KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2011 / NEWS
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STUDENT SENATE
The sentimental side of student leadership
Student Senate's President-elect Libby Johnson and Vice President-elect Gabe Blisz听会 to speeches from the former Student Senate members before taking over Wednesday night in Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union
Chris Neal/KANSAN
BY ANGELIQUE MCNAUGHTON amcnaughton.kansan.com
It was the old case of "out with the old in with the new" during last night's joint Senate meeting as the former executive Senate staff members bid their farewells and best wishes to the new senators.
For about two and a half hours, the night consisted of thanks and gratitude from most of the former members of Michael Wade Smith and Megan Ritter's administration as they reflected on their time spent on staff during the past year. The Center for Community Outreach directors Emily Lamb and Kellen Bolt were not in attendance.
The final meeting of the semester for student Senate took place in Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union with both the former and newly elected senators in attendance.
In her final officer report, Ritter, a junior from Overland Park, was unable to hold back her tears, and at times continue, as she individually addressed each member of the executive staff.
"Amazing" was the word most often quoted last night as the former officers attempted to articulate what they gained from their Senate experience.
podium
When it finally came time for the last officer report, former student body president Smith, a senior from Goodland, took his turn at the
"I can't say I did it perfectly but I did my best," Smith said.
On more than one occasion, Smith had to pause to regain composure and wipe away his tears as he
reminisced of his personal growth and the friendships that were established throughout the course of the year.
body president and Ritter adjourned the meeting. As is tradition, the former staff headed to The Wheel, 507 West 14th Street, to add their names to the ceiling like all the student leaders had before them.
With a final "Rock Chalk" chant,
Smith stepped down as student
With the old Senate gone, the new senators settled into their seats and into new roles.
Newly-elected student body president Libby Johnson began her term by asking her fellow senators
HOLDOVER
SENATORS
Casey Briner
Josh Dean
Alex Rippberger
NEW EXECUTIVE STAFF
Development Director-Kris Velasco
Chief of Staff- Hannah Bolton
Treasurer-David Cohen
■ Assistant Treasurer - Courtney Sheldon
Government Relations Director - Brandon Wiederholt
Outreach Director Brandon Woodard
to now "turn their focus to the future."
The meeting concluded with the approval of the executive staff.
CAMPUS
Edited by Brittany Nelson
Potter Lake turns 100 - years-old on April 30. The Potter Lake Project will host a celebration from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday to celebrate
Centennial celebration honors cleaner Potter Lake
BY SHAUNA BLACKMON
slbackmon@kansan.com
Melissa Allen comes from a long line of University of Missouri graduates, but when she came to visit the University of Kansas, she fell in love with Potter Lake. Allen decided to leave a tradition of Tigers to become a Jayhawk. Now, years later, Allen is using her love for Potter Lake to help transform it from one of the dirtiest lakes in Kansas to the natural landmark it once was.
In May 2009, Allen, along with a few other dedicated students, presented a proposal to the Provost assessing the problems of the lake,- ranging from aesthetic to environmental Allen said.
"We presented that and our solutions," Allen said, "and they basically said 'Go ahead with it, but we have no money.'"
Allen and the rest of the members of the Potter Lake Project spent the next few years finding ways to improve the lake with less funding than they had hoped, as well as finding a few donors
"We got all of this stuff done that we didn't think would happen so we really wanted a time to recognize the people who helped out with it," Allen said. "The lake is much more ecologically sound, we just want to bring people back there and recognize it as a green space on campus."
To commemorate both the 100th birthday of Potter Lake and the work so many put into the restoration, the Potter Lake Project will be hosting a birthday party picnic on Saturday.
including the company Design and Company Management, which helped with many facets of the project.
While Allen said that there is still a lot of improvement to be done, dredging the lake and installing aerators has helped tremendously.
Allen encourages students and faculty to come see the beauty Potter Lake was originally meant to be, and to bring a lawn chair, Frisbees or footballs.
Potter Lake was once home to athletic events, including swimming, diving and fishing. However, since the pollution became such a problem, those activities no longer take place. The lake once was 16 feet deep but now averages less than 3 feet deep.
POTTER LAKE 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
**WHAT:** Live music and food will be provided.
**WHEN:** Saturday, April 30, from 2 to 5 p.m.
**WHERE:** Potter Lake, Dance Pavilion
"There is so much concrete on Jayhalk Blvd, there is obviously great landscaping but I feel like Potter Lake, especially with the Campanile and the walk to the stadium, is just really nice space to be in," Allen said.
Edited by Danielle Packer
University participates in effort to dispose of unused medication
BY LAURA THOMAS lthomas@kansan.com
medication for safe disposal.
Recent studies show that Americans' usual methods for disposing of unused medicines pose potential safety and health hazards. With today being National PrescriptionDrugTakeBackDay,the University of Kansas is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration to give the public an opportunity to turn in unused
Students can bring their medications to Wescoe Beach from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. It is a free event to prevent prescriptions abuse and
in drugs can be successfully removed by water treatment plants, and these chemicals can end up in local waterwavs.
"There are few, select medicines that are especially harmful if taken accidentally by someone other than the person the medicine was prescribed for," said Megan McCusker, a second year pharmacy student and pharmacy intern at Watkins Memorial Health Center. "These medicines should not be
"There are few, select medicines that are especially harmful if taken accidentally..."
theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous or unwanted prescription drugs.
MEGAN MCCUSKER pharmacy student
KU Student Health Services assures that the process is completely anonymous with no questions asked.
Usual methods for disposing of drugs, such as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, have led to sanitary problems. Not all of the chemicals
thrown in the trash. Using programs, such as the National Drug Take Back Initiative is the best option."
All of the drugs collected at the event will be incinerated t h r o u g h
environmentally friendly methods at an EPA-approved incineration facility.
The event is sponsored by the KU Academy of Student Pharmacists, Peer Health Educators, Student Health Advisory Board, Student Health Services and the Office of Public Safety.
Edited by David Cawthon
DRUG COLLECTION TODAY WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: Wescoe Beach
+
SATURDAY
WHEN:
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Douglas County Law Enforcement and Judicial Center, 111 E. 11th Street.
For more coverage of this story check out the KUJH newscast at 4 p.m.
IN-STORE (SECOND LEVEL) KU BOOKSTORE UNTIL 6PM