Monday, October 25, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Organizations want students to vote
SLAB sponsors drive to register KU voters
By Chris Borniger
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Even with national elections more than a year away, student organizations will work this week at getting out the college student vote.
Michael Henry, SLAB community affairs director, said he hoped the drive would interest more students in the political process.
Student Legislative Awareness Board is sponsoring this week's voter registration drive, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m today through Friday at the Kansas Union lobby.
eat more sodas, but "In the past, we simply had a table set out for registration," he said. "Now we're trying to go beyond that. The problem is, it's a non-election year, so we're trying to stir up excitement."
That interest in appealing to students led Henry to approach KU Young Democrats and
KU College Republicans. Representatives from the two groups will debate several national issues at 2 p.m. today at the Kansas Union lobby. The topics include each party's potential presidential nominees, the nuclear test ban treaty and gun control.
Jack Martin, Young Democrats president, said the debate aimed at raising students' awareness of the issues.
"People don't see politics as something that happens all the time," he said.
Martin said the debate would appeal to people from all areas of the political spectrum.
"If you're a hard-core Democrat or a hard-core Republican, you get to see each side beat up on the other," he said. "And if you're in the middle, you can find out a little more about where the parties stand."
More than 400 students registered during SLAB's drive last fall.
Henry said SLAB would sponsor another event in the spring during enrollment. That drive, he said, would be aimed at getting University of Kansas students to declare themselves residents of Douglas County, regardless of their home counties. That could earn the Lawrence area another seat in the
"That way, we can get a little more clout in Toneka," he said.
Legislature, Henry said.
Henry said it was particularly important for college students to get registered and to vote.
But because of students' hectic schedules and general voter apathy, Henry said it was important to bring the registration process to them.
"On the federal level, no other body is looked at as much, besides the elderly, as college students," he said. "In Kansas, the legislature hasn't looked at the University like it should. We're hoping to show college students do care and make a difference," he said.
"If you're taking 15 hours and working, like a lot of students, it's not the easiest thing in the world to do," he said. "We feel that whatever we can do to ease the process, we need to do."
Another activity slated for the week is a speech by Dick Bond, president of the Kansas Senate, at the Student Senate meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Naismith Hall.
Edited by Kelly Clasen
Budget cuts worry Endowment Association
By Clay McCuistion writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
In the midst of two major fact-gathering campaigns, the Kansas University Endowment Association is grappling with a $2 million budget cut at the University of Kansas and the possibility of more funds being slashed in the future.
slashed in the lower With Gov. Bill Graves' September announcement of a 1 percent budget cut for all state agencies this fiscal year, the University faces a possible financial crisis. Provost David Shulenburger told the University Council Thursday that he was concerned about future state spending reductions.
Meanwhile, the Endowment Association is involved with two firms that are conducting research this semester. Chicagobased Grenzebac, Glier and Associates, Inc., which concentrates on campaigning and fund raising, is studying the feasibility of a capital campaign — a major fund-raising drive at the University. Clark, Martire & Bartolomeo, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is studying the University's image among students, parents, faculty and community members.
"The Endowment should never be taken as an indication by the state to evade responsibility to the University. I think it's very important we don't have future cuts."
Robert Hemenway
Chancellor
Will the Endowment Association have to take up the slack left by state legislators? Jim Martin, president of the association, said it was unlikely.
Martin said the University had to be strongly supported by the state for the association's work to be successful.
"Donors do not make decisions to give because the state in any way reduces its support," he said. "We believe the state has a responsibility to provide good support for higher education."
"Strength builds on strength,' he said.
Last year, the Endowment Association contributed a record amount to University coffers — $54.1 million.
The possible capital campaign which will be decided on after the feasibility study is finished in late January or early February, should provide enhancements to the University, Martin said.
said.
"The capital campaign is meant to build on strengths, not to shore up weaknesses in the budget," he
Chancellor Robert Hemenway said the University's budget was the most important issue he faced. He agreed with Martin that it should not be the Endowment Association's job to replace state funds.
"The Endowment should never be taken as an indication by the state to evade its responsibility to the University," Hemenway said. "I think it's very important we don't have future cuts."
The chancellor questioned why the statewide cut was necessary.
"The real question to me is, why is this happening?" Hemenway said. "The state of Kansas cut taxes by $4 billion. What was wrong with 3/1/2?"
John Scarfe, communications director for the Endowment Association, said the University's image survey would be completed by the end of the school year.
"It's in progress," he said. "A great many interviews have been scheduled and completed."
Edited by Katie Hollar
By Todd Halstead
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Economic summit stresses technological advancement
Gov. Bill Graves joined top business and government leaders in a panel discussion at the first Governor's Economic Summit at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union Friday.
The panelists discussed ways to make Kansas a competitive force in technological advancement and global market expansion.
and good understanding."
"I want to emphasize that I think often times when we use the word innovation, we all think innovation is some sort of rocket science," Graves said to members of the audience, who paid
$95 each to
attend the
summit. "But
I happen to
believe a lot of
the things we
need to do that
are innovative in Kansas are common sense policies."
Chancellor Robert Hemenway introduced Graves as a
Graves: Said Kansas needed to overcome stigmas
person who would leave a lasting legacy for education in Kanee
"It's a great privilege to be able to work with somebody who is, as he is, committed to higher education." Hemenway said.
Graves said Kansas should expand higher education reform, work force training and the connection of educational institutions through the information highway. He also proposed the expansion of income tax credits and property taxes made on business equipment and machinery.
Ronald LeMay, president and chief executive officer of Sprint, said Kansas needed more technology-based businesses to bring skilled workers to the area.
"Sprint dominates Kansas City so much — and a handful of other companies — the diversity of high-tech companies simply doesn't exist there," he said. "We have built a leading innovative telecommunications company in that area, so it can be done."
Earlier in the day, John Yochelson, president of the National Council on Competitiveness, delivered the keynote address. He said the United States could lose its status as the world's pre-eminent innovator unless policies and investment trends changed. He also said that during the last ten years, U.S. economic and export growth was closely linked with technology innovation.
Doug Mahin, vice president of Raytheon Aircraft Co., said that Kansas was in the position to become a leader in technology innovation.
"Kansas has the opportunity for a better strategic technology plan and better state economic leadership vs. the other states," he said. James Barton, chief executive officer of Cyagra, which clones cattle, said his company would be advantageous to Kansas. He said Cyagra had two research laboratories at Kansas State University and would begin construction on a third in April.
"It if it grows the way we hope it will, Kansas is going to be the center of the industry." Barton said.
He said his company was looking toward Kansas' educational system to secure research technicians.
Graves said Kansas had many stigmas to overcome, ranging from the belief that the state is a flat and desolate wasteland to the controversy about evolution the Board of Education caused in August.
August
"I would suggest that on those kinds of controversial issues that there has to be better ways to resolve our differences than to air our laundry out in public for everyone to perhaps see and in some way criticize." Graves said.
He highlighted Kansas' location as one of its many positive attributes in attracting new businesses.
"Transportation costs have become such a significant part of doing business in this country that I happen to think location is a great asset for our state," Graves said.
Edited by Allan Davis
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