THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2006
NEWS
RECREATION
3A
On-campus tennis courts left dark
Facility's lights still not functional after complaints from students, faculty
Lisa Lipovac/Kansan
BY C.J. MOORE
Josephy McCracken, Topeka freshman, and Tristan McCafferty, Lawrence senior, play an intramural tennis game in the dark at the tennis courts next to Robinson Center on Monday night. Two of the courts do not have functioning lights. "It sucks." McCafferty said. "It's been broken for way long" Facilities Operations said it would replace the lights Monday, but had not done it well into the evening.
Students wanting to play tennis at the Robinson Center tennis courts might be forced to play in the dark.
Ramsey Attaria and his friends were looking for somewhere to play Thursday night on campus.
"We were hyped to play tennis," Attaria, Wichita senior, said. "We were ready after watching the U.S. Open."
Several lights were out at the Robinson courts, including all the lights that illuminate the two northwest corner courts.
Bernie Kish, facility director of Robinson Center, said he called Facilities Operations two weeks ago to have the lights replaced after an engineering professor informed him that the lights were out. Kish called again Monday.
Facilities Operations said it would replace the lights sometime Monday, but the lights were still out well into the evening.
Funding to maintain the eight tennis courts at Robinson — including the lights — comes out of the University budget, Kish said.
Attaria said that he was not satisfied with the number of courts at the University and that he would like to see a new lighting system because the current system had only one light for most of the poles.
"We have 22,000 students here and we only have these eight courts on campus." Attaria said. "They should build another facility or something where you can play tennis."
After Attaria and his friends arrived Thursday night about 10 p.m., all the remaining lights went out at Robinson. They went to Holcom Park, 2700 W. 27th St., instead.
Kansan staff writer C.J. Moore can be contacted at cjmoore@ kansan.com.
- Edited by Aly Barland
》 ADMINISTRATION
GTA negotiations
Both sides must agree on fact-finder to help mediate contract discussions.
BY DANNY LUPPINO
Will Delehanty, political science GTA, said he was frustrated with the length of time the negotiations have taken.
With the negotiations between the University of Kansas and its graduate teaching assistants lasting well into the school year, GTAs are left wondering what their new contracts will say.
"I do find it kind of questionable that both the University and the GTAs have kind of dragged their feet on this," Delehanty said. "You would think the University would want to have this in place by the time school starts so the GTAs know how to spend our time."
Lynn Bretz, director of university communications, said a speedy resolution was exactly what the University wanted.
Bretz said the negotiations were still stuck in the process of getting both sides to agree on a fact-finder, an independent arbitrator who would make recommendations for an agreement. Bretz said she didn't know how long that process would
take.
"We haven't gotten any sort of time estimation," Bretz said. "If there's a way to expedite it, wed be interested in that."
Bretz said even after the fact-finder had been chosen, he or she would then have to be approved by the Public Employees Relations Board, a division of the Kansas Department of Human Resources.
Katy Martin, lead negotiator for the Graduate Teaching Assistants Coalition, blamed the lack of prog ress on having to navigate state bureaucracy.
"It just takes time" Martin said.
"The wheels are moving. It's just going to take a while."
Martin also had no definite time table for reaching an end to the negotiations. She said that it "could take a couple months" but that she hoped an agreement would be reached by the end of the year.
Kansan staff writer Danny Luppino can be contacted at dluppino@ kansan.com.
》LEGISLATURE
Edited by Nicole Kelley
Displeasure with incumbents could create political shift in Congress this November
BY LIZ SIDOTI ASSOCIATED PRESS
"They're not doing their job," says Scott Newland, 39, an independent
NEW CASTLE, Ky. — Dissatisfied with Congress, voters would probably hang a "Help Wanted" sign on the U.S. Capitol if given the chance.
