The only glow of light coming from Jeff Severin's office radiates from his computer screen.  With the window blinds open, Severin swiftly clicks through his e-mails before beginning our interview. 

"I hope you don't mind the lights," he says.  "I don't usually have them on."

Even on a rainy, overcast day like this one, Severin keeps his lights off.  Though he wouldn't ask professors to do the same in their classrooms, Severin nevertheless advocates energy conservation on campus by serving as director of KU's Center for Sustainability.

The center follows a national trend of promoting sustainability on college campuses, a trend that includes other Big 12 schools like Kansas State University and the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Formed under the Provost and opened in February 2007, the Center for Sustainability, led by Severin and a few other faculty members and students, brainstorms initiatives for "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future," Severin said.

These initiatives include eliminating paper waste in student computer labs and campus departments and creating a composting system that utilizes food waste from the dining halls.  A main goal of the Center, though, has been educating and working with students and student organizations.

Big 12 Sustainability Rankings (2008)

1. University of Colorado-Boulder

2. University of Texas

3. University of Missouri

4. Iowa State University

5. University of Oklahoma

6. University of Kansas

7. Baylor University

8. Texas A&M University

9. Kansas State University

10. University of Nebraska

11. Oklahoma State University

12. Texas Tech University

Source: Sustainability Endowments Institute           

"The efforts have been very collaborative on campus," said Severin.  "Ultimately, we want more student involvement."

The Campus Rain Garden is an example of such collaborations.  The self-sustaining rain garden, which began with a student's desire to design a course on storm water management, gathers water runoff from urban areas and filters it with the help of native plants, improving water quality and reducing water drain flow.

Several groups, including Emerging Builders, a student organization, and the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center, which provided the site for the rain garden, assisted the Center in completing this project.

In addition to the Campus Rain Garden, the Center's first completed project, the Center for Sustainability is also drafting an interdisciplinary course on sustainability.  Stacey White, the Center's director for academic programs, and a team of faculty and staff spent the past year creating a course that White hopes will be available by spring 2010.

"We all look at sustainability from different angles," White said of her fellow committee members.  "That's why we see the need for a multidisciplinary approach--one that looks at the economic, social and environmental impacts of sustainability--to create engaged learning."

Students and student groups have sought help from the Center for Sustainability when implementing sustainable ideas.  Tyler Enders, Leawood sophomore, approached the Center with his idea for what became From Blue to Green: Conserve KU, a "campaign to create a more environmentally sound, sustainable KU community," he said.

From Blue to Green, which encompasses over 20 campus organizations and departments, compiled several sustainable and "green" events that fell on and around Earth Day, including hosting a "Green Fair" in the Union and bringing several speakers to the University for a free lecture series.  Yet, these events are only one aspect of the movement's initiatives.

"From Blue to Green has two focuses: an individual focus and a university focus," Enders said.  "The second focus centers around university policies and what we can do to make them more sustainable."

Currently, From Blue to Green, with the assistance of the Center for Sustainability, is creating a "Revolving Green Fund," in which donors endow money to finance renovations to KU buildings in order to make them more energy efficient.

With these and other projects, KU joins other universities in the region and across the country in moving towards becoming more sustainable.

At the University of Missouri-Columbia, for instance, Steve Burdic, the campus's sustainability coordinator, oversees many of the university's green practices, which have been in place for quite some time.  

"We've been doing things on campus for over 100 years that are sustainable," Burdic said. "It's just nobody really knew what sustainability was."

These practices include making its own electricity, an initiative that saves the school roughly $300,000 in fuel costs and has cut energy consumption on campus by 12 percent, according to Burdic.

Like KU, students have also had a huge impact on sustainability efforts on campus.  Sustain Mizzou, a student-run organization that developed about five years ago from a defunct chapter of the Sierra Club, supports over a dozen projects every year.

"Five years ago, sustainability wasn't as big of a focus with students on campus," Patrick Margherio, Missouri junior and president of Sustain Mizzou, said.  "Now we've had a huge impact, both with students and the administration."

Univ. of Missouri student Ben Datema, former president of Sustain Mizzou, presents the Mizzou Dashboard project during the Missouri Energy Summit. Sustain Mizzou is an example of student involvement in campus sustainability at Mizzou.Source: mizzourwire.mizzou.edu

           

During the events hosted by From Blue to Green, Sustain Mizzou also hosted its own week-long event.  With fliers asking students to help save the planet "one thingamajig at a time," the organization challenged over 1,000 dormitory residents to reduce their energy use.  Sustain Mizzou has also made strides in reforming internal policy; recently, the group created and successfully lobbied for a "sustainability tax," a $1 student fee designed to support paid student positions and provide funds for the sustainability coordinator.  

 

Yet, although KU, Mizzou and other colleges across the country have established sustainability awareness on their campuses, evidence of statewide and national collaboration is scarce.

