Vacancies in Student Senate Court of Appeals

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

For more than two years, Brandon Smith occupied the role of acting Chief Justice for the student Senate Court of Appeals. But with Smith’s graduation this month comes a void that, according to Senate rules and regulations, must be filled.

As per his departure, Smith wrote a letter to the Kansan outlining his experiences incurred while serving as acting chief justice. In his letter, he said the inability to appoint the court to full membership “hinders our abilities and ultimately hurts the student body”.

Brandon Smith, a third-year law student from Olathe, serves as both chief justice and one of the four judges on the Student Court of Appeals. Smith graduates in May and said that empty positions on the court have hurt the student body.

After Smith graduates from the University, only three judges will remain on the Senate court of appeals. According to the rules and regulations, the judicial branch of Senate is to consist of one chief justice and four judges. Since its birth in 2009 though, the court has existed with only four members. As the oldest student member of the court, Smith chose to serve as the acting chief justice.

Smith, a third year law student from Olathe, said the inability to appoint a fifth member has undermined the authority of the court.

In March, former student body president Michael Wade Smith co-authored legislation with Senator Mark Pacey to disband the court of appeals and restore the judicial authority back to the Student Executive committee. Much to Michael Wade Smith’s dismay, the Senate rights committee voted against the legislation.

Michael Wade Smith, a senior from Goodland, doesn’t hide his feelings about the court. He said the court of appeals was put “together over a weekend and in a very rash way.”

“Not having an official head of our branch makes it difficult to really be invested in the infrastructure of Senate,” Smith said. “And obviously five is better than four for voting decisions and getting stuff done.”

The student body president is responsible for appointing the chief justice but during the two different administrations the court has existed within, no committee has been established to elect a fifth member. With Smith’s departure, two seats will now be vacant.

According to Smith, Michael Wade Smith deliberately avoided appointing a fifth member this year because “he never wanted the court to exist in the first place.”

“Why would I appoint a member to a branch that I was working on legislation to disband?” Michael Wade Smith said.

With both men departing, the future of the court is unknown as it now lies within the hands of the current student body president Libby Johnson. Johnson was a member of the rights committee that voted against ridding Senate of the court but was unavailable for comment.

Eric Sader, a member of the Court of Appeals and a second year graduate student in law and social welfare from Salina, said the court has functioned “remarkably well” with what’s been given.

“But we’re hopeful with the new officers, they recognize the existence of the court and will go forward with appointing two new members,” Sader said.

The Senate Court of Appeals handles situations where conflicts of action, interest, or policy arise within the student government. The court typically deals with financial issues, elections rules, or bills that could affect the infrastructure of Senate.

The sentimental side of politics

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

It was another case of “out with the old in with the new” during last night’s joint Senate meeting as the former executive Senate staff bid their farewells and best wishes to the new senators.

The final meeting of the semester for student Senate took place in Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union with both the former and newly elected senators in attendance.

For about two and a half hours, the night consisted of thanks and gratitude from most of the former members of Michael Wade Smith and Megan Ritter’s administration as they reflected on their time spent on staff during the past year. The Center for Community Outreach directors Emily Lamb and Kellen Bolt were not in attendance.

“Amazing” was the word most often quoted last night as the former officers attempted to articulate what they gained from their Senate experience.

In her final officer report, former vice president Ritter, a junior from Overland Park, was unable to hold back her tears, and at times continue, as she individually addressed each member of the executive staff.

When it finally came time for the last officer report, former student body president Smith, a senior from Goodland, took his turn at the podium.

“I can’t say I did it perfectly but I did my best,“ Smith said.

On more than one occasion, Smith had to pause to regain composure and wipe away his tears as he reminisced of his personal growth and the friendships that were established throughout the course of the year.

With a final “Rock Chalk” chant, Smith stepped down as student body president and Ritter adjourned the meeting. As is tradition, the former staff headed to The Wheel, 507 West 14th Street, to add their names to the ceiling like all the student leaders had before them.

With the old Senate gone, the new senators settled into their seats and into new roles.

Newly-elected student body president Libby Johnson began her term by asking her fellow senators to now “turn their focus to the future.”

The meeting concluded with the approval of the executive staff.

