By Vikaas Shanker

Vikaas Shanker

News Reporter

Contact Vikaas Shanker

Vikaas is a super-senior in journalism from Naperville, Ill. He will graduate in May, but he was previously a mechanical engineering major at Univ. of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Vikaas switched gears and came to Kansas for the journalism school and the Daily Kansan. He wants to become an investigative reporter for a city with a lot of problems to solve. Along with playing basketball and tennis, Vikaas enjoys crushing the competition in ping pong and Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Cell phone charging stations coming to campus

Andrew Lee, a senior in psychology, entered his fall 2012 class schedule into his cellphone at the start of the semester. But when he checked his schedule on the first day of school, his phone’s screen was black and the battery dead. “I ran back to Watson and checked my schedule,” said Lee, who arrived [...]

No threat found in Malott after call about bad smell in the building

No threat found in Malott after call about bad smell in the building

No hazardous threat was found after University police, firefighters and a hazmat team responded to a call of an irregular odor on the fourth and fifth floors of Malott Hall yesterday evening. The fire alarm went off, and police evacuated Malott shortly after arriving on the scene at around 5:30 p.m. KU Public Safety Sergeant [...]

Lawrence homes see increase of brown recluse spiders

Lawrence homes see increase of brown recluse spiders

Lauryn Reinhart was sitting on a couch in her living room two weeks ago when she felt a slight touch on her elbow. She didn’t see anything on her, but when she glanced at the couch, she saw a spider larger than a quarter with very long legs. Reinhart, a senior from Parkville, Mo., killed [...]

MV Transportation sent out this memorandum outlining P.A. system verbal etiquette for bus drivers. The union is arguing that the memorandum isn't an official rule change, and that the company violated contract by using it as grounds for a fourth violation against Dan morelan.

‘Dan the bus driver’ still appealing termination

Dan Morelan, the former singing University bus driver, is still appealing his termination from MV Transportation. But he’s also beginning another job in case he isn’t rehired. Morelan said that starting today he is in training for Aero Stage Lines, a charter bus company that has locations in Topeka, Manhattan and Kansas City, Mo. Aero [...]

Puzzle answers for Sept. 25, 2012

Puzzle answers for Sept. 25, 2012

These are the answers for the puzzles on page 4 of the Sep. 25 Daily Kansan. Crossword Answer   Cryptoquip Answer Cryptoquip 1: I SUPPOSE SEVERAL FAMILIES OF CLOTHING MAKERS COULD DECIDE TO LIVE TOGETHER IN A TAILOR PARK.   Sudoku Answer

MV Tranportation union representative Charles Pirtle filed this grievance on behalf of fired bus driver Dan Morelan, who is protesting his termination on Sept. 5.

‘Bus driver Dan’ files grievance after dismissal

Dan Morelan, the singing KU bus driver who was fired by MV Transportation on Sept. 5, has filed a grievance against the company through union representation Wednesday afternoon. On Morelan’s request, union representative Charles Pirtle filed the grievance. The grievance is a process that allows Morelan to contest his firing. According to the union’s contract [...]

Details emerge regarding ‘Dan the bus driver’ firing

Details emerge regarding ‘Dan the bus driver’ firing

The whistling, singing KU bus driver known by students as “Dan the bus driver” was fired Wednesday evening by MV Transportation, the company contracted by the University for bus services. Bus driver Dan Morelan said several incidents involving the bus radio led to his firing. He was most recently cited with a work rule violation, [...]

Freshman elections start Tuesday

Freshman elections start Tuesday

Freshmen will have the chance to vote for their Student Senate representatives online starting Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The elections will continue online Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. To vote, go to the University’s homepage at http://www.ku.edu and follow the instructions. The candidates are listed below: Lauren Arney J’Qui Audena [...]

Puzzle answers for Aug. 23, 2012

Puzzle answers for Aug. 23, 2012

These are the answers for the puzzles in Section A of the Aug. 23 Daily Kansan. Crossword Answers Page 6A     Cryptoquip Answers Page 7A   Cryptoquip 1: WHEN I MADE A WHOLE BUNCH OF SOFT CHOCOLATE CANDIES, I LUGGED THEM AROUND IN A TRUFFLE BAG. Cryptoquip 2: IN ORDER TO TEACH YOU HOW [...]

Editorial: Campus politics depend on students

Apparently, there were 92 reasons not to vote in student elections last April. But you, the student, are losing because of it. Compared to 20 percent in 2011, only 8 percent of the student body voted for this year’s Student Senate. The result was a sweep for one student coalition last April, KUnited. But that’s [...]

Puzzle answers for Aug. 16, 2012

Puzzle answers for Aug. 16, 2012

These are the answers for the E-section of the Aug. 16 Back to School Daily Kansan.   Crossword Answers Page 9E       Cryptoquip Answers Page 9E   Cryptoquip 1: WHEN I MADE A WHOLE BUNCH OF SOFT CHOCOLATE CANDIES, I LUGGED THEM AROUND IN A TRUFFLE BAG. Cryptoquip 2: ALTHOUGH THIS ISN’T QUITE [...]

Jacque Vaughn

Former Jayhawk star hired as Orlando Magic head coach

Former Kansas star point guard Jacque Vaughn’s takes his leadership and attitude to coach the Magic.

Newscast July, 20th

Newscast July, 20th

KUJH-TV Summer Newscast

Kansan.com undergoing redesign

The new Kansan.com will unveil Aug. 16.

KU Spring 2012 Honor Roll released

Check to see if you made honors.