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The University Daily Kansan
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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Thursday. March 29, 2001
Sports: Kansas center fielder excelling after returning from injury. See page 8A
Inside: Sprint CEO William T. Esrey spoke last night at the Lied Center as part of the Vickers Lecture Series.
See page 3A
(USPS 650-640) • VOL. 111 NO. 112
WWW.KANSAN.COM
University won't benefit from Graves' education aid
By Cassio Furtado
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
While Gov. Bill Graves plans to add $112 million in state public education aid, the University of Kansas and other state universities will get none of it.
The governor's plan, announced on March 13, will raise the base state aid per pupil from $3,820 to $3,930, add $22 million to special education funding and phase in all-day kindergarten during the next five years.
Don Brown, communications director for the governor, said it was important to invest in primary and secondary education because, unlike colleges, they couldn't count on extra revenue coming from tuition or tickets to athletics.
Kansas currently spends $2.6 billion on primary and secondary education, and Brown said that investing in primary education would pay dividends at the University level in the future.
He said that Graves recognized the importance of all levels of education
Graves:his education funds will benefit grade schools
but said that the governor had allocated the money he had in the best possible way. Brown said he encouraged debate in the Kansas House and Senate aimed at finding alternative sources of funding for universities, which were hit by utilities' cost throughout the year.
Last month, the University announced a $1.15 million budget cut for this year and a $3 million budget cut for next year.
"Chancellor Hemenway's problems got the same consideration as anyone else's." he said.
Ashley Somerhalder, Topeka freshman, said the governor failed to see the importance of higher education.
She said the University already had fewer professors than other universities and not giving it more money would accentuate the problem.
“It's sad to me to think that we will get less qualified people," Somerhalder said. "I can't believe it."
Carmen Ruiz, Bloomington, Ind., senior in education, said that even though she recognized the importance of college education, it was important to allocate money to primary and secondary education because many schools didn't have enough money to buy materials such as desks and computers and some didn't have enough space for students.
"But it's important for us to have a good education too," she said.
Ellen Frisbie, principal budget analyst for the State Division of the Budget, said part of the plan was Graves' investment on the Quality Performance Accreditation Program, which recognizes good schools by giving them more money.
She also said the state would recognize those teachers who excel in the classroom by giving $5,000 to those who get national board certification. Teachers currently receive $1,000 if they are certified.
Jamie Goode, education senator and Platte City, Mo., senior, said that if the governor thought education was important, he should make it important for everyone in the state, not only for those in certain grades.
She added that although she couldn't speak for Graves, she mentioned the governor's investments in libraries, computers and technology as his main achievements for state universities.
Goode also said Graves couldn't expect college students to become good teachers if he didn't invest in the state university system.
Frisbie said he was focusing on primary and secondary education because he had already invested in colleges and universities during his term.
— Edited by Melinda Weaver
Committes approve religious bill
By Brooke Hesler
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Religious organizations are one step closer to receiving money from Student Senate.
Last night the Senate Finance and Student Rights committees unanimously approved a bill that would allow Senate to grant money to religious and partisan organizations. It will go to full Senate Wednesday for a final vote.
According to the bill, the money would be used for office supplies and photocopying expenses and not for specific religious activities such as buying Bibles or paying for worship services.
Sam Morrissey, Arvada, Colo., senior and president of Navigators, a campus
Christian group, said he was excited about the bill and thought it was discriminatory that Senate hadn't give money to religious organizations in the past.
"As Christians, we're used to being discriminated against," he said. "I think if you look up the definition of discrimination, that fits it."
Alexis Vanasse, Great Bend sophomore and president of the KU chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said she disagreed with Senate allocating money to religious groups. She said it violated the separation of church and state.
"Of course the ACLU is completely against giving state money to religious organizations," she said. "I believe personally that anything that allows state money to be given to religious organizations violates the constitution."
What happened: Student Senate committees approved a bill that would allow Senate to grant money to religious and partisan organizations.
A BILL IN THE WORKS
What it means: If approved by full Senate Wednesday, religious and partisan groups would be eligible for Senate money to pay for non-religious expenses such as office supplies.
- What's next? the bill will go to full Senate for a vote Wednesday.
Ben Walker, student body president and co-sponsor of the bill, said because of United States Supreme Court rulings, Senate had to grant money to religious organizations.
In 1995, the Court ruled 5-4 in favor of Ron Rosenberger, a Christian student who sued the University of Virginia. He argued that his freedom of speech rights were violated when his student-run Christian publication, Wide-Awake, was denied money for the printing costs of the paper. The Court found that the University erred in not granting the group money.
The Court heard a similar case last year, when then-law student and Christian conservative Scott Southworth sued the University of Wisconsin. He disagreed with the viewpoints of certain groups to which the University's Student
Stylin' strands
See SENATE on page 2A
Hair shows hints of personality
Students' locks define character
By Sarah Smarsr
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Hair — Punks dye it. Skinheads shave it off. Hippies grow it out. Glamour queens bleach and curl it. Muslim women cover it.