 

"We're open to further collaboration," Stacey White said.  "But I think most colleges are really concerned with what's going on on their own campuses right now.

 

And despite increased student awareness and involvement, both Enders and Margherio believe the efforts of their organizations have had an isolated focus so far.

 

"I hope that From Blue to Green expands at KU, but I don't necessarily foresee it inspiring and expanding to other schools," Enders said.

 

Kansas State University, however, approaches campus sustainability from a different focus.  Though K. State has initiated many programs similar to KU, including a composting and organic food pilot program in the dining center and reducing energy costs by converting outdoor lighting to LED fixtures, the university has paved the way in research and collaboration.

 

"We're different from other schools because we're a Kansas major land grant school," said Ben Champion, director of sustainability at K. State.  "This means that we're part of a system of dispersing information to other schools that was created to provide practical education to the common citizen."

 

In order to extend the reach of its information, K. State hosted a Sustainability Conference on January 23, 2009.  The conference included general sessions as well as specific track sessions that addressed issues like internal operations and student involvement.  People from several universities, including KU, participated in the conference, which Champion hopes will expand from year to year. 

 

"Next year we will host the conference again," Champion said.  "But our ultimate goal is to have it travel to different universities in the state, and possibly around the country, every year.

     

Though statewide and national efforts may be on KU's list of future goals, right now, Severin, who attended the conference at K. State, pushes for a more local focus. 

 

"Ideally, what I would like to see, is a community-wide effort, where we generate ideas and work together," Severin said.

               

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            Scott Glenn has played a lot of golf courses. As a golfer at Missouri State, he's played a lot of good ones, too. But he's particularly fond of one in Lawrence--city-owned and operated Eagle Bend Golf Course, 1250 E. 902^nd Road.

Eagle Bend Golf Course in Lawrence has been open to the public since 1998. It features an 18-hole course, two driving ranges and a fully stocked pro shop with concessions.

            "I've played it a few times, and what a great place to play," Glenn said. "It's really well run, well manicured. For a city-owned course, that's about as nice as I've played on."

            The course, which will get just over $1.1 million from the city, or .76 percent of the total city budget, in 2009, tries to pay that back with revenue from greens fees, concessions and a fully stocked pro shop. After the budget for the golf course dropped below $1 million in 2008, at $972,940, the budget for expenditures jumped back to seven figures, where it has been since 2002 .

            In a letter to the mayor and city commissioners, city manager David Corliss said that the golf course was expected to turn a profit in 2009.

            "While expenses and revenues are largely weather dependent, budgeted revenues are projected to meet or exceed projected expenditures at the golf course in 2009," Corliss wrote.

John Morris, golf course supervisor and head pro, said that the course has seen hardly any fluctuation in business despite the economic downturn.

"The economy has been, for the golf course, pretty much a non-issue," Morris said. "Our budget is pretty much okay, but as far as parks and rec and money from the state, that's a little different."

What some people see as an all but disastrous undertaking--commenters on the Lawrence Journal-World's Web site were calling for the golf course to be shut down to save city funds as recently as February--may actually be defying expectations.

Over the past five years, Eagle Bend has averaged a profit of $12,085. It's largest profit came in 2007, and it took its largest loss in 2004.

"The economic stuff hasn't really hurt us because we're able to keep our prices so low," Morris said. "Then because of that, whatever budget we get--well, we tend to make more than we spend."

The numbers from the last couple of years back Morris' claim. In 2007, the most recent year which full records are available, the golf course spent $765,414 of its budget of over $1 million, while their total receipts equaled over $920,000. It was the second time in as many years that the course has brought in a profit for the city--in 2006, Eagle Bend's receipts totaled over $1 million.

The opposition to the golf course is largely a product of the payment plan that started when the course was built. The city will be paying bond and interest until 2016, and Eagle Bend lost over $100,000 as recently as 2004.

"Man, it just seems like a waste of money," Wichita junior Andrew Noyes said. "We've already got a couple 18-hole courses, then if you want to play for cheap, just go to the Orchards. Why does the city have to have its own golf course?"

Noyes was referencing Lawrence Country Club, Alvamar Golf Course and Alvamar Orchards, a nine-hole, par-31 course that costs $8 per round.

"I like to golf, I just don't know why tax money should go to the upkeep of some course that I then have to pay to play on," Noyes said. "I'd rather just pony up a little extra to play Alvamar."

            Ernie Shaw, interim director of the Parks & Recreation Department, preached patience, however.             

"That course is making close to a million bucks every year. In 2006, we made money even with bond and interest," Shaw said. "Depending on the year and depending on the weather, because weather obviously plays such a big role, golf can be a very lucrative undertaking. It makes more money than any single program because it can generate its own revenue."

Eagle Bend produces its own revenue mostly through greens fees and its two driving ranges, one of which is shown here. A bucket of balls costs $3.50, $7 or $10.50, depending on the size.