Smith and Ritter give their final thoughts

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

As their time as student body president and vice president wound down, student body leaders Michael Wade Smith and Megan Ritter took the time to sit down with the University Daily Kansan to reflect on their time in office. Smith and Ritter will give their final officer reports during the last Senate meeting of the year at Joint Senate Wednesday night in the Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Following the reports, the former senators will leave and the newly elected senators will remain.

Looking back at their administration, both Smith, a senior from Goodland, and Ritter, a junior from Overland Park, consider their time in office a success.

Based on their numbers, it was.

“17 out of 20 items is probably one of the biggest successes of a student Senate administration in, for sure, recent history,” Smith said. “I would venture to say history.”

The numbers Smith is referring to are from the Student Senate Legislative Agenda list hanging in the student Senate office. The agenda contains 20 platform issues promoted during Smith and Ritter’s election campaign. Under their administration, 17 of their 20 platforms got accomplished, as denoted by a red check mark signifying completion. Smith said the most noteworthy accomplishment was the Wescoe Underground expansion.

“When we were running a year ago, people were really excited about making that horrible space down there at lunch time a little bit easier to navigate and that’s getting done,” Smith said.

Construction on the 139-seat expansion will break ground in May and will be completed around the end of August. Other platforms accomplished this year include self-defense for all students, an advertising partnership with the Lawrence Journal-World, the BIG Event and Jayhawk Tailgate. But not everything Smith and Ritter said would get done, did. One of their major platforms for the 2010 elections last April was the Student Services Center. The center would include a variety of services, such as academic achievement and success, disability services and a writing center.

“That was a case of where despite our hardest efforts, that project will take more than a year,” Ritter said.

Another failed platform was the Game Day on-campus bussing. Ritter said she still supports the idea but with the current level of cost for operation and maintenance, it wasn’t feasible. Despite the setbacks and perhaps lack of planning, Ritter and Smith would like to see conversations continue into next year regarding those ideas. “There were some things that were very well-intentioned and I still think very good ideas, that turned into far more complex issues than we had anticipated,” Smith said.

In picking up where Smith and Ritter’s administration left off, Smith said he hopes the newly elected student body leaders-also members of KUnited-“don’t forget to act right away.”

“We were the ones who acted really quickly and probably should have planned it,“ Smith said. “I think they will be planners who will wait to act.”

Through those 17 successes and a few failures, were there some things they wish they did differently? Of course. In addressing transparency concerns Smith said student Senate could have provided better access to information.

“We could have done a better job of that,” Smith said.

Ritter said the most difficult time they encountered while in office was during block allocations. During block, Senate passed approval to cut funding for four community service programs in two years, creating a stir through campus and the community.

“It generated a lot of negativity and a lot of that was misdirected at Michael,“ Ritter said. “But it was another case, I think, of not’s what’s popular but what should be done. We also didn’t realize the extent to which that would be unpopular.”

Through the ups and downs, the pair endured everything politically thrown at them with minimal damage to their spirits and at the end of the day, Ritter said they are still the same dreamers that they entered into their positions as.

“We like to dream big and think about not just how things are but how they should be,” Ritter said. “I think that we came in that way and although we maybe became a little more grounded and more realistic in our dreams now, we will continue to push the possibilities of what can be and what can happen because I think that led to a lot of changes this year.”

Senate elects officers for committees

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Student Senate committee elections were held last night to determine the chair, vice-chair and secretary positions within the four committees.

According to Senate rules and regulations, in order for a student to be eligible for the executive committee positions he or she must have been a member of one of the committees and attended four meetings throughout the course of the semester. To acquire voting rights, members had to have attended two meetings prior to elections. All executive chairs have voting rights within the Student Executive committee.

No legislation was heard during the meetings that were held in the Kansas Union.

The next Senate meeting, on Wednesday April 27, will be a joint session with the old and new Senate members.

Finance Committee

Chairman — Josh Dean of Renew KU.

Dean, a sophomore from Overland Park majoring in economics, political science and math, is finishing up his second year as a member of student Senate. Dean’s been a member of the finance committee since he became a senator and held the position of vice-chair this year.

Vice Chairwoman — Casey Briner of Renew KU.

