Wednesday, November 12, 1997
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 5
Pilot program at Hashinger testing recycling capacity
Other residence halls may use similar plan
By Sarah McWilliams
mcwilliams@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
“It's a matter of people taking the time to rinse out their stuff and knowing what to put where."
Hashinger Hall leaders are working out a few glitches in the recycling program they started last week.
Katie Griffiths
Olathe sophomore and environmental chairwoman of the association of university residence halls
Katie Griffiths, Olathe sophomore and environmental chairwoman of the Association of University Residence Halls, said the Hashinger recycling program was a pilot program. If successful, it could be adopted by other halls.
The program started Thursday. Maintenance staff picked up recyclable paper, cans and, for the first time, plastic containers from the residence hall, said Phil Garito, associate director of housing maintenance.
But Griffiths said the environmental committee was having problems educating people
about recycling and finding enough bins to collect the materials.
Hashinger Hall had 12 bins last year; this year, there are 36 bins, but the bins are filling up fast. She said the committee had money to buy more bins, including those for plastic bottles. Plastic bottles have become a growing problem because of the the Coke machines on each floor of the residence halls.
"You can't just throw your stuff in the bin and say 'OK, sort it out,' Griffiths said. "It's a matter of people taking the time to rinse out their stuff and knowing what to
put where."
Sorting recyclables is important because if there is any contamination, like syrup in a can, the entire bin must go to the landfill, she said.
If these problems can be solved, environmental-comMITtee representatives from each hall will examine the program and possibly implement it within the next few months.
"I wanted to have all halls recycling by the first of November, but I'm not looking at this as a setback," Griffiths said. "I'm not giving up."
KU special-education program ranked at top of class by survey
Kansan staff report
The faculty of the special education department at the University of Kansas are well-known not only at the Dole Center, which houses the department, but also internationally.
They have the No.1 special-education department, according to "U.S. News and World Report."
The magazine determined its "Best Graduate Schools" rankings by considering five attributes: faculty resources, research activity, student selectivity and two measures of reputation.
The magazine measured the departments with two surveys distributed in Fall 1996.
In the first survey, education
school deans and faculty across the country were asked to rate the reputation of each graduate education program. In the second, a random sample of 700 U.S. school superintendents was taken to determine the 25 graduate education programs that offer the best training.
"The ranking sends out a message to people to consider Kansas for both the School of Education and the department of special education," said Nancy Peterson, chairwoman of the department of special education.
Peterson said the department stood out in the field because the faculty and staff were involved in innovative research projects that generated a lot of outside funds.
Also, the department gives students the opportunity to work with faculty in everything from jobs to training, she said.
"The department is known for its quality training program and its graduates are known to be leaders in the field," Peterson said.
The department of special education holds classes at the Lawrence campus, the Regents Center and the University of Kansas Medical Center.
The School of Education ranked 27th overall in the survey. Other schools with top special-education departments included Vanderbilt University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Oregon and the University of Virginia.
Every Weekend, KU students around Lawrence have only one thing on their mind...