THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
SPORTS
INSIDE A comprehensive look at the bylaws passed in emergency legislation by MSG this week p. 3
How an Olympic legacy led one freshman sprinter to KU The University Daily Kansan
vol. 136 // iss. 7 Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018
Two new series go in opposite directions in this week’s TV Stock p. 9
SEE TRACK & FIELD • PAGE 11
KU: Reversal drug program not needed here
NARCAN, an opioid treatment drug, is free to eligible universities through its manufacturer, but KU says it already has an overdose protocol
TAYLOR ANDERSON @taylor_ando Despite being eligible, the University has not applied for a program allowing colleges to have free access to an anti-opioid overdose drug. In April 2017, Adapt Pharma announced it would donate 40,000 doses of its NARCAN Nasal Spray to colleges and universities, expanding upon its similar program for high schools. “We give four boxes or eight doses to every two and four-year Title IV granting college and university in the country,” Adapt Pharma Executive Director of Communications Thom
Illustration by Gracie Williams/KANSAN Duddy said. “They need to fill out our terms and conditions form, submit it and have a physician, because it is a prescription product, sign off on our terms and conditions in the order, and we ship you the product at no charge.” Used as a reversal drug for opioid overdose, the medication officially known as naloxone is sold under the brand name NARCAN by Adapt Pharma. During an opioid overdose, the drug slows down respiration and breathing, but when NARCAN is used, the medication removes the opioids from the brain receptors and stops this process from occurring, ac-
cording to Duddy. So far, Adapt Pharma has sent 5,724 doses of NARCAN to 932 high schools and 1,776 doses to 220 colleges. The University has yet to apply for the program. Watkins Health Services Director Doug Dechairo admitted that while he had not been aware of Adapt Pharma’s offer, the University is already equipped with the medication. “We’ve had NARCAN here forever, and we also have the Nasal NARCAN stocked at Watkins Health Services,” Dechairo said. “We keep it in the pharmacy and then also in our treatment clinic.”
In April 2017, the Kansas Legislature passed a bill permitting first responders to carry and administer “emergency opioid antagonists” such as NARCAN while on duty. Despite this new legislation, the KU Public Safety Office has not implemented this policy for its officers. “We do not carry opioid overdose treatments on our patrol cars,” Deputy Chief James Anguiano said via email. “Lawrence-Douglas County Fire and Medical are the medical responders that would provide assistance.” According to Dechairo, KU PSO officers have been informed of NARCAN’s
purpose and how to handle an opioid overdose situation. “We had discussions with the KU Public Safety Office about some places where many of the police carry NARCAN in their squad cars,” Dechairo said. “The squad cars for KU Public Safety Office do not, but we talked to them about if they find someone they suspect overdosed, they go to the emergency room at Lawrence Memorial Hospital or you bring them in [to Watkins].” Part of the reason for the University’s lack of urgency to implement more opioid-related procedures may be due to the scarcity
of opioid usage on campus. “We have not had a lot of students coming in,” Dechairo said. “In fact, I’m not sure we used any NARCAN in the fall semester, to be honest with you.” Dechairo said although he does not anticipate opioid overdoses becoming an issue on campus, he felt confident in KU PSO and Watkins Health Service’s ability to deal with any opioid-related instances in the future. “We’ve been prepared in the event that we have any opioid overdoses coming in, so we’re pretty okay here at KU,” Dechairo said.
Colyer sworn in as governor amid funding issues TIANNA WITMER & TAYLOR W. SMITH @KansanNews
After former Gov. Sam Brownback was nominated by President Donald Trump for the position of ambassador at large for international religious freedom, Kansas was left, seemingly, in a power vacuum as Brownback awaited his appointment and Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer began taking a heavier hand in leadership. On Wednesday, Colyer, a plastic surgeon and graduate of the University’s Medical Center was officially sworn into the governorship, ending this period of uncertainty. Then a new question arose: How will Colyer address Kansas’ budget crisis, and how does he plan to distance himself from his predecessors? “I’m not certain he’s so tied to tax reduction. I think if nothing else ... he has an open mind,” said Deena Horst, member of Kansas State Board of Education District 6, covering northwest, northcentral and northeast Kansas.
Despite these uncertainties, Horst expressed her optimism toward the leadership potential of the new administration. While she couldn’t comment on what specific policies students can expect to be implemented in their favor, she expressed her approval of the governor’s recent listening tour. “I think we will see someone who’s more interested in what the youth of the state are thinking,” Horst said. “I think ... students will all have access to him.” Chancellor Douglas Girod, who was also in attendance with Provost Neeli Bendapudi, is waiting to hear more about the change in higher educational funding. “I have no expectations, I’m hopeful.” Dr. Girod said. “Hopeful for a commitment to really get higher education back on track and stabilized.” As Brownback leaves office with one of the lowest approval ratings of any governor in the country, Colyer will likely begin to dissociate his own admin-
Associated Press Republican Jeff Colyer is sworn in as the 47th Governor of Kansas during a ceremony at the Statehouse in Topeka. istration from the previous one, making education reform a primary focus of his administration. “When others blame and complain, I’ll be busy working for you trying to find solutions,” Colyer said during his inaugural address. “I will not be responsible for shutting down Kansas government or our schools; this is not Washington.” In addition to educa-
tional reform, Colyer emphasized the importance of a new voice. “It’s time for a new tone that reflects the best of our state,” Colyer said, “Our young people aren’t slackers; they want to serve in their own way.” In regards to his plans were regarding higher education funding, Colyer said, “We got a lot to deal with and we are going to work with legislature, but
you have to give things time.” Mark Tallman, associate director of Kansas Association of School Boards and former classmate of Colyer at Thomas Moore Prep High School in Hays, commented after the address. “We’re optimistic,” Tallman said. “We hope the new governor will continue to value the idea of investing in our schools.
We are very pleased that, I think, both Gov. Brownback and now Gov. Colyer have been supportive of our state board of education’s vision, of how to hold schools accountable, what to measure, what’s important.” Tallman commented that the state is still working to support higher education and prepare students for the future. “I think the challenge is how do we meet multiple needs of the state in what are still very difficult times.” Tallman said. As he concluded his first address to the public as governor, Colyer reiterated his optimistic vision for the state. “If ever there was a state that blesses our strong daughters and humble sons, if ever there was a state that deserves our service, if ever there was a state whose people, ideals, and principles were the heart and soul of America, it is the great state of Kansas,” Colyer said.