Tuesday, April 10, 2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 3
Studentsenate
Sun, debates heat up Wescoe Beach
By Brookie Hesler
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Candidates from the Delta Force andVOICE coaliations squared off yesterday in front of Wescoe Hall for the second Student Senate debate.
Questions ranged from how the candidates would address campus recycling to how they would protect the endangered Javhawk.
Justin Mills, Delta Force presidential candidate, said Delta Force had long been committed to recycline efforts.
"For housing, recycling is not a priority, and it needs to be." Mills said.
"It's going to be an issue of making students more aware," he said.
He said he had met with officials from the Department of Student Housing last year, but they didn't seem interested in expanding the recycling program.
Hunter Harris, VOICE vice presidential candidate, said students needed to become more involved with recycling
Harris also said VOICE planned to work with the City of Lawrence to establish a curb-side recycling program for the city.
One student at the debate asked the candidates about the recent cuts of the men's swimming and diving and tennis teams. He said that the only reason he planned to vote was because of what happened to the two teams.
Jessica Bankston, VOICE presidential candidates, who also sits on the University of Kansas Athletic Corporation Board and voted in favor of the cuts, said KUAC sought other options but was left without any choice.
"We need to make sure our administration is committed to generating money for these teams," she said.
Bankston also said what happened to the teams wasn't fair to the athletes involved.
Mills said the Athletics Department should have come to Senate when it
was having money problems.
"We need to have more knowledge about what's going on with the Athletic Department," said Kyle Browning, Delta Force vice presidential candidate. "We need to have a strong voice in these departments and get more student representation on these boards."
The debate was less formal than last Tuesday's debate. Students were able to directly ask the candidates questions.
They were asked what was in their CD players, what their most embarrassing moments were and who their role models were.
Browning said he listened to The Who. Harris said his most embarrassing moment was when his pants were pulled down in high school. Mills said
More information For a collection of election articles throughout the week. See www.kansan.com
his role model was his father, and Bankston said hers was her grandfather.
The mascot Baby Jay also attended the debate. He asked the candidates if Senate did anything to help endangered birds like the Jayhawk. Harris said Senate didn't, but that he would write a bill if it would help. Mills said he saw many Jayhawks in the crowd and therefore didn't consider them endangered.
Edited by Ashley Rock
Top: During a lighter moment of the debate, Jessica Bankston, presidential candidate forVOICE,and Justin Mills, presidential candidate for Delta Force, react to Baby Jay's question of how they planned to protect the Jayhawk from becoming extinct.
Above: Students sit on Wescoe Beach and listen to the Student Senate debate. Photos by Selena Jabara/KANSAN
Senate coalitions outline proposals to serve students
By Brooke Hesler
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Jamie O'Rourke said she liked the fact that theVOICE coalition wanted to see the construction of a centralized hub where students could pick up periodicals and snacks. The Salt Lake City junior also liked the fact that Delta Force wanted better student seating in Allen Fieldhouse.
O'Rourke said her Student Senate vote would be based on issues that affected her.
"The more you put down the issues that matter to students, the more we're going to vote and put people in office," she said.
Matt Dwyer, who is running with Delta Force for a liberal arts and sciences seat, said members of the coalition had already researched the possibility of better student seating in Allen Fieldhouse.
He said he would like to see students occupying the first 10 courtside rows at games. Dwyer added that the arrangement would only shift alumni seating
"We're not really affecting their seating, so I don't know why they wouldn't be behind this," he said.
He said moving the students would increase morale, and that he would be in contact with the Athletics Department to try coming to some sort of agreement.
Jessica Bankston,VOICE presidential candidate said Senate should provide students with more substantial services.
"It's tangible and practical, and that's something a lot of students want to see from Student Senate," Bankston said.
She said VOICE would work to create a "Jayhawk Station" outside of Stauffer-Flint Hall. The station would contain periodicals and snacks.
She said alumni would donate money for the undertaking, but that she was also considering other funding options.
Bankston said she liked the proposal because organizations could gain more publicity by hanging fliers around the Jayhawk Station.
Edited by Jennifer Valadez
Scott's attorney to file for sentence reduction
By Lauren Brandenburg
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Defense attorney Tom Bath said he would file a motion today for a reduction of the sentence of Sean Scott, a 16-year-old from Shawnee who was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in the Johnson County youth correctional facility and two years of aftercare for involuntary manslaughter.
Scott pleaded no contest to the charge in March. He was charged with involuntary manslaughter for the death of 39-year-old Felicia "Lisa" Bland, a lifelong Lawrence resident, after a Sept. 16 accident in which Scott crossed the median on Kansas Highway 10 and struck Bland's car, killing her.
According to interviews in the Kansas Highway Patrol's accident report, Scott had been drinking at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house, 1540 Louisiana St., and the Wheel, 507 W. 14th St. before the accident.
According to the police report, which the Kansan received yesterday after suing the Kansas Highway Patrol in October for access, Scott had a beer bong in his trunk, and he had both his own driver's license and his brother's license in his wallet.
According to a police interview of Scott's mother that was listed in the report, Scott's mother had told Scott the night of the accident that he was to give his car keys to his brother's girlfriend and, if needed, was to spend the night at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house. The report says that Scott's mother did not state
the reasons for telling him that but implied to the officer that it was for Scott's safety.
