Multimedia Reporting (Bradford-Utsler)

KU OFFERS LITTLE RESOURCES

By Adrienne Bommarito

January 27, 2006

Travel abroad to work, not study; it sounds like such a great idea, yet is more complicated than it seems. Many students like the idea of study abroad programs, however don’t want to leave family, friends, and the campus they are familiar with for an entire semester. There is an alternative but it takes very determined and hardworking students to find.

International internships are available for college students in various countries around the world and with the help of different organizations on campus students can locate them. Through the study abroad program located in Lippincott building, KU students have access to some work opportunity and various study abroad programs that offer internships also.

AustraLearn is a relatively new program to the KU campus. It offers study abroad programs like other organizations, however it also offers internships in any field of study in Australia and New Zealand. For those students interested in an internship in one of those countries this is the program for you. All of the internships are 10 weeks long and offered year around. The AustraLearn program is great in that is does offer internships without the excess classes. Although it is not generally paid, students do receive credit toward their major.

AustraLearn is one of the very few programs KU offers. Corey Roelofs, with Office of Study Abroad, says the university is focused on studies rather than students finding work and internships. He knows that many students if given the opportunity would take advantage of an international internship. KU doesn’t offer many choices, but they are working on expanding their resources. “Progressively in the next year or two, we will have more out there,” Roelofs said “It is something that definitely should be pursued.”

Some schools at KU are working to give their students more opportunity abroad. The Business School added a new position last January for this purpose. Bart Redford works in the School of Business in their International Programs Department and helps students find internships and study abroad programs.

Redford says they have a few students interested in exploring international opportunities, yet not as many come to him for help as would be expected. “Not everyone knows I’m here and available to them.”

Career Services, located in the Burge Union, helps students find internships along with jobs post graduation. However, they don’t have programs specifically for international internships, since most of the programs they deal with are locally or in the United States. But they are willing to help students find what they are looking for, said Ann Hartley, Assistant Director for University Career Services.

For those students interested in an internship abroad, the resources are out there it’s just taking the time to find them. On the upside, every person talked to was very eager to help students find the internship for them. “The purpose of existence is to make sure students have international opportunities,” Redford said when talking about his position in the School of Business.

Corey Roelofs Study Abroad Office 785-864-3742

Bart Redford International Programs in School of Business 785-864-4616

Ann Hartley Assistant Director of University Career Services 785-864-4572

Posted by Adrienne Bommarito at 06:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With Kansas, 11-6, off to its worst start in men’s basketball since the 1982-83 season, the long standing tradition of students camping out for games has lost some of its allure to many students.

Kansas senior Bjorn Bodelson is one of those students. Bodelson attended and camped out for every men’s basketball game last season. However, this season he has lost some of his desire to go to games.

“I’ve only gone to one game this year because of the new ticket policy and I’m more willing to go when the team is playing well,” Bodelson said. “When they aren’t winning, I don’t have as much motivation to camp.”

Bodelson is not the only student who has lost interest in camping. On Thursday, four days prior to the Iowa State, there were only 12 groups at Allen Fieldhouse camping out for the game.

Bodelson estimated that four days before a conference game last season, there were usually at least 40 groups. Some students believe the student interest has fluctuated with the team’s performance.

“I think throughout the year this year camping has gone down,” said Matt Erickson, freshman. “At the beginning it seemed during the non-conference cup-cake part of the schedule, there were more people than there are for these conference games.”

For the students who are camping, they all said that they still enjoy going to the games despite the team’s struggles. Sophomore Jack Connor said he believes the current Jayhawks are more exciting to watch than last year’s team.

And one plus for the campers who are sticking it out through the team’s recent rough stretch is the fight for good seats is not as competitive as in past years.

“It’s been so easy for us to get good spots at the game because we’re diligent about camping. It seems like there are a lot fewer people,” said Sarah Beals, sophomore. “I think it has to do with the seniors leaving and I think in general there is not as much enthusiasm about basketball as there was last year.”

Posted by Curtis Moore at 04:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Matthew Elder at 03:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services will no longer be providing funding for the hours that the children of college students spend at daycare while their parent(s) attend classes unless the will be graduating in less than six months.

Students attending universities or vocational schools who participate in SRS’s child care plan were notified earlier this month of the change.

