Tomorrow's weather
ku
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Windy tomorrow with cool temperatures.
Kansan HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY
Online today
To read more about Veteran's day and find out where and why it began, take a look at the Veterans of Foreign Wars home page:
http://www.vfw.com
Friday
November 9, 1999
Section:
A
Vol. 109 • No. 56
Sports today
http://www.vfw.com
On a cold and rainy day, the Kansas football team beat North Texas Saturday 23-14 in the seniors' final home game.
SEE PAGE 1B
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Independent studies moves out of trailers behind Union
New location better than old despite being off-campus
(USPS 650-640)
By Chad Bettes
Kansan staff writer
After more than 15 years in a "temporary" location — the trailers next to the Kansas Union — the independent study department wants to let students know about its new home.
The department moved in August to 1515 St. Andrews Dr., the former Maupintour building. The offcampus location is near West Campus, one block west of Kasold Drive.
The University of Kansas purchased the building this year to consolidate the continuing education department, which had been scattered in as many as five buildings on and off campus. The independent study department is part of continuing education.
Sandy Hick, independent study registrar, said the move was initially somewhat inconvenient for students because they identified the department with its old location. The move also took the department off campus, decreasing accessibility by foot.
But Hick said she set up a temporary office in the Union for the convenience of students during the first two weeks of the semester. She posted signs at the old office directing neo-
the old ones setting people to the new location as well.
Nancy Colyer, independent study director, said, "We had a few bumps and bruises along the way, but things are going very well now."
The department is making every effort to make the transition easier for students. To notify people of the move, Hick said the department placed newspaper advertisements, sent notice in mailings to current independent study
NEW OFFICE
Off campus at 1515 St. Andrews Dr.
students and notified other University departments.
Drop-off location at the information desk on the fourth floor of the Kansas Union
About half of the program's 2,200 participants each year are KU students
To enroll in independent study, students may drop by the new location, call for more information at 864-4440, or view the department Web site at http://www.kumc.edu/kuce/isc.
Now the department has arranged for students to be able to drop off independent study assignments at the information desk on the fourth floor of the Union. A courrier picks up the assignments daily and delivers them to the independent study office.
By next semester, Hick hopes to have a 24-hour drive-through drop box at the new location. The department also is considering opening a satellite office in the Kansas Union, where students could pick up information about independent study offerings as well as drop off assignments.
Irene Ratzlaff, Buhler senior and independent study student, said she was pleased that the department had moved from its previous location.
"The parking is more convenient," Ratzlaff said.
"The building is beautiful, and it doesn't smell funny."
Colyer and Hick said that they struggled with foul odors and inconsistent heating and cooling at the old location.
The trailers, called annex buildings, are being razed to make room for a new parking garage.
More than 2,200 students participate in the University's Independent Study program every year. Hick said about half of that number is made up of current KU students, while the other half is made up of high schools students from around Kansas, students from other colleges and international students.
Hick attributed the success of the program to the University's good reputation and the course offerings available through independent study. She said the University was designated by the Kansas Board of Regents as the state's sole provider of independent study courses.
Watson Library to close on Friday
Blown transformer will be replaced
By Mariana Paiva Kansan staff writer
Students who have class-project deadlines approaching should not plan to do their research at Watson Library from noon Friday to noon Sunday.
The library will be closed for 48 hours this weekend while its electrical transformer will be replaced.
The library's transformer blew out Oct. 29. The library was closed at 4:30 that afternoon and reopened the next morning powered by a back-up generator.
that the transformer cost the University $2,600,the money needed to run the generator. The generator uses 22 gallons of fuel each hour of operation,and each gallon costs 67 cents.
Bob Porter, associate director of facilities operations, said that the University found a new transformer in Lyons and has paid $8,000 for it. Porter estimated
Rob Melton, libraries publication coordinator, said the library needed to be closed during the replacement to guarantee public safety. The transformer will be replaced during the weekend to disturb fewer students and staff, he said. He said that if the University's facilities operations department finished the work ahead of schedule, there was a chance that the library would not be closed for the entire 48 hours.
"If we think the library is safe for people to access it, the building will operate in normal hours," Melton said.
Watson employees put up several fliers explaining why the library changed its schedule. Also, faculty and teaching assistants received e-mail messages from library officials asking permission to move reserve mer terial this weekend
LIBRARY HOURS
What: The library will be closed from noon Friday to noon Sunday to replace its electrical transformer.
Information: Students should call 864-8900 or 864-3506 for up-to-date information about the closing.
Faculty who want to make arrangements to move reserve material should contact Joe Orosco at 864-8982, Sarah Couch at 864-8979 or Julie Rholes at 864-8995 by 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
to another location on campus.
The message also asked the faculty and teaching assistants to remind their students to do their research in advance, because people won't have access to Watson periodicals or books this weekend.
it is estimated that more than 1,270 people use Watson daily, and some who have projects due next week were not
pleased with the library's decision to close during the transformer replacement.
Abbi Balsmeier, Newton junior, said that she hadn't noticed the signs and that she thought many other students would not know that the library will be closed.
As much as they put the word out, people will still come here and be surprised," she said.
Luca Oreccchini, Rimini, Italy, graduate student, said that he had a project due next week and that he hoped to be able to finish it before the weekend.
"I don't like to study at home because I have everything that I need to study here," he said while studying yesterday in Watson. "But these things happen, and we cannot really blame the library."
Book drops at the front and back doors of Watson Library will remain accessible for returning materials. The other libraries on campus will maintain regular operating hours.