By Alicia Banister on July 28, 2009 11:33 AM
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Across
the country, college athletic departments make major cuts to their programs. Budget cuts
force many big name schools to cut different sports teams out. Although the
athletic department at The University of Kansas plans to cut around 5 percent of
the budget, donations cushion this financial scissor.
"Fans and alumni care very much
about athletics. This year there was actually an increase in donations. Despite
this we feel we should be cautious and plan ahead," Marchiony said.
Ways athletic departments attempt staying afloat with the recession:
Texas A&M cut 17 employees
IndianaState axed two sports
completely
UNLV started a daytime practice policy in order
to reduce lighting costs
Cincinnati
decided to eliminate several player scholarships
Jim Marchiony, Associate
Athletics Director for external affairs said the alumni and donor contributions
at KU help budget problems. The KU athletic department's budget for purchasing
goods for construction jumped $30 million more than the previous year.
While other
schools resort to cutting sports teams entirely, KU has yet to resort to
anything this drastic. Several schools cut back on expenses to aid in padding
the budget in any way possible. KU receiving more donations than last year
allows the current construction projects to continue. Marchiony said the first
floor of Allen Fieldhouse, a basketball practice facility for both the men and women's
basketball teams and Wagnon Student Athlete are a few of the construction
projects going on right now.
Construction continues around campus for the athletic department
Only 2 percent of
the athletic department's budget comes from university sources according to
Marchiony. This leaves 98 percent of the department's budget to alumni and
willing donors. Brandon Lytle, KU graduate attributes the increase in donations
this year to the success of the department as a whole.
"The
more success that each of the programs has individually, the more that people
are willing to invest," Lytle said. "Kansas
just happens to have great leadership, great coaches, great timing and most
important of all, and an amazing and wealthy alumni base."
A
news release on KU's website discusses the cuts the academic departments face
for the coming school year. The athletic department plans on cutting close to 5
percent of its budget. The academic departments together cut 12 percent, almost
$18 million. Lytle thinks budget cuts between the two departments don't need to
reflect each other.
"These
are two different entities within the university and should be treated so.
Despite this, each of these departments of the university work best when both
are thriving," Lytle said.
The
department plans on adding more facilities within the next few years. Marchiony
said the big project the department is currently raising money for is an Olympic
village including a new track, softball field and soccer fields. Lytle said
these additions are necessary to the success of the department.
"If
the department is staying stagnant then it will fall behind the curve. Great
leaders and coaches understand that in order to increase success, it is
important to increase funding and facilities constantly," Lytle said.
KU
may follow the national trend of budget cuts to their athletic department, but
thanks to donors and alumni, the department's ability to offer new facilities remain
in tact, for now.
By Alicia Banister on July 28, 2009 4:11 AM
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Kasey Bowden stands at the top of a mountain overlooking all of Kiserian, Kenya. Bowden spent seven weeks in Kiserian working in a clinic where she ran a vaccination clinic and worked with local pregnant women. Photo Submitted by Kasey Bowden.
Kasey Bowden stands at the top of a mountain overlooking all of Kiserian, Kenya. Bowden spent seven weeks in Kiserian working in a clinic where she ran a vaccination clinic and worked with local pregnant women. Photo Submitted by Kasey Bowden.
Kasey Bowden sits at a table calmly in a plain red t-shirt
and blue shorts. On the outside she looks like a college student relaxing for
the day. After a typical workout and lunch in Lawrence
with an old professor she checks facebook diligently. Friends at KU Medical
Center in Kansas City, Mo.
know Bowden as the nursing student who earned a 4.0 and free schooling through
her commitment to academics. In Kiserian, Kenya
the natives know her as "Muzungu."
Bowden's initial interest in nursing came from family. Her
grandmother, who died from lung cancer, spent years working as a nurse for the
army. Bowden would listen to stories from her grandmother's nursing days while
she took care of her. When Bowden realized she could travel and help the
underserved populations through nursing at the same time the profession stuck.
