wednesday, january 28, 2004
news
the university daily kansar
3A
Strong Warmth
Sean Smith/Kansan
Toni Moffitt, Overland Park senior, and Monica Brown, Olathe senior, chatted casually in the warm sun-lit lobby of Strong Hall late yesterday afternoon. Brown and Moffitt talked for awhile before continuing their days of classwork. Students began to hang out in warm buildings as the temperatures outside plummeted below freezing levels. Yesterday was the first day of Tuesday-Thursday classes for the semester.
Scientist presents proof of cougar to committee
By Marc Ingber
mingber@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Since it was first spotted, the infamous West Campus mountain lion has caused quite a stir.
Now, the Kansas House Environment Committee wants some information from the man who said the mountain lion does exist.
Yesterday, the committee called upon Mark Jakubauskas, a research assistant professor at the University of Kansas and part of the Kansas Applied Remote Sensing Program, to report on his findings.
In a two-page statement Jakubauskas said that there was indeed a mountain lion, or cougar as it is commonly called, living around West Campus.
mal was a cougar.
"There are a couple photos that show what may or may not be a cougar depending on who you talk to," he said. A DNA test was conducted on scat, or animal droppings, Jakubauskas found in October. The test proved the ani-
The Kansas Department of Wildlife was hesitant to acknowledge the cougar, according to Jakubauskas.
Matt Peek, a wildlife biologist with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and Charlie Lee of Kansas State University Research and Extension, said they assumed the West Campus cougar was not wild because it was in a highly populated area.
"The thing is, if a bunch of them start breeding, it doesn't matter if they are wild or a former pet," Jakubauskas said.
He said that there have been previous examples of wild cougars in populated areas. One was hit by a driver south of the Kansas City International Airport in fall 2002 and another was captured in a busy neighborhood in Omaha, Neb. in October of 2003.
Because cougars were spotted in the states surrounding Kansas, Jakubauskas said it was likely that there could be some
in Lawrence too.
"It's hard to believe they respect political boundaries," he said, referring to the Kansas state border.
According to Jakubauskas, the Web site www.easterncougarnet.org said the West Campus cougar was the only scientifically confirmed sighting in Kansas and listed several unconfirmed sightings.
Jakubauskas said he received seven reports of cougar sightings from people around West Campus.
He found that more than 100 permits had been issued in Kansas for people to own and raise cougars. Though it isn't a popular pet, Jakubauskas said it would be easy to purchase one on the Internet.
"Most people wouldn't like the idea of a cougar walking around in their backyard," he said. "I know I wouldn't."
SenEx amends lobbying
- Edited by Amanda Kim Stairney
By Anna Clovis
aclovis@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
University of Kansas faculty members and unclassified staff want a larger presence in lobbying at the capital.
At yesterday's University Senate Executive Committee meeting, Pam Houston, the unclassified professional staff association representative, said the University's lobbying efforts should be a more coordinated effort.
"We've got an office of highly paid individuals to provide results and who can do a better job." Houston said.
Houston said the committee could have benefited from more University Relations assistance before lobbying in Topeka last year.
knowing how to approach legislators in their offices would help.
"We are taking vacation time," Houston said. "We are planning things and we want to look professional."
Ray Davis, SenEx chair, said that there hadn't been much faculty involvement for salary increases at the capital. He said he would invite University Relations officials to SenEx to find out what the faculty's roll should be.
She said pointers such as
"We haven't gotten into that game," Davis said. "It tends to look self-serving."
Self-service might hinder faculty lobbying efforts, said Andy Knopp, student body president. Knopp said the Legislature didn't see the faculty starving and didn't understand the need for higher salaries to keep the University competitive.
Kevin Boatright, associate executive vice chancellor for University Relations, said he wanted to increase communication with faculty and classified and unclassified staff to keep them better informed of activities at the capital.
Boatright said that how much each group would be involved in lobbying efforts was up to the individual governing bodies.
"We've assisted them in the past and we will do it again," Boatright said.
Boatright said a "KU at the capital day" in March was being contemplated and might be a good opportunity for faculty to meet legislators. Davis said the faculty wanted to help lobbying efforts.
"We want to know if this is a good idea," Davis said. "We don't want to cause problems."
— Edited by Meghan Brune
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