2A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2006
Who's Who at KU
Chris Evans
Military man, student and CBS TV fan returns to Kansas, family and friends after traveling a long, interesting road to the University
BY ANDREA CHAO
editor@kansan.com
CORRESPONDENT
Chris Evans is a University of Kansas student with unusual interests and life experiences ranging from riding his motorcycle to competing
in martial arts fights to serving in the U.S. Army.
"I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life, but I wanted to do something that was meaningful," Evans said.
E v- ans, 25, returned to Kansas after serving in the Army. He is in his first semester at the University of Kansas and is studying pre-architecture.
"I wanted to be close to my family," said Evans, who was born in Kansas City, Mo., and grew up in Topeka. "My parents begged me to come back home."
Evans is a self-proclaimed "beach bur."
After living in Texas and Florida, coming back to Kansas has been somewhat of a
culture shock, he said.
"I can't go into a place without a shirt," Evans said. "I just want to know why people here are so uptight."
After graduating from Topeka's Seaman High School, Evans moved to Houston. He earned an associate's degree in automotive engineering and technology in 1999. In 2000, he decided to join the Army.
Now, a typical day for Evans is similar to that of many college students. He unwinds from school and work by cooking dinner and watching TV. His favorite shows include "CSI" and "Two and a Half Men."
What Evans does to
fund his education -
martial arts - is not
as typical. He said
he has been doing
martial arts since
he was six. Now
he earns $500 to
$1000 per fight,
depending on the competi-
tion.
"One of my best friends started it," he said, "and I said 'Hey, why don't I try it?"
Evans de-
nothed himself
Evans described himself as a typical college student with a slightly broader understanding of life. Family and friends are priorities for Evans, as well as his motorcycle His short-term goals include finishing college and attending graduate school.
"My overall
goal is I want to
retire comfortably at 50, on the beach," Evans said. "I hope to be happily married someday."
— Edited by Matt Wilson
MULTICULTURALISM
Roadshow aims at diversity
BY ANNE WELTMER
aweltmer@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
This week kicked off the third annual Multicultural Roadshow, put on every spring by the KU Office of Admissions and Scholarships.
As opposed to the fall Rock Chalk Roadshow, which is for all students, the Multicultural Roadshow is directed toward minority students in Kansas, said Lisa Pinamonti Kress, director of the Office of Admissions and Scholarships.
Pinamonti Kress said the Multicultural Roadshow has increased the number of minority applicants, but did not know by how many.
The University does not offer special scholarships for these students. All of the scholarships offered are based on the quality of applicants, Pinamonti Kress said. The Endowment Meritorious scholarship is awarded to students who "enhance the diversity of the student body," according to the KU Office of Admissions and Scholarships Web site. Pinamonti Kress said that all students, not just minorities, are eligible for the award.
This year the Roadshow will go to Wichita, Kansas City and Topeka each week for two weeks.
Office staff members will make stops at high schools, middle schools, civic organizations, churches, and other places that receive University information less frequently. Kerri Lesh, KU admissions counselor, said they would drop off brochures and invite people to attend formal receptions scheduled for next week.
During the formal receptions in each city, there will be question and answer sessions, prize give-aways, pictures with Baby Jay, information tables for various University departments and programs, and a keynote speaker who will discuss how to pay for college and student services at the University. The KU Alumni Association will provide pizza.
Two groups that always send representatives are the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Multicultural Resource Center, Juan Izaguirre, assistant director of the office, said. He went to Wichita last year and Kansas City the year before.
Izaguirre said, "I think it's a good time because it gives parents and students time to get a glimpse," of the University.
He said it was convenient for parents and students to meet not only representatives from the University, but also representatives from majors they are interested in.
Lesh said drop-offs were made in Topeka and Wichita on Monday and Kansas City on Tuesday. Next week, receptions will be held in Wichita on Monday, Topeka on Tuesday, and Kansas City on Wednesday.
Edited by Kathryn Anderson
Candidate stresses reforms
SPEAKER
BY FRED A. DAVIS III
f davis@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITE
Robin Jennison, GOP gubernatorial candidate, tells University of Kansas students that an increase in taxes will improve the state's overall economy during a KU College Republicans meeting at the Kansas Union on Tuesday night. He also spoke about the need for improvements in Kansas school districts.
That stern accusation came from Robin Jennison, the former Kansas house speaker who has entered the Kansas gubernatorial race, Tuesday night at the Kansas Union as the KU College Republicans opened their Gubernatorial Series.
"People elect a governor to make the tough decisions. Gov. Sebelius has not done that."
The first of three speakers that will take part in the series, Jennison made clear what his first priority as governor would be — fixing school finance in the state of Kansas.
Anna Faltermieer/KANSAN
Jennison spent a good part of his nearly hour-long speech lamenting how the current school finance formula — a state operated system — had taken money from other state projects such as the highway program, transportation and welfare. He called the current formula, which has been in place since 1992, "unsustainable."
He said taxation and the raising of money should be left up to the individual school districts, with the state subsidizing the counties — an idea that Jennison said worked before a restructuring of the school finance formula in 1992. Currently, money is distributed to each school district by the state, a policy that he said was inefficient because each district has specific needs.
Jennison continued to hammer away at Sebelius, saying she shied away from her duty as governor during last year's legislative decision on funding state schools and instead turned the decision over to the state Supreme Court.
Improving the state's economy was another issue that Jennison said was vital to Kansas' development.
"Johnson County cannot carry Kansas forever," he said, referring to the economic load that
the county carries for the state. "Johnson County is the best thing to happen to Kansas in a while; without it, Kansas would be sucking wind."
He added that the state needed to do more to encourage economic development throughout the state.
When asked about the recent attempt to repeal the illegal immigrant in-state tuition act, Jennison said he would support the movement. This is despite Jennison's still said immigration had been a major boon to his native western Kansas. Jennison hails from Healy, located 60 miles northeast of Garden City.
Edited by Matt Wilson
Fact of the day
Vampire bats feed on the blood of pigs, horses, cows, birds and occasionally humans to survive.
Source: National Geographic
"Quote of the Day"
"He not busy being is bury dying"
— Bob Dylan, from his song "It's Alright I'm (My Only Bleeding)"
Want to know what people are talking about? Here's a list of Tuesday's most emailed stories from Kansan.com:
1. DOWNS IS OUT
2. Real weight loss starts with realistic goals
3. Intelligent design speech draws laughter, applause
4. Inmates perform at local church
5. Student Senate urges publishers to unbundle textbooks
Photoshop Dreamweaver Government Docs Online Journals Powerpoint...
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