UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, February 10, 1995
5A
Lisa Hamill,
Lawrence
junior,
answers
callers'
questions at
the University
Information
Center.
Matt Flickner /
KANSAN
KU Info knows all (or looks it up)
By Sarah Morrison Kansan staff writer
What do you get when you combine 17,851 trees, a Stafford Loan and a virgin?
An example of the answers the staff at the University Information Center gives to the 600 or so callers they speak with every day.
Staff members at KU Info said people called and asked about everything from the number of trees on campus to financial aid.
Brennan Smith, Hutchinson senior and KU Info employee, said late one weekend night he was questioned about his sex life.
Well?
"Some girls, obviously drunk, called me up last Friday night and asked me if I was a virgin," he said.
"I said, 'Hum, that is a good question.'" he said.
"I said, 'Hum, that is a good question,' he said. Most questions do get a reply, though, and if the staff doesn't know the information, they will look through an extensive Rolodex, file cabinets, books, on-line computer information and any other reference material they can get their
hands on.
"My very first question ever was, 'What is the total University-staff payroll?'" Smith said. "But we found it. We always find it."
The phones are manned by one staff member who works a four-hour shift. During the busiest hours, between 5 and 8 p.m., the phones are answered by two staff members. The number is 864-3506.
KU Info has been answering questions from students and people in the community for almost 25 years.
KU Info began in 1970 as a rumor hot line when the campus was embroiled in Vietnam-War protests.
Some of the questions asked during the first day—May 7,1970—that KU Info opened up its phone lines were:
Is the National Guard coming to Lawrence?
Will they arrive soon?
Was a student assassinated on campus?
After the war ended, the University maintained the hot line, which became a part of student organizations and activities.
Today, most callers ask about academic deadlines, but occasionally the staff members receive calls of a more serious nature.
"We do get very serious personal assistance calls," said Shawn Trimble, KU Info employee. "Calls like, 'I've been raped. Is there someone I can talk to?'
For this reason, Trimble said, staff members have to be compassionate as well as good researchers.
Although students still will be able to call and hear a human voice, Trimble said, the center has plans to enter the information super highway soon and provide on-line services.
But extensive telephone automation is not in the center's future, he said. After all, KU Info provides a personal service to the students.
So students still will be able to call up and find out the answers to all those burning questions, like: What is the name of the van on Scooby Doo cartoons?
Trimble smiles and answers, "The Mystery Machine."
Official Rules
KU student to compete in Miss USA pageant tonight
Kansan staffreport
Deborah Daulton, the KU student who was crowned Miss Kansas USA last October, will be competing in the Miss USA pageant tonight in Padre Island, Texas.
Dana Stowell, Leavenworth senior, said Daulton had been involved with the pageant circuit since she arrived at KU and that she always had the confidence to win.
"When she started getting ready for Miss Kansas, she tackled it like she wanted to win," he said.
Stowell said Daulton had been going to mock interviews to sharpen her ability to think on her feet.
Jennifer Vannetta, Overland
Vent said Daulton, who is a physical therapy major and a cadet in the KU Army ROTC program, was constantly in the gym working to improve her appearance.
Park junior, helped Daulton prepare for her interviews and helped her pick out her wardrobe for the Miss USA pageant. She said Daulton, who is from Salina, had a good chance of winning.
Daulton also consulted former pageant winners.
"Deborah feels good about her hard work," Vametta said. "She's definitely ready."
"She wanted to find out what little things make a difference," Vent said.
The Miss USA pageant will air at 8 p.m. tonight on CBS.
Kansan staff report
A 21-year-old KU student was arrested Wednesday after he hit another KU student at a bar and then resisted arrest, Lawrence police reported.
KU student arrested after assaulting student, officer
Habib Omar Saliou-Diallo, Prairie Village freshman, was at Bull Winkle's Bar, 1344 Tennessee St., when he allegedly assaulted Brandon Haag, Wichita freshman, police said.
As Saliou-Diallo was trying to go into the bar, police were able to pull him back from the doorway and arrest him, according to the report.
According to the police report, Saliou-Diallo hit Haag and broke several of the bar's windows. Police arrived and followed Saliou-Diallo up the street to the 18th Amendment. 1340 Ohio St.
There was a struggle between
After being put in the front seat of the car, Saliou-Diallo began kicking the car radio in an attempt to get away, police said.
Saliou-Diallo and police, and Saliou-Diallo pushed officer Kirk Fultz of the Lawrence police department. Saliou-Diallo was arrested.
Saliou-Diallo was transported to the Douglas County Law Enforcement Center and was charged with battery against a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Haag, who had a cut and swollen lip, did not seek medical treatment.
Officer Fultz was not injured, and no damage to the radio was reported, according to the report.
Jayhawk Bookstore
Saliou-Diallo was released at 3:45 p.m. yesterday on $1,000 bond.
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9-5 Sat. 12-4 Sun.
843-3826