Tuesday, February 13. 2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 3
Regents schools lobby in Topeka
By Brooke Hesler
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Tomorrow all six Kansas Regents schools will join forces as students from each school travel to Topeka to lobby for issues affecting higher education.
Jessica Bankston, Student Legislative Awareness Board director, said she thought lobbying was an effective method for getting things done. When tuition was increased last year, KU student senators lobbied while students from Wichita State University protested. Bankston said he thought the protests hurt the group's credibility.
"I think if students are being ignored, then sure, be more drastic," she said. "But I think you
want the professional approach to be your initial approach."
Bankston, along with Ben Walker, student body president, and 25 other student senators and committee members, will represent the University. There are three issues the students will lobby for.
Bankston said the top priority this year was making Kansas senators and representatives aware of the two-for-one technology fee. For the last three years, students have paid $1 per credit hour. The state doubled that, paying $2 per credit hour. However, Governor Bill Graves' budget proposal didn't include the continuation of the fee. If the Legislature adopts the proposal, the University will lose the state's matching funds
Bankston said the University would suffer greatly if the fee was discontinued.
“It's of the utmost importance,” she said. “Your average senator and average representative aren't going to notice that the fee is missing. They're not going to look at the budget proposal and say, 'Where's the technology fee?' We're trying to make them aware of it because they can't give it back to us if they don't know we've lost it."
John Giampaoli, liberal arts and sciences senator, said he thought the students had a good chance of making senators see things their way.
"It looks like it would be a potential loss of $5.8 million," he said. "It would keep us away from being a school on the cutting edge of technology."
Bankston said the group would also be lobbying for more money to meet the costs of rising utilities.
"That's something that any student can speak to," Bankston said. "It's a very tangible issue."
Student representatives from the schools are also lobbying for the restoration of the base budget. There are two possible methods for calculating the budget of a state agency. The base budget is calculated by the Board of Regents and then submitted to the governor. This was previously the way universities' budgets were calculated.
This year the procedure for calculating the budget changed. The current services budget — the new budget — is calculated by the state's Division of Budget and then inserted in the governor's budget recommendations.
Bankston said the University had lost $6.1 million because of the switch.
- Edited by Jay Pilgreen
Senate elections code up for revision
By Brooke Hesler
writer@kansan.com
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Candidates for the upcoming Student Senate elections likely will be able to chalk their messages on campus sidewalks, but if they violate other regulations, they could face stiffer penalties than in the past.
Every year the elections code is revised. The changes made this year are not final. At 6 p.m. tonight in the Pine Room of the Kansas Union, the commission will hear complaints. If there are none, then the code will become final.
"I think these changes are relatively minor," said Dustin Johnson, Student Senate elections commissioner. "Most of the changes are just clarifications. I don't think there will be any major problems."
Despite changes, the elections commission decided to reserve the right to levy fines on a coalition
for the actions of its members.
"The action might have been carried out by a few members, but the whole coalition might have known about it, and they should be held accountable," Johnson said.
Johnson said the commission wanted to have the power to punish a coalition if a major problem occurred similar to the one last year when four members of the United Students coalition stole approximately 9,000 copies of the University Daily Kansan.
The paper contained the editorial board's endorsement of an opposing coalition and a front page article about Interfraternity Council allegations that then-United Students presidential candidate Ben Walker had attended a fraternity party where unapproved alcohol had been served.
Tanisha Jones, holdover senator, ran with United Students. She said the policy of fining the coalition for the actions of its members was unfair.
"Coalitions are really large," Jones said. "You might have 60 people running on one coalition and then more people who are helping out. It's not fair to blame the whole for the actions of the few or to blame the leaders of the coalition for the actions of a few."
Many of the changes came under the penalties category. Last year, the elections commission could charge a candidate up to $50 for major violations of the code. This year, the commission can charge a candidate up to $100.
Johnson said he and the commission thought the wording of the old code was too vague and contradictory, allowing the commission to assign virtually any penalty it deemed appropriate for a major infraction.
Jones said she supported the decision to raise fines for individual candidates.
"I agree with that," Jones said.
"Individuals have to follow the rules and if they don't, they should be punished."
ELECTION UPDATE
What happened? The Student Senate elections commission released the elections code with several changes and clarifications.
What happened: The Student Senate
What it means: The changes include stiffer lines for candidates who commit major violations of the elections code, and allow candidates to chalk campaign
and allow candidates to churn campaign messages on campus sidewalks.
**What's next?** The commission will have a meeting at 6 p.m. tonight at the Pine Room in the Kansas Union, where it will hear feedback about the new code. If no complaints are heard, the new code will be final.
The commission also decided candidates could write chalk messages on campus, with the only restriction being that on election day, they cannot have campaign paraphernalia of any kind within 100 feet of the polls.
- Edited by Jason McKee
By Livi Regenbaum writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Watkins senior physician receives student award
The Board of Class Officers at the University of Kansas awarded its annual Citation Leadership in Student Services to Randall Rock, a physician at Watkins Memorial Health Center.
Trisha Harma, president of the board, said Rock exemplified all the qualities necessary for the award.
"Rock was selected because he excelled in student services and showed a commitment to the needs of KU students by contributing to the welfare of students at the University of Kansas," she said.
Rock said he was humbled by the award.
"I feel honored. This award has special meaning since the recognition comes from the students themselves," he said. "This is why we are here, is for the students."
Harma said Rock had gone beyond the call of duty at his job.
"Rock has done an amazing job at Watkins and has gone above and beyond and has taken his work outside of Watkins to reach as many people as he can reach to promote health issues," she said.
Carol Seager, student health services administrator, said she was excited about Rock's award.
"Rock is very devoted to the students of KU," she said. "It is definitely reflected in the interest and creativity that he brings to his job. He is always looking for a new and better way to deliver messages and services to the students."
The announcement was made Saturday at the Kansas vs. Oklahoma State basketball game.
The Board of Class Officers is a student-led organization consisting of four officers for each class who are elected by the student
Randall Rock, physician at Watkins Memorial Health Center, was recognized by the Board of Class Officers for his excellence in leadership and service to KU students. Photo by Kyle Quilen/KANSAN
body.
Harma said the award had been established by the 1987 senior class to recognize staff members in administration who excelled in student services.
"It is an award which recognizes staff members who commit to the welfare of students at KU," she said.
The nomination process began Jan. 26, when students could nominate a person who worked in student services.
The nominations were then narrowed down to five finalists who were interviewed by the board.
Rock said he was grateful to his family for their support of his career.
"I want to give a special thanks to my family who have been understanding to my commitment to the University and the students," he said. "A significant part of the award is theirs."
Edited by Megan Phelps
kansan.com
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6:30-7:30 p.m.
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Budgeting & Finance
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