they are doing research and collecting the data from that research."
Locke said he thought the new intellectual property policy would include graduate and undergraduate classwork and research. Artwork produced in a painting class or a research paper written in a history class are examples of classwork that may be affected by the policy, he said.
"Graduate students are in an interesting position. They aren't faculty, but they are doing research and collecting the data from that research."
Pat Mazumdar
Pittsburgh, Pa., graduate student
"Right now," Locke said. "We have no written policy about who owns the rights to those works."
Locke said this would be the third session the study group has held. Locke has already made presentations to University Council and the department heads in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
"What we are doing is trying to collect ideas and opinions from students about what should be a part of this policy," he said.
This information will be presented to the Regents before they
Brown Bag Basics
Brown Bag Lunch info
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Walnut Room of the Kansas Union
- Coffee and soft drinks will be provided
University Governance Intellectual Property
www.cc.ukans.edu/history/unigov/
intel.html
draft the policy this summer.
"I'd like to be able to report to the Regents an accurate take on what students at the University think about intellectual property," Locke said.
For students and faculty who are unable to attend the brown bag luncheon, university governance has set up a Web site detailing the issues surrounding intellectual property.
Visitors to the site at www.cc.ukans.edu/history/unigov/intela.html can read the 12 issues for discussion outlined by the Regents.
Change that grade? Maybe, but be prepared with a good reason, diligence and patience
Jennifer A. Yeoman
Kansan staff writer
Getting a grade changed after it has been posted for the semester may be harder to do than simply to study for final exams.
According to University Senate Rules and Regulations, no change in grade shall be made after it is filed with the University Registrar on the third day after finals — which this year falls on Tuesday. Dec. 23.
However, there are exceptions to the rule.
NOTE: not sure exceptions to the rule.
Students can have a grade changed if the grade resulted as an error or if the grade was incomplete or in progress. In these cases, there is no deadline for a professor to change a grade, said Rich Morrell, University registrar.
Koren Hawk, "Topeka sophomore, said, 'I had a grade changed last fall because my teacher misgraded my project. I was one point away from a B. So, after I got my grade card in January, I went in to talk to my teacher."
But Hawk's grade change was not instantaneous.
"It took about four months," Hawk said. "It was easy talking to the teacher to ask him to change my grade, but the process was aggravating because the teacher never did what he said he was going to do. I eventually had to talk to the school's dean."
Grades can be changed by a three member faculty committee for several reasons, including a professor who has been found guilty of sexual harassment or a clerical error by a seriously ill or incapacitated professor. The committees are appointed by the dean or
chair of the department or shool. The faculty board would then review the student's work and assign a grade.
To change a grade, students must appeal within the department or school from which the grade was issued. Each department and school may have its own procedure for handling these appeals.
Mary Wallace, assistant to the dean of the school of journalism, said the school followed the same procedure as most of the University.
"If a student wants to change a grade, they have to speak to their professor, who is the only person who may change their grade," Wallace said. "The student may appeal to the faculty committee, but I always tell them that the committee can only ask the teacher to review the student's grade. The faculty committee can't change a grade."
Fire in the hole!
Matt Gearheart, Overland Park senior, engages in a snowball fight outside Marvin Hall as Erin Taylor, St. Louis, Mo., senior looks on. Students took advantage of the snowfall yesterday afternoon to have fun between classes. Photo by Roger Nomer/KANSAN
Searching for glamorous women
Kansan staff report
"Glamour" magazine is accepting applications for its Top Ten college women of 1998.
The award is open to women at four-year institutions who are in their third year. Winners receive $1,000 and the opportunity to meet with professional women in their field of study.
Kim Cohen, editorial coordinator of "Glamour," said the competition was first started for the best-dressed college women on campus. A few years later, the former editor-in-chief, Ruth Whitney, decided to change the competition from what women were wearing to what they actually accomplished.
"We're recognizing the potential leaders," she said.
Cohen said that the magazine looked for students who had more than just good grades. Every year, they receive about 1,000 applications.
"The people who stand out are the ones who usually go beyond the university experience," she said.
Applicants must submit an academic transcript, letters of recommendation, a list of activities and an essay describing their most meaningful accomplishment.
Students who wish to enter the competition can contact the Office of Student Financial Aid, call 1-800-244-GLAM or e-mail, tcw@Glamour.com
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