WINDY
The University Daily Kansan
Weather
Today: Cloudy with a high of 57 and a low of 34
Tomorrow: Cloudy with a high of 75 and a low of 43
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Tuesday, April 24, 2001
Sports: Twin sisters face injuries, triumphs together on the softball team.
SEE PAGE 1B
Inside: Watkins Memorial Health Center offers personalized running tips for students.
SEE PAGE 3A
USPS 650-640) • VOL. 111 NO. 128 For comments, contact Lori O'Toole or Mindie Miller at 864-4810 or editor@kansan.com
WWW.KANSAN.COM
University's budget cut by $1 million
By Cassio Furtado
writer @kanson.com
Kanson staff writer
The University of Kansas' budget problems don't seem to end.
The House Appropriations Committee cut $1 million dollars from the University's current budget at its meeting yesterday.
The committee tried to reduce a $206 million gap in the state's budget for the current fiscal year without raising taxes in the new fiscal year, which starts in July.
That caused legislators to adjust the University's budget for fiscal year 2001 and to fund only 80 percent of Senate Bill 345, approved in 1999, which promised a $20.8 million increase to universities and community colleges for faculty salaries.
The legislature's plan will give higher education $16.6 million — $4.2 million less than was appropriated in this year's budget. The deliberations made it unlikely that faculty would receive the
6. 2 percent raises the bill bad proposed.
oil had proposed.
Associate Provost
Lindy Eakin said
that, if approved by
the legislature, the
cut would be devastating.
"There's not a million dollars sitting around," Eakin said.
He said the University had three salary payment periods left in this fiscal year and, at this point of the year,
had no alternatives to save money.
"Even if you put a hiring freeze, there's not a chance of saving money," Eakin said.
He said he didn't remember ever having to deal with a cut at this point in the semester.
Eakin said the cuts would hurt the KU Libraries disproportionately, because they usually bought books at this time of the year.
"It's going to be really tough," Eakin said.
Rep. Rocky Nichols, a member of the committee, said education was a priority for the committee when it considered cuts, but he acknowledged the state's complicated economic situation.
"You can't fund everything," said Nichols, a Topeka Democrat. "You can't stretch the dollar that much."
the cuts come after the Kansas Senate budget-writing committee rejected on Friday Gov. Bill Graves' amendments to the state's budget. They would have given the University of Kansas $2.8 million to pay utility bills and to restore money for instructional technology, which was first allocated three years ago.
After Graves' original budget recommendations in January, KU administrators announced in February that all schools, departments, academic units and administrative offices would have their budgets cut by 0.57 percent in fiscal year 2001, causing a halt on hiring faculty and staff.
For fiscal year 2002, the cut would be closer to 1 percent — 0.98 percent, which amounts to almost $2 million.
—The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Early finals violate University policy
Schedule helps take stress out of exams
By Michelle Ward
writer @kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Crisis Helmer has two final exams on the last day of regular classes. The Winfield junior will take finals for environmental studies and anthropology before Stop Day on May 8.
But a long-standing University policy that regulates finals scheduling is supposed to save students from dealing with multiple exams packed in the last days of class. The University Senate Calendar Committee sent a memo last week to all faculty, reminding them of the policy, but it hasn't stopped everyone from holding finals during the last week of regular classes.
Helmer is worried he won't have time to study for both of his finals.
"I would prefer it if they stuck to the regularly scheduled time," he said. "I know it was on the syllabus, but I haven't really looked at them. It will be difficult to prepare for both."
The structure of the finals schedule was established more than 15 years ago, said Larry Draper, a member of the calendar committee and professor of biological sciences. The structure is based on the idea that a necessary final exam should be given during finals week so that students have time to prepare for it. It also should deter professors from giving finals on the last day of class and leaving early for break.
Although Draper did not know of any faculty members ignoring the final schedule, the committee still sends out a routine reminder to professors toward the end of each semester.
