Friday, October 15, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 3
New center may be Robinson addition
Hemenway plans to make a decision within the month
By Chris Borniger
writer @kanson.com
Kansan staff writer
The new campus recreation center approved last spring by student referendum could end up right next to its predecessor.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway confirmed yesterday that he was considering building the center to the south or east of Robinson Center — possibly in the form of an addition to the building. He said he also would consider the land south of Watkins Memorial Health Center, the site recommended by the Student Senate Recreation Task Force last year.
The initiative on the ballot, taken from the task force's recommendations, passed 2,817 to 1,238. It asked students whether they would support an increase in student fees — up to $49 per semester — to provide $15.5 million to build the free-standing center.
"It's just good construction management to examine what your options are," Hemenway said. "We're obligated to look at any and all sites."
However, Hemenway said he was no longer considering West Campus a viable site for the center. He said he would make a final decision within a month. It would then require the approval of the Board of Regents and the Legislature. He said he would make the decision that was best for the University of Kansas.
"A referendum is always advisory." Hemenway said. "We've tried to take into account students' interests in this, but there's been no decision yet."
Scott Kaiser, former student body vice president and vice chairman of the task force, said the center's features were his primary concern.
"The size and scope of the facility are much more important than its location," he said. "If they decide to go with an addition that's smaller, that would fly in the face of
the referendum's intent and should concern students as undemocratic."
Kaiser also said that building the center south of Watkins would prevent removal of the tennis courts adjacent to Robinson.
Kevin Yoder, former student body president and chairman of the task force, said the area south of Watkins would allow space for future expansion.
"It makes more sense for the long-term vision of the University," he said. "An addition to Robinson is a poor option, and I think the chancellor won't consider it in the final scope of things."
Luke Pfannenstiel, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences senator and Delta Force president, disagreed. He said Delta Force lobbied against the referendum proposal because it wasn't the best available choice.
"We've always felt that an addition would be a better option," he said. "It makes better use of space. A lot of the things in Robinson work fine, and we felt they could just add in what extras were needed."
Among the features voters approved were four multi-purpose gymnasium courts, two racquetball courts, an aerobics and dance studio, a cardiovascular fitness and weight training center, a martial arts studio and a suspended walking and jogging track. The center would open in Spring 2002, available for student use 18 hours per day.
Tom Waechter, planning and programming manager for University Design and Construction Management, said an addition to Robinson would not affect any of those features.
"The reason we're pursuing it is so we can use existing space," he said. "It's still essentially the same scope of work and maybe a little less expensive."
The biggest impact of choosing the Robinson site, he said, would be removing the tennis courts and rerouting some underground drainage pipes.
Partha Mazumdar, graduate senator, said the Robinson site was preferable, even if it did contradict the referendum.
"The referendum was a recommendation," he said. "Was it negated? Yeah, sure it was. But Chancellor Hemenway has repeatedly said that the University of Kansas doesn't build buildings by referendum."
Edited by Jennifer Roush
Budig evacuation
Police and fire trucks were called to Budigh Hall because it was alarm sounded. Students are based from the building yesterday morning. At least one scheduled test was delayed. Photo Lumberg KANSAN Lindberg/KANSAN
End of the road for Trafficway
By Derek Prater
Kansan staff writer
The South Lawrence Trafficway road show has taken its final bow, county and state officials say.
The Haskell Indian Nations University Board of Regents issued a press release Wednesday restating its opposition to an extension of the trafficway over 31st Street.
Craig Weinaum, Douglas County administrator, said given the positions of the agencies involved in the project, Haskell's decision left the trafficway with no place to go.
"it bastly ended the effort to complete the South Lawrence Trafficway," Weinaug said.
The Federal Highway Administration, which provided funds for work already completed on the project, gave the Haskell Board of Regents veto power on any proposal that would impact Haskell lands.
Carol Burns, Haskell student and secretary of the Wetlands Preservation Organization, said that she was proud of the board's stance and that students wanted to protect the wetlands for future generations.
