THE UNIVERSITY DARY KANSAN
NEWS
3A
PLATFORM (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
Advising Grade: C
Advising differs for each student. The issue brought up by Student Senate involved the structure of advising. The platform called for advising for juniors and seniors with undeclared majors or multiple majors and those interested in changing majors.
Availability of advisors and the sometimes difficult-to-navigate ARTS form were hot topics for Senate.
Freshmen and sophomores are required to meet with advisors once per semester before enroll.
ing. Because upperclassmen don't have this requirement, they may have a difficult time seeing an advisor.
Kim McNeley, assistant dean of the college of liberal arts and sciences, said juniors and seniors with
undeclaired majors have a hold put on their enrollment account until they meet with an advisor. McNeyle said policy has been in place for about a year. Advising is available for juniors and seniors in Strong Hall.
"It's more of a communication issue, but we are always looking at ways to make it better." McNeley said.
Denise Stephens, vice presistor for information services, said the department was taking a broader look at advising to help the University to acquire more comprehensive online advising resources, an initiative started by the
"Depending on the contractor, we could have legislation in the next week or two."
Provost, not Student Senate
Bike Lanes Grade: C
In early November, a proposal was approved by the University Parking Commission to conduct a study on how bike lanes will affect traffic and parking.
make layhawk Boulevard a pedes trian zone.
Technology Borrowing Grade:B-
Margretta de Vries, administrative assistant for the parking department, said PEC Engineering is conducting the study of lajhawk Boulevard and Memorial Drive.
de Vries said a long term master plan is being considered that would
Academic technology borrowing would enable students to check out digital cameras, laptops and video cameras from University libraries for academic purposes.
Kent Miller, associate dean of libraries, said that funding has been secured from the Parents Campaign, a fundraising group for the purchase of laptops, digital cameras and other
TOM COX
Off-campus senator
electronics that Senate would like to make available for students.
Currently, library laptops available for checkout are restricted to use in the library. With technology borrowing, the new laptops
would be able to travel around campus.
Issues standing in the way of completing this platform are how the electronics will be checked out and where they will be housed, Miller said.
Affordable
Textbooks
Grade: A
Affordable textbooks would alleviate financial stress on students at the beginning of each semester. In order to address the high costs of textbooks, Student Senate set out to fix problems both on campus and statewide.
Ian Staples, Student Legislative Awareness Board member, authored a bill for tax-free textbooks that was introduced to the Kansas Legislature on Jan. 24.
The bill is loosely based on a similar piece of legislation in Texas that allows textbooks to be tax-exempt
Before the bill can take effect, a committee chairperson for the Legislature is responsible for giving the bill a time for a hearing.
"When we get a hearing, we will guide the discussion toward passage of the bill." Staples said.
A textbook task force has also been set up to look at other possibilities to decrease textbook costs. One idea requires professors to declare their textbook choices earlier.
Tim Norris, University bookstore director, said professors declare their book choices four months in advance, but that is still too late.
"The sooner we know the textbook choices, the sooner we can buy the used books from the wholesaler," he said.
Norris said knowing textbook choices in advance would also allow the bookstores to give more money back to students when buying back books at the end of the semester.
Financial Aid Grade: B-
The financial aid accessibility platform would require the University to clean up the financial aid Web site so students would be able to clearly see their financial aid options.
"We're looking at other schools for good models." Boots said.
The Office of Student Financial Aid was unavailable for information on the issue.
Another issue surrounding financial aid deals with providing tuition assistance for veterans. This entails a statewide bill, which is currently in the House Committee on Veterans, Military and Homeland Security.
"I'm currently working with other legislatures, with similar goals, to ensure veterans get the benefits they deserve," Staples said.
Wireless Internet Grade: A+
The wireless Internet initiative passed Senate on Jan. 31. The initiative provided funding for the implementation of wireless Internet access throughout campus. The bill increased student fees $5 a year for the next five years. With funding in place, the initiative will be able to move forward into the execution stages.
"We could have impact by or after spring break, for sure by fall," Boots said.