After Scott's mother saw the girlfriend take Scott's keys and put them into her purse, she and her husband went to the KU football game while Scott, his brother and the girlfriend went to the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. The report says Scott's mother was aware that Scott's brother had given him his ID for unknown purposes. But she was unaware that Scott was driving back to Kansas City until notified of the accident, the report says.
Bath, the defense attorney, told the court at Scott's plea hearing that fraternity members had ridiculed Scott for not drinking.
According to a statement in the report from a Johnson County MedAct employee, Scott told paramedics that he had "wanted to stop drinking but they wouldn't let me."
Jim Bland, Lisa Bland's husband of eight and a-half years, said yesterday he had not seen the report yet. He said he was frustrated when he learned the sentence would be appealed. He said he had known an appeal was an option, but he had been told it was extremely rare for one to be filed.
"It made me sick to my stomach to hear the news," he said. "I thought it was done."
Bath said the option to appeal a sentence was provided by statute.
"Certainly everyone has a right to file an appeal if dissatisfied," he said.
International students seek help on taxing forms
Saturday workshop to help students file income tax returns
By Michelle. Ward
writer @kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Nata Koridez began her tax statement with confidence as she briskly wrote her name and address on the form. She soon learned that was the easiest part of the "longer than necessary" tax returns.
After weaving her way through the maze of questions, she took it to Green Hall for a complete check. She patted herself on the back for making only one mistake and sent both her federal and state taxes through certified mail yesterday.
Korizde, Tbilisi, Georgia, graduate student, is one of many University of Kansas international students who must file federal and state taxes with the United States. Students who earn income through work, scholarships or from various other holdings within the United States must file by Monday, April 16.
International students also need to submit an 8843 form with their income tax. Those earning no income in the United States must file this form by Friday, June 15. The 8843 tracks visa status and how long a student has been in the country.
Students can receive tax help at a workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday in 203 Green Hall.
“It's confusing for non-Americans,” Koridze said. “I did it first at home and then took it to Green Hall. Everyone who lives
here must fill out taxes. I'm OK with that."
International students who have not begun preparation should file an exemption and make an appointment with Legal Services for Students following Monday, April 16, said Jo Hardesty, director and managing attorney.
Students can call the IRS at (800) 796-1074 for the extension, which would give them until August to file their tax returns.
Hardesty said there were a number of difficult areas when dealing with nonresident forms. Students from a host of countries can receive a bonus from a tax treaty between their home country and the United States. While students receive a $2,800 personal exemption, they are not eligible for the $4,400 standard deduction, Hardesty said. Thus, in many cases, the treaty works as an equivalent for the standard deduction.
The substantial presence rule works for international students who have been in the country for five or more years. When they file their fifth return, students are considered residents for tax purposes, Hardesty said. This does not change their immigration or visa status, but they receive the $4,400 standard deduction, plus the $2,800 personal exemption. On the flip side, they have to list world-wide income which they did not as nonresidents, Hardesty said.
Frances Tan, a Petaling Jaya, Malaysia senior, has become accustomed to the annual taxes, filling them out the past four years. After the first year, she said it was much easier to complete the necessary paperwork, using her previous year's return. She usually makes an
"It is confusing for non-Americans.I did it first at home and then took it to Green Hall."
Green Hall.
Nata Koridze
Tbillisi, Georqia, graduate studen
appointment with Legal Services for Students, which helps navigate her through the difficult questions. She couldn't get in this year so she went to various tax workshops and to volunteers at the KUlaw school for help.
Tan said most of the confusion came with regard to scholarships. The school aid should be cataloged under income but is not taxable when it covers the amount for tuition and books, she said. But anything over that amount can be taxed
It becomes confusing when students have multiple scholarships or one from their home country. They receive a 1042-S form from each scholarship donor that they need to supply with tax forms.
Hardesty said international students who have been in the United States for less than five years do not need to declare income coming from outside America.
She said it was important for all international students to file no matter how long they were planning on staying in the country.
"Since it's the law, they really don't have a choice," Hardesty said. "They are visiting the United States, and they want to maintain a good status in the country. They really should file. It's pretty painless."
TAX INFO
3. tax-exempt interest
2. taxable interest
3. tax-exempt interest
1. wages, salaries, tips, etc.
4. ordinary dividends
Earnings that require an international student to file by Monday, April 16:
5. taxable refunds, credits or offsets
of assets and liabilities
Edited by Megan Phelps
6. scholarship and fellowship grants
9. farm income 10. other income
7. business income
8. capital gain or loss and other gains or losses
10. other income
12. Real estate rental
13. Total pensions and annuities
14. IRA distributions
13. Total pensions and
To call for an extension:
1- (800) 796-1074
For help with an international return:
A tax help workshop for international students is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Saturday in 203 Green Hall
Mailing Addresses:
Federal income tax International Revenue Service Center Philadelphia, PA 19255
State income tax
Kansas Income Tax
Kansas Department of Revenue
915 1W Harrison St.
Topeka, KS 66699-1000
- To set up a tax appointment after Monday, April 16, students can call Legal Services for students at 864-5665.
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