The University Daily Kansan exmphasizes the First Amendment:
The press petition
FARR: Nontraditional KU students juggle school work and family responsibilities without complaint Remember that. See kunsan.com for more opinions and an expanded Free for All
MONDAY, AUGUST 14,2006
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
PAGE 5A
OUR VIEW
This artist's rendering shows the preliminary development plan for 12th and Indiana Streets, current home to The Crossing, Yello Sub and Head Rush.
Say goodbye to a KU landmark
For those students who were gone over the summer, you may have missed the bad news: The Crossing, 618 W, 12th St., won't be with us much longer.
Manhattan attorney Robert Pottrott bought the property that houses The Crossing on June 19. Less than two weeks later, Pottrott, along with Jeff and Kathy Morrow, property owners of Head Rush, 622 W. 12th St., Yello Sub, 624 W. 12th St., submitted a proposal to the Lawrence/Douglas County planning office to radically alter the corner of 12th and Indiana streets where the three businesses are located. In their place, the group plans to erect a five-story mixed-use commercial and residential building. The 34,000-square-foot complex will house 15 condominiums,
three businesses and a two-story underground parking garage.
Needless to say, it will be an eyesore. The building's vapid glass and brick design is unwelcoming; the property as a whole will seem artificial and out of place among the neighborhood's old houses and apartment buildings. It will rival some buildings on campus in size.
Unfortunately, these architectural shortcomings are only part of a larger problem: the gentrification of Lawrence, particularly those areas where students live and congregate. The Hobbs Taylor Lofts, 750 New Hampshire, have already blighted downtown; now it's campus' turn. In this scheme, money trumps tradition and the bottom line is all that matters.
Aside from a few buildings on
campus, the history of The Crossing and its relationship with KU is unparalleled. Known as the Rock Chalk Café when it opened in 1923, the business has weathered five name changes and multiple owners, remaining one of Lawrence's favorite student hangouts through it all. It's hard to imagine students getting together to sit on hard plastic benches near a tawdry little fountain.
The Crossing and its predecessors have been more than just bars — they have been this university's cultural barometer. In the 1950s, the Café was a favorite hangout of the city's Beats; literary giants Alan Ginsburg and William S. Burroughs are rumored to have made at least one appearance there. In subsequent years, the bar alternately drew hippies and punks. Though currently a favorite of the greek community, everyone is still welcome to drop by on lazzy Monday afternoons.
This summer, an online petition to save The Crossing collected 4,700 signatures, a significant amount but one that's ultimately meaningless. Signatures aren't measured in dollars
Nothing will happen to The Crossing in the near term. The design plans need to be approved and other requirements fulfilled before construction can begin on the new building. But The Crossing's days are numbered. When it's gone, Lawrence and KU will have lost something special.
— Dave Ruigh, for the Editorial Board
>> BILL OF RIGHTS
Students: know your rights
This semester, we have chosen to run our nation's Bill of Rights in the first issue of the new school year, and we hope all future Kansan editors will do the same. We stand behind each amendment, particularly the first, and encourage all students to become familiar with this important document. Many other newspapers print the Bill of Rights each year on the Fourth of July; we've chosen today to set the tone for this semester at the Kansan.
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment IIII
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time
of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Amendment IX
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
COMENTARY
Nontraditional students are here to stay
David Guth's analogies ranged from camels to sausages trying to describe the difficulties he has scheduling classes each semester. My personal favorite: "Scheduling is sometimes like working a Rubik's Cube puzzle wearing a blindfold."
As a non-traditional student, I understood what he was getting at. When enrolling for classes this semester, I discovered that two journalism classes I needed to take were only offered at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. — the exact times that my 12-year-old stepdaughter needs to be taken to and picked up from junior high.
Guth, associate dean of the School of Journalism, said he schedules classes around faculty and room availability, while also considering the needs of students.
I build my schedule around a very active little girl. As the stay-at-home parent, I have to welgh manv
BY COURTNEY FARR
OPINION@KANSAN.COM
I didn't want to take a semester off, either. I've taken two long breaks from school in the past. A third break and I may never finish
of my personal decisions against family responsibilities.