"It seemed like the perfect career for me," Bowden
said.
Mary Bowden, Kasey's mother agreed. She remembers Kasey mentioning
nursing at 10 years old. Mary already witnessed Kasey making a great nurse
after watching her take care of her grandmother when she was diagnosed with
cancer.
"She stepped up when she was needed in a very difficult
situation. I think that situation definitely had an effect on her," Mary said.
Growing up Bowden traveled to different places with her
family. Kasey's mother remembers her daughter's way of overcoming the obstacles
that travels presented. The family traveled all over the United
States together where they met several
obstacles along the way. Through these, Kasey created new memories through
stories.
"When we went white water rafting and she went flying
out of the raft and we hauled her back in, cold and kind of scared, the first
thing she said was, 'Well, now I have a Colorado story,'" Mary said.
Bowden learned at an early age to not let obstacles ruin her
travels; a trait that helped her when interests in HIV and AIDS projects lead
her to Kenya.
Bowden worked closely with several of these organizations which sparked her
interest in International medicine.
Inside Kiserian, Kenya,
located in the slums of Africa, lies a Catholic Clinic
where trained volunteers perform medical miracles. Bowden arrived at the clinic
for seven-weeks of culture shock. In Kiserian. children run around the rough
terrain barefoot and malnourished. For these kids seeing a white girl is a
rarity. Bowden remembers crowds of children lining the streets that comprised
the 45 minute walk she traveled to reach the clinic.
"It's really scary because you realize how much you stick
out. In the places I was staying I was literally the only white person they had
ever seen," Bowden said. "The things I saw on a daily basis were constantly
shocking. It was a harsh realization of what limits you have as a nurse no
matter where you are from."
Bowden grew up in Topeka,
miles away from Kenya.
Growing up, the only 'malnourishment' she experienced: too many glasses of
Sunny Delight. Unlike children in Kiserian she wore shoes when playing outside
and never dealt with "street justice."
Bowden's upbringing in a household where one parent is an
engineer and the other with a masters in math, aided in her work ethic. Bowden
balanced work, clinicals and volunteer work all throughout her years in college
and maintaining a 4.0 GPA. None of that work prepared Bowden for the way the
judicial system works in Kenya.
Bowden witnessed street justice while in Kenya.
Unlike the United States,
Kiserian law doesn't establish any rule regarding a person's innocence until
proven guilty. Instead, the accused person is lynched and stoned by the
citizens that live in Kiserian when anyone says they have committed a crime.
Bowden experienced this rule first hand when a road rage incident turned horribly
wrong.
A gun slams against the window of the car Bowden is
traveling in. The gunman grabs the driver of the car and throws him to the
ground moments before grabbing Bowden. The citizens all crowd around, watching the
white girls' altercation with the police. The men throw Bowden and the people
traveling with her in the back of a police van. As the police question one of
the passengers at gunpoint, the crowd starts yelling "Give us one more."
The men then grab Bowden for questioning. A gun rests on the
back of her skull while ideas race violently through her head. Her biggest
concern: the police tossing her to the crowd for lynching.
The police then took all of passengers to their station
where they explained that the road rage incident resulted in the other driver
claiming their car contained guns. Kiserian law states only police are allowed
to have guns in their possession. Bowden also received frightening details at
the station regarding the incident.
"They told us the only reason that they didn't have shooting
orders against us was because they knew that there was a white girl in the front
seat of the car and assumed I might be a hostage or kidnapped," Bowden said.
After the police realized that Bowden and the other
passengers didn't have guns they apologized with no emotion and let them go.
Situations like this happen, legally, far too often in Kenya.
Even with this negative experience, Bowden still plans on
moving to a third world country after attending Georgetown
for graduate school. She says it's more than just a want to return to Africa
and practically a necessity.
"I feel compelled to go back. I feel like I have to go back,
almost. I want to be a part of bettering the lives or the health provisions for
the people in Africa," Bowden said.