Dean Carlson, transportation secretary, said the 31st Street route was the only option that his department thought possibly could be
"They think if they keep flashing money, they'll get people to change their minds. I think it's an insult for them to keep coming back and asking."
Tomasine Ross
Wetlands Preservation Organization member
allowed and accomplish the goal of relieving traffic congestion on 23rd Street.
That route would require construction on historic Haskell lands and the Baker Wetlands.
The board's press release stated that the transportation department's hired consultants, Carter & Burgess, Inc. and Connolly Associates, indicated that no particular route was preferable to any other.
The board stated its objection to the 31st Street route after a meeting in May, but at another meeting on Tuesday, county, state and federal officials were allowed to present their cases to the board.
Carlsen presented the board with a $5 million mitigation package that the transportation
department would have provided for Haskell if the 31st Street route was approved.
The package included land from the Baker Wetlands and a $300,000 trust fund to maintain that land, noise reduction, a pedestrian crossing and a Haskell-approved archeologist to handle any artifacts or burial sites encountered during construction.
Board members expressed concerns that, despite the mitigation package, the proposal would harm historic lands and that other options were not being seriously addressed.
Members of the Wetlands Preservation Organization also spoke to the board and voiced their opposition to the trafficway.
romaine Ross, Haskell alumna and member of the organization, said that the mitigation package was not the answer.
"They think if they keep flashing money, they'll get people to change their minds," Ross said. "I think it's an insult for them to keep coming back and asking."
Weinaug said that the no-build option would not satisfy anyone.
"We're disappointed," he said. "We've been working very hard to meet the needs of the community in such a way that meets Haskell's needs also."
Ex-professor, known for humor, helpfulness, dies at 77
— Edited by Ronnie Wachter
By Todd Halstead
writer@kansan.com
Bv Todd Halstead
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Edward L. Wike was described by his peers and friends as convivial, a warm friend and a person with an uncanny skill in employing humor to help students understand and enjoy lectures.
Wike, 77, a Lawrence resident, died Saturday at Brandon Woods Retirement Community, 1501 Inverness Drive, of complications from a stroke.
Wike was a professor emeritus of psychology who specialized in methodology and statistics. He gained tenure as an associate professor at the University of Kansas in 1957 and a full professorship in 1962. He retired in 1987.
Joan Bussell, a long-time friend of Wike and a Lawrence resident, said that at his eulogy he was remembered most for his sense of humor and ability to help others in times of night.
"He was very caring of other people," Bussel said. "There are so many things, it's hard to say what defines him."
Greg Simpson, chair of the psychology department, said Wike was the first person he met when he arrived at the University as a graduate student. He said that Wike had an innate ability to inject humor into his lectures and that his humor was irreverent but never condescending. Simpson that Wike's incomparable wit might be attributed to his uncanny resemblance to Bob Hope.
"Everybody comments about his humor and the way he was able to get a point across," Simpson said. "He could use
humor to deflate arrogance in a theory."
He said Wike was able to make abstract material understandable while doing justice to the subject matter.
David Holmes, professor of psychology, said Wike's influence went beyond academics and was instrumental in helping Holmes through a traumatic period in his life.
"Two things characterized him apart from academics," he said. "One was his wonderful, abiding humor, and secondly, he was a master of getting people through difficult times."
Wike was named Outstanding Educator in America, and was a consultant for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo.
He was also a member of the American Psychology Association; Sigma Xi, a scientific society; and the
Psychonomic Society. Psychonomy is the science of the lays of mental activity.
Wike was born Feb. 19, 1922 in Ravenna, Ohio. In World War II, he served as a first lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers.
He earned his undergraduate and doctoral degrees from the University of California-Los Angeles.
In 1969, Wike married Sharron Knowles, who died in 1977. He is survived by a son, Robert, of Lawrence; and daughter Cynthia, of Chicago.
A memorial service was held Wednesday at Warren McElwain Mortuary Inc, 120 W 13th. Private family inurement services were held at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Edited by Chris Hopkins