Friday, February 12, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 5
Search for juice yields new Jeep
By Ezra Sykes
Kansan staff writer
Jeeps are nothing new around college campuses.
But when they're free—it's a different story.
In last semester's Coca-Cola sweepstakes, Annie Gronbeck-Tedesco, Lawrence junior, won a 1999 Jeep Wrangler.
And if it weren't for a few malfunctioning vending machines, the Jeep might not have been hers.
Annie Gronbeck-Tedesco, Lawrence junior, won the grand prize, a 1999 Jeep Wrangler, in last semester's Coca-Cola sweepsstakes on campus. Gronbeck-Tedesco said the Jeep was much better than her previous car.
photo by Roger Nomer / KANSAN
On a day in early December, Gronbeck Tedesco was late for Italian class and on a quest for for applejuice.
She put her dollar into the first machine, but neither a Coke nor her money was distributed.
But on the first floor of Wescoe Hall she only found Coke.
"A lady administrator walked by and recommended that I fill out a form to get my money back," Gronbeck Tedesco said. "But while I was filling it out, the machine sent my dollar out."
She kicked the machine.
Gronbeck-Tedesco put her dollar in the next machine, punched buttons for random beverages and it replied by giving her 10 dimes.
At last she received her Coke and hurried to the elevator.
The third machine also was of no use and the administrator suggested that she try the fourth
Gronbeck-Tedesco, who rarely drinks soft drinks—she prefers fruit juice — thought about an ad she had seen around campus that promoted the Coke sweepstakes. She looked under the cap.
"It said '1999 Jeep' in the cap, but I just thought that was the name of the contest," she said. "I didn't know that I had won it."
Gronbeck-Tedesco showed the cap to a friend in her Italian class.
"He looked at me and then he looked at the cap and then he said 'You won,'" she said. "At first I felt kind of sick — I mean this was the second time I had ever bought a Coke. I sat through Italian class and didn't hear a word the teacher said."
After calling the Coke company to find out how to redeem her prize, Gronbeck-Tedesco began telling everyone that she knew.
Gronbeck-Tedesco then sent the cap by certified mail to the company.
"I didn't hear anything for a month," she said.
"I was a little frantic. It crossed my mind that
they were going to find a way out of it."
She eventually received word from Coke at the end of December and went to pick up her Jeep on Jan. 4.
But at that time, she wasn't considering keeping it.
"My first intention was to sell the Jeep so I could afford to study abroad," she said. "But compulsion took over my logic and I knew I'd have to have it."
Gronbeck-Tedesco said that before the Jeep she hadn't had the most luxurious set of wheels.
Her first car was a 1986 Mazda 323 nicknamed "The Goat."
"It was a little brown rattling thing that had actually just got hit and would smoke from the inside," she said. "It was awful."
Gronbeck-Tedesco said the Jeep was a vast improvement.
"A new car wasn't anywhere in my near future," she said. "It was amazing, a nice little treat."
Gronbeck-Tedesco's father. John, said that the
Jeep hadn't really changed his daughter in any way, but that her winning the Jeep was incredibly lucky.
"I didn't believe it," he said. "It is an extraordinary navy piece of fortune."
Although both of Gronbeck-Tedesco's parents are employed by the University—John is a professor of theater and film and Susan is assistant to the provost—her father said that there hadn't been any controversy.
"There are strict rules, but they say that faculty kids can win." he said.
Coke representative Lori Crowl said that in last fall's sweepstakes, about 75 Vanguard airline tickets were awarded, 400-500 Papa John's pizzas, about $15,000 in Target bucks, about $40,000 in KU bookstore coupons, and between 5000 and 6000 bottles of Coke.
Crowl said there also will be a spring semester Coke sweepstakes. That prize list will include four Sea Doo jet skis, 200 Trek mountain bikes, Delta round-trip airline tickets, $10 credits on KU smart cards and bottles of Coke, she said.
State may improve U.S. Highway 59
By Heather Woodward Kansan staff writer
U. S. Highway 59, which runs between Lawrence and Ottawa, may be extended to four lanes if the Legislature passes a comprehensive transportation improvement plan which was unveiled by Gov. Bill Graves on Jan.6.
"U.S. 59 has been identified through our priority system as one that needs improvement," said Marty Matthews, public information officer for the Kansas Department of Transportation. "We support the governor's plan. Like with anything, it will come down to whether the money is available."
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Matthews said that the transportation department had proposed two initial ways to widen the highway, both of which were rejected.
One plan widened the highway following the same route it does now. The other plan changed the highway's route so that the road went further east and connected with U.S. Highway 35.
"Some people weren't happy with it turning east because of the farmland out that way," Matthews said. "Some people weren't happy with widening the existing route because of the houses and businesses it would affect. We're going back to the drawing board to see where that highway should go."
Mike Matson, press secretary for Graves, said that U.S. 59 was identified by both Lawrence and Ottawa officials as one that needed to be made into a four-lane highway.
The governor's plan calls for $10.7 billion in transportation improvements during an eight-year period. The plan would be financed by transferring 10 percent of sales tax receipts to the state transportation fund and by enacting an additional $1.8 billion in bonding authority.
In addition to the proposed highway improvements, the plan proposes improvements to railroads, rural airports and public-transit systems.
This compares to the eight-year, $6.98 billion comprehensive highway program enacted by the Legislature in 1999.
The governor's plan has sparked a number of transportation plans proposed by members of the Legislature since it began its 90-day session on
Sorority to honor outstanding women for community work
By Dan Curry
Kansan staff writer
Three female African-American students will be honored tonight as part of a combined Black History Month event and 20th-anniversary celebration for Zeta Phi Beta, a traditionally Black sorority.
Yasmeen Coleman, Kansas City, Kan., senior; Tanisha Jones, Wichita sophomore, and Natalie Lucas, Kansas City, Kan., sophomore, will be commended for their involvement with the KU African-American community, said Eric VanRoss. Zeta Phi Beta president.
VanRoss said that the sorority wanted to honor outstanding African-American women on campus
"As a Black woman, I don't feel like we are recognized enough,"
Coleman will be recognized for starting a chapter of the National Council of Negro Women at the University of Kansas, VanRoss said.
"She gave a marvelous speech about black women. I went out and joined," Coleman said. "I've been a member over a year."
Coleman said she was inspired by watching NCNW president Dorothy Height speak at the Million Man March.
Coleman said that she saw a need on the KU campus for an organization open to all African-American women.
VanRoss said. "This is the first year we're going to do this."
VanRoss said that the sorority would be honoring Jones for participating in many activities, including being the first person to serve on the recently created Black Student Union seat in the Student Senate.
"We are open to everybody, whoever understands the plight and struggles of African Americans. We are not exclusive," Coleman said.
"I'm very honored. I'm surprised." Jones said.
Lucas said she also was taken by surprise by the award.
"I didn't even know it was for students. I thought it was for older people," Lucas said. "I appreciate it."
Besides being involved in the BSU and NCNW, Lucas also was a mentor for the Education 2000 program, a program that sends college students into inner-city grade schools, Lucas said.
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