Briner, a junior from Flower Mound, Texas, is a pre-law anthropology major.

Secretary — Kelly Cosby of Renew KU.

Cosby, a junior from Overland Park, is majoring in political science and English.

Rights Committee

Chairman — Aaron Harris of KUnited.

Harris, a senior from Kansas City, Kan., is majoring in Journalism and History. Harris has been a member of Student Senate for a year and a half and a member of rights committee for one year. Harris previously held positions within the Code of Ethics sub-committee.

Vice Chairman — Sean Elliott of Renew KU.

Elliott, a junior from Stillwell, is majoring in political science.

Secretary — Jenna Olitsky of KUnited.

Olitsky, a sophomore from Leawood, is a pre-law psychology major.

Mutli-Cultural Affairs Committee

Chairwoman — Devon Cantwell of Renew KU.

Cantwell, a junior from Topeka, is majoring in political science, international studies and women’s studies. Cantwell held the position of chair for multi-cultural affairs last year and this is her third year in Senate.

Vice Chairman — Kris Velasco of KUnited.

Velasco, a sophomore from Wamego, is majoring in political science and communication studies.

Secretary — Meredith Pavicic

Pavicic, a junior from Leawood, is in her first year in Senate.

University Affairs Committee

Chairwoman — Christine Lee of KUnited.

Lee, a sophomore from Omaha, Neb. majoring in microbiology, joined Senate two years ago. Lee was the secretary of the university affairs committee last year. She’s held positions within committees such as Center for Community Outreach and the Multi-Cultural Education Fund.

Vice Chairman — Tyler Caby of KUnited.

Coby, a freshman from Lee’s Summit, is majoring in American Studies.

Secretary — Jenny Pisklo of KUnited.

Pisklo, a sophomore from Tulsa, Okla., is majoring in accounting. She is finishing her first year in Senate.

Student Senate elections boast highest voter turnout

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

A little more than 20 percent of the student body participated in the Student Senate elections last week. This is an increase of 8.9 percentage points from the previous year, with some professional schools recording their highest number of voters. A few procedural changes may have contributed to the turnout.

Polling Stations

Multiple polling stations on campus provided easier access and more options for student voters where, historically, only one polling station was available at the Kansas Union.

This year, stations were available at Mrs. E’s dining hall and on Wescoe Beach.

Michael Fee, the elections commission chairman, said at one point last Thursday at the Wescoe Beach polling station, students were “cramming in line” to cast their votes before the deadline.

Percentage of Student Body Voters

2008: 16.5 percent at 4,207 votes

2009: 23.4 percent at 5,921 votes

2010: 12.1 percent at 3,063 votes

2011: 21.0 percent at 5,192 votes

Social Media and the Internet

The application of networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter also increased with this election season.

Justin Hitt, Renew KU’s campaign manager, said he found that social media was the most efficient way to reach out to student voters.

The elections commission also utilized those networks to tweet about the multiple polling locations and to create a Facebook event urging students to vote.

Another first for the Senate elections was the reminder to vote that appeared anytime someone logged onto a campus computer.

A link on the University’s homepage allowed students to directly access the online voting site.

Campaigning efforts

But while Fee said the commission “did a little bit” by tweeting and with the link, he said most of the credit goes to the coalitions and their campaigning efforts.

“I think this year they stepped it up and it was really competitive,” Fee said.

Hitt, a junior from Shawnee, said Renew KU’s campaigning efforts included tabling, chalking, and engaging students in dialogue.

He said it was a really good competition and when one coalition felt the other was more engaging, they would step it up a notch.

Senate has a long way to go to reach Hitt’s goal for voter turnout, which at a minimum would be 25 percent, but he said this is a great start.

Alex Rippberger, a junior from Olathe and KUnited coalition member, said one thing KUnited really made an effort to do was to talk with every single student who passed by.

He said it was about a desire to hear from the students and what they would like to see at the University rather than pushing information about KUnited on them.

Libby Johnson, a senior from Lawrence and the student body president elect, described KUntied’s methods as “word-of-mouth campaigning.”

“Everyone knew a unique group of students to appeal to,” Johnson said.

She said she views the turnout as a huge success as long as the numbers continue to go up.

