Kansas pulls first-round upset
The women's basketball team stunned sixth-seed Oklahoma State Tuesday night in the Big 12 Tournament 71-62. The Jayhawks will face third-seed Baylor tonight at 8:30 p.m.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2007
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VOL.117 ISSUE 111
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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F O O T
Nancy Kassebaum Baker, Republican Kansas Senator from 1978 until 1997, delivers a speech Tuesday night at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics. Baker, who was born in Chicago and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1954, spoke for the Emily Taylor and Marilyn Stokstad Women's Leadership Lecture.
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>> WOMEN IN POLITICS
Roles continue to grow
Nancy Kassebaum Baker downplayed her role as the first female U.S. Senator and said that because women continued to undertake new political roles, her own achievement was just a first step.
The Topeka native began her term in the Senate in 1978 and served for 19 years. She spoke as the honored guest of the Ernie Taylor and Marilyn Stokstad Women's Leadership Lecture at the Robert J.Dole Institute of Politics Tuesday night and said that the women in leadership roles had always held onto their foundations in community and care.
"Nancy Pelosi didn't get to be the Speaker of the House by batting her eyes," she said.
She said women have continued to gain new roles in the last 15 years by becoming the Speaker of the House, the
Secretary of State and a front-runner in the upcoming presidential election.
"The good thing is, it's no longer a big deal," Kassebaum Baker said.
She said her mother was the biggest influence on her decision to enter into a life of politics, even though her father, Alfred "Alf" Landon, was a former Kansas governor.
"She is a down-to-earth, open-minded woman who has done so much," Proulx said.
with an old friend.
Before her lecture, Kassebaum Baker ate dinner with guests, including some representatives of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, of which she had been a member while at the University of Kansas.
"It was mother who encouraged me,who really didn't even care for politics," she said.
Laurel Prouls, Kappa Alpha Theta president, said she met Kassabuse Baker for the first time Tuesday, but it felt like she was sitting at a table
Kassebaum Baker also said Kansas women always had a pioneering spirit, from the women who helped with work on farms to Carry Nation, a Kansas who destroyed taverns in the early 1900s to protest against the sale of alcohol.
Kassebaum Baker said it was important today that politics become more balanced and that politicians reain the trust of the nation.
Proulx, Liberty, Mo., sophomore, said
"I'm pleased to know that there are leaders of her capacity who are still down to their roots." Proulx said.
Kassebaum Baker spoke with her about her future after college and gave her insight into what she could become.
Although more than 50 years removed from her own time in college, Kassebaum Baker said she continued to care about younger generations and the hoped to help young women realize the opportunities they had open for them.
Kansan staff writer Tyler Harbert can be contacted at tharbert@ kansan.com.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Picking up the pieces
Where were you on March 12, 2006? The University Daily Kansan is looking for student photos and stories to recap last year's microburst Submit your memories to studentphotos@kansan.com.
》 HEALTH
Mumps study to analyze outbreak
BY DANAE DESHAZER
Representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be asking student donors at the KU Blood Drive to participate in a mumps study in light of the mumps exposure on campus in Spring 2006.
Students will be given the opportunity to allow the CDC to test small blood samples of their donation for levels of mumps antibody concentrations, which can make a student more susceptible to the infection, or can protect a student from infection.
Edited by James Pinick
"It's a unique outbreak that we haven't seen in decades," said Margaret Cortese, CDC medical epidemiologist. "We are trying to
In addition to the blood test, students will answer a questionnaire about their living situation, exposure to the mumps and possible development of mumps symptoms. Students must also give CDC permission to look at their Mumps, Measles and Rubella vaccine immunization records and other medical charts since January 2006.
better understand why it occurred. We don't have all the answers, but by talking to these students, it can help us answer the remaining questions."
Cortese said the University of Kansas had required two doses of the MMR vaccine since 1993. She said about 95 percent of students had received the vaccine before the outbreak.
"That means the vaccine is working." Cortese said. "The other 99 percent of the roommates were protected."
In a roommate study conducted by a CDC representative on campus last year, only one of 93 participating students who were roommates with someone infected with mumps ended up contracting the disease themselves.
Albert Barskey, epidemiologist and CDC representative at the KU Blood Drive, said that as of Monday, 40 returning donors were participating in the study.
"So far, the study is going well." Barskey said. "Students are very interested and enthusiastic."
Barskey said that it was regular procedure for blood banks to keep
small samples of blood donations to use for blood-type testing. The CDC will use whatever is left from the blood bank's tests for its antibody testing.
"I don't mind helping out," Aude said. "Once they figure out what happened last year, they might be able to prevent problems in the future."
Alyssa Aude, Green Bay, Wis., freshman, said she donated last fall and was approached by CDC representatives after donating Tuesday to participate in the study.
Kansan staff writer Danae DeShazer can be contacted at ddeshazer@kansan.com.
Edited by Ashley Thompson
KANSAS TURNPIKE
Senator proposes extra fee for speeders
BY JOE HUNT
Speeding on the Kansas Turnpike could result in higher tolls in the future.
Sen. David Haley (D-Kansas City) proposed a bill to the Senate that would give turnpike officials the authority to charge drivers based on their average speed. Haley wrote the bill after Gov. Kathleen Sebelius proposed a plan to raise turnpike fees during the next seven years to help fund repairs at state universities.
"I'm opposed, completely opposed, to any further increase in turnpike tolls." Haley said "Before the Kansas Turnpike Authority raises tolls on all of us who drive on the turnpike, I would hope this bill will allow raising tolls on only some of us."
"People speed to get from one point to another as fast as possible," Haley said. "This would not take the place of law enforcement."
The bill does not specify or suggest how much tolls would increase for those who speed, but Haley said he thought drivers should only be charged 15 or 20 cents more for every five mph above 70.
Haley said that critics of the bill have pointed out that drivers could just stop off at one of the gas stations or restaurants on the turnpike and wait until their average speed dropped to legal limits.
The system would record the time and location drivers entered and exited the turnpike. If drivers went from one point to another in a time span that would be impossible while driving the speed limit, they would be charged extra money.
Dana Maher, Omaha senior, said that he didn't like the idea, but it was better than the alternative.
"Honestly, I'd rather see it done for speeders than everyone." Maher said.
Haley said that opinions of the bill in the Senate were split.
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"I've heard pros and cons on it," Haley said. "It's a novel idea, an innovation."
"I think it's unrealistic." Towle said. "Just having a standard cost would make things run smoother."
Kansan staff writer Joe Hunt can be contacted at jhun@kansan. com.
Edited by Katie Sullivan