THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2008 NEWS 》 ENVIRONMENT 3A Film festival takes on campus Biology professor to present "An Inconvenient Truth" slideshow BY MARY SORRICK msorrick@kansan.com A free environmental film festival on campus this week will usher in Earth Month. The festival will feature three documentaries and a presentation of Al Gore's slideshow from "An Inconvenient Truth." Films for Action, an "It's starting to become more and more apparent that we should be trying to solve these problems." independent media outlet from Lawrence, and student groups KU Environs and E.A.R.T.H. are sponsoring the event. Hour" on Thursday, a panel discussion comprised of faculty, local environmental experts and Stephan McGuire, co-producer of Tree Media's films, will cap the week's festivities. MARGARET TRAN Derby sophomore and vice president of E.A.R.T.H. The movies and slideshow will be spread throughout four nights beginning on Monday and ending with a panel discussion and free Local Burger catering for attendees on Thursday. Margaret Tran, Derby sophomore and vice president of E.A.R.T.H., said the festival took shape when Tree Media Group, a California-based media company, asked if student groups from the University wanted to show its film, "The 11th Hour," as part of Tree Media's promotion of the movie at college campuses across the country. Tree Media also offered to provide food from Local Burger including mini burgers, hummus, cheese and crackers and other organic foods. B r i a n "We thought it was great because we would want to put on an event like this anyway," Tran said. "So the idea that they want to provide us with funding is great." After showing "The 11th Other films to be shown this week are "The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil" and "What A Way to Go: Life at the End of Empire." Sifton, Kansas City, Mo., senior and president of KU Environs said the films centered on the impending natural resource crises and focused on issues rarely tackled by the mainstream media. Tuesday's slideshow presentation from "An Inconvenient Truth" will be given by David Gordon, associate professor of biology at Pittsburgh State University. "We thought it would be cool Monday, March 31 - "The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil" 7 p.m. at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries schedule Tuesday, April 1 "-An Inconvenient Truth"slide show 7 p.m. at the ECM Wednesday, April 2 - "What a Way to Go: Life at the End of Empire" 7 p.m. at the ECM Thursday, April 3 - "The 11th Hour" 7 p.m. in Alderson Auditorium at the Kansas Union to do it that way because it allows people to ask questions if they would like," Sifton said. "It also gets around the 'I don't believe climate change is real because $1 to $2 donations to help compensate the ECM for hosting the festival will be appreciated. and sustainability, Tran said. "It's starting to become more and more apparent that we should be trying to solve these Tree Media also offered to provide food from Local Burger including mini burgers, hummus, cheese and crackers and other organic foods. I don't like Al Gore' mentality that so many of us have." The presentation and movies will offer students the opportunity to inform themselves about topics related to climate change problems," she said. "As students, we really are kind of paving the way, so the more educated we can be the better." For more information about Films for Action and Tree Media, visit their Web sites at www.filmsforaction.org and www.treemedia.com. Edited by Jessica Sain-Baird The Gmail resolution required two-thirds of Senate to pass. It passed in full Senate 34-8, which is six more votes than necessary. The resolution had no negative speeches when it went through committees or full Senate. GMAIL TECHNOLOGY VETO (CONTINUED FROM 1A) The Gmail resolution stemmed from an initiative by Senate coalition ConnectKU. Love said she vetoed it because it brought party politics into Student Senate. "My responsibility as student body president is to keep Senate non-partisan."Love said. Jarrod Morgenstern, Overland Park senior and journalism senator, was involved in creating the ConnectKU initiative to bring Gmail technology to the University. He said that in his two years of experience in Senate, when Senate put its name on a resolution asking a University organization to do something, the chances of it happening increased. Morgenstern said that because Love was vetoing a resolution that so many senators voted in favor of, Love was no longer representing the best interests of students. Morgenstern said he planned to override Love's veto. He also said the veto signified her opposition to Gmail for students. A veto takes two-thirds of Senate to override. "She thinks that she's smarter than the other 34 people who voted for it," Morgenstern said. SUSTAINABILITY FEE Love also vetoed a change to the distribution of student fees. In 2007, the student body voted for a referendum to pay $1.50 per semester to a sustainability fund for the campus. The vote did not increase fees but moved the $1.50 from already existing fees. The bill that passed through Senate on March 12 by a 29-12 vote took $.25 from the Women's and Non-Revenue Sports' fee, which costs students $40 per semester, and put it toward the sustainability fund. Love said she vetoed it because there were other student fees that could handle cuts and the money shouldn't come from the athletics fee. MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION FUND The Multicultural Education Fund bill, which passed on March 12 by a 40-12 vote, proposed that StudEx have oversight over the board. Currently, there is no oversight on how the Multicultural Education Fund Board spends money. Students pay $1.50 per semester to the Multicultural Education Fund, which amounts to about $75,000. The fund, which is in its first year of existence, has caused controversy in Senate meetings about which groups qualify as multicultural. The fund is not governed by regular Senate regulations. Love said no other board that distributes fee money has an oversight process and ordering one on the Multicultural Education Fund Board would be discriminatory. In her veto statement, which she sent out over the Student Senate list server, she said she was disappointed in the treatment of the bill. "I am receiving the impression from this body that these guidelines, passed by the student body, are wrong." Love wrote. "This is not a students of color fund. This fee is no different than many of the other fees. A board is appointed that Student Senate entrusts with the funds. The system is not broken, and it does not need adjustment. This fee has been through the same processes, appeals, and scrutiny as all the other student senate fees." Adam McGonigle, Wichita sophomore and United Students presidential candidate, said he thought it was unfortunate that three pieces of legislation were vetoed at once. "If elected, I would work with people I agree with and people I don't, so we never get to that stage," McGonigle said. McGonigle is also the current StudEx chair. Austin Kelly, Lawrence junior and ConnectKU presidential candidate, said all three vetoes were a little different. He said that if Love felt strongly about the MEF and sustainability vetoes, then it was her right to veto them. Kelly said he thought the Gmail veto was inappropriate. He said every issue was partisan because every student body president ran a campaign and tried to get platform issues accomplished once elected. He said who got credit for an idea was not what Senate was about. "I want a student body president to embrace what is good for students regardless of who thought of it," Kelly said. Senate rules give the student body president the power to veto legislation, but that power is not used often. In the five years before Love was in office, only one student body president used veto power. Steve Munch, student body president from 2004 to 2005, vetoed two bills. Nothing since then had been vetoes until Love entered office and vetoes a bill regarding the use of electronic voting devices, or "clickers," during summer 2007. Full Senate meets Wednesday at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics. If it is going to, Senate would probably have to overturn Love's vetoes at this meeting because Senate typically does not discuss legislation after Senate elections. Elections this year are April 9 and 10. Edited by Katherine Loeck Start and End at Maceli's, 1031 New Hampshire. One mile Walk and 5K Walk/Run. A full breakfast, sponsored by NetworQ, will be served for returning participants from 8:30-10am. Registration 7-8am. Stretch and run with Red Dog, at 7:50am. Walk steps off at 8am. Awards Ceremony 10am. Registration is online at www.douglascountyaidsproject.org Saturday, April 12th EVENT: "RAGS TO RICHES" CHARITY BALL DATE: Saturday, April 19 TIME: 7pm-9:45pm HOSTED BY: National Society of Collegiate Scholars & KU Honor Society old towels & rags! Monetary donations are accepted INFO: This event is open to ANYONE! NSCS members bring your friends! This is for a good cause. Music, food & swing dance lessons will be provided. It will give students a chance to go to a formal event, PURPOSE: Fundraiser event for the Lawrence Humane Society. All you have to bring are a donation of LOCATION: Gridiron Room at the Burge Union Union have fun & dance the night away PURPOSE: Fundraiser event for the dress up, Finance Club Meeting This Thursday, April 3rd 7 pm - 427 Summerfield featuring Fred Coulson Managing Director of Five Elms Capital **food and drinks provided** **please dress business casual** Be A Part of Center for Community Outreach! CCO is seeking motivated, service-orientated people for the following paid positions: Co-Director • Communications Director • Financial Director • Technology Director 27 Volunteer Coordinating Positions are also open for our 14 volunteer programs. Applications are available at www.ku.edu/~cco or outside 405 Kansas Union. Co-director Applications are due April 7th (Recommendations are due April 11) All other applications due April 21st DEVIN'S Run "THIS IS WHAT RUNNING WAS MADE FOR" University of Kansas, April 13th When: Sunday, April 13, 10:00 am Where: Check-in at the north end of Allen Fieldhouse. Race route through campus- begins and ends at Burge Union Why: To benefit Devin McAnderson Leukemia patient & brother of KU running back Brandon McAnderson University of Kansas, April 13th Entry Fee: $10 for students & $15 non-students T-shirts: T-shirts for those registered by April 8. Late registers not guaranteed t-shirts. Website: devinsrun.com (registration available online) Attention Local Bands! McGovMcGovMcGovMcGovMcGov McCollum Residence hall is putting on a Battle of the Bands Grand Prize $500! Any Band can win Any Band can win the only rule is someone in the band must reside in Student Housing Please bring all demos to McCollum front desk or contact us at bigmacbotb@yahoo.com or Casty@ku.edu McGovMcGovMcGovMcGovMcGov