Tuesday, March 28, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Lawrence woman struck by train
Bv Mindie Miller
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
A 27-year-old female Lawrence resident was hit by a train about 7:50 last night while sitting in her car on railroad tracks north of Lawrence.
Lt. David Cobb of the Lawrence Police Department said police were investigating the incident as an attempted suicide. He said the woman's family members had found a note indicating her intentions.
The engineer of the Union Pacific train saw the woman's car from about half a mile away, honked the horn and applied the emergency break. Cobb said. The train struck the vehicle, which was facing east on
railroad tracks, located just west of the intersection of U.S. Highways 59 and 24/40 at Riverfront Park.
The car landed just to the east of the tracks. Emergency crews used the Jaws of Life to extricate the woman.
Cobb said that the woman may have been under the influence of some medication and that she appeared to have suffered internal injuries. He said she was responsive and that he expected her to survive.
The woman was taken by helicopter at 8:30 p.m. to the University of Kansas Medical Center. A hospital representative said last night that she could not release any information about the woman's condition.
Firefighters repack equipment while police officers begin examining the car driven by a 27 year-old female Lawrence resident that was struck by a train last night in North Lawrence. The Lawrence Police Department is investigating the accident as an attempted suicide. Photo by Matt J. Daugherty/KANSAN
Swingers, Go director encourages creativity
Filmmaker discusses Web power, new film
By Mike Hoffman
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff-writer
Doug Liman, director of Swingers and Go, discussed everything from his adventures making films to the film he currently is working on in front of a crowd of about 400 last night in Budig Hall.
Liman, 33, talked about his struggles getting ahead in the movie business. He said a constant problem was getting enough money to make the movies.
He told prospective filmmakers to keep trying and not to get discour
aged when facing troubles, such as getting scripts rejected. Liman said it was a huge challenge to craft a solid screenplay that was emotionally satisfying to the audience.
He talked about the growing power of the Internet and its ability to open doors for aspiring filmmakers. Through the Internet, Liman said, more people are able to create their own works, and more people can see those works.
He said his company, Nibblebox, let students send in ideas for Internet films and then worked with them to develop those ideas.
Liman spoke highly of the University of Kansas.
"I heard good things about this campus," he said. "We only go to schools where we think there are creative,
innovative students who have good ideas. Places like this school are where someone will break out of the
mold and make something great."
something great.
Liman also spoke about his upcoming film, The Bourne Identity , which is based on a Robert Ludlum novel and features Brad Pitt.
"It's a very irreverent, hip spy movie," he said. "It's an anti-James Bond flick."
Students said the lecture was engaging.
Limon: Spoke highly of the University of Kansas
"He was interesting to listen to,"
"Places like this school are where someone will break out of the mold and make something great."
Doug Liman movie director
Adam Ward, Olathe junior, said. "It's nice to know that there is something out there like Nibblebox for struggling film majors."
Adam McCoy, Tulsa, Okla., junior,
he said he was encouraged by Liman.
"It was good to hear that not every thing went smoothly at first," he said "He had some troubles of his own."
Hashinger Hall Spring Arts Week kicks off today
Rv lessie Mever
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
If it looks as though Hashinger Hall has warped back into the '60s today, that's because it has.
The Hippie Freak Fest, which begins at 1 p.m. today on the Hashinger porch, kicks off this year's six-day Hashinger Hall Spring Arts Week with everything from tie-dying to sidewalk chalk, said Nick Schmitz, an Oatlie senior and assistant complex director of building.
Sarah Homan, Overland Park freshman and a coordinator of the event, said anyone could participate in the reincarnation of the hippie era.
"It's a little Woodstock-on-concrete rendition," Homan said. "We'll even have good, old-fashioned Kool-Aid."
The residents of Hashinger, which is considered the creative arts residence hall, annually play host to this art event, said Scott Strawn, Hashinger complex director.
"It is the hallmark of the year, which
is why we always do it in the spring." Strawn said. "And the students are the driving force behind the week because they do all the planning."
The purpose of the week's events is to promote creativity, imagination and an appreciation for art, Homan said. All of the events are free, and everyone is invited to attend.
