With
and
-49
three 3s
ut the closer.
uts, two
ara had
nent free
five-for-
acuse
thup of
l's win-
Gutton
vysical
d
zone
alfftime
able to
percent.
letter for
and half
started to
beak the
ciated Press
mages
y few
both
tivist;
e and work possible whose peace. D.C.
in only is and Rain offering fears humans in science,
-7058
ntm)
MAGAZINE A very merry Jayplay featuring a horror genre indie filmmaker. PLUS How to enjoy Dec. 25 as a non- Christian. JAYPLAY
SIMIEN
Men's basketball forward Wayne Simien is a changed man. He pushed aside his secular life for one committed to God.PAGE 1B
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
VOL.115 ISSUE 76
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2004
Calls waiting
www.kansan.com
by Ross Fitch
'How was KU Info started?'
KU Info started during the
KU Info started during the upheaval and turmoil of the Vietnam War. Rumors were spreading around the University of Kansas campus about classes being canceled, policy changes and, specifically, details concerning the April 1970 burning of the Kansas Union.
On May 8, 1970, a committee of concerned students named Students Mobilized for Peace created a rumor-control phone number on campus. The line was initially meant to be temporary, but so many students called that it soon became permanent.
Laura Rose Barr, Chicago, Ill., junior answers the phone at the KU Info desk in Anschutz Library.
The newly named University Information Center was opened July 17, 1970, on a regular basis. The center was located in 105 Strong Hall, and the vice chancellor for student affairs provided a budget.
The center eventually moved away from controlling rumors and became one of the University's premier sources of information for students.
"The primary goal of the KU Information Center is to act as a reliable source of information for the University community," said Shirley Gilham, director of the center in 1971, according to a Sept. 27, 1971 Kansan article.
John Tran/KANSAN
In response to the possible elimination of KU Info after its funding was cut, Student Senate passed a resolution on Sept.10, 2002, that maintained KU Info as a phone line.
The KU Libraries eventually picked up KU Info.
"We brought them in because we saw it as an opportunity to enhance the range of service we provide," said Bill Myers, director of library development.
After its move into Anschutz Library, KU info isn't what it used to be
Ross Fitch
On the other end of the line, a young woman began to speak frantically. She'd just been attacked on campus and didn't know what to do. She called the only number she could remember.
864-3506. KU Info.
KUinfo isn't what it used to be
"We were the number in that moment of crisis that she could remember, that she trusted and that she used, and I think that says it all," said Joe White,
Dodge City senior and the KU Info worker who took the call.
For more than 30 years, KU Info has been students' dependable source for any question, from serious to silly. Need to know how to add or drop a class? Call KU Info. How about knowing just how many trees there really are on campus? 864-3506.
Student employees of KU Info have manned the phones around the clock — sometimes 24 hours a day — and answered thousands of calls over the
years. Today, however, this student service is becoming a shadow of its former self. Fewer and fewer calls are coming in, and the students answering the phones are now a part of the library system, gaining extra duties and chores. Since moving from the Kansas Union to Anschutz Library a year ago, KU Info workers — 16 students — worry that the tradition of their beloved organization is disappearing.
To-do list of initiatives remain
STUDENT SENATE
BY LAURA FRANCOVIGLIA
lfrancoviiglia@kansan.com
MATTHEW HUNTER
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
one community. many voices.
SEE KU INFO ON PAGE 8A
Student Senate has been working throughout the semester on initiatives proposed by the KUnited coalition. The initiatives were the coalition's campaign platforms from last spring's election.
In the coming semester, expect to see more action in the biodiesel fuel initiative, the environmental initiative, wireless Internet access, University-wide file sharing and online course evaluations.
Biodiesel fuel initiative
A biodiesel fuel trial for the KU on
Wheels buses will have to wait until next semester. The trial was originally planned for a day around Thanksgiving break. But because of cold weather concerns, the Lawrence Bus Company and the Transportation Board, which oversees KU on Wheels, decided to put the trial on hold.
or how many buses would be involved.
"We're still trying to address those concerns," said Jeff Dunlap, student body vice president. Dunlap, Leawood senior, couldn't say when the trial would be next semester, for how long the trial would last
or how many buses would be involved.
