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NEWS
The Underground celebrates the retirement of one of its beloved cashiers
ARTS & CULTURE
Dean uses virtual reality to help victims of stroke
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SPORTS
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THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2017 | VOLUME 133 ISSUE 26
After injury, pole vaulter soars to new heights
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
Advocates optimistic about legalization in Kansas
Advocates are optimistic that the cultural shift towards the acceptance of recreational cannabis will result in legislative support.
Associated Press
▶ NOLAN BREY
@NolanBrey
Advocates for the legalization of recreational and medical cannabis hope that new cannabis laws in Kansas City, Kansas will result in new state cannabis policies.
Earlier this month, the citizens of Kansas City voted to reduce the punishments of cannabis possession, though marijuana is still illegal, so that the maximum fine in city court went from $500 to $25. Citizens also voted to eliminate the possibility of jail time as punishment for possessing 35 grams or less of cannabis.
Today, nearly half of Americans support the legalization of recreational cannabis, while over 80 percent of Americans support the legalization of medical cannabis.
In Kansas, two thirds of citizens favor allowing medical marijuana, while 63 percent favor decriminalizing recreational marijuana "so that personal possession would only involve a fine, rather than jail time," according to a spring 2015 Kansas Speaks Statewide Public Opinion Survey conducted by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University.
Barney Warf, a geography professor and author of "High Points: An Historical Geography of Cannabis," said public opinion in Kansas is shifting to an increasingly positive view of cannabis.
"I think attitudes in Kansas are changing, in part, because there's been a broad shift in attitudes toward cannabis in the last
10-15 years or so," Wart said. "I think a number of things are the driving change in public opinion about it."
Specifically, Warf said the change is a result of support from millennials, the legalization of medical cannabis in other states and
"It's in part because young people have embraced legalization, and in part because the stupidity on the war on drugs has become so apparent," Warf said.
the destructive nature of the war on drugs.
This shift in public opinion has resulted in more pro-cannabis legislation. For example, the Kansas Legislature also saw the introduction of a bill that would legalize medical cannabis in February.
It's in part because young people have embraced legalization, and in part because the stupidity on the war on drugs has become so apparent."
Barney Warf Professor
Madison Harrell, a freshman from Lawrence studying political science, said while she doesn't use cannabis, she supports its legalization.
"Medical marijuana helps, especially with cancer patients, people with
SEE CANNABIS
PAGE 3
Why Topeka won't stop campus carry
▶ NOLAN BREY
@NolanBrey
Though a majority of students, staff and faculty at Kansas' six public universities oppose concealed carry on college campuses, guns are coming to campus as a result of pressure from Kansans themselves in addition to, as some believe, pressure from gun lobbyists.
and hospitals were given a four-year exemption to the law, which will expire this summer.
While 82 percent of University's employees and 70 percent of University's students oppose concealed handguns on campus, according to two Board of Regents (KBOR) surveys published in December 2015 and January 2016 by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University, the concealed carry of weapons on college campuses will become legal on July 1.
In 2013, the Kansas State Legislature passed the Personal and Family Protection Act, which allows licensed gun owners over the age of 21 (59 percent of undergraduate students at the University's Lawrence and Edwards campuses are younger than 21) to bring guns into state and municipal buildings. However, public colleges, universities
As of Feb.27,all six of Kansas' state universities have faculty governing bodies that formally oppose campus carry (Pittsburg State University was the last to do so), and according to the January Docking survey, 70 percent of faculty statewide oppose concealed carry on campuses outright The University's Faculty Senate formally declared its opposition to campus carry in a resolution in December 2016.
*Callilym Salazar/KANSAN*
Student protesters concerned with the University's concealed carry policies in the Kansas Board of Regents meeting Wednesday afternoon in Capital Federal Hall.
Caitlynn Salazar/KANSAN
Venue Board of
Moreover, across the state, 55 percent of students flat-out oppose campus carry, according to the Docking surveys.
In its December 2016 resolution, the University's faculty senate asked the legislature to continue the exemption for colleges and
SEE GUN MONEY
PAGE 2
As a result of the diverse views of students and employees across the state, universities have asked for local control from the state legislature, meaning that each university would be able to craft its own weapons policies to fit its unique situation.
INDEX
NEWS...2
OPINION...4
ARTS & CULTURE...5
SPORTS...12
Protesters interrupt KBOR meeting
EMILY WELLBORN @EmWellborn
Protesters interrupted the Board of Regents' meeting Wednesday afternoon in an effort to speak with the Regents about concealed carry and sexual assault on campus.
Atakpa said the group was made up of students and residents of Lawrence, many of whom had protested at other events in the area. The nine protesters stood in the back of the meeting room while reports where read at the beginning of the meeting, but some of the speakers took notice.
"The student's advisory committee, we have brought forth many similar concerns on the topics from members of our student body throughout the year, whether that be sexual assault and working with their Title IX directors, students concerns with weapons on campus or
"We're here to bring forth issues of safety for students who are paying to be on this campus and to be safe on this campus," protester Rachel Atakpa said. "We chose to come to this meeting because the Kansas Board of Regents has a lot of power, and we are demanding institutional change."
other things regarding students on campus," said the University's student body president Stephonn Alcorn during his report.
After the reports were read, the group demanded time to address the Regents. They were denied time, and two of the protesters were asked to leave.
The meeting continued while the group moved around the room.
Rachel Atakpa Protester
"Let us be gun free," one of the signs read. "We won't rest until we get justice," read another.
At the end of the meeting, chair of the board, Zoe Newton, gave the group five minutes to speak. The
The board also announced the search committee for the next Fort Hays University president, received the governance committee's recommendation to oppose the KU's concealed carry policy and received the five year capital improvement requests from all six of the Regent universities. The requests will be approved at the next Board meeting.
transfer students. Ginther's research said transfer students are 16 percent less likely to complete their bachelor's degrees in less than six years as compared to traditional students.
The Kansas Board of Regents has a lot of power,and we are demanding institutional change."
two representatives of the group said the concealed carry policies that will go into effect on July 1 will have serious impacts on students' safety.
The board also heard a presentation by Donna Ginther, an economics professor at the University, over the retention of
KANSAN.COM
The Lawrence Humane Society hosted an Easter egg hunt for dogs. See the gallery at Kansan.com.
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