Jayplay Who is INSIDE Mrs. E? Plus Budig, Malott and Wescoe, too FEBRUARY 01, 2007
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2007
WWW.KANSAN.COM
VOL.117 ISSUE 87
THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 1A
WEATHER
WINTER WONDERLAND BRINGS MIXED BLESSINGS
fresh snow means fun times, parking complications
BY KYLE CARTER
Photos by Lisa Lipovac and Anna Faltermier/KANSAN
Snowfall began on campus Wednesday morning and accumulated throughout the day, giving students an opportunity for outdoor entertainment and creating potential parking and transportation problems.
Photos by Lisa Lipove and Anna Faterheimer/KANSAN
Top: Custodial specialist Dana Evans shovels the steps leading to Lippincott Hill.
Above: Heidi Fedak, Dupont, Penn., graduate student, scraper the ice and snow off her car.
Danny Kaiser, assistant director of parking and transit, said winter weather causes problems when the snow covers the lines around parking spaces.
"What should be a straight line of cars gets curved and rather than two cars facing each other, someone ends up getting parked in," he said.
Kaiser said a similar situation occurred earlier this year, resulting in an improperly parked car being towed so another could get out. He said lots would be plowed Wednesday night once they were
empty to avoid such problems.
While others worked, some students delighted in the snowfall.
"I think it's awesome," Sam
empty to avoid such problems.
SEE SNOW ON PAGE 4A
>> DEFERRED MAINTENANCE
Governor: Use turnpike to fund campus upkeep
BY JOE HUNT
Human waste. That's what was dripping from the ceiling during professor Rich Givens's chemistry class Tuesday after a sewage pipe ruptured in Malott Hall. The 50-year-old pipe is one item on a long list of things needing repair at the University of Kansas.
Governor Kathleen Sebelius addressed the desperate maintenance issues of state universities Wednesday when she proposed a plan that would provide them with more than $575 million for repairs and upkeep.
The plan calls for $300 million to come from a surcharge on Kansas Turnpike tolls, which would be paid to the universities over six years. Turnpike tolls will increase over the next seven years, but not by more than five percent a year. This would allow the state to raise funds without raising taxes.
Of the remaining $275 million,
$200 million would come from
loans and $75 million would come
from paying off existing bonds.
Sen. Jean Kurtis Schodorf (R Wichita), chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Task Force, said using the turnpike was an innovative first step towards finding a solution for money troubles plagu ing schools such as the University
"The need is definitely there," Schodorf said. "It's critical we pass some sort of plan this year."
Schodorf said her committee would evaluate the governor's plan and offer suggestions to work towards a final bill. But not everyone thinks the governor is headed in the right direction.
Rep. lason Watkins (R-Wichita) said that raising toils would reduce commercial use of the turnpike and
SEE MAINTENANCE ON PAGE 4A
MOVIE PRODUCTION
Student to create satirical film
BY BRIAN LEWIS-JONES
Two American soldiers lay prone in a ditch circa 1944. A twig snapped somewhere in the dark, eliciting panic in one of the young men.
"They're gonna kill us!" he shouted.
Jon Goering/KANSAN
"They're gonna find us!"
Jeremy Rigs, Deseo junior, a theater and film student at the University, works at this audio mixing board. Rigs is finishing a World War II film he is production and art in
"Shut up!" the other soldier whispered.
"Shut up, Elliot!" the soldier rested. Blindly, Elliot shot his rifle into the night.
Jeremy Riggs, DeSoto junior,
paused the movie. "Hearts, Holes
and Hand Grenades," his first major
movie, which was made for less
than $40,000, was filmed nearly
seven years ago. Riggs will begin
a new project in May. He is filming
an adaptation of the satirical
play "The Devil is an Ass," written
by Shakespeare contemporary Ben
Jonson.
Riggs's new project will give many students the chance to be involved with a high-definition
three-hour film. The film will be produced through Limestone Pictures, Riggs, who is the 29-yearold president of the company, uses his own equipment to produce films in his living room. He started the company with his friend Chris Todd in 1999.
Matt Jacobson, associate professor of theater and film, said students gain invaluable experience by helping with major film productions.
"We try to give our students a strong base in the essentials of film," Jacobson said.
SEE FILMMAKER ON PAGE 4A
ACCIDENT
Police suspect driver intoxicated
BY ERICK R. SCHMIDT
The wreck that claimed the life of KU student Kyle Almeida, Warrensburg, Mo., senior, Tuesday morning may have involved alcohol.
A report released by the Douglas County Sheriff's Department Wednesday indicated that Almeida may have been under the influence
of alcohol and speeding at the time of the accident.
The 1997 Ford Taurus, driven by Almeida, spun before rolling multiple times and coming to rest in a ditch, according to the report.
The car came to rest less than a fifth of a mile from the transition.
The accident occurred south of Lawrence on East 1600 Rd., which changes from a paved surface to a gravel road at the Lawrence city limit.
A passenger in the vehicle, Timothy S. Beggs, was treated for minor injuries and released.
Kansan staff writer Erick R. Schmidt can be contacted at eschmidtkeansan.com.
index
Edited by Lisa Tilson
Classifieds ... 10A
Crossword ... 6A
Horoscopes ... 6A
Opinion ... 5A
Sports ... 12A
Sudoku ... 6A
weather
All contents, unless stated otherwise.
© 2007 The University Daily Kansan
student senate
women's basketball development
Ignite coalition's Student Senate candidates drop out of upcoming elections, marking the end of the organization.
Texas Tech pushes Kansas to a 66-65 loss Wednesday.
3A 12A
Lawrence hires a national consulting firm to review current zoning and development codes.
4A
baseball
.
Coach looks to California to build new team core.
3x
50
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