MONDAY, MARCH 7.2005 NEWS THE UNIVERSITY DAILY. KANSAN 3A COMMUNITY SERVICE Students experience homelessness BY NATE KARLIN nklarin@kansan.com KANSAN STAFF WRITER Rylan Howe/KANSAN Jason Hargett wrapped himself in three blankets as he slept on the ground in Burcham Park Friday night. What began as one of the warmest days of the year in Lawrence dropped below 30 degrees by the evening. Waking at dawn, Elizabeth Moss, Carmel, Ind., senior, and co-chairwoman for Into the Streets Week, thanks Lindsay Matthews, Overland Park senior, and Ann Ryan, Salina senior, for their participation in Sleepout for Homelessness on Friday night. He anticipated the cold night, but it was still a bit much for him. "When I started to sleep this morning, I had to keep my head inside my blanket," Hargett, Shawnee senior, said on Saturday. "It was to keep warm, but it was also a shame thing. I didn't want anyone to think I was homeless." Hargett was only pretending to be homeless for the night. He was one of about 100 students who briefly experienced life as a homeless person. The Center for Community Outreach created the program, Sleepout for Homelessness, to engage students in homeless issues in their community, said Elizabeth Moss, Into the Streets Week co-chairwoman. Most students left Burcham Park, 200 Indiana St., about 2.30 a.m., Hargett said, but a few dozen people, including himself, staved until the morning. Each student also had to donate $10 for the Jubilee Café, 946 Vermont St., she said. The sleepout ended CCO's weeklong Into the Streets Week, which began Feb. 26. Into the Streets Week is a week of community service events and activities at the University of Kansas, Moss Carmel, Ind. senior said. Students who participated in the sleepout, which lasted from 8 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday, heard two local bands Chemical Ali and The Mark Lyda Combo - perform and listened to the director of the Jubilee Café speak about homelessness issues. Some students who arrived early participated in a table discussion with members of the Lawrence Coalition on Homelessness. Erin Koksal, Garden City senior, participated to see some bands, such as The Mark Lyda Combo, but she said the program had a more meaningful purpose than other programs. "I'm already cold, and it's only 9:30, so it's an eye-opening experience,"said Koksal, CCO financial director. Sleepout for Homelessness made about $1,000. Rev. Joe Alford, who works with the Jubilee Café, said the event has always raised a substantial amount of money for the café. The money will be used to buy about three weeks worth of food for the café, he said. Café volunteers prepare and serve breakfast to in-need community members. — Edited by Laura Francoviglia Festival chooses three KU female playwrights ARTS BY NEIL MULKA nmulka@kansan.com KANSAN STAFF WRITER Ketchup makes everything better, even maggot-riddled World War II rations, says one KU alumnus playwright. PLAYWRITING FESTIVAL "Ketchup" is a one-act play written by Kristin Soper, 2004 graduate. It tells the story of a couple through its early years, its separation during World War II and its twilight years. The famous red condiment is a metaphor for the main character's wife. "My grandpa would put ketchup on everything," Soper said. "His relationship with his wife covered up the bad flavor in his life." Soper's and two other University students' plays — "The Option" by Libby Dean, Louisburg senior, and 'Breakfast' by Kendra Finney, Overland Park + WHEN: 8 p.m., March 10, 11, 12 and 17, 18, 19, 2 p.m., March 13 and 20. ♦ WHERE: Just Off Broadway Theater, 3051 Central, Kansas City, Mo. ♦ ADMISSION: $10 For more information, visit: www.KCPotluckProductions.com SOURCE: Potluck Productions senior — are being produced by Potluck Productions for its 10th annual 2005 Women's Playwriting Festival. The three plays were among the 12 selected from 50 entries, Glendora Davis, 2005 Festival producer, said. All three plays were written in Paul Lim's, professor of English, playwriting class. Dean has had a play performed at the Women's Playwriting Festival. Last year the festival produced her play, "A Test of Will." This is the second year that A playwright has a better sense of setting and of the stage after working with a production, Dean said. "The Libby Dean last year and the Libby this year are two different people," Lim said. "In terms of stagecraft and character development, I could see growth." Super