Kirsten Hickey, 21, mother of two young children said, “It [The policy change] is discouraging for students who want to go back to school.” Hickey had planned on enrolling at KU but said its hard to go to school and also afford to pay for daycare.

The children of KU students get first priority for spots at Hilltop Child Development Center, which is located on campus. Pat Pisani, Executive Director at Hilltop said that of the 216 children attending Hilltop only 48 percent of them are those of students. Another 49 percent of the spots are filled by the children of university faculty and staff. Pisani said that the center has added more scholarships for students, to help pay for the about $25 per day that it costs for care, to increase enrollment of students' children.

When considering that a student that is enrolled full time would only realistically be able to work part time it is easy to see why extra money for daycare could be hard to come by.

Although the University of Kansas’ Office of Institutional Research and Planning no longer keeps records of the number of KU students with children, 779 students reported that they had children when the count was last recorded in 2002.

This policy change is not the only way SRS has been trying to cut costs recently. Since the implementation of SRS’s consolidation plan in 2003, 62 of the agency’s 105 offices have closed and 11 management areas were consolidated to six.

Posted by Rochelle Valverde at 03:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This is the second semester ResNet, the campus internet service has required residents to register their game consoles to play internet games.

Weston Vice, residential communications consultant for ResNet said an Xbox or a PlayStation 2 takes bandwidth and slows the network down like any computer so they need to know how many consoles will be playing online.

“We just need to know how much information is going to be passing through our servers so we can keep the network from slowing down,” he said.

Vice said without registering your console with ResNet it won’t run on the internet. Every computer should have its own MAC address he said. A number specific to that computer and when the computer is registered with ResNet that address is registered as well. Unless the console’s MAC address is registered it won’t run on the network.

“No machine ever has the same MAC address so we can tell what device is running on our network,” he said.

Although ResNet wants people to register their consoles with their department many campus residents refuse to pay the extra fee and have found ways around the registration process.

“John” has lived on campus for several semesters and has always played Xbox live, an online game network. He has never paid the registration fee and he said he doesn’t plan on it.

“If I was at home I would pay for internet and it wouldn’t matter how many computers I have hooked up I would still pay one fee,” he said. “I don’t see why I should have to pay for my computer and for my Xbox.”

John said that he simply programs his computer information into his Xbox manually and ResNet views his Xbox as his computer. As long as he isn’t using his computer at the same time he has no connection problems.

“I can’t imagine paying $83 each semester to play Xbox live on top of my $50 yearly account,” he said.

John said the internet speed isn’t even very fast and he often had such a slow connection he couldn’t play or is just disconnected for having a slow connection speed. The quality of gameplay he would get wouldn’t be worth it.

John said he understands that ResNet has problems with bandwidth being taken up, but he isn’t very concerned.

“First of all if they’re concerned with me taking up bandwidth they would have talked to me a long time ago … I think as much people are downloading with their computers that’s taking up way more bandwidth than any Xbox,” John said. “They’ve caught people for downloading but they’ve never mentioned anything to me for my Xbox.”

Posted by Dan Hoyt at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

SUA is hosting the first annual Stand up Stand off contest this week. The two qualifying rounds on Jan. 31 and Feb. 10 will determine the four comedians that will compete at the Kansas Union Ballroom on march 15 at 7 PM. From here, the final comedians will battle for prize money, and an opening slot for professional comedian, Kristen Valee at Kansas City’s premier Comedy Club.

In December, Dan Solom was the first comedian to win the open mic at the union. This win could symbolize an increase in comedic popularity. Myles Grossblapp, an SUA comedy council member, is one man responsible for designing the comedy event. “I came up with the idea, because despite a strong music scene, I kind of noticed a lack of comedy in Lawrence.”

Well-known Kansas City comedian, Elliot Threat, has been alongside Myles since the inception of the event. Along with giving out most of the prizes, Elliot will also host the event, and a comedy seminar before the first qualifying round.

One comedian in the hunt to win the event is KU student and local comedian, Nikki Glaser. Glaser says comedy is competitve because, "everyone’s fighting for stage time, and there’s not a lot to be had.” For comedic inspiration, Glaser carries a notebook with her to write down the funny dealings of the day.

