6C THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN ON THE HILL MONDAY,AUGUST 16,2004 Public radio covers local issues --- Courtnev Kuhlen/KANSAN Laura Lorson, local All Things Considered host, has worked at KANU for four years. She said she found it satisfying to deliver local news to people that really affects them. “How can you really complain about a job like this?” she asked as she gestured around her recording studio. By Miranda Lenning mlenning@kansan.com Kansas staff writer Kansas Public Radio receives more than 25 e-mails every day from listeners providing feedback about its broadcasts. Some listeners want more local news, while others want to hear more national programming and still others want more music. Regardless of the input, all e-mails are read. KPR exists to serve the community. In fact, it encourages input and takes it so seriously that it allows themselves the flexibility to change what it puts on the air at any given time. "KPR is an umbrella term for the different signals that broadcast Kansas Public Radio," said Laura Lorson, a local host at KANU. "We have also had people call in from places in Missouri saying that they are listening to us." KANU, licensed to the University of Kansas, is the Lawrence signal for Kansas Public Radio. KPR has a series of towers throughout Kansas, including Junction City, Emporia and Atchison, stretching its broadcast as far west as Salina and as far east as Kansas City, Mo. KANU has been at the University for more than 50 years, but it moved into a new building about a year ago. "We were in a small building, basically out of space and using old equipment," said Lorson. "We decided that in order to give listeners what they wanted we needed to expand and hook up with a satellite." KANU is tied under the heading of University Relations, however, the University did not fund the move into the new building. The Kansas University Endowment Association gave KANU the seed money to expand,but through solicitations and private donations KANU repaid the association. Lorson said KANU was sensitive to the needs of the community. She said it broadcasted a variety of Kansas Public Radio, National Public Radio and local programming, which was produced in Lawrence. It also plays a lot music, primarily classical and jazz, Lorson said. Lorson said KPR worked hard to broadcast the best local news and national news. Each NPR program has up to six opportunities for local news inserts, including University news, she said. "If people want to hear NPR news they don't have to turn the dial to hear if schools are going to KPR is working to improve their relationship with the University and its students, said Robin Jordan, corporate development director. She said they wanted to increases students' awareness of KPR and how it could benefit students. "If you are a KU student and you want to know if KU tuition is going up, KANU would not be a bad place to turn," Lorson said. They will broadcast more live concerts and major University events, like Bill Clinton and Bob Dole's visit. They are collaborating with the Hall Center for Humanities, Spencer Museum of Art and University Theatre to attract student listeners. She said the door was always open to students who wanted to learn and contribute through internships. Jordan also said they encouraged more students to get involved with KPR. She said they were going to have an intern from the University this fall who would work with the marketing team to improve relations with students. "Everyone here loves to teach because we are so passionate about what we do," said Lorson. "Students who love news, classical and jazz music and want to learn production skills could make great contributions to what we do." Edited by Abby Tillery Racy reading rewarding task By Amanda O'Toole autole@kansan.com Kansas staff writer Stephanie Farley reads Play girl Magazine about once a month, not for the pleasure of the pictures, but for the satisfaction of helping others. The Adult Magazine Hour is one of several shows she covers when other broadcasters aren't available. Farley, Wellington senior, reads for the Audio-Reader Network, a non-profit organization that provides broadcasts of printed material for the visually impaired and print-disabled throughout Kansas and western Missouri. The network, which broadcasts to about 5,000 people on an FM subcarrier, operates with about 250 volunteers and seven full-time employees. Subscribers are given free equipment to pick up the signal. Audio-Reader Network is a service provided by the University and is located at 1120 W.11th St., near the Triangle fraternity house. New volunteers are always needed, and with the program's close-to-campus locations, students can easily become involved, said Lori Kesinger, program manager. "People can come in for an hour and a half a week," she said. "It's not messy — it's not like picking up trash on the freeway. It's real clean and easy." The genre of reading materials surpasses racy magazines, too. The network broadcasts local and regional