KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2010 / NEWS
3A
CAMPUS
United Way needs student donors
Chris Bronson/KANSAN
The organization wants more KU help in annual campaign
Sarah Hicks, Bennington junior (right), receives a free T-shirt from Victoria Ragan, a freshman from Overland Park (middle), after a donation to the United Way Friday afternoon outside the Union. Beverly Smith, Billings chairwoman, 2010 United Way Campaign (left) took donations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Union, where students were given free hot dogs, and T-shirts for their contribution. The United Way's goal this year is to receive $285,000 worth of donations from the University.
BY STEPHEN GRAY
sgray@kansan.com
Douglas County United Way representatives had an unexpected message for students at their KU kickoff campaign last Friday: Beat Mizzou.
As part of the campaign's goal to raise $285,000 this year at the University, the KU division of United Way has organized a T-shirt sale challenge with its contacts at the University of Missouri and Kansas State University.
Beverly Billings, the 2010 campaign chairwoman for the United Way of Douglas County, said she hopes that the University will come out with renewed enthusiasm to donate after being soundly outraised by the Missouri division last year.
"These are two great causes," Billings said. "Beating our competitors and raising money for United Way."
The money that is made from the challenge and the overall campaign will go to 24 nonprofit partner organizations throughout Douglas County. These organizations include the American Red Cross, the Boys and Girls Club and Meals On Wheels. Last year, the United Way helped provide services to more than 60,000 people in the county.
In addition to raising $285,000 this year, the KU division of the United Way has a second main goal of increasing participation in the campaign. Last year, the University was second-to-last among Big 12 universities with a 14 percent participation rate.
While that percentage is not reflective of the total amount donated last year, organizers still would like to see it improve to at least 25 percent.
Mary Ellen Kondrat, dean of the School of Social Welfare and
chairwoman of the KU United Way Committee, said sometimes people don't give because they mistakenly believe that a small contribution won't make a difference. The United Way is trying to emphasize that this isn't the case.
"Every little bit adds up, every donation is significant and important," Kondrat
tant," Kondrat said.
Many students play an important role in the KU United Way campaign each year. Some participate by volunteering with the 24 partner organizations
involved in the community. He has worked with several of United Way's partner agencies in the past, including the Boy Scouts of America and Ballard Community Services.
"It's great now to be able to help the supporter of all of these Lawrence groups," joyce said.
"Every little bit adds up every donation is significant and important."
MARY ELLEN KONDRAT Dean, School of Social Welfare
and others take part in the Rock Chalk Revue performance in the spring. The annual revue raised more than $45,000 for United Way last year.
Alek Joyce, a freshman from Lawrence and a United Way volunteer, said he's always tried to get
Through volunteering and donating to charitable campaigns like United Way, Kondrat said students can learn the importance of being responsible for their communities.
"In addition to preparing students for jobs," Kondrat said, "we also hope that a KU education will help them become good citizens."
HOW TO GIVE
Edited by Alex Tretbar
To donate, go online at http://www. unitedwaydgco.org/ give.html and print a pledge card. The mailing address is:
United Way of Douglas County 2518 Ridge Court Lawrence, KS 66046
ATHLETICS (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
But before she can dive into data, relationships must be established with the department.
is that it looks at the transaction level detail and works its way up. Muirhead also will investigate whistleblower claims reporting improper or inappropriate activities.
Holland said the department has been inviting thus far. He said the importance of getting to know those within the department is that it's not the people behind the system who are important but instead the few who think they are above it.
"You've got to build those bridges first." Muirhead said.
like that."
"What we have experienced here is collusion," Holland said. "What we have experienced here is a group of people working together and very few internal controls would catch something
Holland said internal audit traditionally had not been part of the department because it already has a spotlight on it. He credits Chancellor Gray-Little for the creation of Muirhead's position to increase transparency of the department.
Internal audit will not be walking into the Athletics Department with the attitude that Athletics is "all screwed up," Holland said.
"I will not be sitting over in Strong Hall making judgments about how they do things over there without being completely enthralled in their work," Muirhead said.
However, there will be a considerable amount of walking into the department.
"The chancellor wants that assurance and she will get it," Holland said.
Or pledge online through United eWay at http://www.unitedwaydgco.org/donate_online.html
In a Board of Regents meeting on Sept. 14, Gray-Little presented changes she's made to restore confidence in the Athletics Department. Muirhead's position was one of those acts, as was removing the athletics director as chair of Athletics' board of directors.
A task force also reviewed the priority points system for seating at basketball and football games. Now fans can view how many points occupants of seats around them have.
Edited by Kelsey Nill
"I think the chancellor's determined to ensure that we operate in a world of transparency," Jill Jess, associate director for University Relations, said. "We are a public institution and we don't have secrets."
The city of Lawrence will begin a $500,00 project to better control traffic lights such as this one at the intersection of Sixth and Kentucky streets. The program is aimed at improving traffic after football games and following a traffic accident. Engineers will be able to control traffic lights on Sixth Street between Massachusetts and Iowa streets from the city's traffic engineering building at Fifth and Mississippi streets.
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Public Safety Office assistant chief of police, said police change many normal streets to two-lane, one-way streets to help clear out the mess. While the game crowd is leaving, a car cannot drive toward the stadium.
Eric Thibeault, a senior from Hutchinson whose house is at Illinois and 10th streets, said it's impossible to drive to or from his house during that time.
"Traffic can be bumper to-bumper an hour after the game," he said.
There are also officers posted at dozens of intersections near the stadium to help traffic along and ensure pedestrian safety.
Uddin stressed that the city's new system would not make the football traffic jams go away, and it's not
designed to replace the system the University already has for controlling crowds. But it will help clear out traffic quicker.
The project should be done by March, barring another harsh winter like last year, Uddin said. If it goes well, the city would try to expand the system to 23rd Street, which would affect basketball game days even more than the proposed light upgrades.
The city and state are splitting the cost of the current project, which will begin the end of this month or the beginning of November. Uddin said an expansion to 23rd Street would require more state funding, but he didn't know how much.
Edited by Joel Petterson
OCTOBER 9,2010
NASH 5K*10K
EVENT NOTICE:
KU leaders have approved the temporary closing of some campus roads for a portion of the Bert Nash Dash route race. From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9, the following roads will be closed to vehicle traffic: Jayhawk Brueliever between Sunflower and 13th St. West Campus Road to Memorial Drive, Memorial Drive to Mississippi St., and Mississippi St. from Memorial Drive. The Bert Nash Dash & Bass organizers appreciate your patience and support as the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center celebrits its 60th Anniversary. For more information on the Bert Nash Dash & Bass and to view the race map, visit www.bertnashdashbath.org
usbank City of Lawrence
LAWRENCE, KANSAS