Police issue citations to Occupy Lawrence demonstrators

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS – Police issued citations to Occupy Lawrence campers in South Park early Saturday morning.

Arriving around 1:30 a.m. in two patrol cars and a police van, officers told the campers they were going to enforce city ordinance and allowed any demonstrators who wanted to leave to do so, Wade Briscoe, a demonstrator who received a citation, said.

The exact number of citations issued was not immediately clear, but at least six were issued, according to a show of hands by the demonstrators.

Briscoe said the demonstrators were cited for violating ordinance 15-208, which prohibits individuals from being in public parks between 11:30 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Tim Clark, who has demonstrated with Occupy Lawrence throughout the past week but was not cited, said the mood between demonstrators and police was cordial.

“Everyone’s being respectful and cooperative,” Clark said. “Police are being nice about it.”

Police indicated that they would be back Saturday morning for more citations or possibly arrests, Briscoe said.

The citations issued to the demonstrators show a court date of 10 a.m. on Nov. 15

-The Daily Kansan
By Jonathan Shorman

Students and officials reflect on recent alcohol-free policy

PENN STATE – Racing to chug Solo cups of beer in games of flip cup is common among Penn State tailgates for some, just as many Friday nights don’t pass without students jamming into White Loops to go to fraternity row.

But the alcohol scene that helped the university earn nods as a top “party school” has proved dangerous through the years.

Last year, plans were announced to make University Park’s campus an alcohol-free zone, with the exception of certain football tailgating parking lots — the Nittany Lion Inn and White Course Apartments — that house mostly graduate students 21 and older.

With the start of the 2011-2012 academic year, all students — even 21-year-olds — were prohibited from possessing alcohol on campus when they signed their housing contracts.

If a student is found to be in possession of alcohol, calls to parents will be made, fines will be collected and educational alcohol classes would be scheduled.

Although officials are hopeful, it remains to be seen whether the university’s stand against drinking will enact real change in Happy Valley.

-The Daily Collegian
By Christina Gallagher

First-year class requirements considered

UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA – A refined proposal regarding a change the general education curriculum was discussed among members of the Faculty Senate on Tuesday.

The proposition is a result of a seven-year long process to provide students with a more “coherent” and “intentional” general education curriculum. During the meeting, issues such as staffing and how to implement a first- and second-year course were met with a more definite answer.

The first-year course could be offered by any college and would be worth two credits, which would replace the two-credit Constitutions requirement. Students could take the course along with other first-year course requirements, including math and English. This proposed course would introduce students to both an academic and engagement focus.

General Education Advisory Committee Chairman Dave James said both proposed courses would cost UNLV approximately $1 million per academic year.

James explained that in the proposed first-year course, students could be assigned to write a paper, but would also learn how to write that paper with instruction on how to find resources in the library, for example.

—The Rebel Yell
By Julie Ann Formoso