credits Lim with helping KU playwrights get their plays produced. "If it wasn't for him it would be stashed in a drawer somewhere," Soper said. This is the first time that Finney's play, about a young woman who is angry that her boyfriend never makes her breakfast, has been performed on stage. "Breakfast!" plays on the age old relationship question, "What do women want?" The inspiration for "Breakfast" comes from a relationship with an ex-boyfriend who happens to be traveling from Pennsylvania to watch the play, Finney said. Dean's play, "The Option," is a comedy about a mother trying to give her son "the talk" during breakfast, months after the son's father has died. This is the first time that "The Option" will receive a full performance. It got a staged reading in January at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre regional festival. Student playwrights bring a fresh perspective to Potluck Productions, one director said. "They bring naivete and innocence," D.K. Evenson, director, said. "They're very quick to capture the essence of life." Edited by Austin Caster Ryan Butts, KU graduate and actor, and Jena Peterson, actor, kiss after sharing their memories of a difficult life during rehearsal of "Ketchup" Thursday evening at Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Mo. Erin Droste/KANSAN CORRECTION Friday's University Daily Kansan contained an error. The article, "Professor studies depression," stated Steve Ilardi is a professor of psychology. He is an associate professor. ON CAMPUS The Hall Center for the Humanities will sponsor an interdisciplinary discussion on "Postcolonial Theory and Empire" from 3:30-5 p.m. today in the Hall Center. The conversation will feature Edward Said, Dane Kennedy and James D. Sidaway, Call 864-4798 for more information. - Student Union Activities will sponsor a lecture by Laurie Garrett, the only journalist to ever win the Peabody Award, Polk Award and Pulitzer Prize, from 5:30-7:30 tonight at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Call 864-SHOW. - The Center for Russian and East European Studies will sponsor a lecture by Slavisa Orlovic of Belgrade University on "Challenges for Serbia Today" at noon tomorrow at room 318 in Bailey Hall. Call 864-4236 for more information. University Christian Fellowship will offer Bible study and worship at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in the ECM, 1204 Oread Ave. Contact Rick Clock at 841-3148. ON THE RECORD ♦ Lawrence police arrested a 19-year-old KU student for operating under the influence and unlawful use of a drivers license at 2:25 a.m. March 4 in the 1500 block of W. 23rd Street. Lawrence police arrested a 20-year-old KU student for operating under the influence at 3:23 a.m. March 4. THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS THE BRAZILIAN www.ku.edu/~brasa MARCH 6 "FEIJOADA" $5.00 each/Brazilian dinner 5:30pm @ ECM MARCH 7,2005 STUDENT SENATE WEEK brasa@ku.edu Sponsored by LA PARRILLA ATTN AMERICAN CUINE MARCH 7 Jiu-Jitsu Workshop 5:30-6:30pm @ ECM MARTIAL ARTS Capoeira Workshop 7-8pm @ ECM "BRAZILIANS Open Mic/ 7-9pm @ Hawks' Nest (KS Union) IN CONCERT" PRESENTED BY "O Auto da Compodecida" 7pm @ 4008 Wescoe MARCH 9 SAMBA & AXE MARCH 10 MOVIE NIGHT Dance workshop w/ Brazilian Valleyball Players Josi Lima & Jana Correa 7pm @ Burge Union The BIG Brazilian Table 5pm @ Hawks' Nest MARCH 11 "MESAO BRASILEIRO" MARCH 12 BRASA'S CARNAVAL PARTY Tickets available @ SUA (KS Union) $12 each 9pm @ Abe & Jake's Landing the university of kaunas Brazilian Student Association DO YOU HAVE SCHOOL SPIRIT? You should come to the Alumni Association meeting on the 4th and 2nd Tuesday of every month 7pm in the Adams Alumni Center All Students Welcome Kansas Alumni Association KU Professionals for Disabilities (KUPD) The 1st Annual Professionals for Disabilities (KUPD) Student Conference note speaker: Chriss Walther-Thomas, Ph.D Topics will include: Autism Spectrum Disorders, High Stakes Testing, Math Intervention Strategies. Multicultural Issues, and Transition Services Friday, March 11, 2005 8:00am - 12:30pm Kansas Union. Continental Breakfast and Door Prizes This time again to shake your body and show all of your samba. March 12th rnaval Party $ 2 -- 18 and above *kickins will cost $15 during last week w Tambores do Brasil (band) Tickets available ® SUA Office (KS Union) and Brazilian Cargo Store (KC) Rewards Your Student Association brasa@ku.edu www.kg.edu/~brasa ---