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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Friday, May 4, 2001
Sports: Three remaining conference games will determine the softball team's tournament future.
SEE PAGE 1B
For comments, contact Lori O'Toole or Mindie Miller at 864-4810 or editor@kansan.com
Inside: 'Socratic' French professor Ted Johnson is retiring after 33 years.
(USPS 650-640) • VOL. 111 NO. 134
SEE PAGE 3A
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Frederick negotiates teaching agreement
By Jason Krall editor@kansai.com Kansai campus editor
Departing Athletics Director Bob Frederick is negotiating a contract with the University of Kansas that would allow him to teach on a salary in the School of Education without applying for a faculty appointment in the school.
The amount of Frederick's new salary and the length of the contract are still being negotiated, but his salary will not be paid out of the school's budget. Chancellor Robert Hemenway said the contract would be financed using money allocated to the University from the state and money from the University of Kansas Athletic Corporation budget. Frederick's salary as athletics director is $166,303. He will step down from the post July 1.
Hemenway said the contract would not permit Frederick, 61, to apply for tenure in the school.
"To be honest, we haven't worked out all the details of his employment." Hemenway said. "It's not a tenure-track appointment; it's a contractual relationship."
Jerry Bailey, interim dean of education, said Frederick would join the department of health, sports and exercise science, where he would continue to teach a graduate-level course in the management of facilities for athletics and physical education. Frederick has taught the course for the past three years
Bailey said
Frederick would
teach only that
course next fall. bat
in the spring he would be expected to teach three courses.
Frederick: negotiating contract to teach classes
"The limit on the course is 15 students, but this semester I ended up taking 31," he said.
Frederick has taught courses periodically in the department's sports administration curriculum since receiving a graduate faculty appointment in 1988, one year after he became athletics director. He said he hoped to teach more courses in sports administration, and the course he currently taught had been popular.
The course satisfies a requirement for a master's degree in sports studies.
Frederick's teaching appointment comes at an opportune time for the department. Five of its 11 faculty members will retire after turning in grades for this spring's courses, taking with them 175 combined years of teaching experience. Bailey said.
"Since we have this avalanche of retirements, we're getting a great teacher at a great time," said Bailey, who had Frederick in class while Frederick was working toward the doctoral degree in educational administration he earned from the school in 1984.
Hemenway said that Frederick's teaching position would be established through the contract because it would allow the school to recruit other candidates to replace the department's five departing faculty members.
"At least in this initial appointment, we thought that because the School of Education is going to be recruiting for those open positions, we didn't want to inhibit that process." Hemenway said.
Frederick was athletics director at Illinois State University for two years before he took the job at the University. He was head basketball coach at Lawrence High School from 1977 to 1981.
Bailey said anyone who saw Frederick's new contract as giving him special treatment should remember that he was a former high school coach and chemistry teacher who had dedicated years of service to the University.
"When we received word that he might be interested in spending time with us, we were delighted," he said. "I think he'll do a terrific job for students."
Edited by Courtney Craiamile
Should admissions standards be used to create diversity?
Story by Cynthia Malakasis, Kansan staff writer Photos by Christina Neff, Kansan staff photographer
we Lane grew up in a tough, urban area on the south side of St. Louis and knew, even in her high school years, that her chances of being admitted to a university were slim.
Lane and the vast majority of her classmates were African American, and the high school they attended was lackluster and poorly funded.
"I hadn't had to write a paper, ever," she said. "Going to school was the most purposeless thing I had to do. I felt like I was wasting my time because I wasn't really picking up anything."
Now a KU senior in African-American studies, Lane says she still doesn't know why administrators reconsidered her case and admitted her. She was initially sent a denial notice when she applied in the spring of 1998 because her GPA did not meet minimal out-of-state requirements. After she petitioned, with the help of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and met with admissions officers, Lane was admitted on probation.
Lane believes that her inadequate schooling in the urban environment where she grew up was the main reason for her admission. However, KU administrators in undergraduate and graduate admissions agree that being an ethnic minority works to a student's favor during the admissions process.
"If we have a student of color who doesn't meet the requirements, I think that we'll certainly want to give them every consideration before we say 'no'," said Alan Cerveny, director of undergraduate admissions at the University.