For first time comedians performing at the event, Glaser says, “don’t expect to do well...a lot of people crash their first time.” "The most important step is to master your style and figure out your on stage persona." In closing, Glaser addressed the dreaded hecklers in her wry comedic fashion. “It’s important to have a joke ready for any type of person who will make fun of you...if a fat Asian girl yells out ‘why don’t you try being funny,’ I’ve got to have a comeback on standby.” For more information visit suaevents.com.

Posted by Barton Vandever at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sitting in a dorm room it is typical for college students to dream about starting their own business. It is very rare for these dreams to become a reality, but five KU students are attempting to do that.

Last summer Brandon Hoge, KU law student had aspirations of creating a website that sold posters and calendars to college students. After researching the idea, he came to the conclusion a website like this would not be successful. Hoge then turned his attention to creating a social guide and planner for KU students.

Hoge said "I thought a website selling posters was outdated, so the idea evolved into a social guide and planner for students. I think a lot of the time students get planners but after a few weeks they are burried under a huge pile of books and they are never seen or used again, and we are looking to change that."

By Mid October Hoge was working with his four roomates to create the social guide and planner. After months of brainstorming the roomates decided to name the social guide 785.

Keith Pinkelman, 785 graphic designer said, "All the good names were taken in the beginning, so we began to focus on names aimed toward the university. Then one day Ryan called me with the idea 785, and we both knew we found the perfect name."

The magazine will have columns about school, dating, fashion, health and interesting facts that will be benefical to college students. A majority of the social guide will allow out of state freshman to feel at home in Lawrence. It will give them a better idea of what is taking place throughout the community.

Ryan Mathisen, 785 columnist and marketing director said, "This will be more like a reference guide to students. It is something they can carry in their backpacks to read before class, so they can get an idea of what Lawrence has to offer."

Currently 785 is searching for local businesses to advertise in the magazine. In an effort to entice retailers to buy advertising 785, will distribute 20,000 free copies throughout campus, local appartment complexs and business upon their request.

The first issue of 785 is scheduled to be released just before the beginning of the fall semester. The first issue will only be available in Lawrence. If it is successful they plan to expand to five more campuses next fall, each tailored specificly to the local univeristy.

Posted by Andrew Sherwood at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Health coverage for students may be changing within the next few years. Student Health Services is looking towards a new coverage plan due to similar complaints made by KU students about current plans provided by MEGA Life and Health.

Diana Malott, Assistant Director/Programs for the Student Health Services, would not be opposed to switching plans for the Fall 2007 academic school year. Malott simply said that they “could do better” when it comes to meeting student needs through medical coverage.

Currently, two plans are offered to KU students through MEGA. One is the Regents Plan and the other is the Student Senate Sponsored Plan which became available as of August 1, 2005. The Student Senate Sponsored Plan was issued to provide more coverage than previous plans. A separate plan is offered for international students.

Complaints made by KU students are usually about the customer service they receive when talking with MEGA, and about the level of benefits not being good enough. KU takes these complaints very seriously and addresses each one.

A problem with current coverage for college students is the amount of out-of-network benefits within each plan. Malott said that when students travel home for extended periods of time they usually don’t have much coverage because they are out of the network area.

Molly Winsby, Overland Park senior, is one student who has made a recent complaint to KU. Her concerns are with the service she was receiving from the legal department at MEGA and with her level of benefits. For days Winsby received different answers from MEGA concerning her medical coverage. She was confused and frustrated with the help she was receiving from MEGA and with not getting coverage that she felt was in her plan.

Malott feels what’s most important when choosing a good health insurance plan for students is the direct needs the students have. A student survey will be conducted in order to find out what students feel are most important in their insurance coverage. Decisions about changing plans, whether they remain through MEGA or be provided by a different vendor, will be made with the help of these surveys for the Fall 2007 academic year.

Sarah Jones

Posted by Sarah Jones at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On Dec. 6, 2005 three chapters of KU sororities submitted a proposal to the University of Kansas Parking Commission to revise parking regulations of the lot located to the east of JRP Hall. Residents of the Greek chapters Alpha Chi Omega, Gamma Phi Beta and Sigma Kappa developed the proposal, which will be reviewed at the Feb. 14 meeting of the commission, after the parking regulations for the lot changed at the beginning of the fall 2005 semester.

