THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VOL.116 ISSUE 45
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
HOUSING
Students should protect homes
Renters' insurance recommended
BY LOUIS MORA
lmora@kansan.com
KANSAN STUDIO WRITER
Neil Spector didn't think about renters' insurance until the recent fire at the Boardwalk Apartments.
The Buffalo Grove, Ill., senior, said the fire that occurred near his complex, Parkway Townhouses, shed light on the importance of having renters' insurance — and what could result if students are not covered.
"I didn't think that I needed it," he said. "It kind of spooked me."
Nearly two-thirds of those living in U.S. rental properties go without renters' insurance, according to Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America.
Nina Shade of Douglas County Insurance & Financial Services said the problem stemmed from the idea that "this couldn't happen to me." She said students haven't experienced living on their own and being responsible for their property."
Nina Shade of Douglas County Insurance & Financial Services said the problem stemmed from the idea that "this couldn't
happen to me." She said students haven't experienced living on their own and being responsible for their property.
She said renters' insurance was inexpensive for the coverage it could provide. For about $20 a month, students could receive coverage for $30.000.
"You're taking a chance at losing everything you have and not having the funds to start over again," she said.
Spector said he wouldn't let the idea of cost deter him from purchasing renters' insurance, because even college students should be careful.
Charlene Bailey, assistant director of public affairs for the Kansas Insurance Department,
said renters' insurance among college students was one of the most under-sold policies.
She said her office tried to educate apartment renters about the importance of having renters' insurance through meetings and brochures, but that information didn't always translate.
"A lot of the time, we don't pay attention to what's in front of us until we need it," she said.
MULTICULTURALISM
SEE HOMES ON PAGE 6A
Rachel Sevinour/KANSAM
Beijing Modern Dance Company members, from left to right, Liao Si Di, Mabo and Hong Li visit the Kansas Union along with their fellow dancers Thursday for tea time at 3 p.m. They are scheduled to perform to Pink Floyd's "The Wall" at the Diedton center tonight at 7:30.
Beijing dancers to perform at KU
BY MALINDA OSBORNE
mosborne@kansan.com
KANSAM STAFF WRITER
"Most people don't really think of Pink Floid as dance music." Tmn said.
Michelle Tran, Derby junior and cultural arts coordinator for Student Union Activities, said it's this fusion that gives the performance a multicultural twist.
Imagine a group of Chinese dancers moving in sync to Pink Floyd's "The Wall" and you have the Beijing Modern Dance Company's performance "Rear Light" at 7:30 tonight at the Lied Center.
"Rear Light" explores the world of a young Chinese generation without
aim or direction. It is meant to reflect the younger generation in China today and its fight to be free from tradition and its search for new challenges said Willy Tsao, artistic director for the Beijing Modern Dance Company.
Tsao said traditional Chinese culture emphasizes singing in performances and denies emphasis on the body.
According to its Web site, Beijing Modern Dance Company was
"There's a Renaissance in China right now as people are beginning to use their body as a means of expression. It gives the person a greater self-awareness and is very significant in shaping the new China," Tsao said.
founded in December 1995 as an "independent" company under the leadership of the Beijing Cultural Bureau. It tours extensively throughout China and the globe, all the while striving to integrate Chinese culture with influences from abroad in its performances.
Changcheng Zhang, executive director for the dance company, said every audience has been warm in its reception to the company.
"This is a small world now thanks to the Internet and television." Zhang said. "And although the cultures may be different, we are all still human beings."
SEE DANCERS ON PAGE 6A
The Beijing Modern Dance Company travels throughout China and the world.
ENROLLMENT
Student Senate opposes drop policy change
BY JOHN JORDAN
jjordan@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Student Senate voted unanimously, 71-0. Wednesday to oppose shortening the class withdrawal period from three weeks to two weeks.
The Academic Procedures and Policies Committee is in the process of making a recommendation about the withdrawal policy.