Because affirmative action is being challenged in courts nationwide as reverse discrimination against Whites, the term seldom crosses the lips of KU officials. KU admissions officials insist they don't follow a quota system, which
GTAs stage 'grade-in' rally
Protesters gather at chancellor's office to grade homework
Chancellor Robert Hemenway listens to the concerns of GTAs while discussing practical realities of the university budget. The GTAs were grading papers and doing other work associated with their duties in the hallway outside the chancellor's office in Strona Hall yesterday. Photo by J. E. Wilson/KANSAN
Molly Dingel did her usual grading yesterday morning and prepared the final exam for her social problems class. But while she completed her usual work, the graduate teaching assistant did it in an unusual place, outside Chancellor Robert Hemenway's office.
By Michelle Ward writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Dingel was one of the expected 100 GTAs to take part in the rally yesterday in Strong Hall. Graduate teaching assistant union organizers wanted to make the work GTAs do for the University visible. Amy Cummins, president of GTAC, said the slogan for the day was "working conditions equal learning conditions." They wanted to give the administration a reminder of what they do, she said.
"We wanted to highlight the valuable labor of GTAs who make KU's educational mission possible," Cummins said. "The faculty, staff and students as a whole have beehv very supportive. They understand GTAs are in really bad circumstances."
While GTAC wanted to end the year on a positive note, an undercurrent of tension.ran through the rally. The stall in contract negotiations between GTAC and the University led to the "grade-in" yesterday.
GTAs congregated in the rotunda of Strong Hall with buttons, shirts and signs to show their unity and desire for a better contract. Cummins said a new and improved contract would benefit all 950 GTAs, who teach more than 30 percent of the classes at the University.
"If we really mattered to the University, they would make us a priority, and we could get a contract within the first year of negotiations," she said. "It makes it very apparent we aren't a
Dingel said they were frustrated by the University's lack of respect for GTAs.
high priority despite the fact we teach a number of classes here."
Dingel said she could afford rent and utilities, but her $10,000 a year salary left little to pay off student loans and other bills. While she said she was aware of every dollar she spent, she felt fortunate to be able to pay the rent. Some GTAs earn much less than she does because KU has no minimum salary for teaching assistants. She said the union wanted to raise the bottom of the pay scale and allow all GTAs to have a little more.
Greg Douros, a Western Civilization GTA, said he would have to get a second job next year. His $9,400 salary from the University is just not enough to cover Douros and his wife's expenses. His family is living paycheck to paycheck right now, he said, and that's not how he wants his family to live. With no dental coverage in his KU insurance, Douros said he had no idea how they
would pay for a dental emergency. Living without savings is a dangerous way to live, he said.
Douros said he hoped the day's efforts would serve as a reminder to the University how important GTAS were to the University. Working outside the chancellor's office, Douros said the administration could not ignore them. He said he hoped the new contract would provide all GTAs with a salary increase, while providing a basic minimum salary to everyone.
"I like KU a lot. I like the teachers and the University," he said. "I love teaching. But I still think the administration needs to improve working conditions."
The present contract will stay in existence until a new one is approved. Neither GTAC members nor KU officials will comment on specifics of the talks while they are still negotiating.
*Edited by Courtney Grimble*
Robinson to open additional center in Burge Union
By Livi Regenbaum
Kansan staff writer
Beginning this fall students will have an additional place to exercise.
A recreation services committee has worked with the Memorial Corporation Board to add a mini fitness center on the third floor of the Burge Union that will be available the hours that Robinson Center facilities are not.
"I think it's a great because it's hard for people to meet the restricted Robinson hours, so that would give people a chance to fit their workouts into their schedule," she said.
Mary Chappell, director of recreation services, said the new center was a way to accommodate students who couldn't workout during Robinson's hours. She said the facility would be free and open Sunday through Friday.
Gretchen Wegner, Overland Park senior, said she thought the new facility was a great idea.
Chappell said the center would provide cardiovascular equipment such as treadmills, bikes and cross trainer machines. In addition, it will provide weight machines such as shoulder press and chest machines, but it will not provide free weights.
April Davies, Lawrence senior, said she liked the idea of having another place to work out.
"I think any additional facilities to work out would be a good thing, especially since I live in the towers," Davies said. "It is right across the street, so I would be willing to go even if it is late at night."
Edited by Matt Dougherty
FITNESS HOURS
Burge Union mini fitness center hours, beginning in August.
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Closed Saturday
Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Current Robinson Center workout hours:
■ Monday 6 to 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m.
■ Tuesday 6 to 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
■ Wednesday 6 to 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.
■ Thursday 6 to 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Sunday 1 to 10:30 p.m.
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