Section A·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Monday. January 24, 2000
Dan Harriman, Tanganoxie sophomore, Chris Joseph, Arkansas City junior, and Adam Zematis, Chicago junior, watch wrestling last night at Joseph's apartment. Photo by Aaron Bunden/KANSAN
Wrestling fans not faking about watching matches
By Mike Hoffman
By Mike Holfman
writer@kanson.com
Kansas staff writer
The resurgance of professional wrestling has not left Lawrence and the University of Kansas untouched.
No, Allen Fieldhouse will not be filled with fans of the sport that features both athleticism and dramatic plots. But people nation-wide are tuning in from their living rooms.
The sport has drawn high television ratings and has become increasingly popular, especially on college campuses such as the University of Kansas.
Just last night, Chris Joseph, Arkansas City junior, had friends at his apartment to watch the World Wrestling Federation's (WWF) Royal Rumble pay-per-view event.
"It's all about hanging out and having fun," Joseph said.
On other nights of the week, when the WWF and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) air their regular shows, such as WWF's Monday Night RAW and WCW's Thunder, students gather to enjoy the action.
Matt Anderson, Lawrence junior, said wrestling's widespread exposure was another reason for its growing popularity among college students.
"College students don't always get to see the prime-time shows they want to see, but wrestling is on all the time," he said.
Anderson also said that the sport appealed to a variety of people because if they could not find one aspect of the show that they liked, they eventually would see something entertaining.
On nights when WCW and WWF air shows simultaneously, Joseph brings two televisions into the room so that no one misses any action.
"When you see grown men in boots and underwear nailing each other over the head with chairs, you gotta love it," Joseph said.
"When you see grown men in boots and underwear nailing each other over the head with chairs, you gotta love it."
Chris Joseph
Arkansas City junior
Jeff Sorrels, Lawrence resident, said that wrestling was a theater of the absurd. The events that happen in wrestling are easier to laugh about because no matter how outrageous they are, viewers know they are fake, he said.
"Pro wrestling combines the most popular elements of popular culture like the soap opera, action and violence." Sorrels said.
He also said that a large part of wrestling fans are college students because they were old enough to not to take it seriously yet they did not think poorly of the sport.
Some Lawrence restaurants and bars also have caught wrestling fever. Pat's Blue Rib'n Barbeque, 1618 W, 23rd St., has shown wrestling on Monday nights.
Angela Justus, employee at Pat's and Prairie Village junior, said that the restaurant was not showing wrestling as much during basketball season but that it would if a customer requested it.
"We've seen everyone from college students to families with little kids come in to watch it." Justus said.
Ratings indicate pro wrestling is getting hotter, but Sorrels and Anderson said that could have negative effects, especially with young children who might not recognize the theatrical elements.
Anderson also said that if someone thought about wrestling most of the time, it could bring out the worst in a person, including violent or anti-social behavior.
Student pushes idea of service learning
By Erinn R. Barcomb
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Chris Hess, Wichita senior helps Boon Chew, a junior from Malaysia, during an informational fair at the Kansas Union. Hess, a social welfare senator, is promoting a service learning at the University. Photo by Brad Dreier/KANSAN
Social Welfare senator Chris Hess said he cared about the homeless.
Combining service and study
His actions prove it — he's lived with them. He eats breakfast with them on a regular basis. Hess even has tried to live as a homeless person, surviving for two days in Kansas City, Mo., on 50 cents, a pack of cigarettes and toilet paper.
Hess's experiences with homelessness issues and his passion for public service have influenced his work in Student Senate. Hess is trying to pass legislation that would bring service learning, the incorporation of community service into academics, to the University of Kansas through a public service center.
"I believe service learning addresses the public service mission of KU and empower students." Hess said.
He said the Service Learning Task Force would release a report soon and that a petition for service learning had been referred to the Academic Policies and Procedures Committee.
Student Body President Korb Maxwell said Hess had a reputation for cutting-edge policies that stemmed from his interest in social welfare.
when anybody is bringing forth a piece of liberal legislation, they know they can bring it to me to co-sponsor." Hess said.
Hess said his interest in public service began with a high school crush.
"I was in love with this girl who did community service," he said. "She was working with nursing homes. I went to this Wichita nursing home, and that's where I made connections with Homer Carson."
Hess and Carson, an 82-year-old Wichita resident, became fast friends. Hess kept a notebook of Carson's stories and gave it to Carson's daughter when he died two and a half months later.
Hess said the previous director, with whom he lived at Battenfeld Scholarship Hall, told him that he was leaving for a fellowship and that he wanted Hess to take the position.
Finding it hard to volunteer in nursing homes, Hess tutored children in high school and became the director for Alternative Spring Break when he came to the University.
"I felt the pressure to apply." Hess said. "I got the position and I was like, 'What do I do now?' But good things come when you don't really expect them."
Hess was co-director for the Center for Community Outreach last year with Erika Donner, Wichita first-year law student. As co-director, Hess focused on
homelessness.
Donner recalled the Make-a-Difference Day benefit last Halloween at Liberty Hall when she thought of Hess's contributions.
"He was the brains of that project," she said. "The whole thing was basically his idea."
Although the project raised only $13, about 800 cans of food were donated to the Pélathe Community Resource Center, a Lawrence food bank.
Hess said the project consumed a lot of time and served as a learning experience for his next project, a sleep-out concert that raised $2,500 for the Jubilee Cafe, a restaurant that serves free breakfast for the hungry. Hess volunteers about twice a week, often arriving as early as 6 a.m.
"I think he's very genuine when it comes to speaking with the homeless people," said fellow volunteer Jennifer Bacani. "He'll sit down with a cup of coffee and talk to someone for a long time. It's not a shallow conversation. I think Chris is different because he understands them better than the other volunteers."
Hess got a lot closer with the homeless population last summer in Washington, D.C., where he lived and volunteered at a homeless shelter that was home to 1,350 residents.
"It's one thing to come to the Jubilee Cafe and hang out with these wonderful people," Hess said. "But when you live there, you see people whose lives have been destroyed by drugs and alcohol."
Hess said he found them in the children who lived there. He said he and the other volunteers enjoyed taking them to the zoo and area museums.
When asked about how often he saw Hess, roommate Eric Neuteboom,
"I think he's very genuine when it comes to speaking with the homeless people... Chris is different because he understands them better than the other volunteers."
Fredonia sophomore
Colorado Springs, Colo., junior, said,
"Chris who?"
Although Neuteboom said he saw Hess every evening, he said Hess spent much of the weekend working for Cottonwood, 1029 New Hampshire St., an organization that provides home health care for people with disabilities.
While Hess and his roommates rarely talk about his activities, Neuteboom said Hess's position on Student Senate was an issue at election time.
"I differed with him about Delta Force because of the rec center." Neuteboom said. "But it was more like friendly ishing."
Although he doesn't have any particular agenda, Hess said his plans for Senate would focus on pushing forward with service learning, looking at the Board of Regents' sexual-orientation policy and examining corporate involvement at the University.
"Some think it doesn't matter how socially irresponsible they are, as long as they are giving us money," Hess said. "But it does matter where the money comes from."
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