Shaw said he believes the golf course is unfairly singled out in terms of putting it on the chopping block.

"I have no idea why people pick golf out over anything else, but it sure seems like they do," Shaw said. "I think people feel like golf, because of country clubs, is an elite sport only for the wealthy. But that's not what public golf is. We have golf lessons just like we have little league and swimming lessons and public parks."

That service will be around for a little while longer--even with opposition from the public. When proposed budget cuts were presented to city commissioners in January, closing Eagle Bend was not even an option.

            KU's Teams and Groups class made $539.46 at their charity event for the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence. The event, which was held at Jo Shmo's, did raise money, however, was not as successful as they hoped.

The event was held at Jo Shmo's

            "We were hoping the event would raise more money than last year, but that didn't happen. The event raised only about half the amount we wanted to make," said Jason Grebe, the class professor.

            The class attributed the low amount of money raised to the location of the event.

            "We didn't realize the event would be held only upstairs of Jo Shmo's. The event seemed more like a private party," said Jeremy McKee, a student involved with the event.

            Jo Shmo's was decorated with streamers, balloons, and paper Jayhawks colored by kids in the Boys and Girls Club. The event offered music, bocce ball, dollar drinks, and a raffle to promote donations. A few prizes were raffled off every half-hour throughout the event. The biggest prizes were a basketball and football signed by the KU basketball team and the KU football team.

            "I'm so excited I won the basketball! I'm going to give it to my mom for her birthday," said Collin Brahm, the raffle winner of the KU signed basketball.

            Bartender tips, cover charge, and raffle money was donated to the Boys and Girls Club. Although drink money was not donated to the club, a donation booth was set up to account for the loss of contribution from drinks.

            The fundraiser was initiated to make up for recent budget cuts at the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence. The budget cut affected art supplies, field trips, and other recreational items. However, with the money raised from the event, some of these items can be returned to the kids in the club.

            "The donation from the event will allow us to purchase more art supplies for the kids. We really appreciate what the class has done. It's nice to see these college students take time out of their schedules to help the Boys and Girls Club," said Erika Zimmerman, Development Coordinator at The Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence.

The football and basketball were signed by the KU teams.

            The event was held at Jo Shmo's on April 30, at 9:00 PM. Cover charge was lowered to six dollars from the initially decided ten dollars. The class couldn't get the kegs for the party because of miscommunication on the part of an employee arranging the event with the class. In addition, the employee was fired for not communicating about the event with the owner of Jo Shmo's.

 "My mouth just hit the ground," Franseen said.

 When Franseen, Professor of Geology, began his Ph.D research of carbonate systems in 1984, he never imagined he would find a system of rocks so special.

 "I have to pinch myself to believe that I lucked into this whole thing," Franseen said. "Everything we have researched; it is like an incredible dream."

 Areas with this degree of preservation are rare, Franseen said. That is the reason he keeps going back.

 "This is now a world famous area because the rocks are so beautifully exposed," Franseen said. "It resembles rocks covered by water. You almost feel like you are snorkeling around when you see this stuff. Everything is preserved."

Southeastern coast of Spain where Professor Franseen
has researched sedimetary systems for 25 years.
Photo: Evan Franseen

 "These exposed rocks are kind of like a natural classroom," said Bob Goldstein, Chair of the Geology Department, "allowing geologists to crawl around in."

 The oil industry currently drills offshore in the subsurface, where rocks rich in oil and natural gas are usually located. Because the rocks are underwater they are not easily accessible and a drill can only penetrate a tiny hole, called a reservoir, Goldstein said.

 "The rocks in Spain are actually exposed examples of reservoir rocks at the surface we can examine," Goldstein said. "These conclusions lead to finding a lot more oil and gas. Or at least finding it more easily."

 Today, many oil companies are drilling the most expensive oil and gas wells in the world. Huge reservoirs of oil and natural gas have been discovered in offshore Brazil, Goldstein said. The rocks are so deep in the water they could cost $80 to $120 million to drill. 

 "The rocks we are working on in Spain look very similar to the ones in the subsurface of Brazil," Goldstein said. "There is a lot of excitement in investing in the research we do."

 Franseen and Goldstein have been taking students and other researchers to the area for years. They also teach classes for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists in the area.

 "People from the oil industry go over there and they will learn the basic principles of how these carbonate systems work," Franseen said. "That is what the oil industry is interested in. We can model and learn about these systems, go where the oil is, and then apply the research. This will allow for advances in producing oil more efficiently."

 John Bova, Senior Research Associate at Exxon Mobil, first visited the area in 2005 through the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG). He now takes employees from Exxon Mobil to the area for research and training.

