PAGE 6
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2012
CAMPUS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
University plans cellphone charging stations
VIKAAS SHANKER
vshanker@kansan.com
Andrew Lee, a senior in psychology, entered his fall 2012 class schedule into his cellphone at the start of the semester. But when he checked his schedule on the first day of school, his phone's screen was black and the battery dead.
"I ran back to Watson and checked my schedule," said Lee, who arrived late to class.
It's a scenario no student wants to experience and one the Information Technology (IT) department and student leaders hope to resolve by installing cellphone charging stations across campus during winter break.
Student body president Hannah Bolton and vice president Brandon Woodard polled student interest in charging stations prior to April's
election. Since then, they have been working with the IT department to determine the best way to give the University community stop-and-go charging stations.
"So many people live off campus and need to charge their phones," Bolton said. "Students brought up the idea."
Bolton said there will be about 30 stations located in high-traffic areas throughout campus.
"This is something Hannah and Brandon brought to us," said Ann Ermey, IT's director of service management and delivery. "Each year KU IT works with Student Senate to make sure technology is helping students and helping meet their goals. We thought it sounded like a really good plan."
GOING SMALL
Companies across the country are developing many types of phone charging stations. Some are full kiosks and some come with cell phone lockers so students can leave their phones to charge. According to Ermey, the leading candidate for the University's project is KwikBoost, a Dallas-based company that supplies stations to more than 200 other universities, including three Big 12 schools.
The charging station wall mount has nine charger cords, including iPhone, universal micro and mini-USB compatibilities. It would also have a small platform for people to place their phones while charging.
Joe Mecca, the president and co-founder of Kwikboost, said KwikBoost is designed for college settings.
"Other options are expensive, big and bulky and you consume more power," Mecca said. "Were
the leading company by a longshot Our stations are energy-efficient
The University of Florida considered installing KwikBoost chargers last spring but Florida Student Senate president Christina Bonarrigo said students preferred charging kiosks produced by Georgia-based Charge N Go.
"KwikBoost are wall mounts" Bonarrigo said. "We wanted a self-standing kiosk because cords can be easily ripped. We didn't know if departments would be willing drill into their walls for the stations."
At a cost of $27,000 for six kiosks,
Bonarrigo the kiosks have been popular among students.
NO STUDENT COST
While most platform items require a Student Senate vote or recommendation, the cellphone charging stations don't because
students won't absorb the costs. Bolton, Woodard and IT have already recommended KwikBoost for the project. IT will pay for the estimated $9,000 KwikBoost project through a special projects fund.
Bolton and Ermey both said they like KwikBoost because it is a reliable, cheap option. A pack of 10 can cost $2,300, while one kiosk from another vendor may cost more than $1,000.
STUDENT INTEREST
Warner Cook, a senior in architectural studies, said as long as seating is close to the station, she would charge her phone in between classes.
"I'm on campus 13 hours on Tuesdays and I get dropped off and picked up," Cook said. "I had to wait around once because my
phone died after class at 8:30 at night and I couldn't call my ride. It was pretty annoying. It's frustrating sitting there for 15 minutes anxious."
While she often brings her charger to campus, Cook said she would still use the stations.
"It's nice to hear that it wouldn't be coming out of student fees," Cook said.
Lee often uses his car charger, but also said he and others would probably use the campus charging stations.
"If you have very, very long classes and near the end of a long day, I could see people charging," Lee said. "People are always on the go and don't trust their phones."
Edited by Laken Rapier
CLAIRE HOWARD/KANSAN
Fixie Greene band members Ryan Nelson, a senior from Overland Park; Anthony Rojas, from Overland Park; Will Scherman, a senior from Denver; and Sean Cahill, a senior from St. Louis, perform at the dance pavilion in view of Potter Lake on Sunday afternoon during The Potter Lake Project sponsored KU Environs.
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Brendan Higginbottom, a sophomore from Lawrence, plays a game of keep alive with a group of students at the dance pavilion at Potter Lake on Sunday afternoon during the KU Environs sponsored event The Potter Lake Project. During the course of the afternoon, attendees enjoyed crafts, food, slam poetry and performances from several local bands.
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CRIME
Fake ID 101 Task Force active over the weekend
The Task Force consists of the Lawrence Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, KU Office of Public Safety and Kansas Alcohol Beverage Control.
The Fake ID 101 Task Force conducted two enforcement over the weekend, issuing 30 alcohol or drug citations and administrative citations to several venues.
According to a press release, on Thursday, the task force focused on licensed bars and establishments, checking 22 locations. It issued 18 citations for 23 charges.
The weekend's enforcements are the task force's third and fourth of the semester.
The second operation of the weekend was Saturday and targeted underage drinking near Memorial Stadium and the surrounding area, with a focus on pregame tailgating. Twelve citations for 15 charges were issued.
Rachel Salver
- Identification of driver's license #
- Interference with the duties of a law
- interference with the duties of a law enforcement officer -1
- Alcohol possession by a minor - 28
* Possession or use of a fake or other*
Fake ID Task Force citation break down
- Possession of drug paraphernalia -
A combination of citations issued during both operations:
3 ABC administrative citations issued for allowing minors to possess alcohol.
- The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts
St - 1 count
- The Barrel House, 729 New
- The Cave, 1200 Oread Ave.
- The Cave, 1200 Oread Ave.
5 counts
- 5 counts
- Jayhawk Cafe, 1340 Ohio St.
    7 counts (pending)
7 counts (pending)
SOURCE: Lawrence Police Department
Hudson River Rafting Co. licensed despite deaths
NATIONAL
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York kept the owner of Hudson River Rafting Co. on its list of 5,200 licensed outdoor guides, despite two charges against him of reckless endangerment and a dozen other tickets citing his guides with unlicensed whitewater trips over the past five years.
That's because New York — unlike many states, the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service — regulates the guides themselves, not the companies. That focus, critics say, allows companies to continue operating even when their guides have endangered any of the thousands of outdoors-lovers who engage their services.
In addition, New York rarely revokes the licenses of guides.
In one deadly case this fall, a Columbus, Ohio woman drowned on one of the company's Adirondack whitewater trips headed by licensed guide Rory Fay, 37. Fay was charged with criminally negligent homicide, accused of rafting drunk when he and client Tamara Blake, 53, were thrown into the rapids of the Indian River on Sept. 27. Her boyfriend was also on the boat.