In previous years the lot was open to students and faculty with yellow parking passes from 8a.m. - 4p.m. and then became open to the public, including the residents of the three chapters located on West Campus Road, overnight until 8a.m. the following day. Beginning in the fall of 2005 however, the new parking policy for JRP prohibited women living in these three residences to park in the lot from 4a.m.-6a.m.

Todd Bradley, a Wichita senior and four year student employee of the Parking Department, credits the change in policy to the university and the Parking Department’s need to accommodate commuter students. “The goal of this change was simply to provide more spots for commuting students who are arriving at JRP during these hours,” Bradley said.

Conversely, the new policy forces most residents of the three Greek chapters to park their vehicles in the Memorial Stadium parking lot during the nighttime hours and then walk the distance to their residence. Jamie Hollenberg, St. Louis junior, Panhellenic Association President and resident of Gamma Phi Beta said that the possibility of violence which can face residents when walking at night from the stadium to the residences is what initiated the proposal. “Our number one concern with the change made is the safety of the women living in the three houses on West Campus Road,” Hollenberg said.

The proposal from the three chapters that the Parking Commission will review at the February meeting includes thorough research of various incidents of on campus crime reported in recent years as well as the suggestion that a new parking pass be administered to members of these three chapters. “We have suggested a special yellow pass be developed for members of these sororities that would allow members to park in the JRP lot overnight but then move the vehicles to Memorial Stadium beginning at 8a.m. to accommodate students and faculty,” Hollenberg said.

Bradley predicts that at the Feb. 14 meeting the commission is more likely to consider suggestions from the Greek proposal for fall 2006 parking regulations than to assent to changes for this semester. “Everyone should express their concerns with regard to parking, but they also should remember that the Parking Department and Commission have a lot of people, living both on campus and off, to accommodate,” Bradley said.

Posted by Elyse Weidner at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Before signing next years lease, students need to consider another option first. Buying is becoming an increasing phenomenon for students. “There are no landlords and you will make money off of it in the long run,” said Afton Sauer, a sophomore engineering student at KU.

Sauer is a part owner in her brand new, four bedroom town home in west Lawrence. She and her three roommates have lived in their town home since May of 2005. “We are very lucky that our parents wanted to buy us such a nice place,” Sauer said.

If owning is a financial option, there are many benefits. There are no landlords, and this fact alone has made many students like Sauer grateful to be an owner. “You always hear horror stories about terrible landlords and how students get ripped off,” Sauer said.

Lack of landlords is not the only benefit. There is the potential to make a decent profit if you become a buyer. “We live in a market where people move often. Therefore, there is an average appreciation of about 4 percent to 6 percent yearly,” said Berniece Garber, American Dream Realty, Lawrence.

The new question becomes whether or not to a buy new or pre-owned home. There are many factors that play into this decision. What is going to have the highest appreciation? What is the most affordable? What is the safest? “If you are willing to spend $120,000 and up, always buy in a new neighborhood,” Garber said.

The appreciation of a home in a new area is always the highest, and it will likely be in a safe part of town. Some areas like this have appreciated as much as 15 percent in one year. “This is because of the scarcity of $100,000 homes and the demand that results from it,” Garber said.

“There is only one down-side to owning a home,” Garber said “and that is if you don’t take care of it.” If good care is not taken of the home, appreciation becomes nonexistent. Money will be lost. To Sauer and her roommates this is not an issue, “We take better care of the town home because we know that we own it.”

Posted by Nicole Braman at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Students at the University of Kansas said that sometimes the sound of the campus steam whistle is too loud.

The steam whistle that is used to mark the end of classes is located on top of the KU Power Plant next to Watson Library.

Some students said that the loud noise can be a disturbance for those who study or work in the buildings around the whistle.

“It’s quite distractive while I’m working at Watson,” Jennifer Erin Farwell, Lawrence junior, said.

Hang Wu, a graduate who lives on campus, said she is irritated by the sound every time she wakes up in the morning, and it startles her when it blows.

“Is it really necessary?” she said.

People are also concerned about the students’ health.