Such angry sentiments echo up and down the Ohio River Valley as it cuts through Republican-held congressional districts in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio — politically pivotal House seats in an election year in which
voter who backed President Bush in 2004. "You need people that care. They don't care."
Democrats hope to end 12 years in the minority.
At lunch counters, post offices, city parks and downtown streets, voters in this region and nationally are quick to voice their frustration with the GOP-controlled Congress, and their desire for more responsive replacements for the current crop of lawmakers. It's a
general disgust that may lead to firings of some politicians on Nov. 7.
With congressional elections less two months away, the public is consistently giving the GOP-run Congress dismal marks. An Associated Press-ipsos poll in August found that only 29 percent of the public approve of the job Congress is doing.
A CNN poll earlier this month found that 55 percent of Americans are more likely to vote for the challenger in any election this fall. And an ABC News/Washington Post poll in August found that 53 percent of Americans call themselves "anti-incumbent," a figure as high as it was in the summer 1994 shortly before
Republicans seized control from Democrats.
The party in power typically loses congressional seats in the sixth year of a presidency, and both Republican and Democratic strategists say this fall is on track to follow suit. GOP losses are expected in the House and, perhaps, the Senate.
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS
Dole Institute of Politics Student Advisory Board
Campaign Finance Reform:
Does it Subvert
American Democracy?
Rod Smith, who has raised more than $1 BILLION for Republican candidates and committees, will discuss the impact of campaign finance reform.
September 12, 2006
Lunch 'n Learn
This Thursday, 7:30pm At The Dole Institute of Politics
Rabbi Debbie Stiel will discuss various topics relating to modern Judaism. Bring your own lunch, dessert will be provided.
Topic: Iraq and Lebanon; Are These "Just Wars"
from a Jewish Perspective?
Come join a valuable discussion on modern international politics!
www.xuhilel.org
Student Senate needs students to fill open Senate seats!
Here are the seats that need to be filled:
TODAY, 12:00 - 1:30pm | Alcove C, 3rd Floor Kansas Union
1 Architecture Seat
1 Residential Seat
PAID FOR BY KU
2 Junior/Senior College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Seat
Liberal Arts and Sciences Seats
6 Graduate Seats
So if you are an architecture student, a graduate student, a student living in university housing, or a junior or senior in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, apply to become a Student Senator and improve KUI
Applications are due TODAY at 5pm!
Attention Student Groups:
Pick up an application in the
Student Senate office, 416 Kansas Union.
Email any questions to spayne@ku.edu
If your student organization is registered with the Student Involvement and Leadership Center, you may get FREE ADVERTISING here in the Kansan through Student Senate!
Email chrisblackstone@ku.edu for more information.
ael on the Hill
by the Stauffer-Flint lawn. earn about Israel, eat someeli food, listen to someeli music, or just feel like you are in Israel!
JAYWALK!
Have you ever felt unsafe walking alone on campus? Wish someone could walk with you? Jaywalk can help!
What is JayWalk?
JayWalk is a service available to all students who want a JayWalk volunteer to WALK them to their residence hall or car, or to wait with them for the Night Campus Express Bus or SafeRide.
Where is JayWalk?
The JayWalk station and volunteers
When is the service available?
JayWalk run Sunday through Thursday from 9am
to 5pm in Central Park.
1 am starting September 17th Who walks with me?
name and one female will escort you to a specific location.
WANT TO VOLUNTEER FOR JeWalk? CALL: 842-3222
Volunteers are greatly needed and appreciated! While you are assisting KU students you can also study and do homework! Pick up forms in room 418 in the Kansas Union! You have any questions regarding the service or about volunteering, please email SafeHyku.edu
PIZZA AND POLITICS
Fair Trade Team
With Ecumenical Christian Ministries
www.doleinstitute.com
2. 8 BILLION people live on less than $2 a day Join the Fair Trade Team to work to change that!
When: Today at 6:00pm
Where: Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 12th and Oread
Free snacks will be provided!
1.8
1.