“But the important thing is to continue to make sure students know how relevant it is to their lives,” Johnson said.

The only foreseeable changes to the election process next year will be the addition of a new online voting system that will function and look exactly the same from a voter perspective. The system will makes its debut in the fall.

 

Motivated by a passion for results

Sunday, April 10, 2011

With Student Senate, Libby Johnson saw results.

From the moment she joined Student Senate as a University of Kansas freshman, she was hooked.

“It was just a ton of really exciting stuff going on and I loved the stuff that we got to make an influence in,” said Johnson, a senior from Lawrence majoring in biology and psychology.

That passion for results continues to motivate her four years later.

Johnson, a brunette, walks into her interview with The Kansan in the Kansas Union wearing knee-high brown boots and jeans.

As soon as she removes her coat, she reveals a red KUnited T-shirt and a KUnited coalition button signifying her allegiance.

Johnson is the presidential candidate for the Student Senate coalition KUnited.

“As student body president I will be able to put things in place that will really make the college experience the best it possibly can be,” Johnson said. “And so far this has been the most memorable experience for me.”

One level up and a day later, clad in a blue hooded sweatshirt and jeans, stood her running mate and vice presidential candidate, Gabe Bliss.

Bliss, a sophomore from Olathe, found a niche within Student Senate last year as a freshman.

“It keeps me really up to date on things going on at the University,“ Bliss said. “And I just want to be a part of something that is bigger than me. Either way I‘m going to be involved.”

The pair hopes to continue the 15-year tradition KUnited has established within Student Senate. It is a tradition they both said consists of accomplishment and getting things done — things like fall break, Saferide and Safebus, wireless Internet and the Ambler Student Recreation Center amongst others.

Growing up in Lawrence as the daughter of University professor of chemistry, Carey Johnson, allowed Libby to witness the University’s evolution and forge a bond that would never be broken, she said.

“I’ve never known anything else but KU,” Johnson said.

After four years of Student Senate involvement and leadership positions in more than 10 organizations and committees, Senate elections are the next plateau.

“I think a lot of people think this is crazy to put this much time and work into something,” said Johnson, who is also a private piano tutor. “But it’s been a goal of mine for many years now. Being involved for the past three years will definitely help me out because I’ve learned about how the University works and I’ve made relationships with students and administrators.”

Although Bliss always wanted to be on the executive staff, he said the nomination for vice president originally came as a shock.

“But I met it with open arms and am now extremely excited for it,” Bliss said. “I like working with people and I’m a helper.”

Bliss said he loved the University and the foundations established. But, he said, there are many areas he would like to improve on.

“Senate has this negative overall perception,” Bliss said. “And there’s been a trend in the past of low voter turnout.”

Low turnout is something he and Johnson want to change. He said he wanted the students to be heard and, as a member of a small professional school, he thought he could bring a voice to the minority groups on campus.

Bliss, a civil engineering student, grew up as the son of a small business owner and stay-at-home mom.

When he graduates in 2013 with a degree, Bliss said he wanted to work with water treatment for developing countries.

But until then, the book and computer savvy Bliss said, regardless of the upcoming election’s results, he was going to be a part of Student Senate.

As for Johnson, she plans to continue her education in the sciences, and after two years in the Peace Corps, intends to attend graduate school, according to KUnited’s website.

Johnson said the experience was one she would never forget, which is what she said college was all about.

“It’s supposed to be the best four to six years of your life,” Johnson said. “And so far this has been the most memorable experience of mine.”

New platform could bring big guests

Thursday, April 7, 2011

A newly released platform for the Senate coalition KUnited addresses using University athletic venues for concerts and speakers.

Presidential candidate Libby Johnson, a senior from Lawrence, said KUnited would like to work with the Athletics Department and Student Union Activities to use Allen Fieldhouse and Memorial Stadium to house major events.

Johnson said the platform stemmed from listening to a friend’s parents reminisce about their time at the University.

“They talked about how when they went to school they remember having concerts after basketball games,“ Johnson said. “And we would like to welcome big name artists and speakers, things like that, back into Allen Fieldhouse and even Memorial Stadium.”

KUnited’s goal is to make those venues more accessible as an option to infrequently house big events.

SUA president Rachel Anderson said attempts were made year after year to have an event in Allen Fieldhouse.

