THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2008
NEWS
3A
CAMPUS
Warming up to students
Spring season to contribute to an increase in student tours
Mindy Ricketts/KANSAN
Stephanie Brooks, a University ambassador and Mendota Heights, Minn., sophomore, escorts a group on a tour of campus Monday afternoon for Junior Day.
BY CALEB SOMMERVILLE
csommerville@kansan.com
New additions besides birds and flowers arrive on campus with warmer weather: tour groups.
The student ambassadors point out unusual facts and show visiting and parents students why they should attend the University of Kansas, and spring is the most common time for high school students to tour campus.
Stephanie Filardo, Owensville, Mo., senior and a student ambassador, said there were usually 60 to 80 ambassadors at any one time because students quit and join throughout the semester.
The ambassador program is a part of the office of admissions. Each ambassador goes through about six hours of training as well as six "shadow" tours, where they tag along with an experienced ambassador.
The two main tour routes, called the traditional forward and backward routes, go by the main buildings on central campus.
Ambassadors have also made up routes that go farther south on campus and loop around Summerfield Hall. Another tour, named the "green" route, goes through Marvin's Grove, the wooded area behind Strong Hall.
An larger number of bus tours have in running because of the unpredictable cold weather, Filardo said.
"We didn't want to make anyone sick." Filardo said.
Each walking tour lasts an hour or more, depending on the route.
Because bus tours take less time, they also drive by the residence halls. Usually, prospective students need to take a separate housing tour, which is given by ambassadors and staff from the housing department.
Monday was Junior Day because high school students were off
school for Presidents Day. Students said they liked the tours, despite the cold weather.
Maddie Scheve, a high school junior from Overland Park, said the tour was resourceful and featured a lot of things she didn't know about campus. She enjoyed the personal facts that the ambassadors provided.
"I'm going here." Scheve said.
Braxton Tanner, a high school junior from Memphis, Tenn., said the University was in his top two schools that he was considering.
Tanner said he thought the tour was very informative, and the
campus was beautiful. The tour also improved his opinion of the University overall.
Jennifer Hout, the visit coordinator for daily campus visits, said Junior Day wasn't the only thing the University did to try to appeal to prospective students. The office of admissions also hosts transfer days, senior days, multicultural days, scholar days and admitted senior days, among others.
The University also puts on Hawk Talks, which are get-to-know you sessions in Kansas towns.
— Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
》 ENVIRONMENT
Kansans concerned about coal Students express thoughts on proposed power plants
James Roberts, Overland Park senior, speaks at a press conference in Topeka after a hearing in the Senate Utilities Committee on Feb. 7. The committee reviewed a proposal to build a coal power plant near Holcomb.
BY MARY SORRICK msorrick@kansan.com
Photo courtesy of Ashton Martin
"There's the need for a real forward thinking energy discussion in this state," Roberts said. "We want to show that environmentalism is not a divergence from progress and
The Holcomb coal power plant proposal has motivated many University of Kansas students to get politically active.
Campus groups such as KU Environs have traveled to Topeka to voice their concerns about the proposals submitted by Sunflower Electric Power Corp. The groups are participating in a large effort spearheaded by the Greater Plains Alliance for Clean Energy, or GPACE, a Kansas organization dedicated to sustainable energy.
The proposals passed through both the Kansas House and Senate without changes, but could still face a veto from Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. If they aren't vetoed, the proposals would allow for the construction of two coal-fired power plants outside of Holcomb in southwestern Kansas.
The proposed plants meet national environmental standards, and the provisions within the state House and Senate bills block Rod Bremmy, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, from issuing further emissions regulations without legislative approval.
He said 25 to 30 students from the University went to Topeka on Feb. 6 and 7, when the Senate was debating the legislation, to support oppositional testimony against the proposals in front of the Senate Utilities Committee.
James Roberts, Overland Park senior and volunteer for GPACE, has been organizing Kansas students to talk with legislators in the capitol about the proposals.
"The overall effort is to make Democrats, Republicans, Conservatives and Liberals know that this is not an issue that pits environmentalists against economists," Roberts said.
growth."
