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The University Daily Kansan
A proposed $303,000 cut could reduce 71 percent of student programming
Sarah Wright/KANSAN Members of the Union’s Memorial Corporation board and University officials are negotiating the cut of a $303,000 royalty fee to the Union. Administrators say
LARA KORTE @lara_korte
The Chancellor’s office has proposed eliminating a source of funding for the Kansas Union that could reduce resources for student programming by 71 percent, according to a document obtained by the Kansan. The proposed $303,000 cut came up during a review of the affiliation agreement between the Memorial Corporation — which acts as the Union oversight board — and the University, according to the document. David Mucci, director of Kansas Memorial Union, said he was approached in late May about the fact that the elimination of the commissions from the logo was under consideration. Mucci said negotiations have not been finalized and that he “would not proceed further in discussions until the various conversations across campus were undertaken.” Although the proposal would reduce or eliminate the $303,000 the Union gets from licensing of the Jayhawk logo, University
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vol. 137 // iss. 8 Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018
Union in fee negotiation
officials say it is not directly tied to the recent $20 million budget cut. Erinn BarcombPeterson, a spokesperson for the University, said the review of the agreement began months ago and “predates the broader discussion of budget realignments on campus, and is not connected to that effort.” “We were surprised to learn that the KU Memorial Union intended to allocate this proposed reduction in a way that adversely affects student programming,” Barcomb-Peterson said. “We will work with the KU Memorial Union and student leadership to ensure that this student programming is not adversely affected.” Royalties for the licensing of the Jayhawk and its derivatives are split between the University, Kansas Athletics and the Kansas Union. A stipulation made in 2006 capped the sum at $303,000. The funds from the licensing agreement have historically supported student programming efforts such as Student Union Activities, which
organizes events for students and brings guest speakers, such as the upcoming appearance of comedian Trevor Noah, to campus. KU’s programming expense is currently at $416,235, according to the Union document. Cutting $303,000 eliminates 71 percent of the funds and could result in “a severe reduction of SUA events” as well as the elimination of student leadership and professional staff positions. “There may be adverse student and alumni reaction as events such as UnionFest, Night-onthe Hill, Carnival, Lied Concerts, Senior Art shows, etc. are significantly reduced or eliminated,” the document said. The announcement was made to Memorial Corporation board at a quarterly meeting on Saturday, Sept. 8. “I am pretty much appalled by this decision,” said Charles Jetty, student body vice president and member of the board. “Especially given the comments by the provost that the budget crisis
was not going to impact students.” Interim Provost Carl Lejuez, who has been at the forefront of budget conversations, has expressed to the Kansan multiple times that there will be some impact on students, though he said the administration is doing its best to mitigate those effects. When asked about the proposed cut to the Union, Lejuez said, “This is apparently something that’s been in play for a period of time, and it’s not directly related to budget cut, and it’s hard for it not to feel that way.” Still, many members of the board were surprised by the proposed cut. “It came as a shock to most people in that room,” said Zach Thomason, the Student Senate university affairs chair. “It’s something that’s been status quo for so long that for it to be abruptly pulled out really kind of sent shockwaves through the financial status of the Union operations.” Student Body President Noah Ries, who did not attend the Sept. 8 meeting, said he understands the logic behind the cut, but thinks there are more important things at stake. “In my own personal opinion, I feel like I understand where the chancellor is coming from in wanting to re-absorb these funds given the current financial situation our university is faced with,” Ries said. ”However I feel like the Chancellor here is only seeing the dollar sign and how that could help cushion the blow from the budget cuts and not taking into account the real detriment to such an integral part of the student experience at KU.”
INSIDE
Gun policy a shift for foreign community
Sarah Wright/KANSAN Sociology Professor Ebenezer Obadare, originally from Nigeria, said gun culture in the U.S. differs from home. JOEL DOMINGUEZ @_joeldominguezg It’s been over a year since a state exemption expired, and colleges across Kansas now allow the concealed carry of handguns on campus. At the University of Kansas, many domestic students have expressed their concerns about the change, but for international students and faculty, who are unfamiliar with American gun culture, the change has been a shocking one. “I was scared, obviously because I was not used to this at all,” Zsofia Oszlanczi, a senior from Hungary, said. “My parents were scared too.” In the fall of 2017, the University had 2,182 international students. Although several expressed to the Kansan that the allowance of guns on campus made them nervous, others, like junior Jane Wang, weren’t surprised. “I wasn’t really that worried because I grew up in America so then guns have always been there,” Wang, who grew up in China and attended high school in the United States, said. “Guns are perceived as a very Western thing to have, so then students are not allowed guns [in China].”
The University has placed high emphasis on attracting international students in recent years, though efforts have yet to yield significant results. A recent Kansan investigation found the University’s goal of doubling the international student population was not reached, and the population actually dropped about 100 students. Although one of the largest factors in the drop is believed to be the immigration restrictions implemented under President Donald Trump, the presence of guns on campus has been felt throughout the international student population. Gun culture in other countries is different, University sociology professor Ebenezer Obadare, who is from Nigeria, said. “Guns are for the military or armed robbers,” Obadare said. In Hungary, “the restrictions are a lot stricter,” Szofia said. Akiko Takeyama, a University professor in the Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, compared the concealed carry law to driving. SEE GUNS • PAGE 2
DeVos proposes new campus sexual assault polices
SOPHIA BELSHE @sophia_654_
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is aiming to make changes to federal sexual assault policies that could impact how and when universities handle sexual assault. The proposed changes would uphold the rights of individuals accused of sexual assault, reduce liability for universities and assist schools to provide support for victims of sexual assault, according to the New York Times, who first obtained a copy of the report. The proposed changes redefine sexual assault, according to the Times report, only holding schools accountable for complaints filed through the right channels and
Associated Press Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos recently proposed changes to how schools would be required to handle sexual assault. regarding conduct that happened on campus. The new rules also allow
for mediation and let both parties request evidence from one another for
cross examination. How these potential changes could impact the
University is unknown. “We are aware of media reports that Secretary DeVos may have proposed policy changes, and we will continue working with policymakers and peer universities to be involved in discussions related to sexual assault and sexual violence on university campuses,” Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, University director of news and media relations, said in an email to the Kansan. “The University of Kansas will continue its ongoing efforts to be a leader in how universities prevent and respond to sexual assault and violence.” Since her appointment as Secretary of Education, DeVos has been aggressive in rolling back Obama-era policies for how universities handle
sexual assault. In fall of 2017, DeVos rescinded a letter from former President Barack Obama that directed public universities on how to handle sexual assault. “The truth is that the system established by the prior administration has failed too many students,” DeVos said in September 2017 to the New York Times. “Survivors, victims of a lack of due process and campus administrators have all told me that the current approach does a disservice to everyone involved.” The proposed changes still need to be finalized by the Department of Education.
— Edited by Shaun Goodwin