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VOL. 115 ISSUE 148
MEDICAL CENTER
Hospital plans move
The University of Kansas Hospital, which is part of the KU Medical Center, purchased the former Sprint headquarters yesterday.
An opportunity to purchase the facility was made available to both the University and the hospital, but it did not fulfill the needs of the University, Dennis McCullough, director of public and government relations, said.
Growth has been an issue at the hospital since it became financially independent from the University in 1998, he said.
The price the hospital offered for the property was not disclosed.
The Johnson County appraiser's office's appraised value for the property in 2005 is about $7.5 million, up $5.7 million from the
previous year's assessment.
Located one and a half miles from the hospital's campus at 39th Street and Rainbow Boulevard in Kansas City, Kan., the space will provide space for growing programs while still fulfilling a commitment for health care to the Kansas City area.
Finance and information management are some of the back office departments that will move to the facility, McCullough said. Several outpatient services will also move to the facility, but it is unclear which ones at this time.
The hospital had been searching for cost-effective space, and was glad to close the deal with Soript. McCullough said.
FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2005
Ty Beaver
EMPLOYMENT
Contract impact
Letter opens GTA renewal negotiations
BY TY BEAVER
beaver@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
To the beat of plastic bucket drums, the graduate teaching assistant union, or GTAC, held posters and cheered in front of Strong Hall as it ceremoniously opened negotiations for GTA contracts at the University of Kansas yesterday.
Every three years the contracts for GTAs open up for changes and amendments. The current contracts expire on Oct.1.
A group of about 30 students rallied in front of Strong Hall before heading to the provost's office to deliver a petition with
more than 150 signatures and a letter listing requests for negotiations.
Delivery of the letter to the provost's office was a courtesy, Provost David Shulenburger said. To officially open negotiations, the GTAC must deliver a letter and petition to Human Resources.
A group of graduate students delivered the letter and petition to Faucher after the union left the Provost's office, Brian Azcona, New Orleans, La., graduate student and GTAC co-president, said.
Contract negotiations ended in success for the union three years ago, with increases in salaries and the University advocating better health insurance for GTAs to the state.
Since then, new policies have appeared that limit that success, Azcona said.
"There are ways outside of the contract for them to interpret it."
he said.
One of those policies was the 10-semester limitation on GTAs. A student may serve as GTA for only 10 semesters and must then convert to the status of lecturer to continue working for the University.
Lecturers do not receive the same benefits of a GTA he said, and it takes some students seven to eight years to finish all of their graduate studies, Arizona said. The policy was a way to get back at the union for concessions they made three years ago, he said.
The policy was also causing a reduction in the number of GTAs at the University, he said.
Smutenburger acknowledged the policy, but said that GTAs had not decreased at the University. In 2000, there were 921 GTAs, he said. Currently, there are 935.
The GTAC also wants to address the grievance procedure
against the University for GTAs. Currently, the University does not have to acknowledge and enforce rulings made through the procedure. Azcona said.
"It's a GTA's one way to enforce their contract and it doesn't have any teeth to it," he said.
There have been few grievances in the last few years, Shulenburger said, but that concern and others would be addressed during the negotiations.
Both parties hope that negotiations go quickly. At least one meeting between students and the University may occur before the end of the semester, Shulenburger said.
No negotiations will occur during the summer because of the absence of many GTAs. They will meet again at the beginning of the Fall 2005 semester, he said.
ARTS
Artist to display paper cuts
- Edited by Austin Caster
Student uses scraps for TV-inspired pieces
BY NEIL MULKA
nmulka@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
IF YOU GO
TJ. Tangpuz is living proof that television influences children.
While growing up Tangpuz loved "Transformers" and "The Muppet Show."
"I loved Transformers." Tangpuz, Kansas City, Mo., continuing education student, said. "It's probably what got me into making things. I made a lot of my toys when I was a kid."
He loved them so much he started to make toys out of paper because his parents couldn't afford to buy them.
♦ What: Paper: Reloaded, featuring the work of T.J. Tangpuz.
When: Tomorrow, 6 to 10
- Where: Olive Gallery & Art Supply, 15 E. Eighth St.
The showing, entitled "Paper: Reloaded," will feature about eight sculptures by Tangpuz, mostly made of paper.
"He primarily uses scrap paper," John Hachmeister, associate professor of sculpture, said, "And creates value from it."
It turned out to be a creative blessing that's getting him noticed. This weekend Tanguzp will have his second non-academic showing this weekend at the Olive Gallery and Art Supply, 15 E.Eighth St.
Standing at about 5 feet tall, the brown paper head has big eyes and a simplified look similar to one of Jim Henson's creations. The eyes and mouth can open and close by manipulating levers behind the head.
Source: The Olive Gallery & Art Supply
One of the works, "Head Studies," is where the "Transformers" and the "Munpets" influences collide.
"That's kind of what sparked it all," Tangpuz said. "I think when you're that young and forced into that kind of a situation it forces you to be a little bit more creative."
