THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
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KU IT is working to fix the University’s WiFi, especially over mobile devices p. 2
Sherron Collins becomes a Kansas legend in an emotional speech The University Daily Kansan
vol. 136 // iss. 13 Thurs., Feb. 22, 2018
Intergenerational Choir brings together old and young musicians through song p. 4
SEE ‘AIN’T NO SEATS’ • PAGE 7
City: Free speech includes ‘offensive’ protest
KALLI JO SMITH @kallijosmith Two weeks ago, Lawrence citizens stood before city commissioners saying they felt unsafe and threatened after the demonstration that took place on Feb. 3 in the downtown area. Following those comments, Mayor Stuart Boley, city commissioners and Police Chief Gregory Burns Jr. spoke at Tuesday’s meeting about what they could and couldn’t do to address citizens’ comments. They ultimately defended the protesters’ right to free speech, even if they didn’t agree with them. The Feb. 3 demonstration had been in response a planned flag-dragging march downtown. When it appeared the original event would not take place, the “Defend Our Flag” marchers still walked up and down Massachusetts Street with U.S. and Confederate flags, among others. Boley said the commissioners waited the two weeks after hearing the comments before responding as a general practice, as well to consult various staff members about the issues that citizens raised. Boley made a public statement on behalf of the city commission referring to a statement made by Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan. “If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of ideas simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable,” Boley said. “While many in our community found some of the events in February 2018 to be offensive in this environment, the city of Lawrence must protect free speech.” In light of Lawrence becoming a welcoming city
Caitlynn Salazar/KANSAN Members of the Lawrence community attended Tuesday’s city commission meeting to address concerns happening around the city, particularly the recent protest held in downtown Lawrence. in March of last year, Boley said Lawrence is an inclusive community that thrives on diversity. “The safety of all people should be protected, regardless of race, sex, religion, color, national orientation and sexual orientation,” Boley said. Toni Wheeler, city attorney, reviewed the First Amendment, saying it is one of the most complex amendments and can be hard to understand. However, she said that it is important for citizens to know that even speech some profoundly disagree with is protected. “Speech concerning public affairs is more than public expression; it is the essence of self government,” Wheeler said. Wheeler said protests that take place in downtown Lawrence are considered traditional public forums, and no permit is required to to protest in public areas like Massachusetts Street.
“Speech and expressive activity made in these locations receive the greatest measures of protection afforded by the First Amendment,” Wheeler said. “Speakers cannot be excluded from a public forum unless exclusion is necessary to serve a compelling government interest.” Burns spoke next, addressing the public by saying that Lawrence was a unique town. “I say this because you have a black man who serves as a police chief, and not every community can say that,” Burns said. “So I feel that I need to address this protest from two sides.” The two sides Burns referred to in the meeting he said were being able to see the situation as a citizen of Lawrence and as a police chief. “I would have to say that in 2018 I would think that all people would understand that someone who might look like me be offended by
this symbol, but unfortunately that’s not the case,” Burns said. “Now, speaking as your police chief, I’ve made it clear that I expect all officers to treat everyone with respect, this includes those we may not agree with, those that may have done not so nice things, and even those who say not so nice things.” Burns said that during and after the protest he received calls from parents who were concerned because they had children attending Haskell University and the University of Kansas. Burns said he understood why Lawrence citizens were fearful after the protest because Kansas has an open carry law. “I can tell you that open carrying a weapon is allowed to be carried in Kansas,” Burns said. “I know this makes you nervous; this makes the police nervous.” City Commissioner Matthew Herbert said he agreed with Burns’ statement, espe-
cially after a colleague sent a photograph to him of an individual openly carrying a firearm during the protest on Feb. 3. “I don’t think that an individual having an openly displayed firearm benefits the conversation at all. I don’t think it makes us a better local government. I don’t think it leads the conversation down a better path,” Herbert said. “I understand I can’t do anything about this, but I would use this as an example to our state that, perhaps, having individuals openly carrying firearms down Mass Street may not be a wellthoughtout decision on behalf of our state. And I will use whatever power I have sitting in this chair to get the state to rethink that.” As far as preparations went, Burns shared with the public that extra police officers were brought in during the protest and a crisis response team was on standby. After the counterprotest,
Burns said an intelligence briefing was held to discuss what officers did well and other things they needed to improve on, for instance how officers approach certain situations that may be heated. After comments had been made, Boley said it was important for people to understand what the Confederate and American flags symbolize. “Today as in 1861, the Confederate flag is a symbol of white supremacy and the violent enslavement of our fellow human beings,” Boley said. “Today as in 1861, the American flag is a symbol of hope and freedom and equality. Only one flag, our flag, the American flag, is the true flag of our country.” Michael Almon, the only citizen to speak about this issue during public comment, said he did not think protesters downtown understood what the flags used in the protest stood for. Almon said he did not want to take away the protesters’ right to free speech, but he said he found it concerning what the Confederacy itself stood for. “The Confederacy went to war with the United States of America, our country. Is that not treason?” Almon said. “They would overthrow the United States of America. So somebody today waving the Confederate flag, to me that says the same thing, that should not be allowed. It’s not a matter of free speech for offensive reasons, but they’re advocating the overthrow of our government.” Almon said he did not think that this is what the protesters were aiming to advocate for, but said if more demonstrations like this occur, the same overall mentality will prosper, which is not something he said he wants to take place in his city.