Brian Sifton, Kansas City, Mo. senior, was the only University student to volunteer to testify before the Senate Utilities Committee on Feb. 7.
Sifton, an environmental studies major, said he spoke to the utilities committee about the negative effects the coal plants could have in the future.
"It is an issue of our generation," Sifton said. "In 50,60,70 years, we're dealing with environmental changes the most."
Sifton said his testimony in front of the Senate was the peak of his political activism.
"Someone needs to say something from the perspective of the youth," Sifton said. "The people making the decisions aren't going to be the ones left with the effects."
Sam Funk, Holcomb senior, said his stance on the Sunflower Electric proposals had put him in the minority among his friends from home.
"I think I'm one of the very few people from Holcomb to oppose it," Funk said.
He has been to the capitol twice with GPACE — once to talk with
Anthony Hensley, Senate Democratic leader, and again to hear testimony against the proposals on Feb. 7.
Funk, who's a part of the fourth generation to live on his family's farm, said his investment in Holcomb had been the driving force for his involvement in the coal plant debate.
Even though the House and Senate both passed the coal plant proposals, Funk said he was still hopeful that a veto by Sebelius would force legislators to cap carbon dioxide emissions.
He said he also supported efforts to build wind turbines in western Kansas as a source of cleaner energy.
Roberts said he continued to push for renewable energy sources and organized students to advocate for higher emission standards.
"We have such an incredible opportunity at hand," he said. "There's an interest to see change, and energy policy is absolutely the way to do that."
Anyone interested in joining the coal plant discussion with Kansas legislators can contact James Roberts at rigby@ku.edu.
Edited by Russell Davies
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS February 20, 2008 SENATE
Lutheran Campus Ministry
Got Grace?
No ID required
Cone join us for worship on Sundays @ 5 And Spaghetti for the Soul on Wednesdays @ 6
We are celebrating our 45th year at KU! For more info contact lutherans@ku.edu or www.kulutherans.org
We are a Reconciling in Christ Community All are welcome!
KU Finance Club
Thursday, Feb. 21st
7:00 pm • 427 Summerfield
Featuring - Rob Hill Team Leader, Keller Williams Realty
Come watch the informational video on Berkshire Hathaway and hear Rob speak on the real estate market.
*Food and drinks will be provided.
Center for Community Outreach challenging. educating. empowering
Looking to volunteer? Center for Community Outreach can help!
We have 15 volunteer programs working throughout Lawrence and can connect you to many local programs.
Contact us!
405 Kansas Union (in the SILC office)
864-4073 • cco@ku.edu
www.ku.edu/~cco
New members always welcome!
ABWA Meeting
Dress is business casual
Tuesday, February 26th at 7 p.m. Jayhawk Room (5th floor Kansas Union)
Pre-Physical Therapy Club
Watkins Health Center Crimson and Blue Room
--site : aiesecng.com email : aieseckansas.pr@gmail.com directions : 785-550-2508
Upcoming Meetings:
March 11 & 25
At 6:30 p.m.
E-mail: prepthawks@ hotmail.com
African Club
A KU professor or student will guide impromptu discussion about issues relating to our mission. We will meet at Aimee's Café on Mass St.at the following times:
A forum to promote educated discussions on topics related to Africa and the African Diaspora Soapbox Series
February 7th @ 7-9 pm
March 6th @ 7-9 pm
April 3rd @ 7-9 pm
May 1st @ 7-9 pm
May 1st @ 7-9 pm
From more information contact us at Africana@ku.edu or Sarah Madden at Smadden@ku.edu
"Striking Out Cancer"
Up 'Til Dawn
Where: Jay Bowl (Kansas Union)
When: Sunday, Feb. 24th 3pm-5pm
Cost if one attended a UTD Letter Writing Event:
Food, Bowling, and T-shirt FREE
Cost if one did not attend a UTD Letter Writing Event:
Food and Bowling-$5 : T-shirt-$5
Come and celebrate the total of over $57,000 + raised by Kansas Students for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Taste the World in just one night
AIESEC