DENT VOICE
The men's and women's basketball teams hit the road on Wednesday. For complete coverage of the men at Nebraska and the women at Oklahoma, see PAGES 6A,7A,10A AND 12A
DENT VOICE SINCE 1904
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9. 2006
VOL.116 ISSUE 91
Menan True/KANSAN
Getting ready for the big day
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Chrissy Holgerson, Overland Park junior, carries red and pink balloons for Valentine's Day at Flowerama, 1700 W. 23rd St. Holgerson said that Floweraum has been selling $2000 to $3000 worth of flowers a day because Valentine's Day is less than a week away.
LEGISLATURE
House OKs bill
BY FRED A. DAVIS III
f davis@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
An anti-abortion amendment added to a bill intended to improve student health insurance created quite a buzz on Tuesday. How quickly a 110-14 vote quelled that buzz.
On Wednesday, the Kansas House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the bill that would grant the Board of Regents the authority to purchase health insurance coverage for its six member institutions — of which the University of Kansas is one.
The bill was initiated by the Regents after hearing a proposal from Provest David Shulenburger that detailed the need for better coverage for students, graduate teaching assistants and graduate research assistants. The bill was introduced to the House on Jan. 11.
Rep. Richard Kelsey (R-Godard) introduced the anti-abortion amendment on the House floor Tuesday morning to the shock of nearly everyone in attendance.
Amendment debate on hold
"Since the state helps fund the insurance for students," Kelsey said, "I don't want the state paying for abortions."
Rep. Annie Kuether (D-Topeka) disagreed with the amendment proposal and voted against it. Kuether was also among the few who voted against the bill, citing the grounds of the amendment, not the bill itself. She said it was not up to the legislature to decide what a person could do with his or her body.
Rep. Tom Sloan (R-Lawrence) who voiced his discontent about the amendment on Tuesday, voted for the bill's passage on Wednesday. He said he voted for the bill to keep it moving, but also said he would do his best to get the amendment removed. Sloan said he liked the core of
the bill, but disagreed with the amendment.
"I think it jeopardizes a timely provision of health insurance options to students," he said "because I anticipate there would be a lawsuit over the language of it."
He said it did not take into account the possibility of abortion due to risky pregnancies, rape or incest-related situations.
Kelsey argued that his amendment did not prohibit medical attention for risky pregnancies.
"Show me a health insurance policy that does cover abortions," Kelsey said. "It's a cash business, have you ever heard of an abortion clinic taking insurance?"
The bill now heads to the Kansas Senate Education Committee for review before being presented to the Senate.
TRANSPORTATION
— Edited by Timon Veach
Group wants better busing
BY KRISTEN JARBOE
kjarboe@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
AbleHawks will be able to serve disabled KU students better through Student Senate. It will now have a voice on the board that sets policies for KU on Wheels.
AbleHawks would like to see buses with more accessibility to those with disabilities, said Zach Coble, AbleHawks vice president.
Previously no one filled either position on the board because of scheduling conflicts among the students.
"This includes students who are visually impaired, hearing impaired or mobility impaired," he said. "If someone is in a wheelchair, I think there should be a lift for them on the bus."
"It's really important to get a KU student on the board," said Derek Zarda, AbleHawks president. "We need to have a voice for students with disabilities. We're really pushing for this."
Zarda said he visited other schools, such as Michigan State University, that have busing systems that were better equipped for students with disabilities.
"Those systems seem to put KU on Wheels behind the times," he said. "For example, if the bus driver is coming to a stop, he would say his location on the intercom so that the visually impaired student can hear where he's at."
AbleHawks would also like to see the LiftVans available not just for transportation to
classes, but for other activities, such as on campus meetings, as well. The LiftVans are the current means of transportation for students with wheelchairs.
The Transit Steering Committee brought in a bus from the Wichita Optima Bus Corporation last week that showed an example of an adequately equipped bus for people with disabilities. It has a lift-equipped ramp at the front door that lands at ground level, the same height as the sidewalk.
Department director Donna Hultine said that the KU Parking Department wanted to buy buses, which were similarly accessible. Jessica Mortinger, transportation coordinator for KU on Wheels, said retrofitting the buses with new equipment was another possibility, but funding was an issue.
"With enough money the buses could definitely be retrofitted," she said. "But the second question is, 'Who is going to pay for them?'"
AbleHawks, which raises awareness for students with disabilities, will have two people on the Student Senate Transportation Board: one person to attend the meetings and another to complete two hours of office work per week.
Zarda said the buses worked for some of the students, even most of the students, but not for everyone.
"Why can't they be beneficial to all students?" he said. "We all pay the same tuition."
— Edited by Meghan Miller
ENVIRONMENT
Trash canned at Lawrence locations
BY RACHEL PARKER
rparker@kansan.com
KANSAN SAFT WRITER
While it might seem more convenient for college students to carry their garbage out to the dumpster or wait for the free garbage pickup, there are other ways to help the environment using little time and space.
Lawrence has more than 15 drop-off centers where community recycling takes place. The Wal-Mart Community Recycling Center, which reopened on Dec. 13, and the 12th and Haskell Bargain Center, are two of Lawrence's biggest drop-off spots, Mollie Mangerich, operations supervisor of Lawrence Waste Reduction and Recycling, said. Other centers can be found on its Web site, at www.lawrencerecycles.org
Five curbside residential recycling sectors are also available for students living anywhere off-campus, but for a fee. Chris Scafe, owner of Sunflower Curbside Recycling, charges $16 a month for weekly pickup service or $8 a month for bi-weekly service.
Ryan Jaco, Kansas City, Mo., senior, said that students didn't recycle to dropoff centers primarily because they were lazy and didn't want to take the time out of their schedules.
"It is a hassle, but I think it's important and that's why I do it," she said.
Jaco recycles on her own every week and a half, taking her recycling to the 12th and Haskell Bargain Center because
the money they give in exchange for the products goes to Habitat for Humanity.
Bringing reusable items to these centers takes only a few spare minutes, but it helps the environmental cause. Cell phones, computers, disposable cameras, car batteries and tires can also be recycled at Lawrence Waste Reduction and Recycling.
eBay has created Rethink, a program which focuses on the reusability of old computers, cell phones and other electronics. Rethink is a spin-off from ewaste, a way to use electronic waste for good use. The electronics can be traded in, donated or even bought over eBay.
These products contain hazardous materials and can have negative effects on the environment, but only 15 percent of people are aware that recycling of these products is available where they live, according to December 2004 findings from ACNielsen International Research, a marketing research company.
Students hanging out on campus might have the easiest way to help the environment. The KU Environmental Stewardship Program provides recycling containers at more than 100 buildings on campus. Students pay $3 included with their tuition fees for these containers to be available on campus. Student Senate and University of Kansas administration also provide funds, said Jeff Severin, KU environmental services manager.
- Edited by Meghan Miller
Joshua Bickel/KANSAN
Tanning salon opens new addition Mango Tan, the official tanning salon of the Women of KU models has expanded into The Cup's former space. PAGE 2A
Intramural basketball team remains unbeaten Co-rec intramural team 2 Good 4 a Name continued its winning ways, defeating Title IX All-Stars on Tuesday night at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center. PAGE 11A
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Javplav
We celebrate Valentine's Day with love-inspiring photos of romance in unexpected places. Also, learn why chocolate is good for you, what MySpace has done for music and how to make an interfaith relationship work.
Index
Comics. .8A
Classifieds. .9A
Crossword. .8A
Horoscopes. .8A
Opinion. .5A
Sports. 12A
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All contents, unless stated otherwise.
© 2006 The University Daily Kansan.
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