FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2005
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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BY ERIC SORRENTINO
esorrentino@kansan.com
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Joanna Kirby got involved with the Up 'til Dawn program after her long-time friend was diagnosed with a malignant medullo blastoma, or a cancerous brain tumor. Kirby has known Jake Louis, 9, Overland Park, since he was born.
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The Leawood junior also convinced 100 women from her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, to get involved with the program. Kirby said that Louis was released from chemotherapy last spring and returned to Overland Park.
"As soon as the executive board applications came out at KU, I knew I had to do it," Kirby said.
The program, in its first year at the University, raised money for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
Up 'til Dawn, a student-led program at the University, raised $51,000 last semester to help children across the world who suffer from cancer.
Nat Collins, executive director of the program, said that KU ranked ninth in the nation this year on the amount of funds raised for the hospital. Collins
said that there were approximately 140 Up 'til Dawn programs at universities across the nation and that the children's hospital already had collected $2.5 million from the program this year.
The title of the program, Up 'til Dawn, represents the parents who stay up until dawn, making sure their children are all right.
"This program has been a life-changer," Collins said. "It combined my love of kids with my passion for biology."
The children's hospital takes in more than $1 million of donations per day to operate its facility. The money goes toward providing insurance for families who cannot afford it. Collins said that the program at KU had two letter-writing activities last semester to raise money for the hospital. About 350 KU students wrote 10,000 letters to family and friends asking for donations. Students also made care packages to send away to the hospital.
Collins said that the initial goal for the organization was to raise $75,000 by the end of the school year. He said that he would try to focus more on getting more off-campus and residence-hall students involved this semester because the program is
open to all KU students. Collins said that about 80 percent of the student involvement came from the greek community.
"Outside KU basketball, there's not really something that everyone flocks to," Collins said. "It's really something we want the whole campus to be involved with."
A part of the money the University raises will go to the Target House, a long-term place to stay for patients and their families, and to the Memphis Grizzlies House, a short-term place to stay for patients diagnosed for cancer.
Up 'til Dawn will host a final event on Saturday at the Ballroom in the Kansas Union to celebrate the funds that KU students gave to the children's hospital. Kate Ayars, Wichita junior, said she was looking forward to the patient speakers at the event.
"I was inspired to see how many people took part in the program," Ayars said. "I've never seen so many people I know get together to do such a wonderful thing."
The event will also include three bands and games of Twister and Singled Out.
The event is scheduled from 6 to 11 p.m Saturday.
Edited by Kendall Dix
FLU: Can be treated if caught early
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
cleanliness can help reduce the chance of infection.
If caught within 48 hours of the appearance of symptoms, the flu can be treated with antiviral medications. A test determines what form of the virus an individual has. The test is $30 at Watkins.
Lawrence-Douglas County Health Services received notice of increasing flu cases in the county but does not know the exact number of cases, said Kim Ens, health services nurse. Doctors are not required to report flu cases to health officials.
The virus is spread by droplets through coughing and sneezing. Those with the flu are contagious and need to avoid contact with others.
Other illnesses are also showing up on campus. Bronchitis, strep throat and other upper respiratory infections are becoming more common, Strother said.
Health officials are still encouraging people to get vaccinated for the flu. Watkins Health Center has FluMist, the nasal spray vaccination, available by appointment, Strother said.
Douglas County Health Services has 70 doses of the injection vaccination available during clinic hours, Ens said.
Watkins immunized at least 60 students and faculty since restrictions on the vaccination were lifted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention a week ago, Strother said.
Edited by Lori Bettes
NATION
'Insensitive'teddybears no longer sold in stores
MONTPELIER, Vt. — To the relief of advocates for the mentally ill, the Vermont Teddy Bear Co. said yesterday that its strait-jacketed "Crazy For You" bears were sold out and that it would not make any more.
For weeks, advocates and Republican Gov. James Douglas have criticized the toy as insensitive. The $69.95 bear, marketed as a Valentine's Day gift, came with a straitjacket and commitment papers.
The company said it had decided weeks ago that it would
Company spokeswoman Nicole L'Huillier said the bear had sold unusually well, but would not release figures.
stop manufacturing the bears but would continue selling them through Valentine's Dav.
Mental health advocates claimed victory.
"We believe the Vermont Teddy Bear Co. has come to understand the harm caused by creating an image that trivialized the pain of people with severe mental illness, and that reinforced public stereotypes regarding appropriate treatment for such individuals," four advocacy groups said in a statement.
- The Associated Press
STUDENT: 'Never gave up'
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
"He had a sense of ethics and professionalism that this world really needed," said Mike Kautsch, law professor.
After he was diagnosed in 2003, Keenan underwent a total of 90 days of radiation and was treated with 14 different types of chemotherapy and biological agents.
He always thought the next one would lead to his cure, Brown said.
Throughout his bout with the disease, Keenan remained active in his legal education. He took his textbooks with him to multiple treatment sessions in both North Carolina and Houston.
Anybody else in Keenan's position would have dropped out of school to deal with the disease, said Webb Hecker, associate dean for academic
Brown would quiz Keenan and review his outlines with him before and after his surgeries.
"This is a guy to whom it meant everything," Hecker said. "He had a real fighting spirit and religious faith. He never gave up."
affairs in the School of Law.
It was this tenacious drive for which Keenan will be remembered.
Keenan lived by personal mottos, Brown said. Live each day to its fullest, appreciate everyone around you, and don't take anything for granted.
A memorial scholarship fund is being discussed by several law students and the Kansas University Endowment Association.
Keenan's funeral is tomorrow at 10:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Ness City. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Olathe.
"Throughout all of this, I think it was his lesson to show us how important life is," Brown said.
Edited by Azita Tafreshi
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