 "I thought the area could be used as an analog for different types of fields we have been looking at," Bova said. "In the geology world we look for outcrop analogs. We can walk up to them and understand geology, whereas when you drill a well you can't really see what is going on."

Three groups of geoscientists from Exxon Mobil have visited the area. Bova said his objective is to introduce them to different types of geology in order to make interpretations.

 "In addition to the training component we build a geologic model which will be published at this year's AAPG in Denver," Bova said. "In the model you can build a lot of different scenarios and simulate what positions to put wells in. That part will help us learn where to build subsurface fields."

Professor Franseen discusses his research in
Spain and how it will benefit the oil industry.

Although Franseen's research has helped the oil industry build models and conduct simulations, a huge drop in oil prices is not likely to occur.

 "It is not likely our research will directly affect global oil supply," Franseen said. "Oil is a finite product. There have been all kinds of predictions as to when it will run out."

 Franseen said that although the U.S. has made advances in energy research, an end to the energy crisis is still far in the future.

 "I think a lot of this green type stuff is attractive to all of us," Franseen said. "But we're just not there yet. I don't see anything yet that is our next alternative to fuel."

Natural gas is relatively clean and abundant, Franseen said, but despite advances in cleaner energy technology, the U.S. will still remain dependent on oil for many years.

 "Oil is in everything we use," Franseen said. "Petroleum has issues with the environment, but as bad as those things could be we are still going to be dependent. So we need to keep finding and attaining oil."

 Exxon Mobil will continue to conduct research in the area, but the company's agenda includes much more.

 "We have a lot of big, important things to work on," Bova said. "In the scheme of things this is not even on the radar. On the local perspective, however, it is significant. I hope that this research will be the first of its kind."

KU students observe ancient rock systems while on a trip
to Spain with Professor Franseen.
Photo: Evan Franseen

In addition to aiding oil companies, the research is also beneficial for students. When students travel to Spain for geological research they also get to work with oil companies.

 "We are training students in these projects," Franseen said. "Then they go and get tremendous positions that can influence a new company."

CJ Lipinksi, graduate student, first visited the site in fall of 2006. He conducted research of carbonate systems, sedimentology, and stratigraphy of the area. Now Lipinski works as a geoscientist for the Chevron Corporation.

"The oil industry has a huge demand for geologists, and Bob and Evan will lead you quite strongly," Lipinski said. "I get to use all the science I learned."

 The research Franseen, Goldstein, Lipinski, and many others have done will enable the oil industry to simplify models to better explore oil, Lipinski said. The site in Spain is a unique area for research and exploration.

"What is special about this area is that it is scaled down," Lipinski said. "You can visit a lot of different carbonate environments in a smaller area."

The project has received funding from the National Science Foundation, various oil companies, and recently a $250,000 grant from Exxon Mobil. The funding and support will allow Franseen to continue influencing both the oil industry and students through his research.

"What keeps us going is the hope that our work will have an impact," Franseen said.

                For many the deals were just a sign that gas prices were too high. For others though, the low sport utility vehicle and truck prices were too good to pass up. Robert Klinge, a contractor from Overland Park, thought that when he decided to buy his new Ford F-150. It was November of last year, and Klinge saved $10,000 dollars buying at a time when dealers were desperate to get rid of their inventory.

Klinge saved around $10,000 on an F-150 similar to this last year.

A year ago this summer gas prices in Kansas hit the highest they had ever been, topping $4 a gallon. People across the country stopped buying SUV and large trucks in favor of more fuel efficient imports and alternative energy hybrids. Car dealers watched as their lots filled up with gas-sucking behemoths that nobody wanted, and prices hit rock bottom.

                Klinge was just one of many Americans taking advantage of the low prices, but a majority of people were biding their time, saving their money or investing in smaller more fuel efficient cars.

Source: http://dev.cardata.ca/

                Since the decline of gas prices after the summer of 2008, the worries that people harbored towards SUVs and trucks have decreased as demand and the price go back up. Cars that had seen prices drop into the $35,000 range in 2008 are back up to nearly $50,000 dollars.

In Lawrence, car dealers are experiencing this same trend. According to Kevin Storm, finance manager of Bossier Nissan, 2300 W. 29th Terrace, Lawrence, Kan., prices are mainly up on domestic vehicles such as Ford and GM. Large import vehicles such as Nissan and Toyota have not seen their prices or demand increase to the levels that their domestic counterparts have.

Despite the increase in SUV sales, car companies are still suffering difficulties in the weak economy. A large portion of car companies profits came from SUV sales, and with the decline of sales from high gas prices in 2008 and the weak economy in 2009, car companies will need more than this increase in sales to keep themselves afloat.

Allen Jaskiewicz of Dale Willey Automotive, 2840 Iowa Street, says that used vehicles are very difficult to find right now. With the present state of economy, used cars have a much higher demand than new cars. And since fewer people are buying new cars, there are no used cars being traded in. That demand is driving the prices up.