Bowden's future includes traveling to aid third world
countries that need help with international healthcare. Mary attributes Kasey's
personality for the top reason Kasey makes a successful nurse and sees
international healthcare in Kasey's future.
"Her days will have purpose and meaning, but there will also
be room for fun, to enjoy the good things in life," Mary said.
By Alicia Banister on July 16, 2009 12:53 AM
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Horizon 2020 may expand the boundaries of rural tourism starting as early as this coming year. Developers approached individuals within Horizon 2020, the group responsible for setting the guidelines for land use in the city of Lawrence and the Douglas County, about changing the guidelines on rural areas. Dan Warner, long-range planner for the city of Lawrence is in charge of amending the chapters within the group that could change rural tourism in the county.
"Rural tourism is a growing industry and it doesn't make sense that those conference facilities only be at the county lakes they can be elsewhere in the county," Warner said.
Horizon 2020, the guidelines that dictate land usage for the city of Lawrence and Douglas County started in 1996. These guidelines provide a composition plan for the present and future communities to look at for reference for the usage of the land in these areas.
The mission statement from their online document states, "Horizon 2020 is the citizen-driven process of creating a plan to provide policy and strategic direction to guide Lawrence/Douglas County to the year 2020."
Lawrence rural areas may see a boom in tourism...and traffic
Changes with Time
Since its start in 1998, the Horizon 2020 plan amendments have adjusted the different guidelines regarding land. This year, the chapters undergoing amendments are growth management and commercial with the focus on rural tourism. The amendments taking place are attempting to change the guidelines regarding where rural tourism is allowed within the county.
The issue arises from these amendments. Areas that are rural in nature and are not overpopulated with commercial aspects may no longer remain rural. With the expansion of rural tourism, the elimination of rural boundaries in the county could cause a shift in the rural communities.
Urban sprawl is a concern that arises from this amendment for Frank Lindemann. Lindemann graduated from KU with masters in Architecture and Urban Planning and sees the negative aspects to expanding the limitations on rural tourism land usage.
Horizon 2020 is amending a chapter on rural tourism
"Building commercial developments out there I don't believe is a correct move," Lindemann said, "It would mean more cars and more pollution traveling into the rural environment."
Whether the negative affects would outweigh the positive that may come from this initiative is still up for debate. Mixed feelings on the amendments linger within the individuals involved with Horizon 2020 also. How does one judge if revenue for the county outweighs something that is potentially negative to the environment of rural areas?
"The rural area is supposed to be rural; rural in nature," Warner said. "The comp plan won't really provide a benefit, but it opens the doors for some expanded tourism in the county."
Why change anything about the plan?
When developers or citizens approach individuals who work on Horizon 2020, the member listens to these concerns or requests and reacts accordingly. Developers sparked the amendments to the growth and commercial chapters relating to rural tourism. These amendments also allow for an easier transition for rezoning within the city as Warner explains.
"Generally rezoning tends to comply with the comp plan. Keeping things up to date in the comp plan is important. It's a lot easier when you get to the city commissioner and the comp plan is up to date there's less conflict," Warner said.
Whether the changes made to rural tourism restrictions benefit or hurt the county is the question at hand. If the plan benefits the county or not amendments to the plan are in process already. Changes, good or bad, to the plan go into affect after amendments are finalized within this year, which Lindemann fears.
"I fear with rural tourism we will continue to destroy our land and ruin opportunities of harvesting food and increasing pollution for our community in rural areas," Lindemann said.
By Alicia Banister on July 1, 2009 10:07 PM
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The Unemployment rate in Lawrence is the highest it has been since 2002. Source: The U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor and Statistics
The Upside to Downsizing a Company and Boosting Moral by: Alicia Banister
Lori Carnahan, Human Resources Manager for the city of Lawrence, desk is covered with stacks of papers. There are little piles of work lying all around. This leaves her wishing she could offer better services to the entire organization, if it were not for the vacant spot within the HR department that won't be filled for a while.
