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As Trump enters office, students have mixed feelings
Haileu Dixon/KANSAN
Senior Nick Binetti from St. Charles, Illinois, is nervous for Donald Trump's presidency.
Junior Garrett Miller will attend the inauguration ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Hannah Edelman/KANSAN
Abreath of fresh air and a chapter of unknown: these are unique sentiments three University students are feeling as President-elect Donald Trump begins his term as President of the United States.
["He's] a breath of fresh air," said Garrett Miller, a junior from Chanute.
Nick Binetti, a senior from St. Charles, Illinois, will be celebrating his 22nd birthday on Inauguration Day, but is a little disheartened with President-elect Trump taking on the presidency.
"We have no idea what we are actually in for," Binetti said.
On Inauguration Day, Miller will be attending the event in person in Washington, D.C. Miller said he is "disappointed that some Democrats are not going to the inauguration."
Michael O'Brien, a senior from Lenexa, will be attending a protest in Kansas City, Missouri, boycotting President-elect Trump and his inauguration.
"Donald Trump, I think, he is a very dangerous man," O'Brien said.
Miller, who worked with Trump's campaign during the election, said he wants the American public to "give Trump a chance."
"I think we will see what happens after the first 100 days," Miller said.
Looking into the future of Trump's term, Miller said he hopes that Trump works on student aid relief, jobs and security.
Binetti, a marketing and supply chain management major, said he is concerned about how Trump works within international relations, considering Trump has no previous experience with that.
"We have no idea what we are actually in for."
Nick Binetti Senior
O'Brien said he is nervous for much of the next four years.
"We've got four years ahead of us," O'Brien said. "I am just very, very scared between now and the next election in 2020."
Just as Trump's presidency begins with the inauguration later this week President Barack Obama's second term will come to an end.
"As a person, I respect President Barack Obama," Miller said. "I thought he was a great person. He
seemed to be an outgoing president. He was a pop culture icon for the last eight years."
For most students at the University, Obama's presidency has been significant part of their lives, anywhere from a fourth to a third of their lives.
"My entire adult life and the years leading up to it have had Barack Obama as President of the United States, and I am grateful for that," Binetti said.
INAUGURATION EVENT GUIDE
EMILY WELLBORN
@Fm wellborn
The 2016 presidential election left political tensions high across the nation and the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump has motivated people at all ends of the political spectrum the opportunity to have their voice heard. For those who want to do more than watch the inauguration on Friday, here's a list of inauguration events happening nearby.
Trump Inauguration Protest
This event is geared toward people in the Kansas City, Mo., area who are upset by Trump's election.
"This protest is anti-Trump, but it is more than just that," the protest's Facebook page says. "It is about sending a clear message on the day of his inauguration that we do not support his presidency."
The protest will meet in the yard across from Kansas City's Union Station on Friday at 2 p.m. and will end at City Hall.
Un-Inauguration Event
Republican Victory Party
This event is geared toward those who might be upset by the election, but don't necessarily want to march, according the event's facebook page. The event will happen at Roeland Park Community Center at 5 p.m. on Friday. There will be food and sign-making for the Women's March in Kansas City.
For those excited for Trump's inauguration, a victory party is being held on Friday by the Anderson County Republican Party. The party will start at 6 p.m. and will take place at The Kirk House, at 145 W. 4th Ave. in Garnett. The event's Facebook page advertises food, live music, Republican trivia, cash prizes and the chance to take a selfie with Abraham Lincoln.
Women's March Kansas City, Mo.
This event is being held the day after the inauguration, and has made national headlines due to the thousands of people that are planning to go to Washington, D.C., to participate. Branches of the march are being held across the country for those who can't travel that far, but still want to take a stand. The Kansas City branch will begin Saturday at 1 p.m. in Washington Square Park. The march is not limited to women; anyone who wants to support the march is invited.
Women's March Topeka, Kan.
Held on the steps of the the Capitol building in Topeka, this branch of the national protest will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Similar to the Kansas City branch, they welcome anyone who advocates for women's issues and wants to come.
FUNDING FROM PAGE 1
According to Barcomb-Peterson, reliable state funding is vital, as it allows the University to plan for the year ahead and make financial decisions. But since 2001, per-student state appropriations to the University have decreased significantly.
"[State funding] is crucial given the recent trend of declining state financial support for higher education," Barcomb-Peterson said in an email. "When adjusted for inflation, per-student state appropriations to KU have
The Board of Regents has similar goals for the upcoming legislative session. According to Director of Communications Breeze Richardson, the Regents made it very clear in their unified budget request in September that they want the restoration of the $30.6 million that was cut from universities statewide in fiscal year 2017. The funds have not yet been restored, though Brownback does not recommend new cuts for higher education.
been reduced 44 percent over the past 17 years, severely straining KU's ability to serve students and Kansans."
"I can't say what the legislature will do, but I can tell you that the Board will take each and every opportunity that it has to advocate for the restoration of those funds. That's going to be the Board's number one focus during the legislative session." Richardson said.
While University officials have no control over the legislature, they have made their two priorities known.
"While we can't yet know what the outcome of this session will be, we will be reinforcing these priorities throughout," Caboni said.
In addition to University officials, Kansas student leaders also entered into
the discussion of the 2017 legislative session agenda.
On Tuesday, Student Body President Stephonn Alcorn announced that the Students' Advisory Committee, an advising committee to the KBOR comprising the student body presidents of each state university, sent a memo to the Regents outlining the group's 2017 legislative advocacy topics. Alcorn is also the chair of the SAC for fiscal year 2017.
In the memo, the SAC calls for an amendment to the law that will allow for concealed carry on public property, including universities, starting July
1. The amendment would "exempt KBOR buildings from the law and allow KBOR the ability to authorize university CEOs to designate areas on their campuses where concealed carry is permitted."
The committee also calls for a "Yes means Yes' affirmative consent law" for everyone in the state. The memo defined affirmative consent as "the affirmative, conscious and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity." The law would require that both parties get affirmative consent before or while having sexual activity.
Finally, the SAC calls for
the same funding priorities as the University - restoring cuts and stabilizing funding
— and for the "Kansas Legislature to increase funds allocated for the Kansas State Scholars Program and Kansas Ethnic Minority Scholarships."
The committee only serves to advise the Regents, but they have successfully influenced legislation in the past. The Lifeline 911 Bill, which protects minors seeking medical attention while drinking, was passed in 2016, in large part thanks to the efforts of SAC, Richardson said.
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