UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, November 21, 1996
3A
Student Senate recommends financing for BSU
Geoff Krieger / KANSAN
Dion Jones, Lawrence freshman, listens as Chris Howard, Lawrence junior, talks to Terrell McTyer, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore, and Andrea Lockett, Shawnee junior, before they spoke to the full Student Senate. Black Student Union members spoke last night in defense of their Senate financing.
By Spencer Duncan
Kansan Staff Writer
The oldest registered campus organization is fighting for block allocation status from Student Senate. So far it has won one and lost one.
After an hour of debate last night, the Senate decided to add the Black Student Union to a list of groups approved by the Senate finance committee for block allocation status. This came after the Senate finance committee earlier rejected BSU's request for block allocation status.
But finance committee chairman Kelly Huffman said Senate's vote was only one step in a long process. BSU has not earned the status yet.
"There is a long way still to go." he said. "This is not over."
go," he said. "This is not our Block allocation status is given to campus organizations who apply every two years.
BSU has received block allocation status for the past four years. But this year the finance committee, which recommends that groups get block status, denied BSU's request.
Groups that receive block allocation status this year will receive the same amount of money each year until 1999.
Huffman said there were a few reasons why.
"A few years ago they overspent by over $400," Huffman said. "They also have not put the Student Senate logo on flyers and pamphlets that were paid for with Student Senate money. Those are both violations."
The finance committee said that BSU needed better supervision of its spending.
But Andrea Lockett, BSU president, said the overspending that occurred three years ago was an isolated incident.
"That was a case where the
bill for something came in the summer when no one was here," Lockett said. "We could have paid for the bill with off-campus money, but Senate went ahead and picked it up for us. Then we went over. It was just a mistake."
Since then, Lockett said, BSU has reformed its spending system, and an advisor now scrutinizes the books.
As for not having the Senate logo on certain items, Lockett said that was also an oversight.
However, Liberal Arts and Sciences Senator Ann Marchand said the offenses should not be overlooked so easily.
"Block status is a privilege, not a right," Marchand said. "Even if they were just simple mistakes, BSU broke the rules. They should not be rewarded for that."
Marchand said there were other ways BSU could get money from Senate. The group
would just have to do it on a yearly basis.
Senate however, on a 33-16 vote decided to add BSU to the list of groups receiving some financing. However, Senate's recommendation has to gain approval from the finance committee.
The bill must now go back to the finance committee for approval of the BSU addition. But considering that it was the finance committee which left BSU off of the list in the first place, it is possible that the committee will deny BSU again.
This would mean that the finance committee could keep denying BSU block status and Senate could keep approving BSU for block status. The two are at a stalemate.
"The bill will go back and forth until someone makes a decision," said Senate Treasurer Jade Shopp.
Residents take their turns bowling turkeys
. .
Ellsworth Hall tradition kept alive again this year for more than 100 students to participate
By Dave Breltenstein Kansan staff writer
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a... well, it is a bird.
Turkey bowling was the main event last night at Ellsworth Hall as about 100 fans observed, cheered and bowled. Turkey bowling involves participants rolling a turkey, wrapped in a pillowcase, toward bowling pins.
The pre-Thanksgiving tradition continued despite concerns from environmentalists about animal rights and waste of food.
"I disagree with this from the vegetarian and animal rights points of view because it is very disrespectful to animals," said Michelle Kohns, Olathe sophomore and KU Environs member. "I also disagree from the social point of view because they are basically wasting these turkeys for recreation."
But Kohns said hall leaders voted 6-1 to sponsor the event, and she was the only member to against it.
Ellsworth Hall will be donating the turkeys to the Salvation Army, but certain restrictions apply. The turkeys must remain in good condition for the charity to serve them, otherwise the birds will be thrown in the garbage.
Douglass Kivett, assistant complex director of Ellsworth, said the four turkeys the hall bought ranged from $6 to $8 each. He suggested using other frozen objects in lieu of turkeys, but those ideas were shot down.
"Turkey bowling builds a great sense of community here and it also feeds the hungry," he said. "It's a win-win proposition. It's been a tradition and turkeys are a symbol of 'Thanksgiving.'
Scott Frank, Philadelphia junior and Ellsworth Hall president, said hall leaders weighed issues involving turkey bowling, and the majority thought it was a good idea to continue the tradition.
Frank said students used the program to make friends with people in the dorm that they might not already know and that everyone had a good time.
Mike McShea, Stockton junior and resident assistant at Ellsworth, said he had a good time bowling.
"This is the best program that Ellsworth offers and is a great relief from stress," he said. "They'll still be able to donate the turkeys after this. I think we're doing more damage to the building than to the turkeys."
His team struggled to knock down all the pins, but McShea said he faired well and had two spares and hit eight pins in his three frames.
"Turkeys are universal and everyone has an equal chance," he said.
Fric R. Howell / KANSAN
Christine Tunink, Lansing freshman, teammate Nicole McCarter, Carbondale freshman, a turkey. Turkey Bowl was held last night in the main lobby of Ellsworth Hall. The social event and food drive drew more than a hundred students.
New traditions help fight holiday homesickness
By Cameron Heeg
By Cameron Heeg
Kansan staff writer
Most students use the Thanksgiving break to go home for free food, a visit with old friends and a chance to catch up with relatives. But for students who don't have the chance to visit home, homesickness can be avoided.
During this time of year the psychological services at Watkins Memorial Health Center experience an increase in students seeking psychological assistance, and home sickness is a contributing factor, said Jim Kreider, clinical social worker at Watkins.
"Not every student who doesn't get a chance to see their old friends and family needs to talk it over with a counselor, but they shouldn't let it ruin their holidays," Kreider said. "What students need to do is ask themselves what they miss most about the holiday at home and then try to incorporate that aspect while they are here at school."
Students should not sit around during the break and they should not be afraid of replacing old holiday traditions with new practices. Kreider said.
Matt Webb will be trying a new practice for the Thanksgiving holiday. Webb, Concord, Calif., freshman, does not have the time or money to fly home. He will spend the break with his girlfriend and her family in Merriam.
"It has been about three and a half months since I have seen my family, but I'm not just going to sit around and be depressed about it," Webb said. "It will be different, but it would really suck just sitting around the dorms waiting for everyone to get back."
Students in residence and scholarship halls, except McCollum and Lewis halls, don't have the chance to remain in their rooms. The University will close the remaining residence halls from 9 p.m. Nov. 26 until 8 a.m. Dec. 1 for security and economic reasons.
"To keep the other halls open would be a waste of money on staffing those buildings because everyone leaves. Most of the students who need break housing already live in McCollum or Lewis so they don't have to worry about finding a place to stay," said Randy Timm, assistant director of student housing. "For us it is a matter of security, fully staffing McCollum and Lewis halls and being able to account for everyone in the buildings."
Students who live in residence halls that will close can move into either McCollum or Lewis for $12 a day. But taking a holiday is the essence of the break for most students.
"Try your hardest to get out and enjoy the holidays in some way," Kreider said. "If all your close friends are going home, a good way to make the holidays positive is to help out and do something nice for others."
Get ahead in the race.
they'd probably be competing with you for a job.