/ GRADUATION GUIDE / THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
Wide range of options available for new graduates
BY CLAIRE MCINERNY
editor@kansan.com
As some seniors are preparing for jobs and planning their lives after school, some students are experiencing a different scenario: the end of college panic.
the end of college planning
Four years of classes and one degree later, so know what college.
right
al:
a way to prolong having to find a job, but rather look at it as a way to find new opportunities and new ways for students to use their passions. She said a lot of politicians who now work in Congress were in the program and are now fighting for education rights.
er. One opportunity that enables students to make that happen is through Teach for America. Teach For America is a program that allows recent college graduates to teach in public schools in low-income communities. The assignment lasts for two years.
PEACE CORPS
Cote d'Ivoire
Gina Littlejohn, the campus
Wiechman spent his two years in Saint Lucia doing community development. He helped a farmers' cooperative develop a grant proposal to get funding for a composting project from the United Nations and also taught reading and music at a school.
The Peace Corps was an attract
the option for Wiechman because
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2011
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 12
New law to change DUI punishments
DUI offenders will face different penalties and sentences under a new statewide law. The law will go into effect on July 1. Find out more about this story on Kansan.com.
BY MONISHA BRUNER
mbruner@kansan.com
A new statewide law changing punishments for driving under the influence will go into effect July 1.
Defense attorney Brian Leininger said that there are two major changes to the law. Under the new law, all DUI offenders will be required to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle for a year. The offender will bear all costs associated with the ignition interlock device.
Another change includes how far the state can look into an offender's background. Previously, the state would look at a person's entire record. After the law goes into effect, the state can only go back as far as 2001. Nothing before that will be used against an offender.
Jay Norton, an attorney from Kansas City, said if a driver tests as having blood alcohol content between 08 and .15, he or she will be required to serve a 30-day suspension of license, followed by 180 days or six months of driving with an ignition interlock.
Ignition interlocks may be mandated for other sentences, including: open container, minor in possession/consumption and habitual violator statute. Those convicted of any of these will have to serve 45 days of the suspension first, then the Department of Revenue will reinstate the license and they will use the interlock.
Bill Larzalere, the University's chief litigation attorney, said that this is actually a good thing. Under the present law, if you have been
A huge change in the bill is that state DUI records are being expunged or swept clean after 10
convicted of a DUI, your license is suspended for a year and you can't operate a vehicle at all. Under the new law, one can drive as long as they have the ignition interlock device, he said.
vice, he said.
Interlock devices are sold through private companies. Smartstartinc.com has a different installation price for each state. For Kansas, the installation fee and first-month lease is $123 and after that, $73 a month. There is a $35 fee to uninstall your device. One year using the device would cost $961.
"If you do get pulled over, if you're really drunk and have prior offense, I would tell them not to take the breath test," he said.
years, Larzalere said.
years, Larszke,
Norton said DUI convictions and
diversions before July 1, 2001, do
not count as previous convictions.
Larzalere said that he would advise students to not drink and drive at all but if they find themselves in the situation, to not incriminate themselves. The less that's in the report the less they have to convict you, he said.
If they have not said anything, did not take a field test, etc, the officer has no report on them besides that
When you are pulled over, the police can't make students take the field sobriety test, Lazalere said. He would encourage students not take the field test. However, refusing the Breathalyzer is a crime.
"Don't say I've only had two beers," Larzalere said.
he pulled them over for whatever reason. Take the Breathalyzer at the station; however, the police officer is required to give you two forms to read and sign.
"Students who came in they were using the old forms, and if they used the old forms and not the new ones then that breath test isn't valid," Larzalere said.
The forms are called DC27 and DC70. When students fill out the DC27 they have 10 days to request a hearing.
Leininger said that if students do get pulled over and they are a first time offender, the best thing to do is not to be rude or belligerent.
Of course the best rule is to not drink and drive. Always have a designated driver, friend or call SafeRide at 785-864-4644.