4A
THE UNIVERSITY'DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 11. 2005
MUSIC
Local bands rock out for tsunami benefit
BY ERIC SORRENTINO
escorrentino@kansan.com
KANSAN STATE WRITER
Eight Lawrence bands are using their musical talents to make a difference overseas.
The bands will play for seven hours at the Granada Theatre tomorrow night, but will not see any of the money that is generated. The bands will play for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami.
"I don't make enough money to save that many people's lives with medicine or food," said Jake Davis, singer/songwriter of Basin, "but if I could do something to help a substantial amount, it would be nice and make me feel good."
Davis hopes to raise $3,000 tomorrow night at the Lawrence Tsunami Benefit concert. He said that he came up with the idea from talking to the American Red Cross chapter in Lawrence. The proceeds from the event will go toward the International Response Fund of the American Red Cross.
Tickets for tomorrow's event at the Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St., are $5 for ages 21 and older and $7 for ages 20 and younger. Davis said additional money could be donated at the concert. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Betsy Stverak, Overland Park senior, said that having the benefit concert at the Granada made a lot of sense to her because
Lawrence_was a hotbed for the local music scene.
As director of media relations for the band Distance to Empty, Stverak said that when she left the concert tomorrow, she would have a renewed sense of the Lawrence community. She said she felt good about working for free.
"These people had no warning, and it's just a catastrophe." Stverak said. "If I could, I would go over and rebuild houses and give food, but since I'm going to do what I can here to help."
bands that were interested, but could only select eight bands to perform.
Davis said he sent out an e-mail to every indie rock and local band he could find on lawrence.com. He found 25
"The hardest part was telling people they wouldn't be able to play." Davis said.
Mike Logan, owner of the Granada, said that he hoped the venue would fill up to its capacity of 600 people.
Logan said that Davis contacted him about having the event, and he agreed to allow Davis to put on the concert. Davis had never directed an event before. Logan said that he chose Saturday night for the concert in an attempt to improve the draw.
cause," Logan said. "The bands are donating their time and playing for free."
"Fans of the bands will definitely come out, but I'm hoping that people will come out for the
Bo McCall, lead guitarist for Distance to Empty, said merchandise sales from the concert would go toward the International Response Fund as well. McCall said he played in a Relay For Life, a benefit for the American Cancer Society, on May 2003, at Memorial Stadium and enjoyed concerts for charitable causes.
"When I heard about the tsunami, I thought about donating money myself," McCall said. "When this concert came up, I was excited about playing and making a contribution that way."
Edited by Kendall Dix
BENEFIT CONCERT
Bands to Play;
Distance to Empty
Aubrey
The Pomonas
The Pomonas
Abileen Well
♦ Apollo 13
About the Concert:
HEALTH
♦ Doors open at 6 p.m.
♦ Concert starts at 7 p.m.
♦ Admittance $5 for 21
and older, $7 for 20 and
younger
Source: Director of media relations for Distance to Empty
Meditation group offers students time to reflect
KATRINA MOHR
correspondent@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
A University of Kansas student created a weekly meditation group to give people a way to cope with the mental, physical and spiritual demands of college.
Meditation, which is sponsored by Student Union Activities, provides a place for all of the University to take a break from their busy schedules to reflect and rejuvenate each week.
At each session, selected speakers read a 20-minute meditation, an original and thoughtful piece of writing accompanied by music, to listeners in Danforth Chapel.
MEDITATION
Michelle Tran, Wichita sophomore, founded the weekly meditation session.
Meditation meets Thursdays from 2:30 to 3 p.m. in Danforth Chapel. Next Thursday's speaker will be Thad Holcombe, campus pastor for the Ecumenical Christian Ministries. Meditation is accepting submissions on a rolling basis from everyone inside and outside the KU community. E-mail submissions to Michelle Tran at mbitran@ku.edu.
Tran got the idea to bring Meditation to the University after attending Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H. There, the students gathered weekly to listen to the older students deliver their meditations. Afterward, they drank tea and discussed the oration. Tran enjoyed meditation so
Source: Student Union Activities
much that she proposed starting a club at the University as soon as she became a member of the Student Union Activities Social Issues Committee.
"Every day we pass people on campus, and each person has an amazing story to tell." Tran said. "Meditation is a chance for one of those people to share themselves with the KU community. By thinking and talking about what they shared, we all get to know more about each other."
There is no formal question and answer session after the reading, so organizers encourage participants to go to SUA's Tea Time from 3 to 4 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Kansas Union. There, the speaker and listeners can drink tea and discuss the reading.
"I love to see that contemplative and thoughtful look in people's eyes at the end of a meditation." Tran said. "I live for that moment."
Mary Klayder, professor of English, spoke at one session. Tran asked Klayder to speak because she admired the writing that Klayder shared with her English class. More than 25 people listened to Klayder's meditation, and many attended Tea Time afterwards.
"It was a nice experience," Klayder said. "I think this is a wonderful way for people to stop and take some time to listen or say something. There are so many people with things to say, and it will create a sense of community and allow people to talk about what they're thinking."
- Edited by Kendall Dix
Michelle Tran, Derby sophomore, delivered a speech yesterday during a meditation ceremony in Danforth Chapel. Student Union Activities hosts a meditation every Thursday from 2:30 to 3 p.m. Tran said each meditation included a song at the beginning followed by a speaker reading a reflective essay and a song to conclude. "It's nice to find at least one time a week when you can sit down, be quiet and think," said Tran.
FRII
N
A So time