THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
ANSAN the
TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
VOL.115 ISSUE 145
TRANSPORTATION
Biodiesel fuels a KU test trial
University uses older buses to test effects on engines
BY ESTUARDO GARCIA
egarcia@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITE
Soon the campus will be filled with the fragrant spring aromas of freshly-cut grass, irises and french fries.
Tomorrow the Jayhawk Express bus route and the Naismith/Oliver bus routes will start a two-week trial test of a type of diesel fuel made with soybean oil.
Blake Huff, Larned senior and campus transportation coordinator, said KU on Wheels was looking for a fuel source that was more environmentally friendly.
The fuel will be tested on older buses to see what effect it will have on the engines, Huff said.
The biodiesel fuel the University will use is a mixture of 80 percent number one diesel fuel, a more refined and more expensive type ofDiesel, and 20 percent soybean oil. More commonly, the 20 to 80 percent mixture is called B20.
What's cooking in biodiesel:
Biodiesel is created from separating glycerin from fat or vegetable oil from crops, usually soybeans.
BENEFITS OF BIODIESEL FUEL
One of the problems that keeps schools from switching over to biodiesel fuel is balancing between the advantages of the fuel and its cost.
- Biodiesel emits 67% less hydrocarbons than regular diesel.
"One of the biggest advantages is that it is a renewable resource," said Kyle McNorton, manager for Capital City Oil, Inc. to Topeka.
▶ Bio diesel emits 47% less carbon monoxide and particulate matter than regular diesel
Biodiesel B20 degrades twice as fast as regular diesel.
Source: National Biodiesel Board
The company is mixing the oil for the University.
He said the aroma that the gas produced reminded him of french fries, but it wasn't overpowering.
The new fuel acts as a detergent that cleans out the fuel pumps and also gives the buses "more punch per gallon." McNorton said.
But, he said the fuel was significantly more expensive than regular diesel.
Yesterday, the price for a gallon of number one diesel fuel
was $2.50 and the price for 100 percent biodiesel was $3.75 per gallon. Because the fuel mixes 80 percent of the number one diesel and 20 percent of the biodiesel, the cost of B20 was about $2.75 per gallon.
Another cost that the University will face with the testing of the B20 fuel is the initial upkeep.
Last week KU on Wheels purchased the number one diesel at $2.55 per gallon.
In the long run, the detergent and lubricative properties of the biodiesel will help keep the bus engines running longer, but fuel filters will become clogged more often due to the cleaning.
Capital City Oil is selling the fuel to the University at a discounted price — $50 per week
more than the regular price of fuel.
"That's one thing I think is great about implementing the program now," said Jeff Dunlap, former student body vice president. "Cost isn't that much of a concern at this point because, as the price of regular fuel goes up, the cost of the biodiesel goes comparatively lower."
Dunlap also said that logistical problems, such as locating a temporary fuel tank and massive amounts of paperwork, had slowed down the process, which was one of KUnited's platform issues last year.
He said he hoped that the trial run would convince everybody on campus to switch to the cleaner burning fuel.
▼ CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT
Staff finds life work after service closes
Director to retire, two employees still looking for jobs
BY DANI LITT
dlltt@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITE
He is in his 28th year of directing the printing services and is going to retire on June 30.
"I probably would have retired at the end of the year, not in the middle of the year," he said.
John Sayler, 65, is one of three employees from the University of Kansas Printing Services that has not been placed in another position.
A veteran in printing services, Sayler said he enjoyed the ability to develop the services budget, services and products. The service was not given any money by the University.
"It was like running your own business," he said. "That very much appealed to me."
KU Printing Services had 22 employees at the time of its January closing,19 of which have been placed by the University in other positions at the University or at other businesses.
"We were seeing a change in technology and the types of services that the campus was requesting," said Beth Warner,
INSIDE: Find out what organization is moving into the building after KU Printing Services closes. Page 2A.
assistant vice provost for information service said.