The Recession forced the city to leave several positions vacant in order to cut back on costs. This allowed enough wiggle room in the budget to let all current staff keep their jobs.
However leaving positions vacant forces staff members to take on a bigger workload.
"It has affected our ability to offer services and so I believe we would be able to offer a more well rounded human resources service to the organization. We support the rest of the organization so it impacts our ability to support the rest of the organization. We're getting by. But there are things we are deciding not to do. "
With companies eliminating job opportunities and laying off current workers it would seem impossible to boost the moral of staffs. According to the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce website, www.lawerencechamber.com, the unemployment rate is around 6 percent. Lawrence has the lowest number of people employed in seven years. Companies are cutting back positions, benefits and decreasing raises all at the same time. Among all of the downsizing, it seems workers would have nothing positive to boost their spirits with the exception of knowing that they are still employed.
The Unemployment rate in Lawrence is the highest it has been since 2002. Source: The U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor and Statistics
The Hidden Benefits
Since companies are cutting back on almost all services and staffing during this recession, some are trying to include hidden benefits.
These benefits won't get a staff member cheaper co-pay during doctor visits or extra cash come bonus time but they may feed you or allow an escape from a desk for the afternoon.
"We try and do things periodically to help relieve stress. Tomorrow we are doing a stress relief luncheon. We've had some other activities we've done but we've now focused them on stress relief. The city manager has been really nice...every now and then we've obtained or purchased football tickets. I think the city purchases some and he's used those as thank you gifts to employees. Just a few"
SE2 a financial based company in Topeka tried using video games to boost company moral.
After laying off twelve percent of their company in January, upper management worked on different activities to try to boost spirits at the workplace.
"We are concerned about moral. We are doing small things for the staff. We are offering more outlets for example we just did a Wii bowling tournament. The low turnover rate indicates that it is working so far," Eric Rea, president of SE2 said.
There are also benefits to working overtime offered to those individuals who work for the city of Lawrence.
Carnahan mentioned offering comp time to the employees in her office directly.
"We are allowed in government to use something called comp. time., which means if the employee doesn't want to take overtime for it they can take an hour and a half time off later for every hour worked. We have employees that are taking advantage of that. In this office we've been using that concept in order to handle the staffing issues," Carnahan said.
The Upside to Downsizing
Although Carnahan cites the bad side of downsizing within a company, other companies are saying they can benefit from the loss.
After losing 75 staff members, se2 needed to combine multiple tasks in order to complete the same amount of work with less people. During this process, management noticed something: the company was able to operate more efficiently.
"What often happens in good times is you have the luxury of doing extra things or people get accustomed to doing things you don't really need to do. So sometimes, a down cycle is a good way to cleanse the system a little bit. You end up rightsizing the work," Jim Schmank, chief financial officer of se2 said.
Corporations around the United States have to downsize in order to stay afloat in this recession.
Companies are cutting positions and healthcare benefits but adding moral boosts. However, how long will these hidden benefits keep workers happy? Se2 is experiencing a low turnover rate but is it affecting the success of their company moral?
"Security Benefit's rating as an insurance provider have been knocked way down. When rating agencies rate companies like Security Benefit they rate them on their ability to meet future obligations. We've seen the sales drop way off," Frank Rosa, chief operating officer of se2 said.
This leaves Security Benefit a company with a previous rating in the A category, with a B rating; something that several companies interested in doing business will not overlook Rosa said.
Se2 is attempting to cast a positive light on the company for the future prospects.
Rather than focusing on the downturn of the economy, se2 is also looking forward to when the economy may bounce back. When it does, they intend to be ready for the outcome says Errol Williams, Vice President of Recruitment and Retention.
"We are continuing to build and maintain relationships with key sources," Williams said. "We are trying to keep the company in the minds of students and active job seekers so when we do start hiring people will remember Security Benefit."