I couldn't take the classes in question during the summer because I needed to work full-time. Families aren't cheap.
Other nontraditional students face similar challenges, said Susie Santee, Lawrence sophomore and president of the Nontraditional
Student Foundation.
According to the latest statistics on KU's Web site, in 1999 there were at least 3,908 nontraditional students enrolled at the Lawrence campus, though there may have been as many as 5,000, about 25 percent of all students.
Santee has two children, and this semester she was unable to take Math 105, a required class, due to scheduling conflicts. She said she hoped to raise awareness of the challenges nontraditional students face and the force they represent on campus.
In addition to scheduling conflicts, test taking can also present challenges. Cory Kelly, West Des Moines, Iowa, sophomore and nontraditional student senator, said he addressed the issue last year because his Biology 100 class held three exams during the semester that met
from 8 to 10 p.m. Such tests can create additional burdens for student-parents who may not be able to obtain or afford childcare during that time.
tionary biology, said he schedules biology exams in the evening to give students two hours to work, rather than the normal 50-minute class period.
Craig Martin, chair of the department of ecology and evolu-
Martin said he encouraged students to attend the evening tests
and helped them when necessary. "If someone has a legitimate reason, which in the past has included childcare, then I work with them."
But while Martin said that he does m *ae* exceptions, he discourages students from missing the test because the class has about 1,000 students. Once, he told a student she could bring her child to the test,
A nontraditional student
> is a parent of dependent children,
> is married,
> commutes 10 or more miles to campus
> is a veteran,
> is three or more years older than classmates
he said.
which she did.
Kelly said he felt the evening testing policy was very inflexible.
"My experience with faculty and staff is that we're no different from a 19-year-old student. It's very frustrating and we're trying to bring that
to light," said Kelly, an armed forces vetepan.
I don't expect Guth or anyone else to rearrange an entire schedule just because I have a conflict. But I do ask that administrators, faculty and students remember that nontraditional students are here, and that we make up a large portion of the student body. We represent more students than the Greek community and student-athletes combined.
To keep me in school and minimize the impact on our girl.
We're here. Just keep that in mind.
my fiancé and I think we've made arrangements so that we can all survive the semester without too many problems. For instance, there is an after-school program available at my stepdaughter's junior high that she can attend until I am done with class.
TALK TO US
Farr is a Scott City senior in journalism.
Jonathan Keeling, editor
664-8584 or kseiling@kansan.edu
Ericl R. Schmidt, managing editor
664-8584 or aschmidt@kansan.edu
Gaby Souza, managing editor
664-8584 or gouseidik@kansan.edu
Frank Tankerau opinion editor
664-8584 or fankard@kansan.edu
Dave Rulgh associate opinion editor
864-4924 or drulgh@kansan.com
604-4424 for kansasan.com
Kyle Hoedt, business manager
884-4428 or khoedi@kansasan.com
Lindsay Shirek, sales manager
884-4428 or lshirek@kansasan.com
Malcolm Gibson, general manager, news adviser
884-7687 or mgbison@kansasan.com
Jennifer Weaver, sales and marketing adviser
884-7687 or lweaver@kansasan.com
SUBMISSIONS
The Kansan welcomes letters to the editors and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni.
The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions.
For any questions, call Frank Tankard or Dave Rugh at 814-4810 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com.
General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com
LETTER GUIDELINES
Maximum Length: 200 word limit
Include: Author's name and telephone number, class, hometown (student); position (faculty member/staff); phone number (will not be published)
Maximum Length: 500 word limit
include: Author's name; class, home-
town (student); position (faculty mem-
ber/ staff); phone number (will not be
published)
Also: The Kansan will not print guest
columns that attack a reporter or
another columnist.
GUEST COLUMN GUIDELINES
EDITORIAL BOARD
Jonathan Kealing, Erick R. Schmidt, Gaby Souza, Frank Tankard, Dave Ruigh, Courtney Farr, Steve Lynn
SUBMIT TO
111 Stauffer-Fint Hall
1436 Jeyhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 68045
(795) 884-8410, opinion@kansen.com