Saniyay Mishra, chairman of the calendar committee, said faculty members' not following the schedule was a problem other members needed to address. If only some follow the rules, it is a problem for everyone, he said, because the policies were made to benefit the students.
"Both faculty and students need to adhere to the guidelines," said Mishra, associate professor of business. "You can have all kinds of policy statements, but if people don't follow them, what's the use?"
Mindy Holloman, Mt. Vernon, Ill., freshman, enjoyed the extra time she had last semester to study for two exams during finals week — one at the beginning and one at the end. She didn't have to worry about going to classes or doing homework. She simply relaxed during the middle of the week before cramming for her psychology final. However, she said it might be nice to get finals out of the way early.
"A little leeway is good if it fits all the students' schedules," she said. "They need to discuss it in class."
Ben Counter, Salina freshman, said the final schedule was fine because it allowed students a set time for finals and a break to prepare for them. He said the time table was still flexible enough for professors to work with students. Counter needs to leave a few days early for summer break before two of his final exams. Professors are allowing him to take the tests earlier with other classes.
Richard Hardin, professor of English, said he didn't have problems with a one-time final. He said he occasionally had an iron-clad excuse for changing a final, but it was the exception to the rule. He said he was making out one final for the semester.
"I have never done anything else," he said. "If you didn't, it would get pretty wild."
— Edited by Gillian Titus
ACLU lawsuit could affect university housing nationwide
KANSAN
Bv Cynthia Malakasis
Kansan staff writer
The New York State Court of Appeals will hear arguments today in the first lawsuit to challenge a university's policy requiring a marriage license for university-subsidized family housing.
Eric Ferrero, public education director for the ACLU Lesbian and Gay Rights Project, said in a phone interview that a large number of universities, including the University of Kansas, had similar housing policies.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit against Yeshiva University in New York City in 1998.
Ken Stoner, director of student housing at the University, said the school required doc
unentention of family status — such as a marriage license or birth certificate — for students who wanted to live with nonstudents.
Stoner said he thought that domestic partnership affidavits were also acceptable, and that the affidavits applied to same-sex couples.
Diana Robertson, associate director of student housing for residence life, said the department would try to work with a student/nonstudent same-sex couple to best accommodate their housing needs.
The lawsuit was initially filed in 1998 by the ACLU's New York chapter and two female students at the Yeshiva University Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The women applied to live in university housing with their partners in 1996 and 1997, and
they were granted housing — but without their partners.
The plaintiffs, Maggie Jones and Sara Levin, claimed that the university's policy was against state laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Jones and Levin are requesting admission to university housing with their partners, compensation for excess rents and commuting costs, compensatory damages for emotional distress, punitive damages and cost of lawsuit and attorneys' fees.
The lawsuit was dismissed by New York State Supreme Court Justice Franklin Weissberg last year. Weisberg agreed that the university's policy was not discriminatory because students were allowed housing, although without their nonstudent partners. Yeshiva University allows spouses and families of students to reside in university housing without having student status, and gives them priority over nonmarried students.
Also, in 1989, a resolution was passed by the medical college faculty-student senate asking for housing and other benefits for gay couples.
Ferrero said the issue was not only about discrimination.
reshiva, except for its Rabbinical school, is a secular institution open to students of all religions.
"Anti-gay housing policies aren't just a political issue, but also a practical one, since lesbian and gay student couples can end up paying hundreds of dollars more per month in rent and transportation, just because they're gay," Ferrero said.
Lea Carland, Queers and Allies co-social coordinator and Lawrence junior, said such policies were discriminatory, especially because the city of Lawrence had an ordinance against discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Carland said that the policy was not fair to gay couples because they could not obtain marriage licenses and that other proofs of domestic partnership, such as a common bank account, should be acceptable.
Ferrero said the case was precedent-setting and would have a legal impact on colleges nationwide.
"It will definitely have the political impact of bringing pressure to bear for a policy change," he said.
Edited by Jason McKen
---