KUlure looks at the art of slack lining Have you wondered what those guys are doing out on the lawn of Stauffer-Flint? Check out what correspondent Emily Hendricks found when she spent some time with them. PAGE 1B
Kansas cruises past Missouri State
THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
Kansas cruises past Missouri State The Jayhawks built an 18-run lead en route to a 19-7 victory over the Bears Tuesday night. Sophomore designated hitter Brock Simpson's monster game led the way for KU. PAGE 2B
THE
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM
VOL.116 ISSUE 135
ADMINISTRATION
Negotiations on hold for GTAs
BY MELINA RICKETT
mricketts@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2006
Contract negotiations have stalled between the Kansas Association of Public Employees, which represents the graduate teaching assistants on the Umi-
versity of Kansas' Lawrence campus, and the University.
The state's Public Employer Employee Relations Board will intervene
"The entire contract should not be hinged on one article."
of GTAC, said that the negotiations committee, which includes three GTAC representatives and one from KAPE, wanted to continue negotiations.
He said they were progressing well and had signed off on four articles drafted by the
will intervene to resolve the issues.
"That doesn't serve anybody's interests." Bretz said.
Lynn Britz, University spokeswoman, said that department heads and administrators interested in recruiting top-quality graduate students wanted the negotiations to be settled as soon as possible. She said, having the contract up in the air was causing problems for both sides.
The University offered a lump sum at the end of the semester representing the salary increase the GTAs would have received for the Spring 2006 semester along with subsequent salary increases. KAPE rejected the offer to pursue non-monetary issues, Bretz said.
Kyle Waugh Co-president of GTAC
Of the 912 GTAs on campus as of February,12 percent belong the Graduate Teaching Assistants Coalition.
Kyle Waugh, co-president
University.
"We did that in the spirit of negotiation and good faith," Waugh said.
He said that the disagreement between
the University and the negotiations committee about certain contract articles would not prevent negotiations regarding other parts of the contract.
"The entire contract should not be hinged on one article," he said.
The biggest point of disagreement in the negotiations that doesn't relate to salary is the 10-semester limit on GTA positions, he said.
The University said it pushed GTAs to complete their degrees and kept positions open for incoming graduate students.
Brian Azcona, also a co-president of GTAC, said the University had never provided data supporting its claim that the limit pushed students to finish their degrees.
SEE GTA ON PAGE 5A
CITY COMMISSION
Lisa Lipovac/KANSAN
Zachary Hart and Eric Schmidt, seniors, lead the march to the Lawrence City Hall Tuesday evening. The group was protesting a city noise ordinance.
Decibels don't matter
BY KRISTEN JARBOE
kjarboe@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Before the march down to City Hall, Justin La Mort told participants in favor of changing the noise ordinance that he hoped the Lawrence City Commission would listen to them today. This was not the case.
Tuesday night at the Lawrence City Commission meeting, commissioners agreed to leave the noise ordinance as it currently stands. Three changes
The other options were to either set a decibel noise limit or to use a "plainly audible" or "clearly audible" standard, which would use time and distance to determine whether the noise ordinance was violated.
were proposed, but only one of the choices was in the favor of the five commissioners — to not make any changes.
About 25 students, including members of the KU chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and Delta Force participated in the silent march. The
Almost everyone carried a sign. Franklin held a sign that said, "HUSH." Other signs said "Objective = Fair" and "Vague Law = Bad Law."
group started at 1236 Louisiana St. marched down Massachusetts Street and arrived at City Hall for the meeting.
Onlookers cheered as they walked downtown, Bridget Franklin, Topeka senior and Delta Force member, said.
there is what's important. They are the people making the decisions."
Studie Red Corn, Shawnee sophomore and Delta Force member, said, "What happens in
The concerned students were not pleased with the commission's decision.
"I'm doubtful at this point," La Mort, Cherryvale senior and president of KU ACLU, said. "This problem isn't going away, and something needs to change. I'm deeply disappointed in the city commission decision tonight."
SEE NOISE ON PAGE 5A
STUDENT HOUSING
Hashinger Hall increases resident fees
Nicoletta Niosi/KANSAN
Construction continues on Hashinger Hall. The prices for living at residence halls this fall, including the newly renovated Hashinger hall, will vary based on new amenities and upgrades.
BY RACHEL PARKER
rparker@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITE
Hashinger Hall, which is scheduled to re-open this fall, will increase housing costs from last year. The hall, as well as other renovated residence halls, will cost more than the traditional residence halls.
Hashinger will cost $3,655 for a double room, $3,921 for a large two-person room and $4,513 for a single room. Last year Hashinger costs ranged from $2,594 to $3,434.
The average residence hall room and board costs are $5,750 for the 2006-2007 school year, a 5.5 percent increase from this year's rates.
This year's average residence hall room and board costs are $5,502.
Diana Robertson, interim director of the Department of Student Housing, said at the request of students all of Hashinger's rooms would be equivalent to Ellsworth Hall's two-person rooms with a sink.
There are six rates for residence halls in 2006-2007. The renovated halls — Ellsworth, Hashinger, Lewis and Templin — range from $3,655 to $4,513 while traditional halls — Oliver, McCollium and GSP-Corbin — range from $2,997 to $3,881. In residence halls students can choose from suites, double
KU Cuisine meal plan rates will not increase for next year. The meal plans are available to all KU students, faculty and staff in different priced packages from $1,240 to $3,100.
Robertson said increased rates helped the University adjust to increased utility costs, materials and other general operational costs such as salary increases enforced by the state. She said anticipating the costs a year ahead was sometimes difficult.
The residents currently participating in "Home Away from Hash," a program in which former Hashinger residents live in other residence halls and continue Hashinger traditions, will be on the priority list during the selection process, granted they fill out an intent to return application.
The general rate for student housing costs has been on a steady rise for years. However, the University still has affordable rates that are below the average of public and private universities nationwide, according to College Board, an organization that helps students in their college searches.
"We operate in a pretty lean way, and we've worked real hard over the years to keep the rates as low as possible," she said.
Robertson said Hashinger, which is known by the housing department as the "Center for Creative Arts," would include an application form from which students would be selected into the residence hall, in addition to a first-come, first-serve basis. This process is also used for Ellsworth, Lewis and Templin Halls.
rooms and single rooms.
WEATHER
Edited by Lindsey St. Clair
Lisa Linovac/KANSAN
AAAAAHHH
BY MIKE MOSTAFFA
mmostaffa@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
With oil prices reaching a record-high $71 a barrel Tuesday, Adam Lawson will have to spend more money filling up his two five-speed Ford Mustang.
Lawson, Wichita junior, said his car only got about 20 miles per gallon. With the rising cost of oil, the two-and-a-half-hour drive he makes twice a month to see family and friends will become even more expensive.
The added expense shouldn't drastically alter life in Lawrence
"I'm probably just going to have to start buying cheaper beer," Lawson said.
Prices set record
Katie Lange, Lawrence junior pumps gas. Lange said she didn't always fill the tank because of high gas prices.
STUDENT FINANCES
73 Sunnywind 41 weather.com
Comics... 6A
Classifieds... 7B
SEE GAS ON PAGE 5A
INDEX
Crossword... 6A
Horoscopes... 6A
Opinion... 7A
Sports... 1B
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© 2006 The
University Daily
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