NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 3A
BELIEFS
K-State takes another tactic to study intelligent design
New center will examine controversy
MANHATTAN — While the University of Kansas grabbed headlines over aborted plans for a course on intelligent design, Kansas State University quietly set up a new center months ago to tackle the same concept and related issues.
BY JOHN HANNA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Center for the Understanding of Origins was a response last year to what was then an on-the-horizon debate over how evolution is taught in public schools.
Its goals include bringing scientists and philosophers together and giving students a
better understanding of how science works.
Students have often discussed whether the universe was designed by a higher power in philosophy classes. But the debate is hotter now — and reaching a wide public audience — because of the State Board of Education's recent approval of science standards for Kansas public schools that treat evolution as a flawed theory.
Intelligent design can't be ignored. educators acknowledge
"There's certainly the background of the controversy," said Tim Bolton, a Kansas State physics professor who proposed creating the center last year. "Controversy is opportunity."
Intelligent design advocates have complained repeatedly that their ideas — and criticisms of evolutionary theory — don't get a fair hearing on university
The Kansas State center isn't friendly to intelligent design, and other Kansas courses will be in the hands of professors who don't think much of the concept, intelligent design advocates say.
But getting universities to tackle the subject at all is a first step, said John Calvert, a retired Lake Quivira attorney who helped found the Intelligent Design Network. He compared past debates over evolution to a football game in which educators have assumed, "You need a security guard to keep a competitor out of the stadium."
"The stadium is being opened up to a competing idea," Calvert said. "Eventually, you will have real competitors on that playing field. You will eventually have scientists rather than theologians engaged in the conversation."
Santa and his all dog sleigh
Willie Stewart,
5, of Bend, Ore.,
pets costumed
chihuahuaus
Coco, left, Kirby,
Joey, and Cooper,
right, before
the start of the
Jingle Bell Run
in Bend on Saturday. The run preceded the Bend Christmas Parade
Seth Bundy/KANSAN
RELIGION
Celebrating Christmakkah
BY ALY BARLAND
abarland@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
In a few weeks, Jennifer Labovitz will be lighting the Christmas tree — and the menorah.
Though the majority of students with religious affiliations celebrate the holidays of a single faith, Labovitz celebrates those of more than one.
As a child, the St. Louis senior said she liked celebrating both holidays because she received more presents. Her parents gave presents for each of the eight nights of Hanukkah and also for Christmas Eve and Christmas Dav.
She celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah because her mother's side of the family has a mix of Catholics and Lutherans and her father's side is Jewish.
with her mother on Christmas, but her father stays home.
Jay Lewis, director of KU Hillel, said he knew students who celebrate holidays from multiple faiths, but it was not common.
But a problem with celebrating both holidays, he said, was that it could be challenging to truly celebrate the religious aspects of both holidays.
Labovitz attends church
Rachel Stelmach, Overland Park freshman, also celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah.
She only celebrated Christmas when she was younger, but also started celebrating Hanukkah her freshman year of high school because her parents come from different faith backgrounds.
"I don't necessarily consider myself Christian or Jewish," Stelmach said.
Because Christianity derived from Judaism, there are several
parallels that connect the two religions, said Troy Hinkel, director of theological education at St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center.
He said that understanding these connections and relationships could be beneficial to students of all faiths because it would create a greater tolerance for different beliefs.
Labovitz said she personally did not find it difficult to celebrate both holidays but had been criticized for affiliating with Christianity and Judaism.
For Labovitz, the benefits of her belief system outweigh any negative feedback she receives.
"Celebrating both faiths allows me to experience two of the most widely celebrated religions first-hand," Labovitz said.
Edited by Nate Karlin
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS
Have events or meetings you would like publicized?
In a student group open to all students?
E-mail nolx13@ku.edu for more information
Contact Student Senate to place YOUR AD HERE FOR FREE!!
University Christian Fellowship
Tuesdays @ 7:30pm
December 5,2005
funded by:
SENATE
The Ecumenical Christian Ministries Building 1204 Oread Ave.841-3148
rcucf@sbcglobal.net | www.ucf4u.org
PAID FOR BY KU
Are you a student who:
Join the Nontraditional Student Foundation formerly OAKS) @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nontradstudentfoundation/
got JAYWALK?
*Graduate students also welcome!
If not, JAYWALK is a student run volunteer organization in which a team of a man and a woman escort someone from campus back to their dorm or other destination on or near campus.
*is married?
*is a veteran?
*is 3 or more years older than your classmates?
*commutes 10 or more miles to school?
*has dependent children?
The service runs nightly
The goal of JAYWALK is to ensure the security within our KU community by enforcing "SAFETY IN NUMBERS"
Sundays-Thursdays from 9PM-1AM and has two locations at Anschultz Library and Corbin Hall.
It's never too late to become a volunteer!!! Hours with JAYWALK count for Rock Chalk Revue and other community service programs such as the one in Lewis Hall. If interested in volunteering, contact David Charles. JayWalk Volunteer Coordinator at safety@ku.edu or dc_charles@yahoo.com.
Our main phone line while in service is 864-3222.
"THINK BIG, GO BIG, WALK BIG!!"
If that line is not working, dial 864-1928, the number for the Anschultz Circulation desk.
Student Senate and the Elections Commission is currently looking for an Elections Commissioner for this Spring's election.The job pays $10 per hour.Applicants should have law or elections administration background.
Duties will include:
. Administer, interpret,and enforce all policies and election rules set forth by the Commission.
.Serve as an administrative assistant to the Commission, attending and reporting on all meetings and functions,and representing the Student Senate in investigations of election misconduct.
- Be available to communicate with all candidates, coalitions, and others in the University community regarding the Elections Code and Commission policies.
·Be responsible for conducting all aspects of the campaign under the authority and guidance of the Commission.
Applications are available in the Dean of Students office and are due December 9. For
more information, please contact Jonathan Steele by email at jsteele2@ku.edu.