“Something like what KUnited is proposing would be ideal,” Anderson said. “But the question will still be do we spend a huge amount of money for that one show or spread it out over the entire year?”

Funding will always be an issue to book events, Anderson said, but developing a partnership could help fray those costs.

Anderson, a senior from Manhattan, said as an organization SUA had discussed this idea extensively.

“We’re happy this is one of their platforms and we look forward to sitting down with them and seeing what can happen,” Anderson said.

Jim Marchiony, the assistant athletics director, said it’s not an impossible feat KUnited is attempting.

“But,” Marchiony said, “It is very difficult to schedule outside events at Allen Fieldhouse.”

During the academic year, the Fieldhouse is reserved exclusively for basketball and in the summer it is reserved for camps.

Historically, though, it’s been done.

As recently as 2006 Allen Fieldhouse hosted comedian and actor Bill Cosby during Homecoming week.

Even artists such as Bob Marley and Louis Armstrong once graced the University with their musical presence.

“Certain artists won’t come because we have to be able to offer them a sell-out space and this could help in bringing any artist,” Johnson said.

Marchiony said the first discussions regarding this kind of proposal would most likely take place between himself and the Athletics Department facilities staff.

Without knowing specifics and without speaking to other staff members, he said it was difficult to discuss feasibility.

“We would talk about it as a department and decide on whether or not it would be something we would want to schedule here and something we would want to represent,” Marchiony said.

Neither Marchiony nor Anderson said they had personally spoken with KUnited coalition members.

Johnson said vice presidential candidate Gabe Bliss and herself had informally spoken with members of SUA and the Athletics Department regarding the platform.

“It’s just Allen Fieldhouse has so many traditions around it. It’s such a great place for basketball and can be a great place for artists, too,” Johnson said.

KUnited recently released more than 10 platforms for the upcoming Student Senate elections.

To learn more information about this and other platforms, go to http://www.kunited.org.

 

Student Senate meets to discuss final legislative business

Originally published April 6, 2011 at 11:45 p.m., updated April 6, 2011 at 11:45 p.m.

Student Senate met last night in the final meeting of the year that deals with legislative business.

The full Senate met in the Kansas room of the Memorial Union. It won’t meet next week because of Senate elections.

The April 20 meeting will be dedicated to committee elections, where at the following meeting the new student leaders will be sworn in.

Senator rules and regulations to include Senator code of ethics

After a bumpy road, Senate approved the addition of a Senator code of ethics to the Senate rules and regulations.

Sponsors of the bill began working on it in September.

The finance committee originally passed the bill, but it was postponed in an attempt to clarify the language.

Although it was referred back to committee, the bill was presented last night with no alterations.

It passed with the required two-thirds vote after minor language alterations were made.

The code of ethics will appear in next year’s rules and regulations.

Approval for implementation of student rights subcommittee code of rights and responsibilities recommendations

At the suggestion of University administrators within the Office of Student Success, a student rights subcommittee made recommendations to alter language within the code of rights and responsibilities, and Senate approved those changes last night.

The two major changes to the code involve articles 18 and 22.

The changes to article 18 give the University the authority to become involved in incidents where a violation of federal, state or local law is broken and also if a violation of University regulation occurs on campus.

Article 22 regards offense against persons. The changes include the addition of language that specifically addresses electronic contact in an effort to keep up with technological advances.

Another addition to the article adds more examples of what could constitute hazing.

Nick Kehrwald, the student conduct officer, said these changes address minimal legal requirements of a university.

“We pretty much have to address certain campus behavior as it relates to Title 9 and sexual assault,” Kehrwald said. “It’s not always appropriate to wait for a criminal investigation.”

Kehrwald acknowledged that he has limited institutional knowledge because he has only been at the University since January, but said that these were provisions that were most important to the administration.

Failed or postponed bills:

• A bill to send the student fee review subcommittee’s recommendations for a $7.80 increase to the campus transportation fee to extend service west from campus along Clinton Parkway failed
• A bill to amend Senate rules and regulations regarding the student executive staff was postponed until the summer

Other Senate bills passed that approve funding for the following events or groups:

• The Potter Lake Centennial Celebration
• The Classics Club
• The African Students Association event: Sisimuka Afrika
• Compassion for All Animals event

 

Renew KU coalition hopes to bring beer back to Jaybowl

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Beer and bowling.