newspapers, magazines and popular books. "It's a way for more people to Kansan File Photo Natalie Speiss, Overland Park senior, reads *Dos Mundos* for the Audio-Reader Network last semester. Audio-Reader Network is a non-profit organization that provides broadcasts of printed material for the visually impaired and print-disabled throughout Kansas and western Missouri. get information without having to bother friends and family," Kesinger said. "They can get times, dates and places of events going on in a community." Though she said the main focus was to keep readers updated with current news, Kesinger encourages students to suggest or bring books they are interested in. Farley said she would encourage any student to go to the Audio-Reader Network to see what it was like. "It's a different kind of helping," she said. "You don't see the good that you do, but you know it's there." - Edited by John Scheirman Student loan options confusing, remedy costly bills By Abby Tillery atiller@kansan.com Kansan staff writer Nearly 50 percent of college students pay for education through federal loans, according to The College Board, a non-profit organization for students and universities. University of Kansas students on the Lawrence campus alone accounted for more than $79 million in loans, according to the Office of Institutional Research and Planning's Web site, www.ku.edu/~oirp. Emily Vick is a former KU student who funded a study abroad trip with a loan from the Kansas University Endowment Association. The 2003 KU graduate borrowed $7,000 and doesn't look back with any regret. "Student loans are so good because the interest rate is so low," she said. The interest rate for a KU Endowment Loan is 4.5 percent with a four-month grace period. Different loan programs have different interest rates and different grace periods. For example Stafford loans, which are federal direct loans, have a 2.77 percent interest rate with a six-month grace period and Perkins loans have a 5 percent interest rate with a nine-month grace period. Students can decide between grants, scholarships, loans, work-study and sometimes their parents. Sallie Mae, one of the largest student loan companies in the United States, services student loans for more than seven million people. Martha Holler, Sallie Mae spokeswoman, said the best way to pay for college was with "gift aid." Gift aid refers to free money like grants and scholarships; things you don't have to repay. The application for many of the grants and loans are available through the office of student financial aid. Individual schools and institutions offer grants, but the students must seek the aid themselves. In order to obtain a federally funded loan a student must fill out the free application for student financial aid which can be picked up in 100 Strong Hall or completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Not all student loan applications come through the Office of Student Financial Aid. The priority deadline for the following academic year is March 1. Applicants meeting the priority deadline have a better chance for the limited fund options like the federal Perkin loan. Students have the option to work outside the federal loan system and look for student loans through banks. Stephanie Covington, associate director for the Office of Student Financial Aid, said some students don't get enough funding for school through federal programs. When students complete a FAFSA form, the family contributed income is calculated. The student's eligibility for aid is determined by subtracting the contributed income and other financial aid from the cost of attendance. The current academic year's cost of living for an undergraduate resident is $13,778 and for a nonresident it is $21,552. - Edited by Amanda O'Toole
Subsidized
0-29 hours completed$2,625
30-59 hours completed$3,500
60 + hours completed$5,500
Dependent Undergraduates Independent Undergraduates Subsidized and Unsubsidized $2,625 $3,500 $5,500 STAFFORD LOAN LIMITATIONS | | Subsidized | Subsidized and Unsubsidized | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 0-29 hours completed | $2,625 | $6,625 | | 30-59 hours completed | $3,500 | $7,500 | | 60+ hours completed | $5,500 | $10,500 | | Graduate & Professional | $8,500 | $18,500 | More than half of KU students depend on loans to pay for tuition and cover the cost of bills. Stafford Loans are set up so the amount students borrow does not exceed their cost of living. The chart below illustrates the amount students can take out in Stafford Loans. Source: Offce of Stuart Financial Aid Welcome Back Students! 2 Convenient Locations: Printing Services Building West Campus 854-6343 (Center of 15th Street and Coastline) PS Publication Center Wescoe Publication Center 1520 Wescoe Hall 864-3354 (more door to the california) Your One Stop Print Shop Q. How can we help you? A. Dissertation & Resume printing, Large Scale printing & scanning, poster making, B/W & Color copies at low prices, & more! Check it out at www.printing.ku.edu. KU Printing Services MONDA T