WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2006
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 5
OBITUARY
Political science professor dies after battle with cancer
BY ADRIENNE BOMMARITO
abommaritor@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
versity of Kansas in 1988 as assistant professor of political science. In 1991 she was promoted to associate professor, then in 2001 became a professor. Gerner's main area of study was the United States and comparative foreign policy.
Deborah A. Gerner, professor of political science, died June 19 in her home after a struggle with breast cancer. She was 50 years old. Gerner started her career at the Uni-
Gerner taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in international relations and foreign policy and in comparative politics.
A 1977 graduate from Earlham College in Richmond, Ind., Gerner doublemaiored in religion and peace and conflict studies. In 1979, Gerner received her master's degree in political science from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and in 1982 she received her doctoral degree from Northwestern University.
Prior to teaching at the University, Gerner taught at the University of Iowa and Hamilton College. She was also a visiting professor at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, Birzelt University in Palestine and at Northwestern University.
Gerner was honored with many awards including a Kemper Award for excellence in teaching, the Byron T. Shutz Award for distinguished teaching and the Distinguished Alumna Award from Earlham College. She was also a member of the University of Kansas' Women's Hall of Fame.
Gerner proved her knowledge of political science in the three books she wrote; One Land, Two Peoples: The Conflict Over Palestine, 1994, Understanding the Contemporary Middle East, 2000, and When the Rain Returns: Justice and Reconciliation in Palestine and Israel, 2004.
Gerner is survived by her husband, Philip A. Schrodt, professor of political science at the University; her parents, Henry and Dorothy Love Gerner, of Indianapolis; and her brother, Mark Gerner, of Evansville, Ind.
A cremation is planned for Gerner at the Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home and Crematory, 601 Indiana St.
- Edited by Dani Hurst
Regents approve final year of tuition plan
The Board of Regents approved the final year of KU's five-year tuition enhancement plan on June 22. However, the tuition in Kansas is still less than the national and regional averages, according to a press release.
"The Board of Regents is always reluctant to enhance tuition rates," said Nelson Galle, chairman of the Regents, in the press release. "Unfortunately, tuition
enhancements are necessary if we are to maintain the high quality of education that Kansans deserve and demand."
Resident tuition and fees at the University, along with Kansas State University and Wichita State University, are 11 percent below the regional average. The tuition and fees at Emporia State University, Fort Hayes State University and Pittsburg State University are 32 percent below the regional average.
Rising natural gas and electric
rates have also affected tuitions by increasing maintenance costs.
Christine Downey-Schmidt, vice chairwoman of the Regents, said in the press release that universities are forced to do more with less funding.
"The six universities have moved aggressively to cut costs, achieve efficiencies and broaden their funding base to respond to enrollment increases and the reduced share of state funding." Downey-Schmidt said.
—Dani Hurst
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor:
Yesterday, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) became the latest religious body to endorse legal access to medical marijuana for seriously ill patients. By consensus, the denomination passed a resolution "urging Federal legislation that allows for its use and that provides for the production and distribution of the plant for those purposes"
The Presbyterian Church (USA) joins the United Methodist Church, Episcopal Church, United Church of Christ, Union for Reform Judaism, Progressive National Baptist
Convention and the Unitarian Universalist Association in support of medical marijuana.
On June 28th the US House will vote on the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment which would prohibit the Drug Enforcement Administration from arresting medical marijuana patients in those states that allow medical marijuana. Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington have enacted laws protecting patients from arrest by state and local police.
A recent poll conducted by the
Drug Policy Forum of Kansas of 500 frequent voters statewide found that 62 percent of Kansans are not opposed to a law allowing people with serious and terminal medical conditions to obtain and use a limited amount of marijuana if recommended by their physician.
If you agree that the doctor-patient relationship should be free from government intrusion, please contact your U.S. representative and ask him to vote YES on the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment.
Laura A. Green
Drug Policy Forum of Kansas