THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2005
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
3A
Dole fellows want to spark excitement for politics
Democrat, Republican to share campaign experiences during their semester-long tenures at the institute
BY JASON SHAAD
jshaad@ku.edu
KANSAY STAFF WRITER
The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics introduced its first pair of Dole Senior Fellows yesterday as part of what institute director Bill Lacy called "an attempt to demystify politics."
Senior fellows Steven Jacques and Adam Taff have the practical experience to clarify political processes for students and the community. Lacy said.
Both senior fellows will have open offices at the institute this semester and will reside on campus, Taff said.
He said he would spend a significant amount of time on campus, in classrooms and at community gatherings.
Jacques, a White House staffer
for the Carter and Clinton administrations, recently finished working as a senior advance consultant for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign.
An advance consultant serves as a campaign's eyes and ears, collecting political intelligence in cities all over the country. Jacques said.
JACQUES
Jacques said he was ready to work at the University.
After his extensive traveling.
TAFF
"There is no better mission than public higher education." Jacques said. "Politics is an honorable profession and this is a great opportunity to do a little pay back and show students and the community how it works."
Taff was the 2002 Republican nominee to run against Democrat Dennis Moore for Kansas' 3rd Congressional District seat.
Taff gained 47 percent of the vote but narrowly lost to Moore, who had 50 percent, according to the Kansas Secretary of State's Web site, www.kssos.org. Taff lost the Republican primary in 2004 for the same seat to Kris Kobach.
Taff said he was looking forward to working with Jaques,
even though the two belong to different political parties.
"I think that what Steven and I are doing is working for the common good." Taff said. "Everybody has different views, but we must find a way to work together, and that's what we're going to do."
As part of the institute's attempt to clarify politics, the fellows will play host to workshops for debate and information on the political process. Jacques said the goal for the workshops was that they would help students feel comfortable getting more involved in politics.
He said he had worked with several college students during the Kerry campaign and wanted to show more students how to get to that point.
"Politics is an honorable profession
Jacques' workshops will focus
and this is a great opportunity to do a little pay back and show students and the community how it works."
Steven Jacques Dole Senior Fellow
on presidential campaigns. White House operations and international politics.
Taff said he would compile a series of articles outlining how to run a successful campaign and what pitfalls campaigns
can encounter.
Part of the institute's plan this semester is to maintain the level of student political involvement that resulted from the presidential election, said Jonathan Earle, assistant director of the institute.
Earle said the fellows would help maintain that involvement by allowing students to get a first-hand perspective on what goes on in campaigning and elections.
The institute is holding a reception tonight to welcome Jacques and Taff. The reception is at 5 p.m. in the Dole Institute, 2350 Petefish Drive, located on West Campus next to the Lied Center. The event is free and open to students.
Ellsworth Hall offers students major assistance
— Edited by Kim Sweet Rubenstein
3E program offers surveys, personality tests
BY ERIC SORRENTINO
esorrentino@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Sarah Tucker was one of more than a thousand University of Kansas freshmen who were undecided on their majors last year, according to the Office of Institutional Research and Planning.
The Kansas City, Kan., freshman said she may major in English or film, but in her second semester, she was still unsure. Because of tools used by the Experience Excellence in Ellsworth, or the 3E program, Tucker is comfortable pursuing the two. The 3E program assists undecided freshmen in choosing a major.
To live in Ellsworth, the 570 residents are required to complete two personality assessment surveys, the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
"Last year, they didn't get all the
Students must then attend an
information out to student. This year, they got off on the right foot and mad the program effective to firstyear and returning residents."
Joe Christman
Hutchinson junior
interpretation session, which highlights his or her interests and strengths.
Tucker said the results from the surveys were helpful. The 3E program started on the 10th floor of Elsworth in the fall of 1988.
acclimation, Fred McElhenie said. McElhenie is a research consultant with Student Housing.
Leon Hayner, complex coordinator, said the program is picking up speed after a sluggish three semesters following renovations. Focus on participation increased last semester.
The program focused on retaining students at the University, academic success, career exploration and campus
Hayner said that the Ellsworth staff stressed the importance of 3E from the beginning of the year.
REQUIREMENTS
He said that all but two students filled out personality surveys last semester. Hayner said the two students who did not fill them out were asked to move out of Ellsworth.
First semester requirements:
1. Complete the Myers Briggs Type Indicator and the Strong Interest Inventory surveys, two career personality measurements.
"We're finding that a lot of students are starting to mark Ellsworth for the 3E program." Hayner said. "The offices we have are hands-on, and a lot of students don't have that elsewhere."
assessments.
2. Attend one interpretation session after taking the surveys at the University Career Center.
Joe Christman, Hutchinson junior, said that he noticed the difference in the program this year. Christman returned to Ellsworth this year and has
3. Attend one academic program or social to meet the University faculty.
Student Success Office Program.
4. Attend one approved
5. Attend the first Ellsworth Hall floor meeting of the year.
Spring semester requirements:
1. Attend one 3E Career Planning Program.
2. Attend one Faculty Last Lecture Series Program.
3. Attend the last ELSworth floor meeting.
Source: 3E program
served as a part of the student success staff for 3E.
"Last year, they didn't get all the information out to students." Christman said. "This year, they got off on the right foot and made the program effective to first-year and returning residents of Ellsworth Hall."
Kaleigh Bassett, Bethalia, ill,
sophomore and president of 3E.
said that the program's focus on career exploration helped first-year students feel more confident deciding on a major.
"As a freshmen, everything's so new in the beginning," Bassett said. "The 3E program has really gotten students geared up and ready to go this year."
THEFTS: New safety measures
CONTINUED FROM 1A
Sorem said that two computers were stolen from Eaton Hall over break, one from a classroom that had no surveillance cameras, and one that controls a large video board in the main lobby of the building.
He added that the new computer was well-secured to the wall. Sorem speculated that whoever stole the computer from one of the Eaton Hall labs used a window in the classroom to remove the computer and avoid the surveillance cameras in the commons area nearby.
He said the classroom the computer was stolen from would have surveillance cameras installed as soon as possible and that a security guard would continue to patrol the building every day.
Capt. Schuyler Bailey, KU Public Safety Office spokesman, said that all reported crime is down on campus.
Edited by Lori Bettes