According to University Daily Kansan, the campus whistle was temporarily turned off because of roof repairs at the KU Power Plant last fall.

The article said that the sound of the campus whistle causes hearing damage to the workers on the roof and the sound could startle them when the whistle went off.

It is possible that the big whistle’s blast harm students walking on campus.

Aaron Hood, senior, said he can even hear the sound of whistle in his place on Massachusetts Street.

“It’s good to have it because we all notice the end of class but I hate the sound,” he said.

According the University Relations, the steam whistle, which was originally used for student curfew, has been marking the end of classes since 1912.

It has been replaced twice. The first whistle was replaced in the early 1940s. The second one suffered an irreparable crack in January 2003.

Neil Lintecum, KU graduate, donated the present whistle which was manufactured by a Cincinnati manufacturer.

KU students might or might not love the sound of whistle but it is one of KU’s traditions.

Some students would miss it if the whistle no longer sounded.

Posted by Michiko Takei at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

John Benda Multimedia reporting January 27, 2006

LAWRENCE- University of Kansas students who need a little help proofreading and editing their papers this semester won’t have to look any further than their own computers.

Two Guys and a Red Pen is a new service from two KU students. For a small fee, students can email the rough draft copies of their essays, articles and term papers to the Two Guys’ web-site, and within 36 hours, find a marked-up, or even re-typed (for a few cents more) copy of the same paper in their mailbox, plus a critique sheet on how to strengthen the paper.

Creative writing student and Two Guys head editor, Jaymes Logan, said he started the service to help his fellow students who are either not very English-inclined, or are just a little on the lazy side.

“This is what I’m good at,” Logan said. “I’m appalled at the number of people I run into who are like, ‘Oh, I hate writing papers. I don’t want to write papers.’ We won’t write anybody’s paper for them, but I think writing’s something that everybody should get good at, whether they like it or not. That’s where we can help.”

Two Guys may even help proficient writers by saving them the time it takes to proofread a paper. Matt Cisneros, a KU English student, said that he would use the service just to save himself some time. “I’d use it because it’s inexpensive, and because there are just some mistakes that you can’t find yourself.”

The Two Guys and a Red Pen website will go online in February, and will have a list of fees that the Two Guys charge, and the email address to send papers to, along with some free writing tips and humorous anecdotes by the guys themselves. Logan has high hopes for his new business.

“It’s uber-cheap. I’m not trying to get rich off this. It’s just that this is what I’m good at, and I think it could actually help people write better.”

Posted by John Benda at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Jeremy Monken knew after being put on academic probation his freshman year that he needed to get his grades up – quickly. But trying to decode the chart of the current policy for academic probation and dismissal seemed daunting. As the number of hours completed rises, so too does the minimum GPA a student must have to avoid dismissal.

“It seemed pretty convoluted and confusing,” Monken said.

Starting in the fall of 2006, however, the system will be simplified drastically. Instead of using a gradual increase in hours in a multi-tiered system, the revamped policy will include two levels - underclassmen and upperclassmen.

“This new policy is meant to give students clearer and more understandable ideas on what it takes to succeed,” said Dr. Kim McNeley, Assistant to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

In this new system, students on probation with less than 60 hours must earn at least a 2.0 GPA the following semester, and must continue to do so until their cumulative GPA reaches a 2.0. Juniors and seniors need to earn a 2.5 GPA the next semester until their cumulative GPA is 2.0. For upperclassmen, the new policy makes it more difficult to reach good academic standing, but McNeley said it benefits students in the long-run.

“In order to attain a cumulative GPA of 2.0, which is necessary to graduate, students who have completed 60 hours or more need that higher GPA per semester to make sure they will meet that minimum,” McNeley said.

The changes include less stringent criteria for freshmen. Previously, a GPA of 0.5 or lower resulted in automatic dismissal for students who had completed more than 13 hours. Starting next fall, students in that situation will get the chance to earn a 2.0 GPA the following semester to avoid dismissal. McNeley said this creates a much-needed transition period for new college students.

For Monken, a junior who was eventually dismissed from KU in the fall of 2005, the updated policy makes it harder for him to reach good academic standing once he returns to the university. However, he said he agrees with the changes being made.

“It makes sense,” Monken said. “Otherwise you’d be able to just slide along and you’d never be able to graduate in a reasonable amount of time. The slacker in me wants to slide along, but I know that won’t cut it if I want a meaningful future.”

Posted by Ashley Thompson at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The University of Kansas grounds crew has started spring landscaping work early this year because of the unseasonably warm January weather.

Normally landscape crews spend December and January shoveling snow and scraping up ice all over campus. The warm weather in January, however, allowed the crews to focus more on spring landscaping plans and less on hazardous winter conditions.

“We were able to get a head start because of the weather, and that’s a credit to the lack of snow,” Mike Lang, Facilities Operations landscape manager said.

The grounds crew went along with its usual winter plans and planted more than 12,000 tulip bulbs all around campus. With only a minimal amount of snowfall to worry about, staff members also got a jump on cleaning up dead leaves and other autumn debris. On top of that landscapers begun re-mulching and re-edging flower beds to prepare them for annual flowers, something they usually aren’t able to begin until February. Lang said his employees will now move on to minor repairs and clean up and maintenance issues that always need attention.

“There’s always maintenance no matter what time of the year it is,” Lang said.

Lang’s work as head of the Facilities Operations landscaping crew often affects the decision making process of students on official campus visits. Lang said school officials support his cause because they recognize that a beautiful campus is necessary for keeping current students happy and attracting potential students. Now with the early start to spring, more visitors will see the blooming red tulips and fresh green lawns which could persuade them to choose KU over another school.

“The scenery around here makes it a great place to be,” Doug VanderValk, Rochester, New York, junior said. “A lot of people choose KU because of the way it looks compared to other schools.”

Posted by Jacob Butler at 02:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Many students receiving their syllabuses for this spring semester may ask, what is a clicker? It may bring to mind a television remote control, but this learning device of the future does anything but flip from channel to channel. The clicker is being used across KU and has been causing quite a stir among many students and teachers.

The clicker, technically known as the classroom performance system (CPS), very much resembles a remote control. With the simple click of a button, students can transfer their responses to teachers through frequency waves. To use, a student types in an answer to a question and the response is received on a computer at the front of the classroom. Answers are then transferred to projector screens in the forms of graphs or charts for the entire class to view. All responses are displayed anonymously. The clicker is used in KU classrooms for quizzes, polls, surveys, and attendance, among other things.

“I love the clicker,” KU junior Patrick Koester explained, “it really keeps you from falling asleep. It’s an easy way to respond to questions without raising your hand.”

Not all students are as fond of the clicker as others. KU junior Whitney Devine had her first experience with the clicker this year. She said, “I actually bought all of my books ahead of time this year and then I find out I have to buy a clicker as well. I had no idea what it was for, and didn’t really want to spend money on it.”

Teachers seem to have mixed reactions to the device as well. Instructor Allison Smith is teaching with the clicker for the first time in her Greek Art and Archaeology class held in Strong 330. She said, “it will probably take me about a year to figure out, but I think it will be beneficial in the long run.” Smith feels, because the clicker is anonymous, it will help to get all students involved. “The same people will not be raising their hands to answer questions every time.”

Smith was not required to use the clicker in her course, but it was strongly recommended that she take advantage of the technology. Smith’s classroom is one of the dozen or so high technology classrooms at KU that are equipped to use the clicker. The device is mostly used in large lecture classes such as Budig 120.

KU’s clickers come from the eInstruction Corporation based out of Denton, Texas. The clicker was created in 2000 and since then has become a part of 600 universities including KU and KState. Also, thousands of K-12 schools as well as 10 foreign countries use the clicker.

Clickers are sold at all three KU bookstores for about $15 each. Students must also pay a $10 fee per semester for activating and using the clicker through eInstruction.

Posted by Rebecca Fritzel at 02:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Architecture professor Nils Gore will be teaching his fourth year studio more than just how to design models this semester.

Community service is on the lesson plan as he and his students prepare to drive to Tulane, New Orleans on February 9 to help design and build a neighborhood center that will provide education, technical assistance and support to individual homeowners in an effort to rebuild New Orleans.

“I think educationally this is the most important aspect, to meet and talk to real people. I’ve been teaching for several years and the biggest lesson is not about architecture but about life,” Gore said.

