6 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2006
CAMPUS
Hot off the press
Campus readership program brings newspapers to students during summer semester for first time
BY DANI HURST
dhurst@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
This summer, some newspaper kiosks around campus will have more to offer students and faculty than just an empty box and a quick reflection. The 2006 summer semester marks the first summer in which the Student Newspaper Readership Program will be offered.
Mark Hinshaw, regional marketing manager for USA Today, said that this was an idea that has been in the works for a while, and is finally being implemented this summer.
There will be eight operating klosks in high-traffic areas determined by the Student Senate around campus: Green Hall, Learned Hall, Fraser Hall, Watson Library, Anschutz Library, Summerfield Hall and two at the Kansas Union.
Andrew Payne, Student Senate executive committee chair and Garden City senior, said that this summer will serve as a test run to see if the program is as successful during the summer as it is during the fall and spring semesters.
"We're hoping there's as much of a demand," Payne said. "We're anticipating there will be."
- The New York Times, USA Today, The Kansas City Star and the Lawrence Journal-World — for students at the cost of $5 per student per semester, which is included in the student fees. Students swipe their KUUD card in the machine and then take whichever papers they want to read.
"It helps with students' knowledge of current events," Payne said. "Teachers also use them in classes!"
The funding for the program's summer expansion is being provided by funds leftover from the fee that students paid each fall and spring semester since 2001, the first year of the program. According to Payne, the total amount spent on the program in 2005 was $160,000. Hinshaw said the summer program should cost around $11,000.
Molly Kocour, former chair of the Newspaper Readership Advisory Board for Student Senate and Lawrence graduate student, said she thought it was a great way to educate students and keep them up to date on what's going on both locally and nationally, as well as providing a cheaper alternative to buying a newspaper subscription.
Nick Sterner, former student body president, and Shawnee senior, said that in the summer, students are much more detached than in the fall and spring semesters.
Kansan file photo
Student Senate increased funds for the Newspaper Readership Program so it can continue during the summer. This is the first summer it has been available.
"If we promote it a little, I think it will turn into something students will use," Sterner said. "I think it's going to be a good little program."
Molly Bauer, Palatine, Ill. senior, just recently realized the papers were being offered during the summer semester.
"I thought it was a good idea," Bauer said, "so people know what's going on around here."
Bret Brown, Shawnee Junior, is also pleased with the new development.
"Actually, I feel good about it," Brown said. "I read the paper three to four times a week."
Hinshaw said that he and some representatives from his company would visit the campus on June 15 and 16 to help promote the summer program and offer help to those who might not know how to use the machines.
—Edited by Adrienne Bommarito
FAMILY SUES LANDLORDS
Incident at "party house" led to major injuries to student
BY DANI HURST
dhurst@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The landlords of a Lawrence house where a University of Kansas freshman fell from a second-story landing and suffered major injuries in 2004 are being sued by the girl's family.
According to an article in the Lawrence journal-World, the lawsuit - filed on behalf of Sara Anne Driessel by her family - alleges that the house, 1045 Tennessee St., was not up to building codes, and that the owners of the house
Kansan file photo
Sara Anne Driessel, then a Lonexa freshman, fell off the third story roof of this house at 1045 Tennessee St. on Sun.. Oct. 24, 2004. Driessel's mother, on her behalf, has filed suit against the owners of the house.
should have been aware of the building's "party house" status where underage drinking was a common occurrence.
The suit was filed against the owners of the house - David and Misti Jones two weeks ago in Douglas County District Court.
According to the article, the lawsuit also mentioned the Jones' son, Kyle, and stated that he held a party at that house the night Driessel fell.
David Jones was unwilling to comment about the lawsuit in detail.
One thing he said, however, was that he didn't know where the "party house" allegation came from.
"Ours is probably the least of the party houses' on the street," Jones said.
According to the article, police said that Driessel had gone out a second-floor window and onto the walk-out roof to smoke in the early morning in 2004. There was no railing around the landing, nor was the window to the outside sealed. After the fall she was flown to the University of Kansas Hospital, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS.
Driessel has still been unable to walk or speak since the accident in 2004. The suit was filed on behalf of Sara by her mother, Beth Driessel.
The Driessel family was unable to be reached for comment.
- Edited by Adrienne Bommarito