Dealers across the country were desperately trying to sell the unwanted vehicles. Many were offering large cash rebates, great financing options, buy one get one free options for certain vehicles, and one dealer in Kansas City, Mo. Was offering buyers a certificate for a free semi-automatic handgun.

According to Edmunds.com, a new and used car listing database, F-150s are selling for prices between $25,000 to $30,000 dollars. Many people were reluctant to dish out the money for a car last summer, but for people like Klinge, the risk may have paid off.

            KU could be joining the technological tanks of Yale, MIT, Notre Dame and USC Berkeley if Brylie Oxley has his way.

For the past six months, Oxley, Overland Park junior, has been researching the use of OpenCourseWare, a program that allows universities to post their courses- lectures, syllabi and, in some cases, textbooks- online for free to the public, and hopes to bring it to KU.

            "We need a universally educated society," Oxley said. "We can't do that with what we have now."

            Over 200 universities have adopted programs like OpenCourseWare and are now making their curriculums available to all people for free.           

            Open educational resources like OpenCourseWare allow universities to publish course materials online with no cost to the user, which could be anyone and not just students who go to that university. This material would include syllabi, notes, lectures and even textbooks in cases where there are no copyright infringements. Professors are also able to publish their own textbooks.

MIT was one of the first universities in the nation to latch onto the idea of free online course materials. As the new millennium dawned, MIT wanted to explore the connection between its education programs and the Internet. In 2000, the faculty recommended OpenCourseWare to MIT and since then has published 1890 courses online that are free and open to the public.

Those who use these free online courses from a university do not earn a degree. However, studies at MIT have shown that people are more likely to attend the Institution after looking at its curriculum first. Thirty-two percent of freshmen surveyed at MIT in 2005 said they were influenced by OCW to attend MIT. In addition, 92 percent of undergraduate students and 82 percent of graduate students at the college use OCW to enhance their learning experience. 

 
Yale's Website offers easy access to multiple courses in a variety of subjects

"By all measures we think OCW has been a tremendous success," said Cecelia d'Oliveira, Executive Director of OCW at MIT. "OCW showcases MIT's curriculum, strengthens the Institute's reputation, and promotes international engagement."

            Though professors are not required to use this program if a university were to adopt it, Oxley pointed out the benefits for professors. First of all, it would increase the knowledge and evolution of the curriculum, he said, thus giving the professor more recognition for his or her work across the globe.

            According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Website, "The institutions and individuals creating and publishing these resources are also rewarded through increased status and visibility, and the inevitable increase in demand for their services and products."

The main objection to the program is its cost, which varies from university to university. MIT runs its OCW program at $3.5 million a year, though d'Oliveira said that other schools can operate at a lower cost depending on what the school wants to incorporate into its program. Oxley also said that it can be run by anyone- students, TAs and professors.

            "It's a very flexible initiative," Oxley said. "It's showing positive proof of our communications technology."

More important to Oxley, however, having these courses available embraces the idea that all knowledge is universal and all people have a right to an education despite their financial or economic situation.

            "I believe that education is essential for a free society and a participatory democracy," Oxley said. "It's very important that as many people have that access to education as possible. It presents to me a fundamental aspect of the democracy we strive for in this society."

            Oxley said his goal right now is to research the program more before trying to get it started on a larger scale. He is even starting his own student group to continue raising awareness for the program.

            "It's already kind of happening at KU," he said. "I am also encouraged that on campus there is already awareness of, and momentum toward, liberated educational assets."

            Oxley, who is a Spanish major, approached several Student Senate groups during this semester's student elections to raise awareness for his cause and found a friend in the Libertarian group Students of Liberty, which was running for Senate at the time.

            "It's right up our alley," Peter Northcott, a member of Students of Liberty, said.

            Though the group was defeated on election day, Students of Liberty is still interested in the cause.

            "It's the evolution of technology," Northcott said. "KU might as well get on it."

            On an administrative level, adopting free online course at KU has been tough.

            "I am familiar with OpenCourseWare as an online storage system for class materials, but am not aware of any plans to adopt it for widespread use here at KU," said Susan Zvacek. Director of Instructional Development and Support at KU. "Although many systems like OpenCourseWare are presented as a way to offer 'courses' to the public, they are predominantly collections of materials; if this is what constitutes a course, the library has many of them already available for those who are motivated to learn on their own."

            Despite the struggle, Oxley is pushing forward with his cause.

            "It's a pretty uphill process," he said. "But it at least plants a seed."             

Linda Klinker, chair of Cans for the Community, a local non-profit organization that recycles aluminum containers and giving the proceeds to other Douglas County non-profits for funding, said that every month this year's can collection amount has surpassed last year's.  Klinker said that Cans for the Community collects until it raises $1,000 and gives it to an organization.  She said that this amount has become increasingly harder to reach with the drop in aluminum pricing.

