KU & Emporia State Store Student Guns on Campus December 7, 2015

(AP) – The University of Kansas is one of two universities in the state that provides storage for guns on campus, though only a handful of students use the service.

The Lawrence Journal World (http://bit.ly/21Jeg03 ) reports the university’s Office of Public Safety has provided gun storage for students, faculty and staff living on campus since 2009.

University police Capt. James Anguiano says the free storage is aimed at hunters who want to bring their firearms to school, but are not allowed to keep the weapons in their on-campus residence halls or apartments. He says about four to five students per semester store their guns.

Emporia State University also provides gun storage for students.

Under state law, Kansas public universities must allow concealed weapons on campus beginning July 2017. The Kansas Board of Regents and individual universities are working on policies to implement the change.

Diversity Plan for KU drawing Lawmaker Criticism November 18, 2015

(AP) – A plan at the University of Kansas to require “inclusion and belonging” training for everyone on campus is drawing criticism from some Republican legislators.

Several said Wednesday they worry the training will become an effort to squelch conservative thought.

Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little said that won’t happen and such training is common among businesses.

Lawmakers’ concerns could complicate the university’s sometimes-rocky relationship with the GOP-dominated Legislature as it faces tough budget decisions and potential spending cuts.

The university and the surrounding community of Lawrence are viewed across the state as liberal political bastions.

Diversity training is among the demands from the student protest group Rock Chalk Invisible Hawk.

Dole Institute to Mark Dole’s 90th Birthday Next Week July 12, 2013

(AP) – A community celebration is scheduled for July 22 on the University of Kansas campus to mark the 90th birthday of former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole.

The event will be held at the Dole Institute of Politics where the former Republican U.S. senator’s archives are housed. The institute opened in 2003.

Dole is not expected to attend.

Dole served in the U.S. Senate from 1969 until 1996, when he retired to run for president but lost to Democratic incumbent Bill Clinton. Dole is a World War II veteran who served in Europe, where he was severely wounded in battle in Italy.

Activities scheduled for the birthday celebration include serving cupcakes, story time, making political buttons and the signing of a card wishing the senator a happy birthday.

Kansas Regents Call College Budget Cuts a “Nightmare” June 7, 2013

The Kansas Board of Regents blasted the just-passed budget for state colleges and universities Thursday, according to the Topeka Capital Journal,
The state’s governing board for higher education called the cuts “a public policy nightmare”, according to the report.
Kansas legislators cut almost $22 million dollars from the state’s higher education fund.
That includes a 4.2% to the Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
The $4.25 million reduction for the Medical Center is the biggest reduction in dollars.
By percentage, Emporia State’s budget took the biggest hit, 4.8%; or $1.48 million.
Kansas State University funding was cut by 3.5%.
Wichita State’s funding was reduced by 3.1%
The University of Kansas budget got a 2.4% haircut.
“It’s never good public policy to cut higher education,” vice chairman Fred Logan said according to the newspaper. “It’s not a pro-growth budget — that needs to be said.”

White House Makes Official No KU Trip Friday April 16, 2013

The White House has announced President Obama will not visit the University of Kansas as planned Friday.
No reason was given in the announcement. But the events in Boston may have played a role in the change of plans.
The White House, however, says the President will travel to Boston Thursday.
According to the announcement, "On Thursday morning, the President will travel to Boston to speak at an interfaith service dedicated to those who were gravely wounded or killed in Monday’s bombing near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. "
The Associated Press reported earlier, citing Kansas Democratic officials, they were looking for space on campus for three to six thousand people for the official Presidential visit.
No other details on the trip were announced prior to today’s cancellation.
Since Monday’s deadly bombing, the Administration’s focus has been largely on the investigation of who is responsible for the Boston attack.