"We welcome anything creative, anything artistic." Homan said. "Basically, when it comes to Hash, the dorm is so diverse and so accepting of anything that floats your boat."
tomorrow's art exhibit will display about 100 pieces, ranging from sculptures and textiles to drawings and water paintings. Homan said. She also said there would be art tables available for those who wanted to create their own masterpieces.
For the artistically impaired, Thursday night offers a chance to recite poetry, play music or do whatever comes to mind at the Sneaky Pete's Coffee/Open Mic in the Hashinger theater, Homan said.
"We welcome anything creative, anything artistic. Basically, when it comes to Hash, the dorm is so diverse and so accepting of anything that floats your boat."
Back by popular demand, at 7:30 p.m.
Sarah Homan
event organizer
Friday there will be the encore presentation of the Vagina Monologues
"I think it would be great to run it again and get out a message about freedom of the body." Homan said of the play that was presented for Valentine's Day. "And I think it will be a real big hit again."
SPRING ARTS WEEK
weekend events are from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday with a carnival at the Hashinger theater, and the event will wrap up from 9 to 12 p.m. Sunday with Band Night at the theater.
Hippie Freak Fest: 1 to 5 p.m. today at the Hushberg Hall porch
■ Art Exhibit and Make Your Own Art:
2 to 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Haskinger theater
Snacky Pete's Coffee/Open Mic: 9
Vagina Monologues: 7:30 p.m.
Friday at the Hashinger theater
p.m. Thursday at the Haspinger theater
Vagina Monologues: 7:30 p.m.
Friday at the Hashinger theater
Maggie Land Carnival: 1 to 5 p.m.
Saturday at the Hungerster theater
Strawn said that because a lot of the participants were majoring in the arts, the week would be a good chance for them to gain some practical experience in their fields.
Saturday at the Hashinger theater
Road Night 8 o'm to girdight at
Band Night: 9 p.m. to midnight at the Hashinger theater
When all is said and done, Homan said she hoped the week would offer a new. artistic outlook on life.
"There should be a greater appreciation of life and what it has to offer in so many different ways through performance, art and fun." Homan said.
City Commission to hear proposal for student input
By John Audlehelm writer@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Although they probably will not have seats reserved for them on the city's advisory boards. University of Kansas students still may find a way to provide input to the Lawrence City Commission.
At tonight's meeting, Michael Henry, community affairs director for Student Senate and Overland Park senior, will tell the commission how students have been involved in local governments at other universities, such as the
University of Iowa in Iowa City and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, in hopes that the University of Kansas can do something similar.
Henry last came before the commission in January to ask for student-reserved seats on 12
city advisory boards. Mayor Erv Hodges said he did not want to reserve seats for a particular group — in this case, students. He said he did not think students effectively could serve the full three-year terms.
But the commission did support student involvement and asked Henry to research other ways to achieve it.
Under the University of Iowa system, student and city officials meet twice a semester to discuss issues of mutual concern. Henry said.
"It's basically a kickaround board," he said.
The Iowa system operated during the '70s and '80s and has since disappeared, Henry said, but the North Carolina system still is in operation.
Chapel Hill city officials contact North Carolina's student senate when there is an
"I don't think it gives an unfair advantage simply because a lot of mayors in the past have not looked to students as resources."
Michael Henry
community affairs director for Student Senate
opening on a city advisory board, he said. Students then compete for senate's recommendation, but the mayor makes the final decision.
Henry said that North Carolina students still could apply directly to the mayor if they were interested in serving on city advisory boards and that the student senate recommendation did not give students an unfair advantage.
Hodges said he preferred the Iowa system.
"I don't think it gives an unfair advantage, simply because a lot of mayors in the past have not looked to students as resources," he said.
"I think it's more useful," he said. "I think we need to formalize it so it doesn't just fade away."
need to formalize it so it doesn't just fade away." But under the Iowa system, the agendas for the city/student meetings are set by the students — and Hodges said he didn't agree with this.
City Manager Mike Wilden said he liked the systems as ways for the City Commission to receive more input.
"Some amended version of either of these might work fine," he said. "I think the mayor and the other commissioners will be receptive to some of these ideas."
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