A little more than 10 years ago, the two activities used to be synonymous when one thought of Jaybowl.

Now, the Senate coalition Renew KU wants to bring the two activities back together.

Bringing beer back to the Jaybowl is one of Renew KU’s platform issues for the upcoming Student Senate elections.

Presidential candidate Casey Briner and vice-presidential candidate Josh Dean said a plaque in the Kansas Union with the phrase “With the fondest hopes beer will return to the Union” inspired the platform.

“It’d be a win-win for everybody,” Briner said. “And it’s also feasible.”

Jaybowl bowling lanes, located on level one of the Union, served alcohol until 1998 when an off-campus accident involving two students prompted then-chancellor Robert Hemenway to prohibit the sale of alcohol on campus.

A proposal to reinstate the serving of beer in Jaybowl and the Hawks Nest in 2006 passed the Memorial Corporation Board but was not approved by the University administration.

Briner, a junior from Flower Mound, Texas, said with a different provost and administration it is time to try again.

Renew KU will use the same proposal from 2006 for their request.

According to the proposal, the Jaybowl would provide service from 2 to 10 p.m daily with two to three standard brands of 3.2 beer on tap. Food would be served the entire time and students and customers would be limited to two drinks.

Students and customers 21 and older would wear wristbands and be brandished with fluorescent ink stamps to distinguish themselves from others when drinking.

Dean, a sophomore from Overland Park, said the drink limit, lack of pitchers and drink specials would discourage students from drinking in excess.

Burton Gepford, manager of Jaybowl, said his only concern with the sale of beer would be safety but added that that is with any establishment.

“It would definitely bring more traffic,” Gepford said. “Just need someone to advocate for it.”

Briner and Dean said Union administrators and board members appear receptive to the concept.

David Mucci, the director of the Union, said given the history of beer on campus the request is not an inappropriate one.

“I don’t think it’s unreasonable,” Mucci said. “But it would have to go through a process and the necessary levels of approval.”

Dean said neither him nor Briner have spoken with University administrators or provost Jeffrey Vitter yet because he doesn’t feel it is their place to do so until elected.

Justin Hitt, a junior from Shawnee and Renew KU campaign manager, said if approved beer could be served next year.

Briner said the service would also bring more students to the Union and make it a greater hub on campus. Briner said Renew KU is not trying to promote underage drinking but instead moderation and safety.

Dean said the image he thinks the University needs to portray is one of having a realistic and safe approach to alcohol.

“I don’t think its possible or realistic to portray no alcohol on campus,” Dean said. “What we can do is portray teaching students of age to drink in a responsible manner and removing the dangerous environment.”

Student Rights Committee keeps Court of Appeals

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The Student Rights Committee voted against legislation last night that would have disbanded the Student Senate Court of Appeals.

No members have direct relations to the Senate

The bill, which was proposed by Student Body President Michael Wade Smith and Senior Sen. Mark Pacey, would have restored judicial authority to the Student Executive Committee.

Smith said the Student Executive Committee’s makeup gives it a “deep and intimate knowledge of the rules and regulations because we created them.”

Opponents feared that if judicial power were restored to the Student Executive Committee and an issue were to arise against members of the executive staff, theoretically they could vote on it or even influence other voting members because of their position.

Felix Zacharias, a first-year graduate student from Wichita, prepared a negative speech to be read to committee members at the meeting because he could not be present.

In his statement, Zacharias said disbanding the court of appeals would be “unethical, unwise and undemocratic.”

In 2009 when Student Body president Adam McGonigle suspended treasurer Alex Porte, a quick-fix solution wasn’t readily available and resulted in the birth of the court of appeals. Non-traditional student senator Aaron Harris, a senior from Wyandotte and a photographer for The University Daily Kansan, said he had multiple concerns with giving the judicial authority back to the committee.

“I believe the court of appeals is a new body that has not been given the chance to evolve into what the designers wanted it to be,” Harris said.

The remaining Student Senate committee meetings of the semester will deal with nominations for upcoming Senate elections.