tuesday, may 11,2004
news
the university daily kansan 3r
3A
Smells like fermentation
Campus stench likely caused by moisture in new mulch
By Jesse Tuesdale
jruesdale@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
That smell you've noticed on campus last week was not, technically speaking, poo.
It was the product of tiny organisms in the recently laid mulch under the shrubbery and trees across campus.
Mike Lang, landscape manager for Facilities Operations, said his department began laying the mulch two weeks ago.
Lang said he has heard only a few complaints about the smell of the mulch.
ronnette Chase Alone, Fort Yates, N.D., freshman, said she thought the smell was from "dog shit."
Chase Alone said she wouldn't stop eating lunch on campus because of the smell.
because of the sniff. In order to avoid the smell, she takes the bus more often, she said.
Tom Willson, a research scientist and assistant professor at Kansas State University's Southwest Research Extension Center in Garden City, said the smell was probably because of moisture in the mulch.
Because the mulch got rained on, or it was stored improperly, or both, the microbial bacteria in the shredded oak mulch did not get enough oxygen.
get enough oxygen As a result, the microbes had to consume the wood bits they call home.
In this process, called anaerobic fermentation, the microbes often give off nitrates and sulfates as a waste product, which is probably what produced the smell Willson said.
Anaerobic means "without oxygen."
Fermentation is the process in which an agent causes an organic substance to break down into simpler substances.
but not as bad for the smell He said the reason for the smell was probably fermentation of the mulch caused by too much moisture from rain.
Mike Lang said the mulch usually smells a little after it is spread, but not as bad as it did last week.
Lang said the smell should dissipate over time.
Pomp and circumstance
- Edited by Joe Hartigan
Brea Hall, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore, left, and Mary Huyck, Iowa City, Iowa, senior, browsed through tassels Friday afternoon in the Kansas Union. Huyck said she was ready to graduate but didn't want to go into the real world yet.
Order likely to be used in appeal to Supreme Court
The Associated Press
TOPEKA — With lawmakers having adjourned their annual legislative session without making any changes to the state's school finance system, the judge who earlier found that system unconstitutional plans to issue his final ruling in the case today.
Shawnee County District Judge Terry Bullock will release his order at 11 a.m. today in his office. Pressed for details yesterday, Bullock replied: "Tune in."
money to programs for poor and minority students.
day. Bullock issued a preliminary ruling in a 1999 lawsuit brought by parents and administrators in the Dodge City and Salina school districts. In it, he ruled the state's system for distributing $2.77 billion in state aid unconstitutional, partially because of how it distributes
He also found the existing level of funding inadequate.
level of funding made. Bullock gave legislators the 2004 session to fix the system, setting a deadline of July 1 to make his order final. Legislators responded by passing a law allowing the state to immediately appeal the preliminary order to the Kansas Supreme Court.
Court.
Attorney General Phill Kline, representing the state, and Dan Biles, for the State Board of Education, filed such an appeal in March. Arguments before the Kansas Supreme Court are expected this September, with a ruling perhaps as early as October.
Kline declined Monday to comment on Bullock's impending ruling, but scheduled a news conference for 2 p.m. today.
conference for a
Alan Rupe, attorney for the
school districts, said Bullock's
ruling would likely be looked at
by the Kansas Supreme Court
when it hears the appeal
"Chances are he's got a remedy in mind," Rupe said. "I'm glad somebody does, the Legislature sure doesn't. I think it's a real positive development."
Bullock's preliminary ruling suggested, based on evidence presented during an eight-day trial, that Kansas could be underfunding schools by as much as $1 billion a year. That figure was based on a 2002 study by Denver-based consultants Augenblick and Myers, and Bullock noted it assumed no changes being made in distribution of funds.
He denied a request later in December by Biles to make his order final, writing simply: "JUST GO FIX IT."
Legislators adjourned the 2004 session on Saturday, despite failing to put additional dollars into elementary and secondary education. Various plans surfaced during the 89-day session, including a three-year, $304 million plan from Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and a $155
million plan from Rep. Bill Kassebaum, R-Burdick, and a coalition of House Democrats and moderate Republicans. Both plans were funded by increases in sales and income taxes.
Senators proposed to put $72 million additional dollars into schools, using the state's cash reserves and borrowing from the state employee pension fund.
The final effort, an $82 million compromise funded by borrowing money from the state transportation program passed in the Senate but failed in the House.
Legislators adjourned, waiting for guidance from Bullock, the Kansas Supreme Court, the outcome of fall elections and further legislative study of funding issues before the 2005 session begins in January.
House speaker Doug Mays (R- Topeka) said the case is not for Bullock to decide, but the seven justices of the higher court.
"He can't order us to do anything," Mays said.
Couple grateful for house makeover
The Associated Press
WELLINGTON — Returning from a weekend in Wichita, Karen and Richard Peralez were flabbergasted to find what had happened to their home.
Friends who had been doing all they could to help the couple deal with their son's death earlier this year decided to do wholesale makeover of their home.
makeover or otherwise.
Daniel Peralze, 17, was killed in January in a train collision. Close friend Darla McGovenn said that in her frequent talks with the boy's mother, "one of the things that kept coming up was how it was really hard to keep coming home to the same house, the same everything."
So McGovern enlisted other friends of the couple to do something about it. Dozens of people went to work starting Friday evening, continuing Saturday and Sunday. By 3:30 p.m. Sunday, most
of the work was done, with more than 60 people putting finishing touches on "The Perealz Project."
The friends laid new carpet on the floor and stairs, painted the brown wall panels a light cream color, sanded and painted the kitchen cabinets, put down new flooring in kitchen bathroom, remodeled the bathroom and planted some flowers outside.
When the Peralezes arrived home about 6 p.m. Sunday, McGovern was there to greet them at the front door, with everybody else hiding in the back yard. When she led them into the building, Karen began to cry, and Richard exclaimed, "Holy refried beans!"
“Oh, my God,” Karen said through her tears. “It’s beautiful.”
"We have the best friends and family in the whole world," Karen said. "I love each and every one of you. And I can't believe you went through so much work."