THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2009
NEWS
3A
TAXES (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
sentation to help non-profits understand the complex new forms they will complete next tax season.
"What a great way to use our knowledge to help organizations that already do such worthwhile things." Alexander, assistant professor in accounting, said.
Though non-profits aren't generally required to pay taxes, they are required to file what is known as a Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service every year. That hasn't changed since 1979, but come next March, the old form will have a whole new set of requirements and thresholds that could make filing more confusing than ever.
Alexander said the changes came with good reason. With 1.5 million non-profits in America earning a combined revenue of $1.4 trillion each year, it's easy for fraud and abuse to corrupt a system that's older than most students at the University. The new filing requirements increase transparency in an attempt to end the practice of using non-profits as tax shelters.
The other reason, she said, lies
in the first form's first page, which requires organizations to give a detailed explanation of the organization's mission statement and progress.
"It provides an opportunity for organizations to brag about their accomplishments and help spread their mission," she said.
Rather than teach the students the information from a podium, Alexander had them research the issue themselves.
Cole said she and her classmates spent about 30 hours in the past month becoming experts on the new forms to help non-profits.
Anna Bliss, graduate student from Portage, Mich., presented Friday. Bliss said she had never worked with non-profit tax issues before.
"It was overwhelming to think that we were doing all this research on our own to get the information, rather than having a teacher sit down and tell us what to do," she said.
But Bliss and Cole said the research helped them retain the information and would be useful
when they needed to help their own clients someday. According to all in attendance Friday, their hard work paid off in the form of a successful, informative presentation.
Barb Bishop, executive director for Arc of Douglas County, an organization that provides advocacy and support to people with developmental disabilities and their families, said she came to the presentation to learn what she needs to give her accountant next year.
"Just because we're tax-exempt doesn't mean we're exempt from following the rules," she said.
Bishop said she wanted to be sure she handled donations properly.
"If they wanted to give the money to the government, they wouldn't have given it to me," she said. "It would be pretty poor stewardship if we gave more money than we needed to the government because we messed up the 990 form."
After the presentation, Bishop, a self-proclaimed tax-iliterate, said she felt like a deer in the headlights. But she said she knew once she let the information sink in, she would
The changes to the nonprofit tax forms will affect student groups on campus because, as tax-exempt entities, they are required to file a version of Form 990 each year.
A CHANGING SYSTEM
Form 990 exists in three forms: Form 990-N, Form 990-EZ and Form 990.
Most student groups on campus must file the shortest form, Form 990-N, within four and a half months after the organization closes its books at the end of the tax year. If they don't, Alexander said, the
International Revenue Service will take away their tax-exempt status and require that the organization pay penalties for failing to file.
Though student organizations have been required to file this form in the past, Alexander said, it's important that their tax preparers know the changes in the forms to best comply with IRS requirements. The new forms can be found at 1rs.gov.
The IRS will phase in the new standards in the next three years.
be able to get the right details to her accountant because of what she learned from the students.
"I'm really impressed by the students' efforts to be a part of this community," she said.
Alexander said she has had her "Tax Research" students participate in a different service-learning
project each semester since 2005, when her students helped the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Other projects involved aiding residents of Greensburg and providing tax education for performing arts organizations.
Edited by Abbey Strusz
LIED (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
Though the dance company is only in its second year, McIntyre has had experience with choreography around the country. He has written more than 80 pieces for some of the nation's most prominent ballet companies, and has served as the resident choreographer for a handful of large ballet organizations, including the Washington Ballet. Friday night was the choreographer's first-ever performance in his home state.
McIntyre said he was happy to have his homecoming in Lawrence.
"Growing up, Lawrence was kind of the holy grail," McIntyre said. "It always had a little bit of a mythological quality for me."
The show began with Samba music filling the Lied Center. Women in white spring dresses swirled around the stage, lifted and thrown by their male counterparts. The piece opened and closed with the dancers lined up in front a large canvas as individual spotlights silhouetted their bodies.
Another set featured a trio of dancers using balloons to alter their body's images while they danced to symphonic rock music. The audience erupted in laughter when a female dancer with two balloons stuffed up her shirt frolicked around the stage.
McIntyre said this dynamic approach to ballet had caused the
college-aged group to become the company's largest followers.
"Our approach is here and now," McIntyre said. "It doesn't feel like its part of a museum. It is refreshing."
To address the here and now, the show's finale combined live dance and high-definition video to address the negative effect of human behavior on Glacier National Park in Montana.
The 30-minute piece used a massive projection screen to show footage of the dancers in the park while live dance occurred on the stage below the screen.
The piece, titled "The Sun Road," was part of a larger series on
America's national parks, commissioned by the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.
