THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
5A
SUSTAINABILITY (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
Jen Humphrey, Kansas University Endowment Association spokeswoman, said it was difficult to make shareholder decisions public because they constantly changed. She also said there was a competitive advantage to keeping investment strategies private and that the association had never heard of the Sustainable Endowments Institute.
"KU Endowment does strive to be transparent, as does our annual report," Humphrey said.
The University scored an A in the report's administration category, which applauded the actions of the University's provost, Student Senate and environmental programs.
Several organizations work with environmental issues at the University.
The Environmental Stewardship Program manages the University's recycling program. Jeff Severin,
director of the Environmental Sustainability Center, said there were more than 500 recycling bins on campus. The program recycles office paper, newspaper, aluminum cans, plastic bottles and glass.
"We need to do our best job as stewards of the resources that are available to us." Severin said.
Severin said the program recycled 527 tons of waste in the last fiscal year and made $25,000.
"It generates some revenue to cover some operating costs." Severin said.
John Cross, Kansas City, Mo. junior, is a member of Student Senate's Environmental Advisory Board. Cross said the board worked with University organizations, including KU Environics and 20/20 Vision, on environmental issues.
Cross said last semester the board worked to increase the number of recycle bins on campus, made sure the Athletics Department's planned rowing boathouse wouldn't endanger bald eagles and created a class to study water conservation on campus.
"We look at anything and everything concerning sustainability on campus," Cross said.
Orlowski said that out of the 100 universities surveyed, the University's C- was an average score.
"I think it's important for the University to spearhead the movement for sustainability," Cross said.
"The grades are important," Orlowski said. "But people should be focused on the policies and initiatives assigned to them."
Kansan staff writer Nathan Gill can be contacted at ngill@kansan. com.
Edited by Ryan Schneider
FIRE SAFETY
Sprinkler program overcrowded
BY MATT ERICKSON
A number of businesses have applied for the city's new Downtown Sprinkler Program — so many that the city will have to reject some of them.
The program reduces the cost of installing fire sprinkler systems for businesses that qualify. Kevin Doyle, city infrastructure and development coordinator, said. Twelve businesses had applied for the program as of Monday, with about five more likely to apply soon. Doyle and City Manager David Corliss drafted the specifics of the program.
"It's a pretty tremendous incentive program in terms of magnitude," Doyle said, "so it does not surprise me at all that there are going to be a number of businesses that express interest."
The program will reimburse businesses for up to 75 percent of the cost of installing sprinkler systems. Doyle said the system would cost the average downtown building $30,000 to $40,000.
The program also will provide the necessary tap to the city's water line, which would normally cost about $5,000, for a flat fee of $3,000, Doyle said. Multiple buildings can share the same tap.
The $250,000 budgeted for the program by the city commission probably won't allow the city to accept even all the businesses that have already applied, Doyle said. Businesses have until March 2 to apply.
Doyle said the city would give preference to businesses that are located on Massachusetts Street or have tenants unstairs.
City Commissioner Dennis "Boog" Highberger said the program could help make downtown safer without intruding on anyone's rights.
"I think the attractiveness of this program is that it's voluntary and not mandatory," Highberger said. "I see it as a partnership that's in everybody's best interest."
Paley Properties and Investments owns the properties of several businesses that have applied for the
program. Company co-owner Judy Paley said she didn't want downtown to fall victim to a major fire.
"I really hope that other businesses will be able to put in sprinkler systems." Paley said. "Or, I should say, I hope they're willing to."
Paley also said she hoped insurance companies would provide breaks to businesses that installed sprinkler systems.
Doyle said only 13 percent of the 202 commercial buildings downtown had full fire-sprinkler systems and only 9 percent had partial systems — leaving 78 percent of the buildings with no sprinkler system at all.
"There is an understanding that if there were a large fire in one of the downtown businesses, it could take out a significant portion of downtown." Doyle said.
Kansan staff writer Matt Erickson can be contacted at merickson@ kansan.com.
Edited by Ryan Schneider
He said the course would help students see the line between engineering and politics. Young will act as an adviser to the students, steering the discussion and coursework.
GREYWATER (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
Young said speakers would be brought in during the semester to discuss design constraints and current storm water issues.
Cindy Strecker, energy program manager, said that in the 2006 fiscal year, the University put 103 million gallons of water into Lawrence's sewer system. Currently, the City of Lawrence charges the University $4.25 per thousand gallons of water that goes down the drain, she said.
could reuse the water for irrigation on campus. He said if the project worked, it would pay itself back.
Red Corn said that by capturing and storing water that runs off roofs and roads, the University
"Students are learning and the University is benefiting." Red Corn said.
Red Corn said students in the independent study would also look at water retention, or keeping the water temporarily in a pond. In addition, students would study vegetated swales, which are used to filter storm water through plant life before it gets to creeks and streams.
Young said water would likely either be stored in an underground storage tank or a pond. He said that many people used to store water in cisterns, similar to what the independent study is proposing.
"People are looking back at it and saying, 'Oh, we can do this,' " Young said.
"Even if no material comes out of the class, students will learn a whole lot." Red Corn said.
The first part of the course will involve students collecting information on storm water management techniques. Students will then split up into groups and pitch separate feasibility studies. Red Corn said the end goal would be two to three feasibility studies with cost analyses.
Kansan staff writer Brian Lewis Jones can be contacted at bljones@kansan.com.
— Edited by Will McCullough
CENTER (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
In October, Provost Richard Lariviere approved a three year trial of the center to see the achievement of its goals.
"There's an over-arching goal for the center of getting as many areas of campus involved in this project," Severin said. "Everyone on campus can participate and feel like they are a part of the center. We want to make the idea of sustainability part of our daily life on campus."
To start spreading the idea of sustainability on campus, David Orr will present the lecture "Rumors of Unfathomable Things: Climate Change and the Human Prospect," at 7 tonight at the Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union.
White said Orr was often revered as the thought leader on this subject and focuses on what higher education institutions could be doing to foster a sustainable future.
Orr said the main focus of his lecture was climate change. He will also talk about how students can develop a career and life that matters by joining the effort of sustainability.
"The evidence is now clear that we are running a one-time experiment with the Earth and it's turning out badly taster than anyone thought possible, even a few years ago," Orr said. "It is the eighth inning and we're down a couple of runs."
Severin said that Orr's lecture was in perfect timing with the prevalence of the idea of sustainability at the University and the opening of the new center.
Severin said sustainability was an all-encompassing spectrum of ideas.
"Sustainability isn't necessarily just environmental." Severin said. "It encompasses economics, promoting prosperity and social justice. It has a broad reaching focus."
Kansan staff writer Danae DeShazer can be contacted at ddeshazer@kansan.com.
— Edited by Trevan McGee
WORLD
WORLD Castro appears healthier in recent videotape
HAVANA — Cuban state television station on Tuesday showed a video of a heavier looking Fidel Castro meeting and speaking with Venezuela President Hugo Chavez, the first images of the allying leader shown in three months
The report said the 10-minute video clip was taped on Monday
The newest images seemed to be aimed at debunking the most recent round of reports about Castro's health, including a report in the Spanish newspaper El Pais that described his health as "grave."
during a two-hour private meeting in Havana.
Both leaders appeared to take pains in the video to make clear when the session occurred. Chavez was heard saying that it
began at 3 p.m. on Jan 29. Castro read aloud a headline of a Saturday article from the Argentine newspaper Clarin.
Castro, who was standing, looked more alert and heavier than in previous images that had showed him much more thin and frail. Dressed in a red, white and blue track suit, Castro was shown sitting and drinking orange juice.
Associated Press
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