Chat with Hannah Love, new student body president at Kansas University. Love, a junior from Dodge City,and vice-president Ray Wittlinger, a junior from Olathe, were elected in April. They represent the United Students coalition. Their platform included creating a satellite parking office in the Kansas Union, 24-hour parking spots at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center and moving the University Career Center to Jayhawk Boulevard. They also want to make technology upgrades and improve campus safety, as well as other changes on campus.

Moderator

Hi, everybody. Hannah Love, the new student body president at KU, is here to answer questions today. I’m Terry Rombeck, a features reporter at Journal-World, and I’ll moderate the chat today. Feel free to keep the questions coming. Welcome, Hannah.

Hannah Love

Hello Everybody

Moderator

Hannah, you were just sworn in yesterday. What will be your first priorities in office?

Hannah Love

With the recent Virgina Tech incident safety has definteate risen to the top of our list. More specifically we want to focus on academic issues such as policies and technology.

kymock

Congratulations president! What are you most excited about as you begin your term?

Hannah Love

I am excited to meet more of the administration, start working on our platforms, and dealing with the issues we’ve been talking about all semester

krt

In light of what happened at Virginia Tech, and with your commitment to campus safety, do you also have a commitment to assuring that students have adequate mental health support services readily available? Both CAPS, which provides therapy for students, and Headquarters Counseling Center, which provides free 24/7 crisis counseling and suport, would benefit from additional staffing and funding to help meet student needs. K-State funds mental health services through student fees. Would you support designated mental health fees from tuition for services at KU?

Hannah Love

I think funding for these programs needs to be re-evaluated. This past semester funding to headquarters was actually cut. These programs are vital to the University and the community. The Watkins Health fee was increased this past semester and I would like to see some of those funds directed towards mental health programs.

ChristyLittle

Hannah, what kind of technology upgrades did you have in mind at KU, and is that do-able in a single term of office?

Hannah Love

We want to work with the Provosts office and Endowment to make sure that classrooms have adequate computers, overhead projectors, and other items that are basic to classroom learning today. This may take more than one term in office but it’s imortant to get these programs started now. Since they are academic issues we are confident the administration will suport us and see that they are carried out.

Moderator

Please tell us about some of your other platform issues that you hope to get done during your year in office.

Hannah Love

Campus safety is an issue we have already talked about.
Another issue is campus convenience. Making sure the Career Services Center is more accessible to students so they can aid in their transitions from college. We would like to create satilite offices for them in the Student Union to help them expand their servies. Campus beautification was another issue we talked about. We want to create a recycling drop off station in the newly developed park and ride lots.

Moderator

Obviously, deferred maintenance was a big issue in the Legislature this year. What, if any, role do you see students playing in future debates about upkeep on campuses?

Hannah Love

Our role in deferred maintenance will continute to be very important. We will continue to work with the state legislature and push this issue through lobbying efforts by the students. This is an issue all the regents universities have united on and this will keep it as a ‘hot topic’ for the upcoming year.

kolisach

Why is student government important to the workings of KU? When I was in college, it seemed like being involved was just a resume-builder.

Hannah Love

Every student pays nearly $300 in student fees. Student fees pay for everything from KU on Wheels, to the Newpaper readership program, and Watkins Health Center. Student Senate oversees these fees and makes sure the money is spent in an appropiate manner.

twadeyoung

Prior student body presidents from Kansas universities have found their way into politics. A former student president of KSU is a current US Senator, and a former student president of WSU is the current US Attorney for Kansas. What do you foresee in your future?

Hannah Love

I am leaving my options open for now. I will be taking the GRE’s soon and applying for grad school. Before attending grad school I would like to participate in some form of volunteer program such as Teach for America or the Peace corps. I don’t necessarily see politics in my future, but I’m not going to rule out any options.

Moderator

Our esteemed sports editor has a question about his driving habits.

tkeegan

Hannah, I’ve noticed that students walk extremely S…. L ….. O ….. W …. L ….. Y when a motorist is waiting for them to cross the street. Is this an intentional statement against middle-aged motorists or am I just paranoid? Thanks. — Tom Keegan

Hannah Love

I am sorry to say I think it’s a little paranoia. We don’t intend to walk slow, it just happens. Sometimes if one is a little more aggressive and starts to slowly move their way into the intersection students tend to speed up.

Moderator

That does it for today’s chat. Thanks for coming in, Hannah. Good luck as you start your term.

Hannah Love

Thank you very much, and thank you to everyone who submitted questions. We are looking forward to a productive year.