KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2011 / NEWS / 3A
STUDENT SENATE
KANSAN FILE PHOTO Last semester, Vice President Megan Ritter, a junior from Overland Park and President Michael Wade Smith, a senior from Goodland, sat down with The Kansan to discuss their proposed plans for the 2010-2011 academic year.
KUnited assesses progress during previous tenure
BY ADAM STRUNK
astrunk@kansan.com
There is a giant list hanging in the Student Senate office. The list has the 20 promises KUnited made in last April's student Senate election. Each time a promise was fulfilled this year, a red check mark was made on the list. Nine months after the elections, the list bears nine check marks.
"Well I don't want to be too generous, but I'd give us a 'B+' right now," said Student Body Vice President Megan Ritter. "We are excited about the progress we have made."
For students, some of the most
exciting progress comes in the form of the Underground expansion, a central component of KUnited's platform.
D av i d Mucci, director of Kansas Mem ori al Unions, said that in February
"Ours was an ambitious legislative agenda but we didn't think it was our place to cut areas where we had heard genuine concerns."
that in the student fees committee would vote on allocating $500,000 of student fees to the Underground expansion project.
As of this year, the KU bookstore now offers students the option to compare textbook prices with online sellers and to rent text books. Both were parts of KUnited's textbook platform.
ter would combine career advising, student legal services,the study abroad office and possibly other services into one building.
"It kind of consolidates and makes their job easier instead of having to come to us and see what we are charging for the book," KU Bookstore supervisor Kyle Whitney said.
services into one place. Ritter said that the project had been passed to the Provost's office and that she thought it would be delayed. She said there was not yet a timeline for the completion of the project.
"If it meets with their approval my assumption is we will try to fast track it," he said. "We would try to get to the project in June in hopes that it would be done in time for the start of school."
Some of KUniteds' platforms have been implemented immediately but others have not faired so well. Progress on the student services center, a central part of KUnited's platform, has slowed. As proposed, the student services cen-
MEGAN RITTER Student body vice president
Mucci said the expansion would add approximately 150 additional seats to the dining area and would eliminate some of the worst congestion.
While students have yet to taste the benefits of the Underground expansion, some of the progress Ritter described has been more immediate.
Another part of KUnited's platform that has faced difficulties was the plan to make the University 100 percent sustainable and to eliminate its carbon footprint. This platform took a hit when Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little did not sign the American College and University Presidents' Climate
immediate. "We were excited about our textbook platform and getting the KU bookstore to have a compare price option," Ritter said.
Commitment (ACUPCC) in October. The plan would have required the University to have a plan for eliminating its environmental effect or carbon footprint within two years.
While KUnited has
faced its share of difficulties completing the platform list, Ritter said she would not have done anything different.
thing different.
"Ourws was an ambitious legislative agenda but we didn't think it was our place to cut areas where we had heard genuine concerns," she said. "We started the conversation on all of our issues."
Ritter said she hoped whoever was elected in April would continue the work they started. It is unknown whether the list will remain hanging.
- Edited by Dave Boyd
City asks for motorists' help in finding potholes to repair
LAWRENCE
BY JONATHAN SHOR
jshorman@kansan.com
While snow currently covers Lawrence, when it melts it will mean potholes for Lawrence roads.
Potholes form when water freezes in pavement cracks expanding the crack.
expanding the 18 blog post on the City of Lawrence's website, Megan Gillibrand, communications director for the City of Lawrence, asked motorists for help in finding and fixing potholes. To report a pothole, drivers can call 785-832-3456, or fill out an online form on the city's website. A version of the form for mobile devices is also available online at lawrenceks.org/public_works/pothole_report_form.
pothole report table
Gillbrand said that between Dec. 1, 2009 and April 1, 2010,
crews fixed 16,091 potholes using 646 tons of material and 5,001 man hours. The process of fixing potholes is expected to be faster this winter because of a new device in use by city crews. The spray-injection device, which was acquired by the city in the fall, can fix potholes while snow is
still on the ground, Mark Thiel,
assistant public works director,
told The Kansan in December.
Graphic by Sarah Hockel/KAMAKURA
The machine injects potholes with either a hot or cold mix, Gillibrand said. It makes the application of a hot mix easier, which is stronger than the cold mix and lasts longer. Despite budget pressures, the city will stay on top of potholes, Gillibrand said.
"Street maintenance is a priority for Lawrence and the City Commission," she said.
Not many potholes have been fixed yet this winter. Gillibrand said she expected the pace to pick up in the next few weeks.
Edited by Becca Harsch
Please recycle this paper
2011 Seasonal Jobs
Applications are now being accepted for various PT temporary seasonal positions with the City of Lawrence
APPLICATION DEADLINE Friday, February 11, 2011
Maintenance Park Maintenance Horticulture Laborer Downtown Floriculture Crew Golf Course Maintenance Forestry Laborer Building & Aquatic Maintenance
APPLICATION DEADLINE Friday, May 6, 2011
These positions will be open until filled.
Marketing Marketing Program Assistant
This position will be open until filled
Aquatic Center
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Friday, March 18, 2011
Aquatic Center Water Safety/Fitness Instructors Lifeguards Head Lifeguard Pool Cashiers Wading Pool Attendant
Eagle Bend Golf Course Golf Cart Attendant Snack Bar Attendants
Maintenance Horticulture / Forestry Intern
Recreation Center
Recreation Center Leader
Special Populations Bus Driver Unified Day Camp Counselor
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Friday, April 23, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Playground Program
Bookmobile/Storyteller Counselor
Playground/Program Counselors
Playground Head Counselors
Playground Asst Counselors
Prairie Park Nature Center Adventure Camp Counselors Naturalist
Recreation Instruction
Gymnastic Instructor
Fitness Instructor
Tennis Instructor
Sports Officials Youth Baseball/Softball Umpires Adult Softball Umpires
APPLICATION DEADLINE Friday, August 19, 2011
with Country Road 5 and Exit 13
Sports Officials
Adult Basketball Officials
Adult Volleyball Officials
Flexible schedules with salaries up to $11.88 per hour For Best Consideration Apply Immediately by visiting www.LawrenceCityJobs.org
EOE M/F/D
www.LawrenceCityJobs.org