"The thing that's hurting us is that aluminum dropped to 25 cents a pound from 50 cents a pound last year," Klinker said.  "We have to collect 4,000 pounds of cans.  Our business is steady, we're collecting more cans, but we're making less money."

Jim Tuch, owner of Home Recycling Service, a local curbside recycling company, said he was in a similar situation as Cans for the Community.  Tuch said that his business had been steady, and that people were continuing a strong effort to recycle.  He has heard that some recycling companies have had to resort to stopping pick-up for certain types of recyclable goods because they weren't turning enough revenue.  However, Tuch said he has not had to do that yet.

            "This summer program has been going on for about ten years now, but for this area it is so rare and it is still a new idea even for most places nation-wide, I just think it is so important to allow children to have experiences in the fine arts," said Patrick Kelly, the Lawrence Public School fine arts director.

Since the Lawrence school board cut nearly $1 million from the district's budget, programs are having to find new ways to keep the program going. "Since the summer program does have a fee, we have been fortunate enough to keep it running for the last ten years or so, but it is unfortunate that we have to raise the price this year for the first time," said Kelly.

            Several classes take place in the summer for the children to extend their music into the summer. They begin on June 1 and go through June 26 concluding with a concert. The classes are offered exclusively to students already in junior high music, or students who plan to join next school year. The Novice Class is the class in which students entering the sixth grade can have a hands on experience to decide what instrument suits them best. They are assisted by a member of the professional staff to make sure the instrument chosen is an appropriate fit for the student.  For the students who have already been active in band, choir, or orchestra, the summer music staff works with the students to maximize their musical growth.  The Lawrence Public Schools offer these summer sessions for $60. This is an increase from the previous $50 for summer sessions.

            The summer enrollment in the music program has been increasing steadily every year and with the price increase, instructors and coordinators are concerned that the enrollment will decrease this summer. "It is a great opportunity, I would just hate to see kids not participating because it is going to cost ten extra dollars this year. It doesn't seem like a lot but to some families that could mean no summer classes," said Scott Robison, Novice Class instructor.

Students are able to try out every instrument until they find one that suits them best.
Source: Patrick Kelly

            The mission for the National Organization for Music Education is to advance music education by encouraging young people to study and play music. Kelly said that with all the budget cuts, one of the first things to go would be the summer music program. The staff and Kelly work hard to maintain the music program that gives students opportunities not all schools offer.

            The staff made up of three instructors from the high school and junior high music level work to expand the students skill level. Having time for one on one instruction with the students is something that is not possible during the school year.

            "It's was really cool having an instructor sit with me until I decided what instrument I really wanted, and I know this summer I will get time to let them hear me and how much I have improved," said Mason Irick, 7^th grader.

Instructors are concerned the enrollment will decrease with this year's price change.
Source: Lawrence Extended School Program

                        After the month long class is over, parents and students meet with the instructors to discuss a choice for the student's instrument in the Novice Class. For students in the jazz band, choir, concert band and orchestra, there is a concert put on for parents and Lawrence residents.

            "The students improve so much over the summer it is great to let them show off their hard work.  This program is something Lawrence schools and residents should be proud of," said Amanda Petersen, summer band instructor.

            Since the Extended School Year Music Program is such a new idea nationally, the number of students enrolling in the summer program continues to increase every year. Petersen said parents and students are starting to see that this program is something that is beneficial to the students and it is a program that is going to last.

            "My son was excited to do the program last summer because he really wanted to be in band in junior high, but this summer his friends are doing the program too, so I think it is something that is finally starting to catch on to other parents and students," said Irick.

            With the summer music program, Lawrence Public Schools are offering an opportunity not only for students to develop their musical skills, but to increase the number of students in general who take part in summer classes.

            "I think it is great to see how many students we have signing up for any type of summer classes, it shows they have a desire to learn and it is our job to make sure they have the opportunity to learn," said Kelly.

The Delta Tau Delta signs stay lit through the night at the foothills of campus. The Delts reestablished themselves at KU this fall and moved into the house previously owned by the TKE fraternity.

It was an overcast morning in April when the men of Delta Tau Delta arrived at the Eagle Bend Golf Course in west Lawrence. This particular fraternity reestablished themselves on campus in the fall, which made this particular fundraiser vital to their survival among the 19 other fraternities at KU. They sat in the parking lot and watched cars of alumni trickle in. Breck Mundis, Leawood senior remembers the time leading up to the event as stressful.

"We feared the weather and the economic situation would discourage donators from coming," Mundis said. "But, boy were we wrong."