Graduate student advocacy begins to see results
SYDNEY HOOVER @HooverSydney17
Free printing, on-campus housing, campus tours and new student orientation — these are just a few of the benefits offered by the University for undergraduate students to enjoy. For years, however, this was not the case for graduate students. Recently, graduate student senators have begun speaking up about the lack of recognition and subsequent benefits graduate students receive at the University. According to student senator Brittney Oleniacz, this issue was particularly concerning to graduate student senators due to the University’s Research 1 status, categorizing the University as a top research institution in the country. “You need to produce a certain amount of PhD students in a multitude of fields to be considered an R1 institution. There’s other criteria
as well, but that’s big,” Oleniacz said. “Fancy labs are great, but you need the bodies. You need the hours. You need the dedication to actually have them function.” Oleniacz came to the University in 2014 to begin her doctorate with the department of geology. She said she was disappointed with how little information she was provided with before arriving on campus, and ran for a graduate student senator position shortly after. “There wasn’t even a tour provided to graduate students or an orientation. We had, like, a tabling event, but that was it. We did not have the red carpet laid out for us like freshmen,” Oleniacz said. “I didn’t know where to eat on campus. I didn’t know there was an Underground in Wescoe until my second semester.” Caleb Schafer, senate director of graduate affairs and a graduate student studying global and international studies, believes this
problem stems from the fact that retention rate of undergraduates is much higher. Because many graduate students receive tuition scholarships, there is significantly more income coming to the University from undergraduates than graduates. Oleniacz said that there are lots of “little things” graduate students have not received in the past, such as free printing and campus tours, but the problem also goes beyond that. She believes, for example, that graduate teaching assistants are not trained adequately and that the Graduate Student Advisory Board previously was not functioning correctly. However, through Oleniacz and the other graduate student senators’ work with the help of Schafer, graduate students are becoming heard by Senate and the University administration, according to Schafer. Members of the University’s administration say they
Savanna Smith/KANSAN Graduate student Brittney Olenaicz has been involved in the process to implement a graduate student orientation at the University. are working harder to recognize graduate students’ place on campus and address their concerns. “They teach many of our undergraduate courses or labs, they mentor undergraduate students, they play a significant role in supporting faculty research projects while also conducting their own research,” said Kristine
Latta, director of graduate student affairs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in an email. “In many ways, they are the lifeblood at KU. For these reasons, it is critically important to know the issues they are facing so we can fully support them during their time here.” Throughout the 2017-18 school year, Schafer and the
graduate student senators have accomplished a number of things to bring graduate student needs to light, including resolving and passing a new tax code, which made its way to the desks of U.S. Senators for Kansas Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts. The University administration has also announced plans for a graduate student orientation next fall, one of the group’s goals. Schafer noted that they are also pushing for a more comprehensive GTA training and an advocacy forum with the Graduate Student Advisory Board. “We are becoming more visible, and if there’s one thing that I can say I tried to do with this job, it’s to make us more visible,” Schafer said. “I think we’re getting placed on the right committees and boards to have effective change.”