Gore and his students will live and work with citizens of the 7th Ward, the second largest ward in downtown New Orleans.

They will first meet with community members at Tulane City Center to find out their wants, wishes and needs Gore said. The Tulane City Center invited the University of Kansas’ School of Architecture to help them because of its reputable success with design/build projects for low-income families and schools.

Upon their return on February 12, the 401 architecture students will begin to design a pre-fabricated set of building panels they will transport and assemble in Tulane at the end of the semester. Gore said he envisions an extendable building that can be added on to in later semesters. The space will include a covered builder’s yard where people can seek assistance with their rebuilding projects.

The 401 studio plans to continue the 7th Ward tradition of “house-raisings” where people help one another build their homes. Gore said he wants the whole process to community participatory.

He said he also wants to avoid the perception people might have of Kansas kids being “good doers” who simply deliver a product and leave.

His students, however, are excited to participate in this project he said, and it is a rare opportunity to design and build something life size.

Lindsay Kenkel, Missouri senior, who hopes to purse an architecture career in humanitarian building, said she was very excited and humbled to help.

“I am hoping the community center will give a sense of hope and prosperity to the 7th Ward. I would like to see them use it not only as a center, but as a message of re-growth and better times to come,” she said.

Posted by Erin Castaneda at 02:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Hall Center for Humanities at the University of Kansas awarded a new fellowship to Senate Majority Leader and 1990 KU alumnus, Derek Schmidt.

The fall 2006 semester will be the first of the Simons Public Humanities Fellowships at the University. According to the fellowship application, its purpose is to plug an individual back into humanities, which include the areas of politics, journalism and health care among others.

“The aim is to bring someone who is not part of the academic world here,” Victor Bailey, director of the Hall Center for Humanities said. He said they are coming in from a different world with a different perspective.

Bailey said he hoped the fellowship would break down the barrier between the University and the rest of the world. The University hopes that after the fellowship candidates such as Schmidt will return to their careers with a better knowledge of how the University works and what interests the professors, he said.

With academic interest in mind, Bailey said that the fellowship would also be an opportunity for professionals to attend and study an area of interest outside their careers. In Schmidt’s case, he will research globalization and its effect on Kansas. More specifically, he will look into the influence of China, India and Russia.

“Activities halfway around the globe have direct and concrete effect on the daily lives of Kansans, including the 67,000 I represent,” Schmidt said in a statement.

He said he believed that the way to better understand how these countries participate and compete in the world is through humanities.

During his semester at the University, Schmidt will receive an office with computer facilities in the Hall Center and KU library access for his studies. He will also attend courses of his choice. Candidates can receive credit for these courses. Although the fellowship does provide payment for one semester of housing if needed, candidates must pay for their own tuition.

The fellowship payment, provided by Dolph C. Simons, Jr. and his wife will help to cover other expenses such as travel. Because this is the first Simons fellowship, the Hall Center has no experience with the other kind of expenses people may get into, Victor Bailey, Director of the Hall Center for Humanities said.

Posted by Rachel Seymour at 01:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. college students experience sexual harassment, according to the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation's newest research report on campus sexual harassment.

University of Kansas Equal Opportunity Specialist Steve Ramirez said the thing to remember is that sexual harassment is not just about sex.

“It’s really about power exerted over someone,” Ramirez said. “The harasser likes the control they have over the other.

Latricia Bradley, a sophomore at KU, understands that point. Bradley said she has not been sexually harassed. However, one of her friends was.

“She was walking toward campus from Mass Street and a guy came up and grabbed her behind,” Bradley said.

Many times, students encounter sexual harassment not on campus but at off-campus venues.

Michael Seely, a senior at KU, said he notices sexual harassment usually at local dance clubs or bars.
“Mostly I think it happens when people are drunk or just trying to have fun, and things go a little too far.

So how would someone know if things are going too far? Sexual harassment comes in a variety of verbal and physical forms, Ramirez said. Those include unwelcome sexual advances, unwanted sexual attention, lewd jokes, and spreading sexual rumors.

Ramirez said that students must consider sexual harassment any situation where they feel violated or uncomfortable.

“If there is a problem, and you can’t or don’t want to confront the person, go tell someone who works at the University,” Ramirez said.