Student Web sites Grade:B-
Another platform concerned the redevelopment of the student orga-
izations Web site. The platform called for Web site development to include online registration for student organizations. It was also intended to offer students an easier way to access organizations through the University Web site, by adding "Student Organizations" to the A-Z toolbar.
Aaron Quisenberry, associate director of the Student Involvement and Leadership Center, said online registration was not a Student Senate initiative and it had been in the works for some time before Ignite took office. However, he said its input on the project did help.
Quisenberry said the A-Z toolbar already had "student organizations" on it. He credited Student Senate with the proposal for a resources page on the SILC Web site. The resources page is currently under construction, but should be up and running within the next few months.
The resources page would offer student organizations more information about acquiring a bank account through Carruth O'Leary, information on Student Senate funding and resources for reserving a room in the Union.
SafeBus Grade: B-
SateBus could be the solution to the problems SafeRide has encountered. Lack of SafeRide vehicles at peak times and the fact that SafeRide only takes students home poses problems for students who wish to continue their nights out.
SateBus would allow students to go from one location to another with a KUID. Lawrence Bus Company representatives drew up plans for routes and costs for the project said Tom Cox, off-campus senator and transportation board member.
"Depending on the contractor, we could have legislation in the next week or two," Cox said.
He said if Senate approved the bill, it would be placed on a referendum for students to vote on in April. If the referendum passed, the system could be in effect as soon as this fall, barring contract negotiations.
Kansan staff writer Ashlee Kieler can be contacted at akieler@kansan.com.
Edited by Kelly Lanigan
》 DRAWING THE CURTAINS
Mark Terrill/Associated Press
Anna Nicole Smith introduces Kaney West during the 32nd annual American Music Awards at 14, 40th, Smith. 20, 39th died after collapsing at a hotel, one of her lawyers said.
Cause unknown in Smith's death
BY SUZETTE LABOY ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Anna Nicole Smith, the curvaceous blonde whose life played out as an extraordinary tabloid tale — Playboy centerfold, jeans model, bride of an octogenarian oil tycoon, reality show subject, tragic mother — died Thursday after collapsing at a hotel. She was 39.
She was stricken while staying at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and was rushed to a hospital. Edwina Johnson, chief investigator for the Broward County Medical Examiner's Office, said the cause of death was under investigation and an autopsy would be done on Friday.
Just five months ago, Smith's 20-year-old son, Daniel, died suddenly in the Bahamas in what was believed to be a drug-related death.
Seminole Police Chief Charlie Tiger said a private nurse called 911 after finding Smith unresponsive in her sixth-floor room at the
Joshua Perper, the chief Broward County medical examiner who will perform the autopsy, said if her death was from natural causes, the findings would likely be announced quickly. He cautioned, however, that definitive results could take weeks.
"I am not a prophet, and I cannot tell you before the autopsy what I am going to find," be said
hotel, which is on an Indian reservation. He said Smith's bodyguard administered CPR, but she was declared dead at a hospital. Later Thursday, two sheriff's deputies carried out at least eight brown paper bags sealed with red evidence tape from Smith's hotel room.
Through the 90s and into the new century, Smith was famous for being famous, a pop-culture punchline because of her up-and-down weight, her Marilyn Monroe looks, her exaggerated curves, her little-girl voice, her ditzy-blonde persona, and her over-the-top revealing outfits.
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Spring 2007 Career Fair
Added Feature:
Meet & Mingle with Career Fair Recruiters at the Career Fair Reception
Tuesday, February 13th, 2007 5:30-7PM
Kansas Union - 4th Floor Lobby
Enjoy conversation & food-free!
Presented by The University Career Center and the Office of Multicultural Affairs Contributing to Student Success!
Open to all majors and all academic levels!
- Full-time & Part-time Career Opportunities
- Internship, Fellowships
- Graduate & Professional Schools
- Summer Camps,Summer Jobs
For further information:
www.ucc.ku.edu
Tuesday & Wednesday February 13th & 14th 12:30PM - 5 PM daily - Kansas Union
Opening Doors For You!