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Senior guard Isaiah Moss could make KU basketball offense dangerous
Thursday, November 14, 2019
WHAT’S NEW AT KU News on deck at kansan.com
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Three KU roommates produce ‘Canceled’ sketch comedy show
The Student Voice Since 1904
Vol. 139/Issue 23
Icy obstacles
Campus accessibility routes become unsafe as winter moves in
Lindley Lund/UDK
World War I Memorial The entry arch to the Kansas Memorial Union now features 129 stars, each representing a KU student who died in WWI. The memorial was rededicated Monday for Veterans Day.
Emma Pravecek/UDK
Washington Creek Lavender open house Washington Creek Lavender held its annual holiday open house last weekend. The holiday collection featured homemade products from the farm.
Liam Mays/UDK
African Food & Film Festival
The African and AfricanAmerican Studies department held its second annual food and film festival on Nov. 7. The event screened the film “From a Whisper” and served East African cuisine.
‘Collections Up Close’
The KU Natural History Museum recently hosted its “Collections up Close” event, a hands-on presentation with preserved bird specimens.
On the horizon
Emma Pravecek/UDK
KU football takes on Oklahoma State
The Jayhawks face off against the Cowboys Saturday at 11 a.m. in Stillwater.
Students with physical disabilities face inconvenient paths to class, especially in winter weather.
Emma Bascom @EBascom3
Recent winter weather at the University of Kansas has once again brought with it icy roads and cracking sidewalks, posing further obstacles for those navigating campus in wheelchairs. John Watson, a doctoral candidate at the University who uses a wheelchair, said campus is generally accessible, but winter weather makes things problematic. “Any ramps need to be really clear of ice,” Watson said. “They usually do a good job of this, but just like with the roads, there are some days that they can’t always keep up with that, and it makes going into the library or going to my classes sometimes impossible.” The icy weather is one of several obstacles that students who have
physical disabilities face. Others include inaccessible restrooms on campus and transportation. And it’s not just the University of Kansas’ problem, either. Last December, 50 colleges were sued for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Inside Higher Ed.
“Every single season when the weather starts getting bad, I start getting nervous for students.” Deborah Meyer AAAC associate director
Deborah Meyer, associate director for the Academic Achievement and Access Center, said weather is a definite factor for students’ convenience and safety
on campus. Because of that, facilities typically try to clear ramps first so everyone has access to buildings, she said. “Every single season when the weather starts getting bad, I start getting nervous for students and making sure they know the entrance to get into buildings that will have the snow cleared,” Meyer said. “A ramp that works normally during the year can be treacherous with ice and snow.” Even if ramps are clear, however, parking can still be a challenge. Watson parks in the accessible parking spots with extra space for wheelchair assembly. Sometimes, though, the snow in the assembly space is not cleared away, which can be an issue. “I have to assemble [and] when I leave, disassemble my chair there. If the snow is not cleared, Continue on page 2
2 years later: Concealed carry on campus Sydney Hoover
KU men’s basketball lands 5-star recruit Jakob Katzenberg @KatzInHatz10
Five-star guard in the class of 2020, Bryce Thompson has committed to the University of Kansas men’s basketball program. The Tulsa, Oklahoma, native is ranked as the No. 19 overall prospect and the No. 7 guard, according to Rivals. Last Friday, Thompson took his final visit, as he was in attendance for the Jayhawks’ game against the UNC Greensboro Spartans. Thompson’s decision falls in the line of his father’s footsteps. His dad, Rod Thompson, played under coach Bill Self in his final season at University of Tulsa from 1997-98. In a story from the Tulsa World, Thompson said he first met Self in the third grade. “My first memory with coach Bill Self was in the Union High School gym when I was [a third-grader],” Bryce said. “Kansas was in Tulsa for a postseason game, and I got to take a picture with him. That was my first time to meet coach Self in person. It’s crazy how it’s all come back full circle, and now I’m about to sign with Kansas.” The combo guard attributed sitting down with Self and discussing his fit in the program as one of the main factors that led to his decision. “While recruiting me, coach Self showed me the whole blueprint of where I could fit in,” Bryce told the Tulsa World. “He showed clips of their style of play and clips of my style then explained how my game fit. He talked about the strength of their schedule. Kansas played Duke last week at The Garden. I’d love to display my talents on a stage that large.”
Students react: Kansas takes next steps in medical marijuana debate
@sydhoover17
Two years after the implementation of a controversial concealed carry law, some faculty and staff said during a panel Tuesday night in the Kansas Union they continue to feel anxiety and see it in their students. Student Senate hosted the forum to reflect on concealed carry after Kansas state legislators lifted a college campus exemption from the Kansas Personal and Family Protection Act in July 2017. Panelists were from a range of offices and departments on campus, including: • Bulaong Ramiz-Hall, director of the Emily Taylor Center for women and gender equity • Darren Canady, professor in the English department • Deputy Chief James Anguiano from the Public Safety Office • Shawn Leigh Alexander, Faculty Senate president and professor of African and African American studies • Barbara Ballard, Kansas state representative and senior associate director of the Dole Institute of Politics • Adam Mansfield, staff attorney
Associated Press
Emma Bascom, Jordan Vaughn and Connor Heaton @KansanNews
Emma Pravecek/UDK
Professor Shawn Leigh Alexander, center, discusses concealed carry.
for Student Legal Services • David Hansen, educational psychology department chair Certain locations in the state remained exempt from the law, including hospitals and community mental health centers. University buildings without “adequate security measures” permitted concealed carry ahead of the fall 2017 semester. Open carry of firearms is also legal in the state but is against University of Kansas policy. Those over 21 years of age can carry a concealed weapon most areas on campus, except for on the medical
center campus, in areas with sufficient security measures such as metal detectors, and other specified restricted areas. Kansas is one of only 10 states in the country that require state universities to permit concealed carry on campus. The others include Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin. The panelists largely spoke on the issue concealed carry creates with free speech at the University. Several panelists said they worried about discussing sensitive Continue on page 3
Kansas lawmakers began taking steps to advance the legalization of medical marijuana, according to committee proceedings. The bill would follow Ohio’s medical marijuana laws as a guide with a few major changes, The Kansas City Star reported. Vaping medical marijuana is legal in Ohio, but the committee has reportedly recommended banning smoking and vaping medical marijuana due to the vaping-related illnesses that have affected the country. With this law, only edibles, patches and oils would be legal for medical use. This comes on the heels of Douglas County’s decision to no longer file criminal cases for simple marijuana possession. By this Continue on page 2