The negative effects of sexual harassment include psychological stress, depression and lowered self-esteem. In some cases, sexual harassment can get worse.

“It's my impression that most people don't take it too seriously, and I think it should be a bigger deal than it is. There's always the danger that a little harassment can turn to assault,” Seely said.

“People who are sexually harassed may feel guilty and wonder what they did to deserve it,” Ramirez said.

The major problem with sexual harassment at KU and other universities is that very few cases are reported. In 2003 only three cases were filed with the KU Equal Opportunity Office.

The AAUWEF study also showed that only 10 percent of college students go to a university employee with their concern.

The most common type of harassment at KU occurs in a hostile environment, Ramirez said. Usually in these situations the person finally reports it after a number of incidents.

Ramirez said there is a way to combat sexual harassment both at KU and in businesses: to educate people about it so they can report and prevent it in the future.

“Each year GTAs receive training on this topic at the start of the school year,” Ramirez said. “They are trained to deal with sexual harassment complaints.

The bottom line, according to Ramirez, is to treat sexual harassment more seriously.

“No one deserves to be disrespected that way,” Ramirez said.

To report sexual harassment, contact the Equal Opportunity Office, 313 Strong Hall, 785/864-3686.

Posted by Anna Bassham at 01:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

College students across the nation are having to shell out more money in order to keep up with their credit card payments as the result of an increase in monthly minimum card payments. Starting in late December, many students may have had their payments double from two percent to four percent and these numbers are not expected to go back down anytime soon.

The higher payments stem from a decision in January 2003 by the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Office of Thrift Supervision. The decision came as an effort to minimize the nation's growing debt and the increasing number of Americans filing for bankruptcy. Paying more money each month will help debtors pay off their bills in less time and with less interest added to their balance.

In the past, many banks were setting the minimum payments on their credit cards at levels so low that it did not even cover the interest. This sent many people into debt as interest kept accumulating on their balance. Simply paying the minimum payment would not lower their balance fast enough.

“I know that I pay the minimum payment each month. The only time that I don’t is when I have extra cash laying around,” Sara Hashman, KU student, said.

Many college students fall into debt because of credit cards and are often only paying the minimum payments. According to a new survey funded by OppenheimerFunds, Inc. and conducted by Smith College, most college students are in debt because of using credit cards in order to purchase personal items such as clothing, accessories, and grocery items.

“I only have one credit card and it’s maxed out. I won’t allow myself to carry another one, otherwise I’d be in big trouble,” Jennifer Laycock, KU student, said.

The survey also showed that Laycock is not alone in her debt. According to the survey, 65% of college students are in credit card debt. Of that percentage, 50% of the students charge their cards to the limit some or most of the time.

The rise in credit card payments will hit consumers and students hard at first. Yet, in the long run, credit card users will pay less money and pay off their balance in less time.

Posted by Megan Heffley at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A few University of Kansas students are taking over the Kansas Capitol one small step at a time. Students will be making themselves known at Kansas Days, the Republican Party Convention that is held every year at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka. The event, which is held on the weekend of Kansas’ birthday as a state, is a way for Kansas’ current Republican elected officials and candidates to reach out to citizens.

Many of Kansas’ political heavy hitters will be on hand at receptions to meet and greet. Senators Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback along with Attorney General Phil Kline and Congressman Jim Ryun will all host reception rooms open to anyone.

Students will be taking advantage of these receptions to get a first hand account of politics in action and to voice their opinions.

“Coming to Kansas Days allows college students to meet the different candidates and should they want to become active in politics, it is the best time to become acquainted and make the initial step into the political arena,” Chad Lawton, Field Director for the Kansas Republican Party, said.

This year Kansas Days will offer receptions focusing on the role of women and minorities in politics and public service. The receptions give students the chance to speak up about these topics with officials in an informal way. Students hope this will give them the chance to get more involved in the politics that affect them after meeting with officials at the convention. Karen Bentley, Lawrence sophomore said that most of all students attending hope their presence will push the government to think more about the youth of Kansas.

“By going to Kansas Days, it reminds them that we are here. I know several people who have gone on to do great things as young people in Kansas politics and in the private sector as a result of working with these officials,” Bentley said.

Posted by Courtney Hagen at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)