Thursday, April 22, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Haskell leader says farewell to Kansas
President applauds university's progress
By Kristi Reimer
kremer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
In a look at the past and future of Haskell Indian Nations University yesterday, exiting President Bob Martin said he was confident the school had a vital role to play integrating Native American heritage with quality education, but he said there also were challenges to confront.
"In our history we have great stories of sacrifice, perseverance and survival." Martin told about 40 people at a weekly University Forum at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries building on Oread Avenue. "We need to make sure our culture is an essential element of addressing current needs."
months of hot weather and eight months of relatives and friends," he said.
After 10 years at Haskell, Martin will leave in July to teach at the University of Arizona at Tucson, where it's "four
Since Martin became president in 1989, Haskell has become an accredited
four-year university and shifted from a focus on assimilating students into mainstream culture to reinforcing their customs and beliefs.
"Our students have not always been encouraged to practice their traditions and religion," Martin said.
Now a medicine wheel and sweatlodge area are on campus for students to pray and practice ceremonial rites.
The university offers four baccalaureate degrees — in business administration, elementary education, American-
Indian studies and environmental science. Martin said one of his goals had been to increase the number of students graduating with expertise in areas important to tribal leaders.
"That's the potential we have to serve Native cultures," he said.
Martin also said collaboration and partnership had been and would continue to be key elements of the school's success. He said Haskell and the University of Kansas already had begun to form a strong relationship through faculty and student exchanges, joint grants and research projects and programs, such as a master's degree in indigenous studies at the University of Kansas.
Martin's wife, Luci Tapahonso, is an associate professor of English at the University of Kansas and helped to develop the indigenous studies program. She also will be moving to Arizona.
David Shulenburger, provost at the University of Kansas, said the presence of Haskell created the opportunity for a more diverse academic experience and was a huge draw in recruiting Native-
American faculty to the University of Kansas, He said Haskell had opened KU students' eyes to a culture and history they were relatively unfamiliar with.
But he said the relationship didn't exist before Martin was president.
"Bob Martin wanted the relationship to develop, and he worked at it," Shulenburger said. "This university is richer for it."
He also said Haskell needed to increase understanding of Native culture in the larger community.
Among the challenges facing Haskell are identifying more sources of income, making sure congressional representatives are aware of its needs and resolving a dispute with the community about placement of the South Lawrence Trafficway, Martin said.
"The sense that all life is related and deserving of respect, and the attachment Native people have for their ancestral lands, that carries over into all values," Martin said. "That can be hard for some people to understand."
Edited by Liz Wriston
Exotic fashions turn Kansas Union plaza into runway
By Dan Curry and Heather Woodward
hwoodward@kansan.com
dcurry@kansan.com
Konson staff writers
The geometric gold print of Preeth Reddy's satin Indian dress transfixed the gaze of the Ruston Elementary School in Mission second-grade students.
KU students who gathered along her path could bear the bracelets on her arms clink.
It was breath-taking.
Reddy, Hyderabad, India, junior, and other students transformed the Kansas Union plaza into a fashion-show runway yesterday, as a crowd of about 100 people watched models sashay in earth-toned satins under storm-darkened skies.
The point of the fashion show was fairly straightforward, said Vladimir Sinkov, president of the International Students Association, which sponsored the event.
"it's to show the fashions of different countries." he said.
But onlooker Tiffani Cunningham, Overland Park senior, saw more in the show than visual display.
"This is a chance for people to learn about the diversity we have on this campus and around the world." Cunningham said. "It's a way to increase awareness."
Alicia Bartol,
Escondido,
Calif., graduate
student, dances
with students
from Rushton
Elementary in
Mission. Bartol
took part in the
first International
Week fashion
show yesterday
in front of the
Kansas Union.
Photo by Augustus Anthony
Piazza
KANSAN
After the fashion show, the models grasped hands with the visiting grade-school students and swung about in an improvised dance on the Union terrace.
Alicia Bartol, Escondido, Calif., graduate student, danced with the children while wearing a dress from Mali.
"It's for formal occasions," she said.
The dress made of shiny, tightly woven cotton,
was given to Bartol by her friends from Mali. She
wore it to meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu Sunday.
"It's very,very comfortable," Bartol said. "It's wonderful for this kind of weather. It's cool and flowing."
- Edited by Aerica Veazey
Petition circulating to rename avenue after 'Rockin' Ron'
By Jamie Knodel
jknodel@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
One of the streets "Rockin' Ron", former KU on Wheels bus driver, used to drive almost every day may now be named in his memory.
For 12 years, Ron Gleason shuttled residents of Stewart Avenue back and forth to campus. Now, some of those bus riders are supporting a petition drive to rename the street to "Rockin' Ron Avenue."
Avenue.
"He is a part of the character of the block," said Dave Raddatz, Holdrege, Neb., junior, and Stewart Avenue resident. "He was something that is associated."
thing that is associated with this part of campus."
Gleason died in February after suffering from a heart attack. He was 50 years old.
Friends of Gleason, Stewart Avenue residents and students who live on other portions of Gleason's route, including Oliver Hall, want to collect as many signatures as it takes to convince the Lawrence City Commission to rename the street.
Kelly Murphy, Overland Park sophomore
Richard Bachman / KANSAN
said that the only way the street would be renamed was if the residents supported the idea.
dents support the idea.
"Everybody's heard of Ron and they all want to do something nice for him," she said. "Most people have been very receptive to the idea."
George Vogel, Lawrence resident and a friend of Gleason's, said that there were many people responsible for organizing the legwork behind renaming the off-campus road.
"This is an effort that is bringing all the students together for one issue." he said.
Supporters are hopeful the issue will be added to the commission's agenda as soon as possible, so an official change could be made in the near future.
Commissioner Mike Rundle said that the commission could rename a street with a simple ordinance and that because the residents of Stewart Avenue appeared to be supportive, the petition stood a good chance of approval.
"They seem to be on the right track," he said.
Before Gleason's death an attempt had been made to rename the street to "Rockin' Ron Avenue" but failed.
Murphy said petitions would be be distributed throughout residence halls as well as fraternity and sorority houses for those students who were interested in adding their signatures.
Edited by Keith Burner