Through the years, people have used hair as means of seduction, cultural adherence and personal expression. Punks see wild hair colors as social rebellion, and the long, natural hair of hippies became synonymous with their nature-loving attitude. Some cultures find long hair on women so sexually provocative that it must be hidden.
Hairstyles have a long history. The Venus of Willendorf, a famous Ice Age statuette that could be 30,000 years old, shows clear evidence of styled hair. Combs and hairpins have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs.
Centuries later. American youth have adopted hair as the ultimate accessory for personal expression.
Vanessa Vanek, Lawrence gradu
ate student, began dying her hair 15 years ago at the age of 13. Through the years her hair has seen a rainbow of colors — blue, burgundy, blonde, chestnut and black. She currently sports a combination of auburn, mocha and blonde, strategically combined to enhance her hair's natural curl.
Vanek, an art student, said her hair was an extension of her creativity.
"It's a canvas," she said of her hair. "It's a great way to express yourself." Vanek, whose natural color is dark brown, said her fun-loving side sparked her desire to dye.
"When I was younger, the idea of having brown hair was so mundane," she said. "I wanted to draw attention to myself."
Heath O'Campo, Topeka senior,
said his facial hair and long, dark
mane drew more attention from
women than his short hair days.
O'Campo's hair, which has been in
cornrows on and off for two years,
reveals his unrestrained nature, he
said.
"I'm usually wild and like to party," he said.
Shelly Baker, Prairie Village senior, has been lightening her hair for four years. Blonde hair, which is the most popular hair color in the
United States, doesn't necessarily make for more fun, she said.
But Baker added that the light color is a way for her to express a youthful exuberance.
"Older people don't usually have really blonde hair," she said.
Colleen Heiny, St. Louis junior, prefers her hair to remain in its natural state — brown and curly. She said her approach to hair styling was laid back, like her personality.
"When people describe me, they usually mention that I have curly hair," she said. "I think it has character."
Hal Beckerman, Prairie Village junior, said his character was sometimes misjudged because of the wild mop of dreadlocks he had sported for four years.
"I definitely get a lot of funny looks," he said.
Beckerman said his dreadlocks resulted from his desire for a low-maintenance hairstyle when traveling.
But despite its complex symbolism and tradition, he said hair's place in culture and society was overrated.
"It's just what grows on top of my head," Beckerman said. "I'd be the same person, with or without it."
- Edited by Melinda Weaver
Hal Beckerman, Prairie Village junior, displays his dredged hair. Portrait by Thall Allender/KANSAN
Up in smoke
Alex Wolfson, Omaha, Neb., sophomore, urges passers-by in front of Wescoe Hall to sign his pro-smoking petition. The five-year smoker protested yesterday afternoon against the proposed ban on smoking in residence halls. He said the non-smoking floors in residence halls were concession enough. "We just feel it's our right to smoke," he said. Photo by Joshua Richards/KANSAN
Mentor program assists Haskell students' tranfer
Transition between Lawrence universities made easier for some
By Danny Phillips writer @kansan.com Kansan staff writer
S. Alicia Tsosie always knew she wanted to be a social worker. With the guidance of the Haskell Mentor Program, the road to her academic goals has been a bit smoother.
The mentor program was established three years ago to offer supp
port for Hasken Indian Nations University transfer students during their first year at the University of Kansas.
The students are paired up with a student and staff mentor at the beginning of every fall semester, and
"They get settled and get comfortable, and hopefully get a foundation to make it through," said Flores, who is also the associate director for the center.
Tsosie, Shiprock, New Mexico, junior, said she first heard about the opportunities KU provided in social welfare, as well as the mentor program, from an instructor at Haskell, who graduated from KU.
Haskell is the only Indian Nations university in the country that resides in the same town as a four-year pub
"That's why we established this program. So we can have a nice bridge between Haskell and KU."
Gloria Flores Haskell Mentor Program director
"That's why we established this program," said Gloria Flores, program director. "So we can have a nice bridge between Haskell and KU."
Once at KU, the Freshman-Sophomore Advising Center holds an orientation for the students, where they are introduced to the First Nations Student Association and made aware of campus resources.
last year 11 transfer students enrolled in the program.
lic university,
Flores said,
which creates a
special Haskell-
KU partnership.
Flores said once the students begin the program, much is left up to the mentors and their students.
Tsosie's mentor
is Angelica Lopez, Lawrence, graduate student, who has spoken to Tosias on the phone and sends her e-mails regularly to find out what's going on.
Tsiosie said she wished the transfer students could get together and meet more often, but overall the program has been beneficial.
"It's always nice to have someone look after you," she said.
A
- Edited by Brandy Straw