SPORTS
Jerod Haase puts his body on the line every game, but even he is not immune to punishment. PAGE 1B
CAMPUS
PARTLY SUNNY
A student panel discusses the challenges of growing up biracial PAGE 3A
High 42° Low 24°
growing up biracial. PAGE 3A
Weather: Page 2A
Bird
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
VOL.104,NO.100
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1995
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Diplomas to miss commencement
Schedule change delays spring grades, printing
By Matt Hood Kansas staff writer
NEWS: 864-4810
Every May, graduating students saunter down the hill, robes billowing after each proud step. After all the work, and after all the waiting, a diploma is only steps away.
But not this year.
Because the semester started one day later than originally planned, instructors won't be able to turn in grades in time for diplomas to be printed for the commencement ceremony, which is May 14.
Instead, graduating students will have to wait until May 24 to pick up their diplomas at Strong Hall. Or, they can
pay $5 and have them mailed.
For the past decade, graduating students have been able to strut over to Strong Hall to pick up their diplomas after walking down the hill, said Bob Turvey, assistant registrar.
Last spring, more than 800 students, or 27 percent of those graduating, picked up their diplomas immediately after the ceremony.
This year, the last day of finals is May 12. Grades aren't due from instructors until May 17, which means that some students may not know if they're graduating by May 14.
Turvey said that picking up the diploma on the day of commencement made graduation more memorable.
Thomas Mulinazzi, associate dean of engineering and chairman of the calendar committee, said he had pushed to get the spring semester started later.
"I think people want to make the commencement experience as personal as possible." he said.
The time between fall and spring semesters didn't allow enough time for departments to compile honor rolls, probation letters and letters of dismissal. Mulinazzi said,
Mulnazzi said that this semester had started before some students learned they had been dismissed for poor grades. As a result, they enrolled and paid fees, only to find out that they were no longer students.
The calendar committee pushed the spring semester starting date from Jan. 10 to Jan. 11. Because 75 class days are required by the Board of Regents for each semester, grades won't be firmed in time for commencement.
"I was coming from the view of the clerical staff that really has to crunch between semesters to meet students' needs," Mulinazzi said.
He promised, however, that this would be the only year that diplomas wouldn't be available on commencement day.
"I apologize because I was the one who stirred up the mud, but I promise this is a one-shot deal," he said.
Spring 1995 academic calendar Because of scheduling problems, diplomas won't be available following this year's commencement ceremony.
Micah Laaker / KANSAN
Entomology meets technology
Kathleen Driscoll / KANSAN
Chip Taylor, professor of entomology and acting head of the entomology department, shows off his monarch butterflies. Taylor has been awarded a $475,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a computerized science curriculum based on the monarch butterfly. The program will be available on the Internet. SEE RELATED STORY PAGE 3A
College may swap credit for salaries
By Virginia Marghelm Kansan staff writer
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may stop giving academic credit to undergraduate teaching assistants.
If a recent resolution from the Committee on Undergraduate Studies and Advising is adopted, undergraduates would no longer receive credit for typical graduate teaching duties such as grading papers, typing quizzes and leading discussion sections.
Students would be paid instead.
The idea behind the courses is to give undergraduate students a taste of what it's like to run a class. Students must get permission from the professor to enroll.
Members of the committee fear that students could be exploited.
Sara Rosen,
head of the sub-
committee that
drafted the resol-
tion, said the
subcommittee
helping with Astronomy 191 would detract from her learning experience.
"Money would be nice, since I'm a college student, but in a way, I think I should get credit." Montgomery said.
Jeff Nichols, Topeka senior, agreed. "I think the experience would be different in that it would be more of a job than a collegiate experience," Nichols said. "The class makes for a very good teacher-student relationship, and money could take away from that."
Stephen Shawl, professor of physics and astronomy, said passing the resolution would eliminate a learning experience for students. Astronomy 191, a class taught by Shawl, has undergraduate student assistants who receive credit.
But Pamela Houston, director of
Stephen Shawl professor of physics and astronomy
had received a number of questionable requests for new teaching assistant courses. The course requests, she said, looked more like requests for graduate teaching assistant positions.
"It would kill off my program completely because there is no money to pay anybody." Shawl said.
"We drafted the resolution to protect students and to protect the University." Rosen said.
Laura Montgomery, Leavenworth freshman, that said being paid for
the undergraduate center and member of committee, said giving undergraduate assistants credit might leave them open to exploitation.
"CUSA feels very strongly about doing something to make sure students are paid for what they do,"she said.
J am s Muyksen, dean of liberal arts and sciences, said the issue of
giving undergraduate assistants credit was a complicated one.
"If it’s not done right, it could exploit students," Muyksens said. But, he said, "Teaching is often the best way of learning."
A draft of the resolution has been sent to administrators, who have asked departments for feedback on the resolution.
When the departments respond, the committee will reconsider the resolution, said Allen Omoto, chairman of the committee.
If the revised resolution is then passed by the committee, it will be sent to the College Assembly for a final vote. The assembly is made up of all faculty members in the college. The resolution could be passed this semester, Omoto said.
Maestro Marsalis
Jazz musician Wynton Marsalis gave an invaluable gift to three KU trumpet students — a free lesson as part of an instructional jazz video he was filming. Page 6A
One-strap backpack carrying may be hazardous
Muscles, bones, spine may become displaced
"Weight bearing on one side of the spine can lead to a problem," said Sandra Bowman, chief physical therapist at Watkins Memorial Health Center. "When a person carries something on one shoulder long enough, they become asymmetrical."
Warning: The decision to carry a backpack by using only one strap could be hazardous to your health.
By Brian Vandervilet
Kansan staff writer
Bowman said the spine curved to one side when weight was unevenly distributed. The overuse of certain shoulder muscles could result in them becoming shorter than the muscles on the other side. Pain results when the muscles become fatigued or cramped
Over time a person's spine and shoulders can become permanently displaced, she said.
from being over-worked.
"The spine is not meant to be in a sidesways, bent position for a long period of time," Bowman said. "If a person continues to carry things on one side, eventually their body will change."
Bowman said the problem was something she had seen often because many students preferred to use only one strap.
Lisa Tuckel, Lecompton freshman,
said she always wore one strap because
it was more convenient than two straps.
"When I'm in a hurry, I just throw it on one shoulder and take off," she said. "I usually have a sore shoulder at the end of the day."
When Ryan Meeker, Lawrence senior, was a freshman, the student body president gave a speech at Tradition's Night and said that only freshmen used two
straps. Meeker said that some people probably used one strap for appearance reasons.
"I suppose it says, 'I'm the cool guy that doesn't need the safety of that second strap,'" said Meeker, who now sometimes risks looking like a freshman by wearing two straps.
Melissa Goodell, Corvallis, Ore, graduate student, began using two straps when she realized it was more comfortable.
"I have had back problems before," she said. "This doesn't aggravate my back."
"But the best thing to do is use both straps," Anthony said.
Lawrence chiropractor Dennis Anthony said he often had seen students who aggravated their backs or shoulder muscles by using only one strap. Students who prefer wearing only one strap should alternate shoulders from day to day, he said.
Backpackers beware