Campus/Area
University Daily Kansan / Thursday. April 11, 1991
3
Election turnout surprises
High numbers placing votes in Senate race
Kansan staff writer
By Michael Christie Kansan staff writer
If turnout remains steady, about 4,200 students will have voted in the Student Senate elections by the time the polls close today.
Yesterday, the first day of elections, about 2,000 voters turned out. Tom Poer, elections commissioner, said that figure was surprising because only two coalitions were running.
Student Senate Elections
Last year's race produced a relatively high voter turnout, when 2,600 voted on the first day. The total for five counties was 5,400. Five coalitions ran in the election.
With only two coalitions, many people do not expect a high turnout this year. Poer said.
Voters kept the tables in front of Wescoe Hall the busiest, where about 700 students voted, and lines of up to 150 were set up in the morning and about midday.
Jeff Johnson, Emporia senior, spent five hours monitoring the Wescoe poll.
Voters cast Student Senate ballots outside the Kansas Union, one of seven polls on campus.
"This is by far the busiest booth," he said.
The Wescoe location also has the largest staff.
"When you've got six people working, you can roll through it pretty quick." Johnson said.
About 500 students voted at the polling table in front of Watson Library.
Josn weerasingne, vaney rans senior, has worked for two years at the polls. He said that the turnout was higher on the second day last year.
The volunteers who monitor the polls must ensure that no campaigning takes place within 50 yards of the polls.
This entails making sure that no coalition buttons or fliers are in the open. As students approach the tables to vote, volunteers at the polls ask them to remove all campaign paraphernalia.
Minorities want to see more results
Kansan staff writer
By Lara Gold
It was a year ago today
African-American students joined many other KU students and walked from Strong Hall to the Chancellor's home in outrage after a Pizza Shuttle incident. All were sharply stirred at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house, according to police reports.
The group of about 50 demanded that the University of Kansas make changes so that all students would be trained to feel discriminated against at KU.
However, some African-American students say nothing has been accomplished in the past year to make the comfortable for minority students.
"There isn't a University-wide unity to help minority students," said
Cory Anderson, executive board member of Black Men of Today.
Today, Anderson, along with other members of the African-American community, plays to rally again with other KU students in front of Strong Hall in response to concerns they think have not been met this year.
As the anniversary of the rally approached, Anderson resubmitted the plan to the administration two weeks thinking the plan had been ignored.
At the rally a year ago, Black Men of Today submitted a 12-point plan to the administration that it thought would help the campus climate for KU's African-American students and all minority students.
Del Shankel, interim executive vice chancellor, said the administration was continuing to address programs for minority students
But the administration's response has left Anderson and other African-American students thinking that KU is oblivious to their needs.
"We are continuing to work on their concerns," he said. "We want to meet with them to also discuss further concerns."
He said he wanted proof that steps were being taken to help the minority community.
He said that the administration, always seemed to be exploring ideas or looking into new programs but there was never any direct action.
"It looks like a bunch of nothing," Anderson said, referring to the response.
"I don't think the University is committed to helping Black stu-
Carter, who also marched last year, said the administration had failed to meet the needs of the minority students at KU.
Corey Carter, president of the Black Poets' Society, agreed.
"We want to let them know that we are not going to accept it," she said.
Sherwood Thompson, director of the office of minority affairs, said it was the administration's role to address student concerns.
"But I feel sincere that the administration is fostering that conducive environment," he said. "My experi- pendents are that they want to be heard."
Senate candidate joins election late
Thompson suggested that the students and the administration work together to address the problems of minority students at KU.
By Nedra Beth Randolph
Kansan staff writer
The last time Gary Ashwin ran for office, he was in the third grade.
"I ran for class president, but I lost," said Ashwill, Berkeley, Calif., senior.
Asbwill is running for a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Student Senate seat as an independent write-in candidate. He is a self-proclaimed anarchist and co-founder of the Oread Anarchists.
Ashwill filed for candidacy two hours before the deadline Monday.
"I had been thinking about it for a while," he said. "But it was a spur of the moment thing to file."
Ashwill said that he thought it was possible for an independent to win a Senate seat but that it would be more difficult than the two highly visible coalitions.
"If Senate can't recognize me, the independent candidate, then how can they recognize the individual student?" he said.
Ashwill has been distributing fliers about his platform to make himself more visible to the voting student public.
"I'm trying to get people aware that there are alternatives to the two coalitions." he said.
His platform includes the removal of the chancellor's veto power over Student Senate. Ashwil said the elimination of the wdo would give more power to Senate.
Ashwill said he wanted to see
'If Senate can't recognize me, the independent candidate, then how can they recognize the individual student?'
- Gary Ashwill
Student Senate independent candidate
the structure of Senate changed so it would be more accessible to students.
"I want to democratize Student Senate," he said. "We need to solve the tremendous problem of apathy towards Student Senate."
Ashwill also would like to see a ban of toxic pesticides on campus, more recycling and wind generators on top of Fraser Hall.
Boog Highberger, second-year law student, said he endorsed Ashwill as an independent candidate for Senate. Highberger was student body vice president in 1984.
"I think the Student Senate would do a lot better with independents elected," he said. "Student leaders from more diverse view points."
But Highberger said he thought Ashwell's chances for being elected to a Senate seat were dismal.
"People tend to vote in herds," he said. "They usually vote for the coalitions instead of the independents."
Senate cuts budget for Regents schools
Higher education loses $20 million from House plan
By Joe Gose Kansan staff writer
TOPEKA — The state's fiscal 1992 higher education budget package may have barely enough money to hire its own gravedigger, unless a last-minute tax increase saves it from peril.
The Senate passed the Board of Regents financing bill 28-11 yesterday without restoring any of the cuts from the state's general fund spending.
The proposed budget is $20 million less than the House recommended and reflects a 2.6 percent decrease in general-fund financing.
If the proposed budget is signed by Gov Joan Finney, the University of Kansas, a Regents institution, would suffer a severe financial setback.
Not only would KU's operating budget be cut by $50,000, but cost increases in health insurance and other benefits for employees could drive that number to almost $3 million.
The University of Kansas faced similar cuts in the early 1980s, which led to dramatic cost-cutting measures. The university has summer classes and salary freezes.
Sen. Wint Winter Jr., R-Lawrence, had proposed an amendment to replace $20 million to the Regents as well as a general education fund and $5.5 million to community colleges and Washburn University.
However, senators killed the proposal 22-16 after debating it for two days.
State Sen. Gus Bogina, R Shawnee, who led the fight against the $0.5 million amendment, said he was not opposed to spend money the state did not have.
"What would happen if you went out wanting to spend $85 or $5,800 had no way to raise it?" he asked. "What would go to jail? That what would happen."
State Sen. Jim Allen, R-Ottawa, echoed that sentiment.
"When you were young and went to the candy store with no money in your pocket, you didn't buy any money," he said. "And right now the state doesn't have money to buy candy either."
But even after the vote, Winter said that there was still time left to restore money to the budget and to make a sustainable damage to higher education.
"Maybe I'm just trying to put a happy face on you, but I was happy with the debate," Winter said. "I exploded the myth that we can get through this year without raising revenue. That was my primary goal."
"But I am disappointed that we haven't come to grips with it yet. We need a more courageous Senate to do it now."
Winter said the tax increase could be introduced in conference committee action or through the omnibus appropriation bill, a catch-all bill for budgetary items left unresolved at the end of the session.