Monday, October 1, 2012
ELECTION
VOTING MADE EASY
SUA's voter registration drive is geared to help students easily register to vote. The deadline for registering is Oct.16.
REBEKKA SCHLICHTING rschlichting@kansan.com
The biggest issue facing student voters might not be who to vote for, but how to vote.
For students wanting to vote but not knowing how, how, Student Union Activities Social Issues Committee is providing a more convenient way to register on campus.
The committee's mission is to remove the barriers for students to vote. To accomplish this, SUA is hosting a Voter Registration Drive at the Kansas Union during "Tea at Three" on Thursday and "Toons at Noon" on Fridays
through Oct. 26. The drive is free and open to students and the public.
Andrew Mechler, coordinator of the social issues committee, said about 55 people registered at the drive since it started on Sept. 20. The drive gives students registration forms, and it takes about five minutes. Prospective visitors should bring their driver's license or know the last four digits of their social security number. International citizens need to bring a naturalization number.
"It's important for students to vote as it gives us the opportunity to direct our
future," Mechler said. "Soon enough most of us here at KU will be out in the world with all the power and responsibilities that come with it."
Because students are usually registered to vote in their hometowns, young voters are more likely to vote if they live near home.
Out of state voters still have the opportunity to vote by filling out an absentee ballot. Absentee voting allows voters the opportunity to mail in their ballot if they live away from home and can't make it to the polls. The Secretary of State for each state has information about absentee ballots and advanced voting.
TYLER BIERWIRTH/KANSAN
For students searching for additional information about voting, several websites can provide information. Rock the Vote's website, www.rockthevote.com, provides state-by-state links that help young voters register, locate where they're registered and apply for absentee ballots. New York University School of Law's Brennan Center for Justice website also details voter registration information by state.
According to the Brennan Center, students with a permanent address outside of the state can register in Kansas, but must obtain a Kansas
Bea Tretbar, a sophomore from Wichita and SUA coordinator, assists a student at the voter registration Friday afternoon. SUA is hosting a voter registration drive every Thursday and Friday from noon to 3 p.m. until Oct. 26. It is open to students and public.
driver's license within 90 days.
A common misconception about voting is that voters must vote for the political party they're registered with. A voter can choose whoever they want to once they are in the election booth. The reason for registering for one party is to participate in the party primaries. However, in Kansas, registering as independent only allows that voter to vote in the general election.
Mechler said young adults typically have the lowest voter turnout of any age group and he wants the university to help with that change.
Some students may have already registered to vote or plan on registering. However, that doesn't determine whether they will participate in this upcoming presidential election. A July Gallop poll showed 58 percent of registered voters age 18 to 29 plan to vote. This is down about 20 percent from the 2008 election.
"I registered to vote," Ben Kulhanek, a freshman from Lenexa, said, "but honestly I'm not too into politics to care enough. But we'll see, maybe I'll vote."
—Edited by Andrew Ruszczyk
VOTING IN KANSAS
TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN KANSAS YOU MUST:
be a citizen of the United States
be a resident of Kansas
be 18 by the next election
have received final discharge from imprisonment, parole, or conditional release if convicted of
not claim the right to vote in any other location or under any other name
a felony
not be excluded from voting for mental incompetence by a court of competent jurisdiction
VOTER REGISTRATION
DEADLINE:
IMPORTANT
ELECTIONS DATES:
21 days before the election.
Tuesday, Oct. 16- Last day to
register to vote in general election for the state of Kansas
Wednesday, Oct. 17- Advance voting begins for general election
15 Friday, Nov. 2- Deadline for voters to apply for advance voting ballots to be mailed
Monday, Nov. 5- Noon deadline to cast advance voting ballots in person in office of County Election Officer
Tuesday, Nov. 6- General Election Advance voting ballots must be received in office of County Election Officer by close of polls
U. of Rochester, U. of Maryland
Graphic by Katie Kutsko
CAMPUS
NIKKI WENTLING
Incoming freshman class size increases
nwentling@kansan.com
Since 2008, the University's overall enrollment has been on the downward slide, and the trend continues this semester with a 2.7 percent decrease. However, with the most students since 2009, the freshman class increased more than 5 percent from last year.
Matt Melvin, vice provost of enrollment management, said new recruitment strategies had an effect on the increase. Enrollment Management, which was created through Bold Aspirations to improve enrollment, is in its
first full year of implementation. Efforts have been made to get people interested in the University and increase the number of admitted students that enroll by online targeting, enhancing the campus visit experience and offering more scholarships.
"As cost becomes a more impor
undergraduate students
31. 5% graduate students
Melvin said the University purchased and deployed Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology last year. This helps the University customize recruitment based on the grade levels of high school students.
tant factor in the final decision, we retooled our first-year scholarship program in an effort to better position KU in a competitive and dynamic market environment," Melvin wrote in an email.
