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wegnesgay, January 25, 1995
UNIVERSIIII DAILI RANSAN
Entomology professor busy as a bee Students still
Insect expert helped KU build collection
By Robert Allen
Kansan staff writer
Charles Michener has circled the world chasing after something that most people run away from—bees.
Michener, 75, professor emeritus of entomology, has been studying bees and other insects at the University of Kansas since 1948. In those 47 years, he has helped the KU build one of the largest collections of bee specimens in the United States.
Today, the collection holds more than 470,000 specimens taken from all over the world.
"I think we have the best worldwide representation of bee collections in North America," he said.
When Michener first arrived at KU, the insect collection sat in one room in Snow Hall. Now the collection is spread across three floors and keeps growing.
"KU was a much smaller school then," he said. "But it had a very strong entomology department, which is why I came. It was
in Java and Thailand, among other places.
well-known and continues to be a very well-known entomology department in the country."
Michener also has written seven books, mostly on insects, including one he wrote with his wife.
Michener's wife, Mary Michener, who owns Adventure A Bookstore, 844 Massachusetts St., said her husband was well known in the entomology community.
"Like many good scientists, it is hard to separate the man from the science."
During World War II, Michener studied insect-borne diseases for the Army before coming to KU. After arriving, he continued working on several projects, studying moths, chiggers and bees. He also carried a heavy teaching load, including classes on medical entomology, general entomology and household and garden insects—the last subject he said he's unfamiliar with.
Although Michener retired at age 70, he still works on campus. He is writing another book on bees, edits a scientific bulletin and talks with graduate students regularly.
Throughout his career, Michener has had year-long research expeditions in Australia, Africa, Brazil and Mexico. He's had shorter excursions
"There are a limited number of people in the world who care about the evolution of social insects," she said. "Among those, he is the top man. Everybody knows Michener. They seek him out."
George Byers, professor emeritus of entomology, said Michener has attracted graduate students from all
James Ashe
Professor of entomology
over the world.
"In his field, he is almost without equal," Byers said. "People all over the world know his work."
Michener said that teaching graduate students had been a learning experience.
"We were able to attract some of the best graduate students in the country," he said. "Some of the best ones
have been in recent years. When I came here, the graduate students knew the same sort of stuff I knew. As time went on, they knew stuff I was never trained in. And I learned a lot from them."
James Ashe, associate professor of entomology, said Michener was an important part of the science of entomology.
Edmee Rodriguez / KANSAN
"Like many really good scientists, it is hard to separate the man from the science," he said. "He has maintained an almost childlike enthusiasm for the field. Talking to him is like talking to someone with a fresh attitude of the natural world around them."
Charles Michener, professor emeritus of entomology, removes some orchid bees from the insect cabinets. Michner has helped build one of the largest bee collections in the United States.
Students still can have sex in the spring
By Virginia Marghelm Kansan staff writer
Dennis Dalley, professor of social welfare, knows that people do not always get what they want.
So do students who hoped to take Dailey's course, "Human Sexuality in Everyday Life," this spring.
Dailey had taught the class every semester through the School of Social Welfare until last fall, when the school eliminated the course in the spring semesters. Now, the
university of Kansas will offer the class in fall semesters only.
This spring, Dailey had to settle for teaching the class off-campus, and students had to settle for taking the class for no credit through Ecumenical Christian Ministries.
Ann Weick, dean of social welfare,
said the course could not be offered
in the spring because the school
needed Dailey to teach other classes
for social welfare maiors.
Dennis Dalley
ECM was concerned that the course was not being offered this semester, said Thad Holcombe, director of ECM. So, ECM approached Dailey about teaching his class off-campus.
"We felt like it was important to offer this opportunity for students to talk about human sexuality." Holcombe said.
Dailey will teach the class, which begins Feb. 1, on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the ECM building, 1204 Oread Ave. Because the class will meet only nine times, it will not cover all material included in KU's class, Dailey said. No book will be required, but there will be suggested reading material.
Up to 200 students can register for the course. There is a $25 registration fee. Sixty-four have registered so far, Holcombe said.
Kristen Reed, Salina freshman, said she decided to take the class through ECM because she thought it was important for people to be aware of human sexuality.
"It's an issue that people aren't aware of," Reed said. "The more you know about sexuality, the better."
Although offering the course through the ECM provided a solution, Dalley said it was not the best solution.
"For me, this is a less than satisfactory way of addressing students' needs on this campus." Dailey said.
Holcombe said he hoped KU could offer the class more in the future.
"I would like to see it offered every semester." he said.
Whether the school will be able to offer it both semesters in the future depends on resources, Weick said.
IT'S TIME TO STOP.
Discriminatory incidents such as the racial epithets that occurred before Winter Break are part of an alarming trend on campus. In December, a KU student's apartment was vandalized and left with hate messages. The latest event is one of three racial incidents that occurred in Fall 1994 alone. We share a concern that a definite problem exists, that some KU students fear for their safety and feel alienated from our University. Every student at Mount Oread, regardless of color or background, should be afforded these needs. We perceive this to be an important campus issue, and we hope that all students will utilize the forthcoming Multicultural Resource Center and other campus resources to develop a better understanding and appreciation of multiculturalism and racial sensitivity.
Jessica Keith Black Student Union
Melissa Smith Panhellenic Association
Eric Moore LesBiGayS OK
David Stevens Third Millennium
Dan Mudd Interfraternity Council
Paul Wolters Student Union Activities
Michael Weishaar
Student Alumni Association
Stephen Martino University Daily Kansan
Girish Ballola International Students Association
Marc Wilson
Student Legislative
Awareness Board
Theodore Miller
KU Democrats
Dave Stras
Theta Chi Fraternity
Ashok Fichadia
Graduate Student Council
Brian Schaal
Rocket Systems Development
Organization
Saquib Shailkh
International Council
Elizabeth Buckley Habitat for Humanity
Amy Trainer KU Environs
Carin Martin UJIMA
Robert Alvers AICHE
Jeff Russell Senior Class President
Timothy Joyce The Council
Katrina Stullken Engineering Student Council
Jennifer Derryberry
Jayhawk Yearbook
Ron Vanderslice KU on Wheels
Joseph Perez Asian American Student Union
Space for this statement by campus leaders was donated by the University Daily Kansan.