Lawrence Journal-World 04-28-13

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KU sees growing importance of online courses ——

Dean: University ‘slow to enter market’ By Matt Erickson merickson@ljworld.com Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo

EUDORA RESIDENT EUGENE WESTERHOUSE, 85, along with nine volunteers, builds a wheelchair ramp at a home in Eudora. Most men Westerhouse’s age would be using the ramps, but for the last 35 years, he’s helped build over 300 of them.

Westie, the wheelchair ramp champ Lawhorn’s Lawrence

Chad Lawhorn clawhorn@ljworld.com

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t started out being about the doctor. An old World War II vet near Alta Vista needed to be able to get out of his house to see his doctor. And a wheelchair ramp sure would make a world of difference. Even back in 1978, the name of rural Eudora resident Eugene Westerhouse often came to mind when thinking about fellows who could make a difference. At least it did for an old pastor

friend of Westerhouse’s who was now stationed in Alta Vista, 110 miles from Eudora. So, although he had never built a wheelchair ramp, Westerhouse said he would do it. He gathered a small crew made up of fellow members of his church and hit the road. A mere 110 miles? No problem. After all, it was to help an old man see a doctor — kind of. Once Westerhouse and his crew arrived, they did indeed hear how the man

needed a ramp from his front door to where his vehicle was parked. But it didn’t take long for the old man to point at another vehicle a bit farther from the house. There was an old John Deere tractor down there, and it sure would be good to get back on it again. “He wanted to get on that tractor a lot worse than he wanted to get to the doctor,� Westerhouse recalls.

Melanie Remp, coming off her sophomore year at Kansas University, wanted to get one of her course requirements out of the way last summer to ensure she’d be ready to student-teach during her senior year in the KU School of Education. But she also needed a job to pay her bills. KANSAS And she was working at UNIVERSITY a summer camp in her hometown of Topeka, with no time to come to Lawrence for a class. So she enrolled in an online comparative politics course from Johnson County Community College. KU didn’t offer that course online. “It was my only option, really,� said Remp, now a junior. She checked off a general-education requirement. But she learned very little, she says.

Please see WESTIE, page 5A

Please see ONLINE, page 6A

State agriculture department heading west Drowning out cancer —————

Kansas law says agency must be in Topeka, but it’s moving to Manhattan By Scott Rothschild srothschild@ljworld.com

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Agriculture is changing pastures, and that means a big change for some 160 state employees. Earlier this month, Agriculture Secretary Dale Rodman announced that the department was moving from Topeka to Manhattan, a distance of about 56 miles. Rodman described Manhattan as a perfect fit. Having KDA adjacent to Kansas State University,

the future National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility and other ag-related entities will “enhance the overall effectiveness of the department,� he said. Others, however, have expressed concerns. “We’re just puzzled at all of this,� said Nick Levendofsky, special projects coordinator for the Kansas Farmers Union. “The Department of Agriculture is a regulatory agency that is part of the executive branch, and in our mind should remain in Topeka,� Levendofsky said. In fact, there is a state

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Today’s forecast, page 12A

state,� she said. But for the remainder of employees, the choice is to commute, move, look for another job or retire. Some have complained privately, but none publicly. Mike Marvin, executive director of the Kansas Organization of State Employees, said he had heard from some employees who are upset about the move. But, Marvin said, management can determine where it wants to do business. Please see MOVE, page 2A

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Richard Gwin/Journal-World Photo

TYGHE NIELSEN, a former Kansas University swim team member, gives Ansley Ross, 6, of Overland Park, a ride at the Drown Out Cancer Swim-A-Thon held Saturday at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center. Nielsen, a cancer patient, organized the event to raise money for the KU Cancer Center and the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation. Nielsen was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer with metastasis to his liver, a cancer with only an 8 percent chance to be alive five years after a diagnosis. See story on page 2A.

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law that says, simply, “The Kansas Department of Agriculture shall be in the city of Topeka.� Mary Geiger, a spokeswoman for KDA, said the department would satisfy that requirement by keeping its administrative staff in Topeka. That will include approximately 10 employees, Geiger said. A lab and field office located at Forbes Field in Topeka will also remain, she said. Rodman, she said, will maintain offices in Topeka and Manhattan. “The reality is he is out and about across the

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Two documentary films produced by Lawrence High students that explore critical turning points in history will be unveiled at a national event this summer. Page 3A

Vol.155/No.118 32 pages

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