The incoming class also has an average ACT score of 25.1, the highest the University has seen. Jack Martin, Director of Strategic Communications, said there was also an increase in average GPA.
"That means the students are more prepared to come to KU, and that indicates that they're more likely to stay here and earn undergraduate degrees." Martin said.
Melvin said the high ACT scores should also lead to improvements in retention and graduation rates, which defines the success of the
international
out of state
in state
University and could improve national rankings.
This freshman class is the most diverse in University history; 21.3 percent are minority students, while 16.7 percent of the University's overall student body is minority students. Blane Harding, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, said the University has historically had 15 or 16 percent minority students; however, he expects this to increase in the next few years.
"It's apparent that we're living in a society where demographics are extremely important, and it is becoming more diverse as we speak," Harding said. "As we bring in freshman classes that have more minorities, that's adding to the diversity of the whole student body."
A DOWNWARD TREND
Although the Fall 2012 incoming class is reversing the trend, Melvin said small classes in 2009, 2010 and 2011 are keeping enrollment down. Also, the number of graduate, international, Edwards Campus and transfer students is stagnant or declining, and
female
—Source: Kansas Board of Regents
retention rates remain flat. The University's overall enrollment is 27,939 this semester, down from 30,102 in 2008, when the number of students in the incoming class set a record high. Now, the incoming class of 2008 is beginning to leave the system.
"Four- and six-year graduation rates were at record levels," Melvin wrote. "Thus, overall enrollment is impacted by the fact that we are graduating larger numbers of students who are not having to extend their degrees beyond what is typically required to graduate."
The economy is also a factor contributing to the overall decline. Melvin said that economic conditions limit student mobility, and more students are likely to go to a college closer to home. More students are also choosing to enroll in two-year programs or in online classes.
Edited by Brittney Haynes
TRANSPORTATION
Bus driver saga continues as grievance is filed
VIKAAS SHANKER
vshanker@kansan.com
Morelan said that starting today he is in training for Aero Stage Lines, a charter bus company that has locations in Topeka, Manhattan and Kansas City, Mo. Aero Stage Lines also contracts to transport Kansas Athletics teams to and from Kansas City.
Dan Morelan, the former singing University bus driver, is still appealing his termination from MV Transportation. But he's also beginning another job in case he isn't rehired.
But if Morelan is rehired by MV Transportation following the grievance process, he said he would quit
Morelan's grievance process continues to the second stage after union representative Charles Pirtle was notified that local MV Transportation management ruled against rehiring Morelan.
were to win the appeal, I would have to resign and go back to driving for KU on Wheels."
"I made a promise to these students," Morelan said. "So I've told this company so far that if
this company up front that if we
Morelan
his new job and come back to the University.
"The second stage hearing
involves the local company and Dan. They will present their info, Dan will present his information and a third party will make their decision." Pirtle said.
Now, the appeal will go to the corporate level. According to the timetable set by the union's contract with MV Transportation, a hearing with the vice president should take place by Oct. 5.
FOURTH VIOLATION
Morelan was fired after he committed the maximum four work-rule violations for MV Transportation. The fourth violation came from singing with passengers while transporting them from the Kansas football game on
In the fourth violation notice, the company said a complaint was received by Danny Kaiser, the assistant director of KU Parking and Transit, sparking an investigation leading to the fourth violation.
Sept.1.
The notice said Kaiser complained about a Free For All in the Kansas that said "Dan the bus driver just got the entire football parking bus to sing 'Sweet Caroline'"
Kaiser said he didn't complain about the Free For All; he just forwarded it to MV Transportation.
Also, the company said that by singing on the bus, Morelan disobeyed a policy that regulates what can and can't be said over a bus'
The bus drivers' union filed a grievance against the company on Sept. 12 saying the company violated the union contract by not properly notifying employees, including Morelan, of the P.A. system policy. The union also argues that the memorandum was a notice and not an official policy, so Morelan could
The policy came in an April 16 memorandum from Operations Manager Jeremy Stacy stating that, "Examples of unprofessional use of the PA system include but are not limited to, whistling, singing, entertaining, tour guiding, hailing, or 'saying hi' to passerbys, and anything that may disturb the public or your passengers."
"Consistent with our policy, MV Transportation does not comment on personnel matters involving our employees," said Lauren Davis, a spokeswoman for MV Transportation. "Our priority, along with the priority of the University of Kansas, continues to be safe and reliable transportation for all passengers."
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPINION 5
CLASSIFIEDS 11
CROSSWORD 4
MV Transportation declined comment on any questions for this story.
not have violated any work rule by singing with passengers. It asked the company to rehire Morelan with full rights and seniority.
P. A. system.
SPORTS 12
SUDOKU 4
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
Edited by Brittney Haynes
Today's Weather
N
KU Cash Bus begins today. Be on the lookout for prizes for answering KU trivia questions correctly during bus rides.
Warm and mostly cloudy. Breezy north wind at 24 mph.
HI: 80
LO: 48
24