THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13.2007
WWW.KANSAN.COM
VOLUME 118 ISSUE 21
SPONSORSHIPS
Policy helps student leaders with tuition
how much?
BY ERIN SOMMER
BY ERIN SOMMER
esommer@kansan.com
A change in a University of Kansas policy provides seven student leaders with sponsorship toward their tuition, worth $5,824 per year at current tuition rates. The positions affected include four Student Senate executive members and three Graduate and Professional Association leaders.
Marlesa Roney, vice provost for student success, proposed the change to correct the previous policy, which she said was unfair to some student leaders. The students filling the positions this year will be the first to receive the sponsorships, which come from the student success budget. Student fees do not go toward this budget.
The Student Senate positions affected by the policy are the student body president, vice president, treasurer and the director of the Student Legislative Awareness Board. The Graduate and Professional Association positions are executive director, communications coordinator and finance director.
The previous policy held by the University
administration gave in-state tuition rates to out-of-state student leaders. Roney said that this policy was unfair because it did not benefit in-state student leaders, and that is why she proposed the change.
Lynn Bretz, director of communications for the University, said the new policy gives seven student leaders a sponsorship worth 15 hours of in-state tuition.
The seven students must pay for additional hours, differential tuition and student fees. Leaders from outside the state also have to pay the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuitions.
The sponsorship is an addition to the pay that the students already receive. The undergraduate positions that will receive the sponsorship each currently receive $340 in pay every two weeks. Using current tuition rates, the students in the positions will receive a total of $14,664 annually from the tuition sponsorship and paychecks combined.
"There's been a long history of student leaders getting some kind of benefit," Bretz said. "The system has worked to give us people who deserve the position."
which positions?
Student leaders who will receive tuition sponsorships:
Student Body president — Hannah Love, Dodge City senior
Student Body vice president — Ray Wittlinger, Olathe senior
Student Body treasurer — Austin Kelly, Lawrence senior
Student Legislative Awareness Board
Roney said that the change in the policy is to ensure that student leaders are compensated for their work.
"This is something the University implemented many years ago to recognize that student leaders put in an extraordinary amount of time," Roney said.
director —
Alex Treaster, Shawnee senior
Graduate & Professional Association
executive director — Ryan McCabe
Graduate & Professional Association
communications coordinator —
Sharla Cruse
Graduate & Professional Association
finance director — Danielle Johnson
Roney said that she is not concerned that the benefits will create a situation where students run for office only to receive tuition
sponsorship.
"We want students to run based on their commitment to run and not to get a benefit," Roney said.
Roney said that although she spoke with the students about changing the policy, the student leaders affected by the policy were not a part of the decision to change it.
— Edited by Meghan Murphy
STUDENT DINING
Hawk Food Stop satisfies hunger
Students looking for a quick bite to eat during lunch or between classes might want to consider stopping by one of the seven Hawk Food Stop locations on campus. Over the past couple of years, the number of Hawk Food Stops on campus has increased from three to seven.
Alecia Stultz, assistant director for retail dining, said the reason for the increase was in large part a result of faculty and students' wanting more convenient dining locations.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
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To KU,with love
All contents, unless stated otherwise,
© 2007 The University Daily Kansan
Jenna McMillen, Wichita junior, and Nick Amelung, St. Louis senior, sign KU's 143rd birthday card Wednesday afternoon on Wescoe Beach. To celebrate the opening day of classes in 1866, the Student Alumni Association offered free cake to students, like it did this year in commemoration.
Katherine Loeck/KANSAN
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TRENDS
Centers to host Jewish new year, Muslim holy month
Jewish and Muslim students can find opportunities on campus this week to celebrate Rosh Hashana, which began Wednesday at sundown, and the month of Ramadan, which begins today.
Ramadan, the Muslim holy month that celebrates the revelation of the Quran to the prophet Muhammad, lasts between 29 and 30 days. Rosh Hashana, which celebrates the new year on the Jewish calendar, will end Friday at sun-down.
Soulja Boy dance fad hits clubs in Lawrence
RELIGION
The "Crank That" dance consists of a series of footsteps and swaying arms. In recent weeks, YouTube videos have appeared showing viewers how to properly do the dance, and MySpace held a contest allowing its users to send in videos of themselves doing the dance and vote on who performed the best.
"Crank That (Soulja Boy)" by rapper Soulja Boy reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, and its accompanying dance is just as popular. As a result, the song and the dance are popping up in bars all over Lawrence.
The Chabad Jewish Center will host Rosh Hashana services and celebrations during the day today and Friday, and Muslim Student Association and the Islamic Center of Lawrence will both offer activities during Ramadan.
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