THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 2006
NEWS 17A
EDUCATION
State board may reverse current science standards
BY ERIN CASTANEDA
The Kansas State Board of Education's return to moderate hands could reshape current science standards, but the state's reputation might not be fixed as quickly.
The results of the state primary elections held on Aug. 1 will give the board a 6-4 moderate majority in January. The board is predicted to reverse current science standards removing anti-evolution teachings from science classrooms.
Janet Waugh, democratic victor in District 1, which includes eastern Lawrence, said that when she resumed her position on the board state science standards would be one of the first issues addressed.
Waugh said she supported both evolution and creationism being
taught in the appropriate settings. Waugh said that the current conservative board's decision to include criticism of the theory of evolution in its science curriculum had made the state a laughing stock.
"I think it's unfair and tragic because the reality is we rank in the top 10 of the nation in every category educationally, but if we continue the path we were on with radicals and conservatives, I think the ranking would be lower," Waugh said.
Rob Weaver, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, whose discipline is molecular biology, also said the reputation of Kansas had been tarnished.
Weaver said that image had affected the University in two ways.
First, he said that professor recruitment has suffered. He said the
University needed the best possible professors, but if the best were reluctant to apply because of the social controversy, then students would suffer.
"If I was in my 30s and looking for a job, I wouldn't apply," he said. "But KU is a hotbed for evolution study."
Secondly, he said incoming college students were missing a piece of their science education if they weren't taught that evolution was a valid theory.
Liza Holeski, Rio Grande, Ohio. ecology and evolutionary biology graduate student, teaches entry-level biology classes at the University. She has found that many of her undergraduate students never discussed evolution in high school.
"You can just tell that they probably have never had evolution in science class," she said. "The word itself has a stigma because of the debate that's been going on for so long."
Steve Case, ecology and evolu-
Steve Case, tionary biology professor, said that no scientific debate existed and that it was a controversy manufactured by society.
Case said that although many scientific theories were disproven given time, the theories of evolution
object, which he said was a problem with Intelligent Design. Instead of limiting science to natural phenomena, he said current standards opened
"I think it's unfair and tragic because the reality is we rank in the top 10 of the nation in every category educationally, but if we continue the path we were on with radicals and conservatives, I think the ranking would be lower."
JANET WAUGH Democratic victor in District 1
had not been met with any sound competing evidence. He said God had suddenly become a testable
up science testing to everything, including prayer.
"We don't have the tools to research God," Case, a former religion teacher, said.
riculum standards for grades K-12. Case said the standards defined the word science so teachers could easily
Case is also the chairman of the science committee who writes cur-
explain it to their students.
"Students aren't stupid" he said. "If you lie to them they will know and it will destroy your credibility."
Steve Abrams, conservative Republican and chairman of the board, said he would like to see the current standards continue.
"I think any time you put forth science standards formed in a dogmatic fashion it is a step backwards," he said. "I'm not in favor of scripture being taught in classes. I support only good peer-reviewed, empirical science standards and those things don't support evolution."
Kansan staff writer Erin Castaneda can be contacted at eacstaneda@ kansan.com.
Edited by Erin Wiley
LAWRENCE
Commission searches for city manager Position opens in March after old manager forced to resign
BY MARK VIERTHALER
After announcing the opening of the city manager position July 21, the city commission has begun its search for someone with the ability to forge a relationship with the University of Kansas.
The position opened in March after the forced resignation of Mike Wildgen. Mayor Mike Amyx declined to comment.
Sue Hack, vice mayor and city commissioner, said an open communication channel with the University would be a key factor in hiring a new manager.
Dennis "Boog" Highberger, city commissioner, agreed that a city manager should make immediate contact with students and administrators.
"It's important to have a mutually beneficial relationship," she said. "The applicant needs to understand that they are the city's biggest employer. It's an extremely important relationship."
Highberger said that the commission had high hopes, but that he was confident they would be able to fill the position.
"The students make up a large part of the city's population," he said.
"The ideal manager would make contact with university officials right away"
"We need someone who can take initiative to bring forward ideas" Highberger said. "At the same time, they need to respond to direction from the committee."
The city has hired independent
executive search agency Bennett Yarger Associates to design the job advertisement, as well as filter through the first set of applicants. The job search will end Aug. 25.
Frank Reeb, Lawrence director of administrative services, said the city commission chose the agency to handle the bulk of the hiring process.
Bennett Yarger created both a job bulletin and a challenge statement, Reeb said. The purpose of the documents is to introduce the applicant to the community of Lawrence.
The profile and challenge statement also give an outline of challenges a potential applicant will encounter. Included within the challenges is the need to improve the general infrastructure of the city, the ability to maintain "community identity" and staff retention and recruitment.
The profile comes equipped with a laundry list of preferred qualities, including the ability to rebuild the city's governance, be a strategic thinker, willingness to work openly with the community and various other "ideal" qualities.
Hack said at first glance the requirements might seem a little lofty, but high standards were important if Lawrence wanted to be a successful community.
"It really does sound like we're waiting for someone in a red cap," she said. "We want a person who's more than a manager. We need someone who's a leader. We need someone who's creative."
All applicants must first go through the contracted agency before the city commission will even
consider them for the position.
Bennett Yarger, based out of Scituate, Mass., specializes in searching for executive positions from public administrators to advocacy organizations.
Dick Bennett, president and owner of Bennett Yarger, said the city of Lawrence hired his company in an effort to lighten the plates of the city commissioners.
"Recruiters are used because they know the area," Bennett said. "It saves time for the city commission. We've been around a long time, so we have a very broad network."
Bennett said his company guaranteed the city hire. The firm also guaranteed its hire would remain for at least the first year of employment.
His company is in charge of the initial hiring, designing of the job advertisement and the initial interviews. After these steps, it will become a joint venture between Bennett Yarger and the city commission.
"The city commissioners certainly have final say," Bennett said. "However, we do some interviewing ourselves."
Bennett said the entire hiring process usually took 90 days from start to finish.
City officials estimate they will have a new city manager by mid- September.
Kansan staff writer Mark Vierthaler can be contacted at mvierthaler@kansan.com.
Edited by Kristen Jarbor
Intro to teaching
Ryan McGeeney/KANSAN
Aislinn Addington, Missoula graduate student, follows a lecture presented by associate professor of psychology Michael Vitevitch on Thursday. The lecture, entitled "Who are KU's Students?" was part of a conference for new KU graduate teaching assistants that 352 new GTAs attended.
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