8A the university daily kansan
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friday, january 23, 2004
Megan True/Kansan
Nathan Smith, Hays freshman, Andy Hoef, St. Louis freshman, Sean Heiling, Lenexa freshman, and Nick Degner, Wichita freshman, watched the president's State of the Union speech Tuesday night in Templin Hall.
Speech causes reaction
By Patrick Cady
pcady@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Reactions varied to President George W. Bush's first big step into the 2004 election process.
Democrats think Bush may be assuming a slight character shift, said Tom Keating, Marysville junior and president of KU Young Democrats.
"I think he's trying to make himself look like a compassionate conservative by coming back towards the middle," Keating said.
Keating's thoughts are some of many that were heard in Lawrence during the aftermath of the speech that touted support for a continued tax lift, confidence in the War on Terror and more drug testing in the public school system. The thoughts that Bush inspired after the speech were almost as varied as the ways people chose to hear the speech.
Justin McFarland, Lenexa junior and president of KU College Republicans, watched the
speech with his fiancee.
"I thought he did a real good job," McFarland said. "Overall though, I thought some things could have been left out, but I think he gave a good State of the Union."
Due to the winter break, none of the major political groups on campus held watch parties, but that didn't stop other groups from gathering to hear Bush speak.
At the Sunflower House Student Housing Cooperative, 1406 Tennessee St., six people huddled in a downstairs television room and quipped at the president.
"I actually watched it this year," Scott Johnson, Basehor senior and Sunflower House resident, said. "I was very entertained watching with people who were constantly making fun of him."
On another side of town, a party led by the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice celebrated what it called a "Sorry Ass State of The Union." It was a way to begin the new year on a positive and satirical note, the group said. According to the Web
site www.lawrenencm.org, the party had a dessert bar, party games such as "half truth bingo" and a sing-a-long led by the New World Order Peace Choir.
David Burress, an associate scientist of economics, was the party's host. His biggest complaint of the speech was Bush's lack of focus on the economy, specifically the deficit, he said.
"We boated at the acceptable places." Burress said.
Even some on the right end of the political spectrum found parts of the address entertaining.
"I loved the disconsolate look on Ted Kennedy's face," McFarland said. "It was also fun to see Hillary Clinton roll her eyes back."
Despite the momentary bright spots and flashes of entertainment, Bush's speech still left a bitter taste in some Democrats' mouths.
"It was hard watching the speech," Keating said. "I don't think he's running the country, I think he's taking advantage of it."
RESTATE OF THE UNION
- Edited by Danielle Hillix
A day after the first major Democratic caucus of the year, President George W. Bush delivered his State of the Union address Tuesday evening. In case you missed it, here are some highlights. President Bush:
- Urged people to realize the War on Terror is not over and the American people must remain vigilant.
Asked Congress for continued support and renewal of the Patriot Act
Urged continuation of the tax cut program.
Emphasized Saddam Hussein's capture and continued success in Iraq.
Called Iran and North Korea the "most dangerous regimes," in the world.
Emphasized an economy gaining strength, and a deficit to be cut in half within five years.
Urged Congress for continued support for the No Child Left Behind program and proposed stronger drug testing measures in schools.
Proposed social security reform, and a possible tax-free personal health fund.
Said marriage cannot be redefined to include gay marriage.
Supported private health care and modernizing of the health care system.
Proposed a revamped prisoner re-entry program
Source: State of Union address
Environmental studies moves in
By Samia Khan
skhan@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The Environmental Studies program finally has a stable home. During winter break the department, which has had two different locations in the past decade, moved its offices to 415 Snow Hall.
The program moved from the basement of Haworth Hall to Burton House on 14th Street next to The Wheel in 1995.
"Before those years the Environmental Studies program existed in labs, back rooms and boxes," said Deborah Snyder, administrative assistant.
In the Burton House, the program lived up to its name by incorporating discarded and reused products. Everything except the computers were found in the trash, from state surplus or thrift stores.
The program continues that tradition at a new office in Snow Hall. Instead of asking for new materials, the office used existing ones to remodel.
"We weren't ripping everything up and throwing it in the trash. We carefully removed it and put it in a new location," Snuder said.
Construction workers disassembled the wood from the walls and reused it according to the new floor plans. The department purchased a stately wood desk for the new director of the program for $300 from state surplus.
The remodeling cost approximately $3,000, which was $2,000 under the estimate. The extra resources were enough to put in a kitchen, featuring small appliances and a refrigerator that would have been thrown out.
Snyder said she wanted to organize the space efficiently.
A room with windows that was one used for storage is now a twoperson office.
"It's so easy to get lost at KU. But it's nice to come talk to office staff they will know what they're talking about and be able to help you."
Isabel Anheier
Olsthe junior
"I couldn't believe that it was a storage room with windows. Do you know how precious windows are to the faculty and staff on campus?" Snwer said.
Students working in the office devoted their break to help the program move. Isabel Anheier, Olathe junior, and Adnan Chaudhry, graduate student from Pakistan, were two of the students who helped with the relocation.
The students said they felt the department took care of them, so they didn't question offering their time to help. Snyder said the department has many students who care because the office orients itself toward the students and their concerns.
"It's so easy to get lost at KU. But it's nice to come talk to office staff — they will know what they're talking about and be able to help you," Anheier said.
After graduating in December Chaudhry chose to stay in Lawrence and pursue his graduate degree in Engineering. He said working in the Environmental Studies offices was one of the big reasons he chose to stay.
"It's like a home, not an office. It's really different here," Chaudhry said.
—Edited by Robert Perkins
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