Thirty minutes before the golf tournament was to begin more than half the expected number of alumni had arrived ready to play, which also meant to ready and willing to pay their entry fee. Their reestablishment caused a lot of money issues for the men of Delta Tau Delta, especially when it came to remodeling their new home, which was previously owned, by the Tau Kappa Epsilon, TKE, fraternity. Mundis estimated the fraternity's goal for the year was to raise $40,000. At the golf tournament alone they raised $30,000 and through other fundraising efforts and alumni support, the fraternity was able to raise a total of $45,000.

"We were really fortunate to have great alumni support in this year of economic turmoil," said Mundis. "Which goes to show that the bond of brotherhood is strong through the good times and the bad."

The Greek community at KU also had success at the annual Rock Chalk Revue fundraiser. RCR is a 60-year-old tradition at KU. Rock Chalk Revue is a university-wide philanthropy that raises money each year for the Douglas County United Way. Fraternities and sororities team up to write, produce, and perform 20-minute original musicals, complete with costumes and scenery. The five best shows are chosen and presented in the Rock Chalk Revue. Awards are presented on the final evening of Rock Chalk to the chapters or organizations that have contributed the most community service hours.

In honor of the 60th anniversary, the directors set the goal at an all time high of $60,000. Money is raised through ticket costs for the three night show and t-shirt sales for the annual "Night at the K," where sororities and fraternities attend a Royals game with their chosen Rock Chalk partners. Through support from all 32 chapters at KU, they met that goal, making it the most raised money in RCR history.

Juan Izaguirre, Interim Program Director for Greek Life and Leadership Programs at KU, was impressed with the total amount of money raised and said the Greek community at KU has tried not to let the economy affect their efforts.

"Problems with housing don't go away just because the economy is bad," said Izaguirre. "We do all that we are able to help, but these are the times to really seek out alumni help."

According to Association of Fundraising Professionals, research indicates that in challenging economic times individuals often begin to limit the number of groups/causes that they support. Most often people select a core group of organizations with whom they've had the longest or most meaningful relationship.

Pennington & Co., 501 Gateway Drive, is a full-service fundraising, consulting, and public relations firm. Since its start in 1993, Pennington has become a recognized leader in fraternity and sorority fundraising. They have helped raise more than $169 million in support of Greek life, working with 47 international fraternities on 85 campuses. Twenty-one chapters at KU have consulted Pennington for help with fundraising efforts.

Patrick Alderdice, president of Pennington & Co., said alumni relations are key to a chapter's success. The percentage of alumni with whom he has visited, ranked their chapter housing campaign as a medium to high priority and one of every three rank it as a top priority.

"Alumni continue to acknowledge that they value their fraternity membership," said Alderdice. "They recognize the impact that living in the chapter house had on their college experience and they want to continue that for others as much as they can."

Chapter alumni are the first people Pennington turns to when seeking donations for a fraternity or sorority fundraising efforts. In 2007, Pennington helped Greek communities raise $26 million and in 2008, they raised $26.5 million. This proves Greeks are still making significant donations.

Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority has also had positive fundraising results in this tough economy. In their annual Kappa Klassic golf tournament this spring, the women of Kappa Kappa Gamma were able to raise just over $6,000 which was more than they were able to raise in years past.

"Our efforts haven't changed much," said Caroline Goehausen, Leawood junior and president of Kappa Kappa Gamma. "Except for having to be more persistent with sponsors, by asking for support even after they told us no."

Fundraising efforts at Sigma Alpha Epsilon aren't changing much either due to consistent success in the past. Through alumni donations, parent's weekend activities and Allen Fieldhouse clean-up sessions, the fraternity's projected fundraising goal has been continuously met. There has not been an increase in donations, but there has been a consistency. Parents weekend alone brings in $2,000-$3,000 each year.

"I think people are more willing to give to places that they are have the deepest ties to," said Steven King, Lawrence senior and SAE member. "So, it's important for us to reach out to those people and then use them as examples to others."

Even legislators in Washington are putting forth an effort to help the Greek community make donating easier and more affordable. According to the Capital Fraternal Caucus website, the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act (CHIA) would allow fraternity and sorority foundations to make tax-deductible financial contributions for infrastructure improvements to meeting and dining areas in chapter houses in the same way that the tax code currently allows colleges and universities to use tax-deductible contributions to improve university-owned student housing on campus. This bill would make it substantially easier for Greeks nationwide to raise the money needed to install improvements in chapter housing, expand housing capacity, and otherwise modernize the housing provided to Greek students.

On April 13, 2009, the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act secured 210 sponsors in the house and 40 sponsors in the Senate. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, House Representative Jennifer Cook and Senator Pat Roberts sponsored this bill.

Although the economy is taking its toll on people and businesses around the world, the Greek community at KU has stayed strong as a whole this year. Some chapters are hiring fundraising consultants such as Pennington, but overall fundraising efforts have been received well by the students at KU and alumni have been showing their support. The economy has forced tighter budgeting within chapters, but needed improvements don't disappear when the economy declines.