A change of this magnitude requires research and time, he said.
Environmental sustainability initiative
A hub to improve environmental efficiency at the University is the charge of the Sustainability Task Force, said Jeff Severin, task force chairman.
A hub doesn't necessarily mean a building, Severin said, but could mean a set of meetings to discuss environmental initiatives and implement programs across campus.
A key aspect of the initiative is to include student involvement and research. The task force will discuss ways to bring together all of the environmental initiatives into a cohesive whole to improve efficiency.
The task force will create a recommendation on the sort of structure that will benefit the University and the Lawrence community most, Severin said.
Areas the task force is researching include recycling, waste reduction, the campus landscape, biodiversity and energy efficiency.
SEE INITIATIVES ON PAGE 6A
Wrecks leading cause of student deaths
Nine KU fatalities occured this semester, highest since 2001-2002
BY AMANDA O'TOLE
otoleo@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WINTER
Throughout the past five months, fatalities within the University of Kansas community have been frequent front-page news. At least nine people from the University have died.
The leading cause of student deaths was car accidents, she said.
Jane Tuttle, assistant to the dean of students, said the number of fatalities was high this semester.
In the 2003-2004 academic year, four students died. Eight students died in the 2002-2003 academic year and 13 died from 2001-2002. Car accidents are the number one cause of all of the past few years' deaths.
Tuttle, who often works with the family of deceased students, said because of traffic accidents, she expected to lose a student during every holiday, and was surprised when a death did not occur.
life." Turtle said. "It's a loss to everyone because it's a loss to our community."
"It's a terrible thing to lose a young
Despite the higher number of fatalities, DeSalvo said he hadn't seen many students ask for counseling.
If grief reactions, like loss of appetite or depression, last longer than 10 days to two weeks, DeSalvo said a student should consider coming into Watkins' Counseling and Psychological Services to talk to a professional.
Students who are affected by the
The following are persons at the University who have died since July.
death of a friend or acquaintance are encouraged to talk with other people.
Marty Miller has been charged with her murder.
worked at the technology desk at Watson Library.
Her husband, Martin "Marty" Miller told Lawrence police that he had found headphones on 90 in their own home.
Mary Miller: The 46-year-old librarian
According to the autopsy, Mary Miller died of asphyxiation.
She had two teenage children.
Teri Zenner: The 26-year-old graduate student was in the school of social welfare at the Edwards Campus.
SEE WRECKS ON PAGE 6A
SafeRide operating New Year's
Drinking and driving won't have to be a problem this New Year's Eve because of SafeRide.
The service will be operating from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Dec. 31. SafeRide provides students with rides home from campus and bars and parties in Lawrence. SafeRide will pick up students anywhere within city limits. Drivers ask students to show their KUIDs, but students won't be denied rides without them, said Blake Huff, Transportation co-coordinator.
The Transportation Board, which oversees the KU on Wheels program, decided to provide the service on New Year's Eve to ensure students' safety, said Anton Bengtson, Transportation Board member.
About three cars will be running on New Year's Eve, said Tim Akright, Transportation co-coordinator. He predicted between 60 and 80 calls for the night based on statistics from past years. This is the third year SafeRide has operated on New Year's Eve.
SafeRide's usual hours of operation are 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., seven days per week, while school is in session.
The average wait time for SafeRide is between 15 and 30 minutes, said Akright, Overland Park senior. He said wait times depended on where in the city students were and weather conditions.
To contact SafeRide, call 864-SAFE.
The University Daily Kansan
The University John Kansan
111 Stauffer Hall
1435 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 66045
(785) 864-4810
© 2004 The University Daily Kansan
— Laura Francoviglia
Spencer goes digital
The Spencer Art Museum has received a grant that will enable it to compile an online database of the more than 25,000 works in its collection. PAGE 5A
Welcome back. Nick
Former men's basketball assistant coach Nick Dougherty returns to Allen Fieldhcuse as the coach for the TCU Horned Frogs for tonight's game. PAGE 1B
V
第
Index
News Briefs 2A
Weather 2A
Opinion 4A
Sports 1B
Comics 5B
Crossword 5B
Classifieds 5B
B