CAMPUS/AREA UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, November 8, 1994
. . . . . .
3A
Swimsuit heists continual problem
Photo Illustration by Jav Thornton / KANSAN
Thefts won't sink swimmers' abilities during competition
About 100 men's and women's swimsuits have been stolen from the KU swim teams since 1991. Most of the thefts have occurred in the evening after the teams have finished practice.
By Manny Lopez
Kansan staff writer .
Used swimsuits have become the clothing of choice for someone who has been visiting the KU swim teams' locker rooms.
During the past three years, someone, or more than one person, has been stealing swimsuits from the locker rooms in Robinson Center.
Kempf said more than 100 men's and women's Speedo-type swimsuits valued at more than $1,200 had been stolen since 1991. Those figures are probably fairly conservative, he said. Most of the thefts have occurred in the evening after the team had finished with practice.
"I don't know what they might be doing with them," said Gary Kemp, KU swim coach. "There is no resale market for used swimsuits. I don't know if it is some sort of pervert or someone with a vendetta or what."
According to police reports, the most recent theft occurred Oct. 23 when someone stole six women's swimsuits valued together at $240 from one KU swimmer's locker.
The lockers that the swim teams use have combination locks, but the front doors have metal screens on them so that suits can dry after practices or meets, Kempf said. Someone has been stealing the swimsuits by sticking a hanger or long thin object through the holes in the screens and fishing the swimsuits out.
To prevent further theft, Kempf said additional screens were installed behind the locker screen doors, but the thief was able to poke through the extra screens.
Sgt. Rose Rozmiarek of the KU police said it was aware of the ongoing problem and were looking into the matter. She said the KU police did not have any leads about
the thefts.
Most of the swimsuits that have been stolen are practice suits, Kempf said. Meet swimsuits, he said, were newer than practice suits, which were old meet suits. A new men's swimsuit can cost from $15 to $40, and a new woman's swimsuit typically costs about $30, he said. More men's than women's suits have been stolen.
Kempf said none of the stolen swimmers had surfaced at KU, and if they did, he or
one of the swimmers would be able to tell if it was their swimsuit.
While swimmers have their favorite swimsuit just like basketball players have their favorite shoes, the theft of a meet swimsuit would not affect the performance of a swimmer, he said.
"I have been a coach for 19 years, and I've never seen anything like this before," Kempf said. "It seems like an empty crime."
Japanese exchange program lets students be the teachers
By Shannon Newton Kansan staff writer
Fort two years, Kevin Stoda was known as "gaili" or foreigner.
Stooda, Sterling graduate student, taught English in Japan for the past two years as part of the Japanese Exchange Teachers Program sponsored by the Japanese government. Stoda left for Itoigawa, Japan, in July 1992 and returned this past Julv.
He said that while living and working in Japan he had learned that the Japanese culture had been resistant to change.
"Their structures are old, and their traditions are important." he said.
Stoda found out about the program through a friend in the department of East Asian languages and cultures. He said that he had been looking for a career change and that he had been interested in teaching. He applied to the program and was accepted.
The program was set up by the Japanese government in 1887 to bring people from six native English-speaking countries to work in public and private schools in Japan. The countries that participate in the program are the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia.
"They want to improve their English educational delivery, improve the Japanese teaching styles of English and internationalize the country," he said.
He said that his experiences had been beneficial and that the pay had been great.
The Japanese government had three goals for the program.
"I earned 3,600,000 yen, which translates into $36,000 a year — tax free," he said.
In Japan, Stoda taught at three high schools: a commercial technical high school, a fishery high school and an academic high school.
"I managed my days well," he said. "I flew to the states twice, and I traveled the country as well as to China and Thailand."
While in Japan, Stoda learned Sumo and Kendo, two martial art forms. He also learned traditional Japanese dances and to speak and write Japanese.
Stoda said that in Japan he had learned a lot about the Japanese work ethic.
"There is a lot of stress and pressure to succeed." he said.
He said that people in the city he lived in realized that there was more to life than academics.
"Since it is a rural area, they understand that there are other important aspects besides edu
Paul Kotz / KANSAN
Kevin Stoda, Sterling graduate student, wears traditional Kendo protective gear. Stoda taught English in Japan for two years as part of a Japanese government sponsored program
cation," he said. "They learn how to fish and grow rice."
The Japanese education system is based on achievement tests. Students take tests to get into a specific high school and then take another test to get into college.
"The country overemphasizes tests," he said. "It's stressful and a financial burden because the preparation is costly."
Stoda said he hoped that the educational system in Japan would change.
"It takes a long time for change in Japan because their traditions are so strong," he said.
Amy West, coordinator of the program at the Japanese consulate in Kansas City, Mo., said that the program allowed participants to share their diverse culture with a homogeneous society.
"Participants are actively involved in the Japanese society and system while keeping their sense of individuality," she said. "It can be a real challenge."
Students interested in the Japanese Educational Teaching Program can contact 1-800 INFOJET or the Japanese consulate at 816-471-0111. Applications for the 1995 program are due Dec. 10.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
is now accepting applications for the positions of Business Manager and Editor for the Spring 1995 semester.
Applications are available in 119 Stauffer-Flint, 8:00 am-5:00pm Monday through Friday. All applications are due at noon on November 9th
in 200 Stauffer-Flint. Interviews will be held on November 10th in 120 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
Real World experience
Monday, Oct. 31 - Saturday, Nov. 12
Kansas Union Gallery, Level 4, Kansas Union
10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Saturday
Noon- 4:00 p.m. Sunday
*Touring management for this exhibition is provided by Exhibit Touring Services (ETS). a program in the college of Fine Arts at Eastern Washington University used to manage tours of the State of Washington State Commission.*
LOW EVERYDAY CD PRICES!
SUGAR $897
BUY 5 CDs
25%OFF
MFG. LIST.
NEW & USED CDs
KIEF'S CD Specials . . . R.E.M. - $10^{88} . . . NIRVANA - $10^{87} . . Tom Petty - $10^{88} .
Kelley Hunt - $10^{99} . . Aerosmith - $11^{97} . . Black Crowes - $11^{97} . . Loaded In Lawrence II - $9^{98} .
Check KIEF'S for lots more Super CD Specials ...
BUY,SELL & TRADE
24th & Iowa St. P.O.Box 2 Lawrence,Ks 6158
AUDIO/VIDEO CAR STEREO CDs & TAPES
913•842•1811 913•842•1438 913•842•1544