KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / MONDAY, APRIL18, 2011 / NEWS
3A
ENGINEERING
Forty years of minority programs
BY NICOLE WENTLING nwentling@kansan.com
Chris Neal/KANSAN
Students, faculty and alumni gathered on Saturday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the minority engineering programs. In 1971, three undergraduate students established SCoRMEBE, the Student Council for Recruiting, Motivating, and Educating Black Engineers, and jump-started a program that has supported minority and women engineering students for four decades.
"They say that when you turn 40 everything goes downhill from there, but I know that we are just starting to rise to greatness with diversity engineering programs here at KU," said Stuart Bell, dean of the School of Engineering.
Strrauder Patton, a representative of The National Society of Black Engineers, congratulates the KU School of Engineering on its 40th anniversary of the minority engineering programs. Patton graduated twice from KU with a bachelor's and master's degree in Civil Engineering.
One of the diversity programs, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, provides members with leadership training, networking opportunities, and access to internships and scholarships. It was introduced to the University in the early '90s, and caters to students from all over the world.
"It's diverse in itself. It's Hispanic, but Hispanics from all over the world. I'm actually the only U.S. resident in the group," Natalia Inocencio, freshman from Thorndale, Texas said. "It's pretty cool to get to know all of them."
Alumni attended the celebration to share stories about their participation in the minority engineering programs, and pass
along words of advice to current students.
"We know the numbers, they aren't that great. But know that you do have a place as a female engineer. Prepare now, build your confidence now, don't let the numbers intimidate you," said Jamie Hines, 2009 electrical engineering graduate.
Florence Boldridge, the director of Diversity and Women's programs for the School of Engineering, received thanks from the students and alumni who spoke at the event.
"Diversity programs today would not be what they are without Mrs. Boldridge. She never turns away a student. I know that I could call Mrs. Boldridge anytime, day or night, and she would help me," said Kate Courtney, president of the Society of Women Engineers.
After Boldridge spoke about her 27 years of working for the minority engineering programs, thanked everyone for their work, and reminisced about her students and their stories, former engineering student James Patterson took the stage.
While in school, Patterson was president of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society. He graduated in 2001 with a degree in chemical engineering, and now works for Intel Corporation. At the celebration, Patterson unveiled the new Florence E. Boldridge Scholarship for which he had worked to gain funds.
Boldridge. This is a small way to say thank you for all the support she gave me and continues to give. Thanks to you, all these students will achieve their goals and
go on with their lives," Patterson said.
"Thank you so much to Mrs.
Edited by Emily Soetaert
Earth Day arts and crafts
Jessica Janasz/KANSAN
As part of the Earth Day celebration at South Park Saturday afternoon, parents help their kids paint their own birdhouses at an arts and crafts table. Events and activities began at 10:30 a.m. and included music, arts and crafts, food, a bike valet and tables with small endangered species.
Keenan's attorney, John Biscanin also declined to comment.
WAGES (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
SUSPICIONS GROW
Despite being responsible for both the Lawrence and Overland Park Papa Keno's, Gosselin said he thought it was unusual he received little training. He also received some odd phone calls early on.
"I was fielding phone calls for a bunch of people who never got paid, and they were looking for their paychecks," Gosselin said.
Gosselin said his suspicion grew when his first payday arrived and he did not receive a check. Still, he kept faith that he would be compensated.
According to KDOL documents, 24 others had similar experiences while working at Papa Keno's. The complaints included late payments, bounced checks and checks that were short money or paid the wrong hourly wage.
Nate Joyes, a former cook at Papa Keno's, filed a complaint with the KDOL that said he and Keenan verbally agreed to $10 an hour, but when his check arrived, he was shorted 10 hours and was paid at $7.25 per hour. He said Papa Keno's system of documenting work hours was not reliable.
"You don't clock in or anything; you just write your hours on a piece of paper," joyes said.
Joyes completed a W2 form and worked at Papa Keno's for one week. The KDOL ruled Papa Keno's owed him $116, and the restaurant paid him in October 2010.
NO PAYMENT
Despite not receiving his first paycheck, Gosselin continued working at Papa Keno's about 40 to 55 hours per week. He also drove the 35 miles between the Lawrence and Overland Park locations several times a week but said he did not receive mileage compensation.
Gosselin, who was a full-time student at the University of Kansas, said the heavy workload interfered with school, and he dropped out of the University. At the end of Gosselin's second pay period, he said that he and Keenan had a falling out and that he was fired.
"My total bills were $800 to $900 a month, and I just didn't get paid at all," he said. "I had zero income."
Gosselin, 24, had to borrow money from his grandmother and max out his credit card to cover his bills. Despite Gosselin's multiple attempts to receive his money, he said Papa Keno's refused to pay him.
Months went by. Bills arrived, but Gosselin's check never did. Seven months later, Gosselin filed a claim for wage with the KDOL in May 2010. Although he didn't
have a written employment contract or proof of his hours, he had witnesses. People saw him in the store. People saw him give Keenan his paper work after being fired.
Other former employees had mixed results through KDOL claims. Sophia Gundelfinger, a former Papa Keno's employee, said she was owed more than $1,800. The KDOL ruled that Gundelfinger should receive $1,802.77, but she said Papa Keno's has only issued two $58 checks.
At the KDOL hearing in October, there was no representative from Papa Keno's. The KDOL ruled that Keenan would have to pay double the original $2,333.33 under a law that fines employers 100 percent of withheld wages. At this time, the total amounts to $4,763.91, which includes 1 percent compounded interest for every day Papa Keno's fails to pay. Gosselin said the interest continues to build.
Others, such as Lorus Byers, filed a KDOL $232 complaint against Papa Keno', but he gave up the case when, in response to the complaint. Keenan accused Byers of faking a time card.
"If it was a larger sum of money I would have probably consulted an attorney but it wasn't even worth it," said Byers.
In late 2009, Papa Keno's started paying people back. According to KDOL records, the business has paid eight employees that were ordered compensation. The total amount paid in these seven cases is $2,387.46.
RECOVERING PAY
Although the KDOL order is official, it lacks enforcement. In cases such as Gosselin's, employees can only hope that the compounding daily interest motivates their employer to pay. Cases can eventually be directed to county district courts where they can be legally enforced.
Gundelfinger's case is such an example. After Keenan failed to pay Gundelfinger, the KDOL forwarded the case to a Shawnee County District Court, and a judge ordered Papa Keno's to pay Gundelfinger. According to the Kansas Wage Payment Act, court orders can be enforced by the sheriff by seizing the money and assets of the violator.
Gosselin's case has yet to reach court. Now, he is in the process of starting a new career in Denver. Although he said he has never paid by Papa Keno's he did learn a few valuable lessons.
"Keep track of your hours, keep track of what you're supposed to get paid," he said. "Add it all up, take about 15 percent out (for taxes), and that's what you're supposed to get."
— Edited by Tali David
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