Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Global warming failed to live up to its hype this winter and those of us who still have nightmares of ice-sheeted campus sidewalks have worn out the ears of our friends with snide remarks about the weather.
I have renounced complaining, however, and have decided instead to take advantage of this spring. I formally propose to our campus political parties, Delta Force and United Students, that they create another required campus fee. I would like to call it the “Mandatory Springtime Enjoyment Fee.”
nutgraf
Unlike the mixer events we do during Hawk Week, the entire purpose for this money would be to provide new avenues for friends to harness the days and breezes of spring.
“Mandatory Springtime Enjoyment” would cost the same as the “recycling and environment” fee. Each of us would pay $3 per semester in campus fees, which would yield a yearly amount of $145,700.
Unlike the mixer events we do during Hawk Week, the entire purpose for this money would be to provide new avenues for friends to harness the days and breezes of spring.
First, “Springtime Enjoyment” would place a table in front of Strong Hall stacked with picnic blankets available for checkout every afternoon. We’d spend about $20 a blanket for 50 blankets, totaling $1,000. In addition to the blankets, on Friday at noon, we would set up another table with free picnic lunches on it. Beginning in March, we could cover it with brown-bag lunches and little juice boxes every Friday through the remainder of the semester. I estimate the cost, figuring 4,000 lunches a week at $3 per lunch, to be about $108,000. After all this we still have $36,700 to spend.
We’ll take $1,400 and buy two paddle boats for Potter’s Lake. With our remaining $35,300, we will create a stockpile of marshmallows, graham crackers and Hershey bars for s’more parties on the grills by the lake. Estimating on the high end at $4,000 for that, we find $31,300 remaining.
That will fund eight video projectors and speaker systems that a group could check out the same way one would a laptop at Anshutz. They would allows students to create their own outdoor theaters by broadcasting videos onto the side of their house or some building on campus.
We have many important, yet unused by most of us, campus fees that do a lot of good. Let’s add one more to benefit us all. By simply increasing our current required campus fee of $320 to $323 per semester — a mere 9/10 of a percent — we could experience the spring semesters sitting on picnic blankets, sipping Juicy Juice and watching the clouds form shapes overhead.
— Sam Schneider is a Topeka junior in English.
Hawkins: Go Outside and Enjoy Our Campus
Too often do students stay inside to study. Go outside and study, ...
Student fees increase more than $35
In four years, student fees have increased 44 percent. They were $287 ...
Student Senate to vote on fee increase
The Student Senate could raise student fees for the third time this ...
Student fees fund changes around campus
Student Senate raised student fees by $54.75 this semester. Some of that ...
Knutsen: A closer look into campus fees
A student at the University of Kansas ends up paying extra campus ...
Underground expansion makes room for larger crowds
The expansion of the Underground creates a new lunch space that holds ...
Kansas in Heat: Get some spring-time dates
Relationship researcher Mike Anderson tackles the sticky world of relationship advice, one ...
Schneider: Students need more space
Those of you who frequent the Student Recreation and Fitness Center here ...
Frustrations arise from campus overcrowding
Students express their annoyances about the recreation center and The Underground being ...
More than a pretty campus
Explore nature and improve your health by stepping off the sidewalk
Officials agree to Underground expansion
The popular lunch spot on campus will undergo a 139-seat expansion to ...
Veggie Lunch offers food, friends and more
Campus fees generate more than $20 million
Student Senate finance committee reviews funds to determine what will might face ...
Committee discuses student fee increase
The rising cost of fuel and other products along with the desire ...
Student Senate money depleting early this year
Student Senate funds for groups are diminishing quickly this year. Senate began ...
Wilson: Excessive meal plans, fees cause unfair ...
Why spend money on things you won't use?
Students pay campus fees for unused services
Lawrence campus students who also take classes on other KU campuses are ...
Campus fees will not increase next year
Student Senate will review current fees to ensure that overall campus fees ...
Student Senate to vote on fee increases
The Student Recreation and Fitness Center, Parking Department, Watkins Memorial Health Center, ...
Student Senate has 'most important meeting' of ...
The Student Senate dealt with line and block allocations and a student ...
Thieves thrive during spring
Coalitions offer their platforms to campus
ConnectKU, Students of Liberty, and United Students hope to appeal to students ...
Kansas Public Radio awaits decision
Copyright regulation could change the way stations broadcast online.
Students praised for making boathouse a reality
Students and University officials endured snow Friday to celebrate the construction of ...
Editorial Board: Athletic funding shouldn't fall on ...
The Women and Non-Revenue Sports fee was voted to be increased from ...
Tabled bill offers alternative to SafeRide
The bill, which would increase student fees $3 per semester, was tabled ...
Policies vary for dealing with displaced students
Fee continues amid controversy
Senate votes to continue $80-a-year charge to subsidize KU athletics budget.
Safety board looks to increase awareness
The Campus Safety Advisory Board plans to team up with other groups ...
Political speakers in high demand
Dole Institute and SUA attract figures for political lectures.
University expands WiFi
Wescoe, Fraser, and Strong Halls will receive wireless internet connections thanks to ...
Editorial: Voting a responsibility
Student Senate candidates spend countless hours in session and campaigning. As hard ...
Campus elections 2009: Students of Liberty
A more sustainable campus, creating separation of power within Student Senate are ...
Canoes test engineering prowess
Eleven teams of engineers met on Lone Star Lake southwest of Lawrence ...
Far from home
International students talk about what it’s like to be the new kids ...
Proposed cuts would limit Kansan's budget
Student body leader wants $1.70 cut from media fee.
Student Senate approves Student Code changes, $15 ...
The changes in the code will expand protection for students' freedom of ...
Petterson: KU students like having class outdoors
Classes seem to become more bearable with a little bit of fresh ...
Foreign students bring culture to campus
Students from across the globe have come to the University and brought ...
Eco-friendly student seeks changes
Studie Red Corn, regional director of the environmental group 2020 Vision, stays ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID