Wednesday, September 17. 1997
The University Daily Kansan
Section A- Page 3
More pathways to jog through Lawrence
By Ann Premer
apremer@kansan
Kansas Staff Writer
Last night at the Lawrence City Commission meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to construct more recreational pathways.
The pathways were designed for rollerbladers, skate boarders, cyclists, walkers, joggers and people with strollers, said city engineer Terese Gorman.
The Heatherwood and West Campus recreational paths will cost $240,896.94. The city is responsible for 20 percent of that and the state will pay the remaining 80 percent from federal funds that support transportation enhancement programs.
"In recent years, transportation alternatives have had state funding," Gorman said. "That is what has been driving it in
The South Lawrence Trafficway Bicycle and Pedestrian trail was constructed under the alternative transportation program as well. The existing section, which was completed in July, was constructed by Douglas County and the city will complete the construction of the final section by early next year.
recent years is the funding by the state."
"Citizens enjoy using them for recreation and transportation."
Gorman said that the paths were part of a "pedal plan" that was introduced in the 1980's to connect recreational trails throughout Lawrence.
The West Campus trail will start at the corner of 15th St. and Crestline St., follow Crest-
said David Corliss, city director of legal services.
She said that the ultimate goal was to connect all of the trails to provide alternative transportation.
line south to Constant Road and then continue down Constant Road and end at 19th St.
The Heatherwood trail will start at Clinton Parkway near Atchison St., go north and tie into the Heatherwood neighborhood. Gorman said that the city wanted to eventually connect that trail to 15th St.
The concrete paths will be about a half-mile long and 10 feet wide. She said that the city expected that very little mainte-
Andrew Rohrback / KANSAN
KU libraries bound for Internet
By Daniel E. Thompson and Laura Roddy
Kansan staff writers
dthompson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writers
The University of Kansas libraries are getting online.
Articles, journals, and the card catalog can be accessed online by clicking on http://www.lib.ukans.edu
Databases that used to be accessible only in reference sections, like the Electronic Reference Library, now can be clicked on from a computer anywhere in the world. Some databases, like the card catalog, are available online. ERL and some others require users to enter their KUID number.
The new system will be called the KU Interactive Library System, or KUILS. The project will cost $2 million.
"It's a major leap forward," said William Crowde, dean of libraries. "But
we want people to be comfortable with the change."
The change brings the World Wide Web and Telnet, a text-based network, together in a Windows-type interface.
"What you are actually connecting to is a large collection of databases," said John Miller, assistant dean of libraries.
The libraries have expanded the databases and are now providing more fulltext articles and abstracts.
"Less than half of the money is for central hardware and software," Miller said. "A lot of it is for wiring 500 Ethernet connections in the library and several microcomputers."
The $2 million came from several sources, Miller said. The Board of Regents supplied some of the money, while special funds from the University and KU library funds also helped pay for the system.
Some of the benefits of KUILS are
already in place. Any KU student can access the home page and search the system.
If the student is not at a KU address, the database can be accessed by entering his or her KUID.
All the databases are accessible from either the libraries or the Internet, but some bigger changes are in the works before KUILS launches. The online catalog, or OCAT, is one of those changes.
OCAT was installed in the library system in the fall of 1986, and Miller said it has served its purpose as a characterbased browsing catalog well.
Miller said the antiquated system's greatest weakness is that it cannot conduct a Boolean search. A Boolean search uses operatives such as "and," "or" and "not."
The target date for replacing OCAT and integrating the new system is June of 1998.
Databases found on Online Catalog
KU Libraries Online Catalog (via Telnet) with access to Expanded Academic Index.
WebSPIRS (via Internet) with access to the University of Kansas Electronic Resource Library.
Information Access Corporation
SearchBank Databases (via Internet) with citations and 1,130 full text articles, as well as the National Newspaper Index.
KU UnCover (via Telnet).
- Subject:Oriented Databases and Services (via Internet).
Electronic Journals (via Internet).
GTAs ask for health care support
Continued from page 1A
agree with the decision, it could be overturned.
If the Legislature decides that GTAs are not state employees, the state may not give the University additional money for GTA health care costs.
"It disturbs me that Senator Kerr would question our status," Horowitz said. "To attempt to overturn the PERB ruling would be a travesty. It would isolate Kansas from the many other states that quite reasonably recognize GTAs as employees that do basically the same work as professors."
"Health care is the most important issue for GTAs," Horowitz said. "I am happy that the legislature gave us an ear to enable us to voice our concerns."
The University has agreed to pay for some amount of GTA health care even if the legislature does not appropriate funds for it, Horowitz said.
Horowitz said that a survey taken two years ago indicated that health care was the top concern of 98 percent of GTAs at the University.
The coalition will hold a meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 24 in the Jayhawk Room at the Kansas Union to go over the contract that GTAC has tentatively agreed upon with the University.
"We're now at a very crucial moment," he said. "The contract will determine our condition of employment for the next three years if it is ratified."
The vote for ratification of the contract will be held September 30 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Pine Room in the Kansas Union.
One third of the coalition members must be present for the vote to take place. In order to ratify the contract, two thirds of the voters must vote in favor of it.
If the contract is ratified, it will be sent to the Board of Regents for approval.
If the contract is not ratified, GTAC will would resume bargaining sessions with the University.
Parking permits getting stolen
"We don't feel like we want to pressure the University," Horowitz said. "But, 50 percent is still unaffordable to many GTAs."
Continued from page 1A
Other students who had their permits stolen voiced the same concern.
"They need to put it on the paper you fill out. It doesn't even give you the option," said Laura Lombardi, Dallas freshman. She said her tag was stolen from her convertible two weeks ago when she left the top down to run an errand.
"I ended up getting the sticker after my tag was stolen, but I had to pay another three dollars," she said.
The department made the change to tags instead of stickers in 1993. One reason, officials said, was to make it easier for people to trade tags.
"We got a lot of positive feedback from people who share cars," said Mary Olson, department secretary. "Now, their spouse can use the tag instead of having to get a courtesy parking pass for the day."
Runkle said the most common complaint she had heard about the stickers was that they were difficult to remove from vehicles. The stickers must be placed on the outside of the lower part of he windshield on the driver's side. The stickers are designed to break apart if someone tries to remove them, Olson said.
Olson said the department also switched to tags because many other universities used tags instead of stickers.
Two years after violation Delta Chi in good standing
1995 hazing incident landed fraternity on suspension, probation
By Sarah McWilliams
mcwilliams@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Two years ago, members of Delta Chi fraternity thought they were following tradition. Their tradition placed two pledges in the hospital and the fraternity on suspension.
After one year of suspension and one year of probation, the fraternity has returned to good standing with the University. The experience shows that chapters can change their traditions while maintaining chapter unity.
It's been a long road back, during which members had to change their attitudes about hazing and initiation, said Bill Nelson, associate director of the student organizations and leadership center.
Administrators at the University have made their anti-hazing stance clear as evidenced by Delta Chi's suspension and the suspension last spring of Pi Kappa Alpha for a hazing incident. Pi Kappa Alpha started its two-year suspension this semester.
Nelson and Jeff Weinberg, assistant to the chancellor, interviewed the members after the suspension. He said the interviews were revealing.
In order to prevent hazing, Nelson said, parents, students and administrators must get involved.
"So many times chapters think the only way to establish pledge-class unity is to have that 'they must respect me' mentality," he said.
But that attitude is not necessary.
Josh Newville, president of the KU chapter of Delta Chi, said the hazing that occurred had been part of chapter tradition, or so the members thought.
"We came to a point where we realized that to exist, it was time to change." Newville said. "It's painful at times to let go of traditions, but in today's environment there is no room for hazing."
Newville said the fraternity had to comply with 14 University sanctions during the suspension. Members also kept in close contact with University liaisons as the fraternity worked toward having its suspension lifted.
Members reorganized their new member initiation program, excluding practices like making new members work until they were dehydrated or deprived of sleep.
Weinberg was a probation supervisor for the fraternity. He met with members every week and with alumni, and said that despite the tough sanctions, the goal of the University was to bring the chapter back into good standing.
"From the first week of the suspension, we had no desire to send Delta Chi away from the University," he said. "It was not easy for the men living in the house at the time, but they accepted their responsibility."
Nelson said Delta Chi will have to keep on top of things in order to avoid future punishment, but for now he hopes the comeback promotes a strong message.
"I hope the members remember their story for a long time to come, and tell it to all their new members," Nelson said.
Course-guide plans approved by committee
SenEx approves Sullivan's proposal
By Tim Harrington tharrington@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The effort to make a course-content guide available to students is one step closer to becoming a reality after a unanimous vote by the Senate Executive Committee yesterday afternoon.
SenEx, a group of 13 faculty, staff and students, sets the agenda for University Council, which passes proposals to the chancellor for final approval.
"I'd like to see this examined by the council right away," said Mohamed El-Hodiri, SenEx president and professor of economics. "I propose that what we present to the council is a concept and let them work out the process."
SenEx then agreed to turn Sullivan's proposal into an abbreviated concept leaving the University Council to iron out the details at its Sept. 25 meeting.
Sullivan, Lynn Nelson, professor of history, and Ed Meyen, professor of the special education department, were delegated to turn Sullivan's proposal into a concept by this Friday.
If University Council decides to approve the concept and draw up specific plans, the chancellor's office would be its final hurdle.
Sullivan's original proposal established specific information that would be available in the course content guide.
It would include the topics and main ideas of the course in question, the teaching style of the instructor, the expectations the instructor will have of his students, a description of his or her grading policy, the estimated size of the course and the costs for the required texts.
University Council will address the issue as a broad concept next week, rather than focus on the specifics of Sullivan's plan.
"We can clearly delineate what teachers expect of the students, and their grading policies instead of students learning these things on the first day of class after they've already lost 10 percent of their money." Sullivan said.
The committee expressed concern regarding the amount of money and hours that would go into producing this kind of information.
"The magnitude of this is enormous," Meyen said.
Sullivan told the committee that he had the assurance of Provost David Shulenburger that the course guide could be done. ElHodiri, however, wants to be sure it is done correctly.
"I think we should take this slowly instead of going with something right away," said El-Hodiri.
Kansan Classifieds Get the Results You want
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Representatives will be on campus to answer all your questions about the Walt Disney World* College Program, where you'll work, earn and learn from some of the top management minds in the industry.
We will be interviewing all majors for positions available throughout our Theme Parks and Resorts, including Attractions, Food & Beverage, Merchandise, Lifeguarding and more. Plus, this summer, those fluent in Portuguese, should be sure to ask about special opportunities. So plan ahead for our visit. Discover a World of Opportunities at Disney.
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