"I am not certain that we have ever experienced an "ideal" time to fundraise," said Patrick Alderdice. "But the need for these projects has never been stronger."

In an effort to curb crimes such as this, some are taking steps to boost student security in on-campus residences.

Grace Pearson Scholarship Hall is the latest campus housing building to receive a card access system. The system is being implemented across Student Housing in order to improve student security.

The department sees the full use of card access in campus residences as a huge step to ensuring student protection.

The installation of the card system across the entire department began in the residence halls in 2007, said Jennifer Wamelink, Associate Director for Residence Life. Before the card system, the residence halls were open 24 hours and unlocked for anyone to enter.

After card access was implemented on Daisy Hill, the system was put in Jayhawk Towers before installation in the scholarship hall community.

The widespread use of the card access system is one of many steps that the University has taken to ensure student safety. In addition, security is provided at the residence halls from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., and all Student Housing guests are required to be escorted by a resident.

"KU is a safe place, but of course in a community as large as we are, things still happen," Wamelink said. "Given the changes in climate, we knew could provide a safer environment for students."

By far the most common type of crime on campus is theft. According to KU public safety office statistics, there were 152 reported cases of theft in campus buildings in 2008, a jump from 124 the year before.

"Most theft is unattended property," said Sergeant James Anguiano with the KU Office of Public Safety. "If you leave the door unlocked, it only takes a couple minutes for someone to get in and out."

Burglary in campus buildings also increased, from 65 cases in 2007 to 82 in 2008.

Even with this evidence, on-campus residents still feel that the card access system contributes to safety.

"I wouldn't feel as comfortable if just anyone could walk into the dorms," said Meghan Park, Overland Park freshman, who lives in Templin Hall. "Sure the cards are annoying to deal with but they're not unreasonable."

Those in the handful of scholarship halls that have yet to get the system are also in favor of card access.

"I would feel safer with it," said Kristen Menz, Kinderhook, Ill. freshman, who lives in Rieger Scholarship Hall. "Some girls don't exactly follow our guest policy and it's creepy when random guys are walking around by themselves."

Door code systems, such as this one, are being phased out by Student Housing. Non-residents using the codes to enter halls has some students worried.

"With the code someone lets it slip and a non-resident uses it to get in to see a friend and then we have to change it," Menz said.

Even with things like the card system designed to reduce crime, KU officials still warn students to take precautions whenever possible. Both the Public Safety Office and the Department of Student Housing emphasize personal student responsibility.

Wamelink says the best thing students can do to protect themselves is to simply lock their door - both when they are in their room and out of the building.

"I would encourage students to lock the door, be aware of surroundings, and make good choices about who to bring in the building," she said.

"It's very rare to have an incident occur to a student that is unknown to them."

Wamelink's attitude echoes the sentiments of the Public Safety Office.

"You may know your neighbors," Anguiano said. "But not every student comes from a good background."

While theft will continue to occur, simple steps like locking doors and hiding valuables can alleviate many of the problems with people having things stolen right from their own room.

"We obviously can't stop all theft," Anguano said. "But if we can curb it that would be satisfactory.

"We just try to re-educate young people. You are living on your own now; you are responsible for your stuff."

The KU Office of Public Safety is required by law to provide statistics concerning on-campus crime. This chart displays the crimes reported in on-campus residence halls from 2005-2007. For more information about KU Public Safety, visit their website.

Theft in campus buildings has generally trended downward since 1998. However, recent peaks in the number of theft cases reported is evidence that the card access system is not as successful as hoped.

Sandra, now up for adoption at the local Lawrence Humane Society, is suffering the same fate as many puppies in the state of Kansas. Unfortunately, it is only getting worse. Many breeders, unable to sell dogs, are turning them in to the Kansas Animal Health Department. The Health Department then has the responsibility of distributing the dogs throughout to different Kansas Shelters.
    
"The department is already facing many cases of puppy mill busts throughout Kansas, add breeders not able to sell dogs and we have an overcrowded shelter," Robin-Haller Evans, Office Manager of the Lawrence Humane Society said.
    
In fact, the number of dogs turned into the shelters is alarming. The Lawrence Humane Society is at maximum capacity with 241 dogs, sometimes three to a cage. Out of the 241 dogs 55 are purebreds, the number increasing 40 percent since last July. The amount of dogs taken in the state of Kansas alone has increased over 50 percent, or going from the normal average of 500 dogs per year to 1,223 dogs taken since January. Debra Duncan, Director of Animal Facilities Inspection Program, has been working harder than ever to get these dogs good homes.
    
"Many of the breeders agree to just give up animals to the state. It is not uncommon anymore for state-wide breeders to give up the dogs. We are seeing all different types of animals- Labs, Labrodoodles, Poodles, and it is only getting worse."

Sandra, a pruebred German Short-haired Pointer waits to be adopted

Example of a puppy mill taken from Google