THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9.2005
New year
compared now with 5A
"I like participating in the dragon dance because it is a good way to represent my culture to others and gives me a chance to get involved while I'm away from home," Duy Vu, Salina freshman, says.
Red-enveloped money does not always have to be fed to the dancing dragons. Older people usually give the money to youngsters to shower them with more wealth and prosperity in the coming year. Those who receive the li xi can opt to keep it until after the new year celebration is finished (usually about a week), and then spend it, or can keep it for the entire year in hopes of it growing. Spending the lucky money right away is not recommended because it foreshadows the way money may be blindly handled in the new year.
As with any other major festivity, food is a key ingredient in ringing in the new year. Though Americans eat turkey and dressing on Christmas and blackeyed peas on Jan. 1, Asian Americans enjoy traditional dishes such as rice cakes, rice waffles, sticky rice and various fruit candies. Food may be the biggest issue celebrating away from home, though, because most student-prepared meals can never compare to the goodness of mom or grandma's passed-down recipes.
"As a youngster I usually saved my red-enveloped money in a piggy bank. When I get my red envelopes now I spend them immediately," Jennifer Pham, Germantown, Md., freshman says. "I'm more of a shopper now than I was at the age of four."
"A lot of the mothers of VSA members will be making traditional dinners before the Tet Show, which helps a lot," Tu Le, Garden City junior, saws.
"I'm not sure if Jump Asian Cuisine will be at Mrs. E's, so to be safe, I've organized a dinner at Peking Taste for me and a group of close friends to celebrate the new year and have some good food." Pham says.
Many students will rely on local restaurants or dining halls to accommodate their Tet plans.
Another respectful tradition of Tet is the visit to elders. Young people wish the older people in their families and communities a happy new year, or "chuc mung nam mol," and have an opportunity to reconnect and receive advice from a different generation.
"Since it goes in order from eldest to youngest, I usually see my grandma first and then my parents," Sam Park, Leavenworth freshman, says. "I bow and stay down while they speak to me and tell me what my goals should be this year, as well as the things that I should change and improve on in the new year.
"It could range from 15 seconds to two minutes. Afterward I get a gift of either lucky money or new clothes."
Being close to home, Park will be able to travel to pay respect to his elders, though it will be on the weekend when he has more time to travel. Because Tet celebrations usually run for at least a week, this is acceptable.
"I'll be able to stay home for the weekend and celebrate with my family, but it won't be the same as in years past," Park says.
It really won't be the same as in years past. My mom isn't here to give me a handwritten grocery list to take to the Asian market. My dad won't be around to slip me an extra red envelope. But what really matters is that I will be keeping my cultural traditions alive on my own, with a new family of people to share the luck, wealth and excitement that every New Year brings.
- Wallace is a freshman in pre-journalism. She is Asian American. This story was edited by Kendall Dix.
Tsunami an education device
WORLD VIEW
BY LISA TILSON
correspondent@kansan.com
KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
The tsunami that recently destroyed parts of Asia and Africa will eventually be in students' textbooks. But Luis Gonzalez, associate professor of geology, is already incorporating it into this semester's curriculum for Earthquakes and Natural Disasters.
His worst fears came true after seeing news of the tsunami on TV. His first reaction was remorse for the death and destruction of so many innocent lives, Gonzalez said. He immediately knew this event would change the impact his class had on his students this semester.
The geology department at the University of Kansas has taken this tragedy and made it an opportunity to educate students. Gonzalez said all the instructors of introductory-level geology courses are educating students about what happened in December.
Only a month after the disaster, Gonzalez has already spoken in class about the tsunami. He has a lecture devoted to
"We can help students not be a victim if they are ever in a place where a tsunami is about to strike," he said.
TSUNAMI RELIEF
Assistant professor of geology Luis Gonzalez has posted a link to five relief effort Web sites on the Earthquakes and Natural Disasters Blackboard site. It includes The Red Cross, Mercy Corps, Habitat for Humanity and UNICEF. A more complete list of organizations can be found at www.npr.org.
"It was incredibly sad to see the lives of so many people destroyed, but showing it caught people's attention for a good cause," Allie Rubino, Naperville. Ill., freshman said.
This past week Gonzalez took time out of class to show a video clip from a Dutch TV station. The clip showed footage of the aftermath of the tsunami, specifically the victims.
Gonzalez said he showed the students the clip to spark awareness of the tragedy and help them see how many people the tsunami is affecting.
"It would be a great thing if students could open their hearts and give to the relief funds," Gonzalez said.
Kelly Hutsell/KANSAN
Edited by Jennifer Voldness
Luis Gonzalez, professor of geology, prepares to discuss tsunamis as part of his lecture for tomorrow. Gonzalez teaches Earthquakes and Natural Disasters on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
be a $75 fine. There are no limits on a Type D infraction.
"I like specific rules for an election like this," Sterner said. "Our coalition will do everything we can to avoid those infractions."
new fine structure would work well.
An example of a Type A infraction would be chalking too close to a voting site. A Type B infraction would be distributing literature too close to a voting site and a Type C infraction would be candidates engaging in election fraud by using direct influence to win a vote.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
Voting
This year, fines will be put into four different categories. Last year, there were two different categories, minor and major, and the fine amount was left up to the election commission.
Fines will be determined by the commission and the commissioner.
Type D infractions involve committing outrageous election fraud or theft.
Now fins range from $25 to unlimited. A Type A infraction would be a $25 fine, a Type B infraction would be a $50 fine and a Type C infraction would
Division of Student Success and one staff member must come from the Department of Student Life.
Six students and three staff and faculty members make up the commission. One faculty member must be from political science, one staff member has to be a representative from the
Sterner said he thought the
The commission is searching for a new election commissioner for the spring elections. The commission hopes to hire someone by next week. The job pays $8.50 an hour. The commissioner is expected to put in a total of 120 hours.
Edited by Kim Sweet Rubenstein
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842-8665 2858 2858 Four Wheel Dr.
Ash Wednesday Services at Trinity Episcopal Church
1011 Vermont St. 843-6166
7:00 AM- Liturgy with imposition of ashes Noon-Liturgy with imposition of ashes 6:00 PM- Holy Eucharist with imposition of ashes There will be a light supper served in the parish hall following this service. The Rev.Canon Ionathon W.Iensen.Rector.
The Rev. Canon Jonathon W. Jensen, Rector.
Gerald F. Seib
Wall Street Journal Washington Bureau Chief
1:30 p.m.
Friday, February 11 in Woodruff Auditorium Kansas Union Free and Open to the Public
at this ceremony. He will be a guest of the William Allen
Mr. Seib, a 1978 School of Journalism graduate, will receive the William Allen White Foundation's 2005 national citation
White Foundation and the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications.