2A
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2008
quote of the day
Always remember, your bones will not break in a bobsled. No, no, no. They shatter.
fact of the day
education.yahoo.com
As part of the Winter Olympic Games since their inception in 1924, bobsledding is a sport of exhilarating but dangerous speed (up to 90 mph/145 km per hour).
Want to know what people are talking about? Here's a list of Wednesday's five most e-mailed stories from Kansan.com:
1. University launches wiki site
2. Local bar reopens under new management
3. Department of aerospace engineering wins top awards
4. Democratic caucus unorganized yet successful
5. Campus to get $25M for deferred maintenance
et cetera
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of The Kansan are 25 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at the Kansan business office, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, 1435 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045.
The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-4962) is published daily during the school year except Saturday, Sunday, fall break, spring break and exams. Weekly during the summer session excluding holidays. Periodical postage is paid in Lawrence, KS 66044. Annual subscriptions by mail are $120 plus tax. Student subscriptions of are paid through the student activity fee. Postmaster: Send address changes to The University Daily Kansan, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, 1435 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045
media partners
NEW! KUJH For more news, listen to KUJH- TV on fax.
Cablevision Channel 31 in Lawrence.
The student-produced airs airs at
5:30 p.m, 7:30 p.m, 9:30 p.m and
11:30 p.m, every Monday through
Friday. Also, check out KUJH online at
tvku.edu.
KHK is the student voice in radio. Each day there is a talk show, talk shows and other content made for students, by students, by rock rook or reggae roll for KHK 9: 7 is for KHK 9: 7 we feel
Do You Know KU?
BY KAT LESLIE
kleslie@kansan.com
It sounds like something out of a fairy-tale romance: a young woman, with no formal education or training, becomes the indispensible secretary for her millionaire boss. After years of faithfully working together, growing closer and creating an unbreakable bond, they marry. However, fairy tale heroines don't usually have University of Kansas buildings named after them—but Elizabeth Miller Watkins was one special lady.
File photo
Born on January 21, 1861 to Dr Valentine G. Miller and his wife Ella, Elizabeth grew up in the hardworking home of a middle class family. She hoped to attain a higher education than most women received during the late 1800s, and even attended the preparatory school at the University of Kansas during the 1874-75 academic year. Unfortunately, her family's financial problems made the stay brief, and she was forced to put her college dreams aside and instead immediately join the workforce.
At age 15, she applied for and received a secretarial position at the J.B Watkins Land and Mortgage Company, where she worked with the company's founder and owner, Jabez B. Watkins. After 34 years as a secretary with the company, Elizabeth again applied for a job—but this time, it was a position as Watkins wife she wished to fill. On November 15, 1909, at the age of 48, she married the 64-year-old Watkins, in what the Lawrence Journal-World called a surprise wedding to "one of the richest men in the West." According to "KU's Fairy Godmother," an essay by John H. McCool of KU's Department of History, the couple often talked about "how they would spend their twilight years, and, also, to what use they would put their vast fortune."
Sadly though, the marriage ended just 11 years later when Watkins passed away in 1921 at 76. Elizabeth was left to disperse their riches, but as they had no children and as both had planned (according to Elizabeth in an interview with the Kansas City Star) ["to] give it all for the good of humanity, chiefly here in Lawrence".
Looking back on her life, it's no surprise that one of her chief concerns was less fortunate students—especially females, who might not be able to attend college without financial assistance.
Following that intention, Elizabeth donated $75,000 to the University, which resulted in the construction of KU's first scholarship hall, to be named Watkins. Elizabeth was involved in every step of the process she once said, "The color scheme of every room, the furniture, draperies and furnishings, are results of many months of planning. It is my dream come true." The dream finally became a reality on September 14, 1926 when the first women, eventually to become known as "Watkins girls" arrived at the hall.
"My sympathy has always been with the girls who must travel uphill," she once said. "My husband and I had intended to do something that would really be beneficial to them. It has been my dream to aid self-supporting girls to get an education."
The acceptance process for the hall was rigorous: women had to send references "attesting to their moral character and scholastic ability" and certify that they had financial need, according to "KU's' Fairy Godmother." Too keep down costs, and also to teach the women self-sufficiency, the Watkins girls were expected to share in the housekeeping responsibilities—a tradition that continues today.
Years later, Elizabeth Watkins donated money for the creation of a second scholarship hall, named Miller in honor of her brother, Frank C. Miller, and the University of Kansas' first and much-needed hospital, Watkins Memorial Hospital (which is now Twente Hall, renamed after the construction of Watkins Memorial Health Center in 1974).
Before the construction of the hospital, there had been no permanent health service area for University of Kansas students. According to Mai Do, Marketing Coordinator for Student Health Services, "There wasn't a single place for a student to go for health care, only random homes and rooms where doctors would set up shop [for the year]." Elizabeth's donation not only allowed for the construction of the building, but also an expansion of the staff and more up-to-date equipment, to better serve the ever-growing number of KU students in need of health care.
According to Do, Elizabeth's legacy at Watkins Health Center lives on to today: "The trust fund set up with her money helps us supplement the funds we have from student and auxiliary fees. Like last year, the trust helped pay for the roof we needed to replace." Then and now, Elizabeth's contributions have helped increase the standard of living for University of Kansas students.
When she died on June 1, 1939, her will gave 26,000 acres of farmland in southwestern Kansas to KU. She also gave her home, which is the present-day chancellor's residence, and more money.
Today, students still feel the warmth of this fairy-tale woman. Ann Giessel, Larned senior and Miller Scholarship Hall resident said, "Elizabeth Miller Watkins made a really good investment for the future, for women. I've made great friendships here [at Miller]. Living together, cooking for your fellow kitchen mates—it's like a big family. Wonderful."
Edited by Nick Mangiaracina
Ice ice, baby
Marla Keown/KANSAN
Charles Glauberman, third year law student, scraps snow off of his car Wednesday afternoon before being able to go out and enjoy the day off from classes. This is the first time since February 2004 that the University of Kansas has closed campus because of the snow.
LECTURE
ELECTURE Speech seeks to expand student's perspectives
Beverly Mack, professor in African and African American Studies, will tonight give a campus presentation called "Veiled Truth—Muslim Women's Lives in a Climate of Controversy."
"We assume Muslim women have no mind of their own and that is such an empty impression." Mack said.
That is just one of the many stereotypes Mack wants to defy. She worked with Muslim women who said that their only obligation was to God and they would not be subordinate to their husbands if it negatively affected their spirituality.
Knowing what goes on globally, beyond what the media presents, Mack said, was
difficult for students, and that manypeople in oursociety hold stereotypes aboutMuslim women.
"The only pictures the media show are women heavily veiled or their involvement in war activities,"Mack said.
Mack said she wanted to show diversity among Muslim women and to counter stereotypes the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have created. The presentation will describe the different ways Muslim women live their daily lives, the role velling plays in their lives and the kinds of work Muslim women perform.
Mack's presentation begins at 7 p.m. tonight in the Big 12 Room of the Kansas Union.The presentation is free. Refreshments will be served.
Kendra Hall
SPORTS
SPORTS Orange Bowl celebration pushed back until March
The official celebration of the football team's 12-1 season and Orange Bowl victory has been pushed back to Saturday evening March 8, according to a news release by Kansas Athletics.
The event was originally scheduled for Feb. 23, but the Athletics Department changed the date to accommodate those who would be in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine — Anthony Collins, James McClinton, Derek
Fine, Marcus Henry and Aqib Talib.
In the release, associate athletics director Jim Marchiony said that the Athletics Department originally thought that they could schedule around players' commitments to the Combine, but began looking for another date that the NFL prospects could attend.
The celebration will take place in Allen fieldhouse at 7:30 p.m. on March B, and will be free to the public.
—Luke Morris
on campus
Business Career Week will take place all day today in Summerfield Hall.
The KU Libraries' Book Sale will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Watson Library.
The workshop "Dreamweaver: Getting Your Site Under Control" will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Budig PC Lab.
Tea Time will begin at 3 p.m. in the traditions area of the Kansas Union.
The public event "Niche" will begin at 3 p.m. in 106 Spooner Hall.
The University/Faculty Senate Meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m. in 203 Green Hall.
Lawrence Rosen, Princeton University, will present the African Studies Seminar at 3:30 p.m. in the Pine Room of the Kansas Union.
Lawrence Rosen, Princeton University, will present, "Defending Culture: The Cultural Defense and the Law's Theory of Culture" at 3:30 p.m. in the Pine Room of the Kansas Union
David Catefera will present the lecture Tea and Talk Series: "Wenda Gu's Neon Calligraphy Series" at 4 p.m. in the English room of the Kansas Union.
Global Partners Spring 2008 Kickoff will begin at 7 p.m. in the Jayhawk Room in the Kansas Union.
"Victory Over the Sun" and "Man With a Movie Camera" will begin at 7 p.m. in the Spencer Museum of Art Auditorium.
Dr. Christina Bejarano, of the political science department, will present "Barack Chalk Jayhawk: Is America Ready for a Black President?" At 7 p.m. in the Multicultural Resource Center.
Gregory Lee will begin performing at 7:30 p.m. in the Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall.
Jazz Ensembles I, II & III will begin performing at 7:30 p.m. in the Lied Center.
The Student Union Activities Feature Film "Gone Baby Gone" will begin at 8 p.m. in the Wood ruff Auditorium of the Kansas Union.
Kevin Willmott, associate Professor of theatre and Film will begin the James E. Seaver lecture at 8 p.m. in the Alderson Auditorium of the Kansan Union. A reception will follow in the Malot Room.
contact us
Tell us your news
Contact Darla Slipke,
Matt Ericson, Diane Smith
Sarah Neethall of Sommer at
684-410 or editor@kansan.com
11 Kansan newroom
Kansas StuFFER-Pint Hall
1435 Northwick Park,
Lawrence, KS 69045
(785) 864-3052
KU
WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE
SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM
& MASS COMMUNICATIONS
The University of Kansas
Seymour Hersh, Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter, author and regular contributor to The New Yorker magazine, will speak at 1:30 p.m., Friday, February 8 in Woodruff Auditorium of the Kansas Union.
- Won 1970 Pulitzer Prize for exposing Vietnam My Lai massacre and cover up
PLEASE JOIN US AT THIS FREE AND PUBLIC EVENT!
- Received numerous awards for his series in The New Yorker exposing 2004 Abu Ghraib prison scandal
- Awarded a record five George Polk Awards for investigative reporting
- Worked for The New York Times for seven years
- Worked for The New York times for seven years
- Contributed to The New Yorker for last 14 years
- Published 8 books on international affairs
Visit www.journalism.ku.edu for more details.
- CONTRIBUTING TO STUDENT SUCCESS
x
LECAL SERVICES FOR STUDENTS
312 Burge Union +864 5654+ To Hardesty, Director
V
I