Photos by Brian Lewis/KANSAN
T. J. Tangpuz displays the moveable eyes and mouth of his sculpture. It will be on display at the Olive this weekend with other pieces of Tangpu's work. Tangpu has a degree in sculpture and is studying for a degree in metals.
Another work expected to be displayed is a black horse head with a mane made from shredded paper that falls almost naturally onto the neck. Another work, called "Accordion ring" can be worn on the person's hand and has a miniature accordion that moves with the fingers.
"My treehouse"
Tangpuz also made his studio from scraps.
Below the sculpture room in the Art and Design building there is group of studios called the Sub Base, which resembles "The Pit" from the 1992 film "PCU," complete with old couches and walls covered in graffiti, but sans the booze and the metal band.
In Tangpuz's section he works in what he calls his treehouse — a double-decker loft space made up of throw-away materials.
Painted all-blue, a seven-step spiral staircase leads up the upper level where Tangpuz stores some of his projects. Below the loft area is his workshop.
"The they were remodeling the woodshop upstairs, so they had these empty cabinets, and they were throwing them away and I was like 'No way,'" he said. "The nice thing about being a sculptor is that we're highly resourceful. Some people see
junk, we see potential."
T. J. Tangpuz unveils a sculpture he is working on in his workshop at the Art and Design building. Tangpuz will have pieces on display and for sale at the Olive, 15 E. Eighth St., this weekend.
The loft takes advantage of the high ceilings of the Sub Base and gives his studio mate Desiree Warren, Ottawa senior and a wood carver, more room to work.
"I think that it's great that he's utilizing his space," Warren said. "I have tendency to spread out."
"When people look for me I tell them to find the studio with the spiral staircase," she said.
The spiral staircase also becomes a landmark. Warren said.
job and working in his studio, Tangpuz estimates he spends 50 hours a week in the Art and Design building.
"He has a genuine dedication to his art," Hachmeister said. "That dedication is infectious and students identify that and try do it."
His work ethic has spread to Warren. When he sticks around, she wants to as well because he is so fun to work with, she said.
Tangpuz remembers his parent's work ethic, which is the inspiration for long hours in the Sub Base.
Between classes, having a student
An infection
"He's the hardest working person
SEE ARTISTS ON PAGE 3A
STUDENT HOUSING
Stephenson residents kicked out
BY ERIC SORRENTINO
esrentino@kansan.com
KANSAST STAFF WRITER
Stephenson Scholarship Hall, known for years for its rowdiness and wit, will likely change in the fall.
Residents of Stephenson, 1404 Alumni Place, knew they had to interview with Department of Student Housing officials to retain their spot in the hall. Few expected that they would be relocated to another scholarship hall or a residence hall.
Typically, 35 students return to a scholarship hall every year, said Ken Stoner, director of student housing.
To most of the 55 students who must move out next fall, the change came as a surprise.
No scholarship hall has ever been called to the student housing office for individual interviews. Stoner said.
"I'm just amazed," said Grant Wagner, who was kicked out of Stephenson. "I'm not so much angry, but amazed they kicked innocent people out like that. It's just really, really frustrating."
Inappropriate behavior instigated the mandatory interviews.
Wagner, Bennington freshman, was written up for throwing a water balloon at a car earlier semester.
Stephenson residents trashed the facility and demeaned others in the hall, Stoner said in an earlier interview.
The balloon went through the open window and exploded on the driver's lap. The driver was Stephenson's scholarship hall director, Richard Friesner, Wagner said.
And Wagner was responsible for throwing a water balloon earlier this semester.
Conditions the inside of the hall also was cause for complaint. Stephenson cannot have guests over to the hall because their kitchen failed student housing inspections, Wagner said.
"I's our fault," he said. "It's dirty as hell."
All residents should not be held accountable because not all of them took part in the incidents, Scotty Wheeler, Singapore junior, said.
Wagner said student housing removed the wrong people from the hall.
"They're kicking the innocent out along with the guilty," he said.
Wheeler was guaranteed a spot in the residence halls, but said he was not interested in living there next fall.
"Stephenson has always been about the people in the hall and so many people are getting kicked out," Wheeler said. "If those people aren't returning, I see no point in returning."
Living in the residence halls is more expensive
SEE STEPHENSON ON PAGE 3A
All contents, unless stated otherwise.
© 2005 The University Daily Kansan
Series starter The KU baseball team will face off against the No. 3 Texas Longhorns today. The Jayhawks are riding high on last weekend's victories against K-State, their first conference series victory of the season. PAGE1B
"Kingdom of Heaven"
Cycling competition
Jayplay writer Stephen Shupe reviews director Ridley Scott's new epic, "Kingdom of Heaven," starring Orlando Bloom and Liam Neeson. PAGE 6A
Hundreds of cyclists and thousands of visitors will come to Lawrence next week. Downtown streets will be closed Friday, May 13, but the visitors are expected to bring thousands in revenue. PAGE 5A
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