McIntyre said "The Sun Road" was meant to tell the story of Glacier National Park's dire future. He said in less than 30 years, climate change might eradicate the park's glaciers.
Tim Van Leer, executive director of the Lied Center, visited the company in Glacier National Park during the filming of "The Sun Road." He said the piece presented the clash between humans and the park's majestic environment.
"You have this unbelievable scenic wonder combined with the dancers dressed in formal wear and looking completely out of place,"
Van Leer said. "I think what he's saying is that although we may feel comfortable there, we may be out of place."
McIntyre said this use of multimedia helped attract a younger following. The company uploads the majority of its material onto the project's Web site, allowing fans to interact and engage with the company outside of its performances.
Taylor said McIntyre's multimedia approach was intriguing.
"You get the sense of being in this beautiful national park, and then all of the sudden you be brought back to the stage," Taylor said. "I thought it was fascinating."
BASKETBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
Goodman has played Division 1 college basketball and professional basketball both in the U.S. and in Israel, but he has never once played on a Jewish holiday or the Sabbath. Tonight, Goodman will share his story with students in a speech at Robinson Gymnasium. The presentation will also include a free kosher meal, a short basketball clinic and 3-on-3 fundraising tournament to fight prostate cancer.
"He's just a very inspirational speaker," said Schwab, who heard Goodman speak in August and helped the Chabad Jewish Center plan his visit. "He's very unique to be able to play and also stick to his religious beliefs."
Though recognized for his ability in basketball, Goodman has achieved much of his fame for his unwillingness to put the sport before his faith. After high school, Goodman turned down a full ride scholarship and verbal contract to play basketball at Maryland University because the team's schedule of practices and games meant having to play on the Jewish Sabbath, which is against the rules of Orthodox Judaism.
That conviction has earned him
coverage on national networks such as ESPN, CBS and Fox Sports.
Goodman said he stayed true to the Jewish weekly schedule throughout his career at Towson State University and his professional career with several Israeli teams including Maccabi Haifa in Israel and the Maryland Nighthawks in the U.S. Premier Basketball League.
"Everywhere I played, the teams were able to work around the schedule," Goodman said. "I never played from sunday Friday night to sunday Saturday night."
Goodman, who retired from basketball four weeks ago at age 27, said his choice to put faith over basketball has been the topic of his speeches at more than 14 U.S. colleges and universities. He said his greatest hope was that his example would inspire students of all faiths to better understand their priorities.
"When someone understands who they are and why they're in this world and they have a true identity, it helps them have a more fulfilled life," Goodman said.
Goodman said that as part of this effort, the workshop tonight
would be hosted by both the Chabad Jewish center and the Black Student Union. Goodman said that he always tried especially hard to bring Jewish and African-American students together because of the similar histories they shared.
"I feel like in general, the African-American community and the Jewish community have overcome a lot of prejudices through the years," Goodman said. "Throughout my career, I've had very, very close African-American teammates and friends. I've had a lot of success in bringing the two communities together as one and accomplishing a lot."
Jordan Brown, Bloomington, Ind., senior and president of the KU Black Student Union, said most members received the invitation to participate in the workshop with enthusiasm.
"The event has sparked a lot of people's interest," Brown said. "We're really about all things positive, not only black students, but the whole University of Kansas campus."
The Zeta Beta Tau fraternity will host the final tournament portion of the event as a fundraiser for
TAMIR GOODMAN EVENTS
Tamir Goodman will be participating in the following events today at Robinson Gymnasium:
6:00 p.m.: Free kosher dinner and speech
Any student may join Goodman for the dinner and a speech about his life and career of balancing Judaism and basketball.
7:00 p.m.: Free basketball clinic
The clinic, open to all students, will be sponsored by the Chabad Jewish Center and the Black Student Union.
7:30 p.m.: "Hoops for Hope"
The 3-on-3 basketball tournament will raise money for prostate cancer research. The event is free, but a $5 donation is requested. Prizes will be awarded. Hosts are Zeta Beta Tau fraternity and the Chabad Jewish Center.
prostate research, said Steven Laviage, Zeta Beta Tau philanthropy chair. Laviage, Houston sophomore, said the tournament was free, but that ZBT requested a $5 donation for prostate cancer research. He said he expected Goodman would help to bring more participants and success to the event.
"He inspires everybody," Laviage said.
Schwab, who will watch
Goodman speak for the second time tonight, said the aspect of his life that she found most inspiring was his unwavering conviction.
"Sometimes it's hard for other people to relate, to understand." Schwab said. "But you really have to do what you feel is right. You still have to stick to what you feel, rather than the pressures around you."
Edited by Brenna M. T. Daldorph
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