The University printed a multitude of
materials, such as brochures, business cards, letterheads, books, and more.
The 22 employees were left without jobs when the University Printing Services announced its closing in January. Only two employees were able to keep their original jobs with campus mail. Campus mail switched from Printing Services to the libraries. The other two employees are still in the process of finding positions, Warner said.
Betty Vincent, a KU employee for 20 years, was given a new job after the closing.
Vincent worked at printing services for 10 years and was a senior administrative assistant. She is now an administrative assistant at the Hall Center for Humanities.
"It was sad," Vincent said. "But I understand changes have to be made so you do the best you can with the circumstances."
Vincent said she was happy with the rehiring process and was never out of a job during the transition.
"Any change in a job brings adjustments," she said. "Each department has its own style of doing things."
SEE SERVICE ON PAGE 3A
Former University of Kansas Printing Services employee, Betty Vincent, works yesterday at her new job. Vincent worked at KU Printing Services for 10 1/2 years. She interviewed for between 10 to 12 jobs until she was hired as an administrative assistant at the Hall Center for the Humanities. "We knew that the printing industry was changing," Vincent said. "It was sad, but we also know that you go on. I feel I was very fortunate."
Stephanie Farley/KANSAN
An eye for detail
Matt Morton, Lawrence sophomore, works on his final portfolio for a photography class yesterday afternoon in the Art and Design building. Morton, who is majoring in painting, said taking photography would help him later on in printing and developing his own work.
Stephanie Farley/KANSAN
STUDENT SENATE
Coalition still battling
BY JOSHUA BICKEL
jbickel@kansan.com
KANSEL STAFF WRITER
The Student Voice coalition is planning an immediate appeal for the latest election violation the coalition was found guilty of, said Jack Connor, Student Voice coalition member.
Dennis Chanay, Student Voice member, said he expected to win the appeal because of the impartial jury during that process. Chanay said that he didn't know who would handle the appeal but that the elections commission had been biased throughout the process.
Yesterday, the elections commission found Student Voice guilty of violating rule number 491, which states that no coalition may break a state, city or University of Kansas ordinance.
The violation concerned Student Voice's campaigning in front of Budig Hall on April 7. A Student Voice member was distributing soft drinks on University property without permission, which led Arthur Jones, KUnited member, to file the complaint the next day.
Chanay
The commission fined Student Voice $25 as a result.
The commission delayed the decision for a week after one of the members had a family emergency and had to leave the meeting on April 25.
Connor argued that the offending
Connor noted that Colbert stopped soliciting when a KU Public Safety officer arrived and told him to leave or he would be charged with trespassing.
"But ignorance of the rule is no reason to break it," Luke Thompson, chairman of the elections commission, said during the April 25 hearing.
Student Voice member, Daniel Colbert, was not aware of the rules regarding campaigning.
This is the 10th election violation Student Voice has been charged with during this year's Student Senate election. Connor, Overland Park freshman, and Chanay, Paola freshman, both disagreed with the decision of
the election commission.
Colbert was never able to appear in his defense or notified of the rule he broke, Connor said, citing his reasons of disagreement with the decision. He said that the elections commission had no jurisdiction over the matter.
Thompson declined to comment on the commission's decision.
Chanay also expressed his displeasure with the elections commission, saying that it has overstepped its boundaries numerous times.
Violations and appeals distracted Student Voice during this year's election from addressing the real issues, Chanay said.
"These violations have hampered us," Connor said last week. "We've spent more time in here than we have campaigning."
Connor added that it seemed like the elections commission wasn't helping them, but was instead "out to get them."
"We're just known as the guys on the front page breaking all the rules," Connor said.
— Edited by Kendall Dix
Today's weather
All contents, unless stated otherwise,
© 2005 The University Daily Kansan
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A graduate teaching assistant said that groups like the Minutemen validated the use of force without looking at the root of the problem. PAGE 3A
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