The resolution composed by the senate said students have "strong opposition" to any changes.
The Academic Procedures and Policies Committee is in the process of
making a recommendation about the withdrawal policy. The 13-member panel, made up of faculty, classified and unclassified staff and three students, will vote on a recommendation Nov. 1. Two senators from the committee discussed the possible changes at the meeting.
Lauren Pierson, Prairie Village junior, said that the committee recommending a shorter first withdrawal policy would be rash. The policy was changed in Spring 2004 from five weeks to three weeks, with opposition from students, said Pierson, committee member and junior College of Liberal Arts senator.
Now the committee is discussing lowering it again, before it's had time to assess the effectiveness of the current time length.
"As students, I feel sometimes they overlook us," Pierson said.
She said the three students on the committee were against changing it, yet the committee seemed to be in favor of the changes.
She hoped the resolution would send a strong message to the committee.
Stan Loeb, committee member, said the committee is only making a recommendation, and that recommendation would have several steps before it goes to the provost and then the chancellor.
SEE CHANGE ON PAGE 6A
EDUCATION
Sixth graders Taylor Schley, right, and Tiana Coehlo, left, work on a telementoring project at Eisenhower Middle School in Topeka on Thursday. The 6th-grade students are part of the Pathways to Success Program, operated by the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning.
Frank Tankard/KANSAN
BY FRANK TANKARD
flankard@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Marcus Fillyaw's mentor is a man named Zac Burson from Bassier City, La. Marcus, 11, has never seen Burson before. But Burson's been helping him with every step of his class project, a Powerpoint presentation about a person who took a historic stand.
Program provides telementors for kids
Midge Schmitz' 6th-grade gifted class had seven teachers in the computer lab on Tuesday afternoon. As Schmitz looked over the shoulders of her six students, virtual mentors worked with each of them.
"Mine's on Jackie Robinson,"
These Eisenhower Middle School students, like students throughout Topeka Public Schools, are being "telementored" by e-mail from volunteers throughout the world. Through Pathways to Success, a KU Center for Research on Learning programs in place in Topeka since 1999, the students are able to learn technology, receive individual attention and work on a class project at the same time.
"The mentors have been great," Schmitz said. "They have sent information, and Web sites, and primary sources."
The KU Center for Research on
Learning started Pathways to Success in 1999 with the goal of helping students get to college. The grant that funds the program requires that more than 50 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced lunches. Because Lawrence didn't fill out that requirement, the program was placed in Topeka. In August, it received $9.3 million during the next six years.
The program places KU staff at middle schools and high schools in Topeka to mentor the students and work with their families. Telementoring, which is receiving advice from professionals by e-mail, has been in place since the program's inception.
Marcus said.
Wendy Meier, the telementor coordinator, spends her days driving from school to school to coordinate the telementoring program, which is in place in all six Topeka middle schools and all three high schools.
Volunteer mentors are paired with students through the International Telementor Program out of Fort Collins, Colo., which finds mentors for 400 to 600 Topeka students each year. Students send the program their biographies, including hobbies and interests, and mentors select students they want to be paired with.
SEE KIDS ON PAGE 6A
Kansas' offense receives a zero, again Kansas will face Colorado in Boulder on Saturday. Will the Jayhawks score a touchdown for the first time in two games or get shut out? PAGE 8B
Regular season winding down for soccer The Jayhawks hope to win their last three regular season games in order to have a chance at competing in the NCAA tournament. PAGE 1B
Offense can make history
Kansan Sports Editor Kellis Robinett says Kansas' offense needs to pick up its scoring pace or else it will be remembered as the worst offense in Kansas' school history. The defense is doing all it can. PAGE 10
Index
Comics. ... 6B
Classifieds. ... 7B
Crossword. ... 6B
Horoscopes. ... 6B
Opinion. ... 5A
Sports. ... 1B
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All contents, unless stated otherwise.
© 2005 The University Daily Kansan.
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