FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2005
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NEWS
Bicycles will be given away to children of Stouffer Place apartments during a winter party Saturday at the Burge Union. Mark Kalusha, Lawrence junior and president of the Stouffer Neighborhood Association, said he was surprised the association could obtain such nice bicycles for the children.
Winter party raffle to give away bikes
BY ERIC SORRENTO
esorrentino@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Stouffer Place Apartments, campus housing for married students, will give away 10 bicycles to residents' children during a winter party tomorrow.
The winter party will take place at 1 p.m. in the Relays Room of the Burge Union and the bike giveaway is scheduled for 3 p.m.
The Lansing Correctional Facility helped refurbish the bicycles for children of Stouffer Place residents, a first in the winter party's eight-year history. Last summer, Student Housing donated 200 abandoned bicycles to the Lansing recycling program.
"This is an opportunity to really give back to the community," said Eric Grospitch, adviser to the Stouffer Neighborhood Association. "On the 22nd, we're going to have 10 kids walk away with a bike who most likely have not ever owned one in their lives."
Zhiming Dai, graduate student from China, is a resident of Stoufler Place and the treasurer of the Stoufler Neighborhood Association. Dai said the event
cost about $800 and that he expected 100 people to attend.
"Many of us are from different countries, so I would like to get to know as many people as possible." Dai said.
The winter party will feature a variety of carnival-style games for the children, including radio-controlled car racing. Coffee, hot chocolate, juice, cookies and ice cream will be served.
Mark Kalusha, president of the Stouffe Neighborhood Association, said that 54 children live at Stouffer Place Apartments. Kalusha, Bronx, N.Y., junior, said he passed around a flyer for the event to the 286 units of Stouffer Place Apartments. Residents were advised to fill out and return a form indicating how many children they have and whether they own a bicycle. Kalusha will hold a raffle with the returned forms to see who receives the bicycles at the winter party.
"We are a very busy community in the sense that most of us have families and are also working and studying," Kalusha said. "This is an opportunity for us to come together and meet each other's kids."
Edited by Jesse Truesdale
Student artist, athlete dies after December automobile accident
BY DANN LITT
dlitt@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Aside from noticing his name at the bottom of a political cartoon in the University Daily Kansan, many people didn't know that Connor Meigs, a hockey player for the University of Kansas' club team, was an accomplished artist. He won numerous awards throughout his 19 years, many of which he kept private.
the hospital. Doug was injured but released the next day. Connor did not have any broken bones, but he sustained head injuries.
Connor and his twin brother, Doug, a student at the University of Missouri, were driving to their grandmother's house on Dec. 20 to play board games with their family when their car slid on black ice into a pickup truck just miles from their home.
Both brothers were brought to
The Omaha, Neb., sophomore was first recognized when he won the bronze award in the first grade at an international art competition in Japan through the Pentel Corporation. From that point on, he continued to excel in many aspects of art such as drawing, painting and sculpture.
"He was a very creative artist," said his mother, Linda Meigs. "He was full of potential and promise."
John Hachmeister, professor of art, said it was the deep feeling that Meigs put in his work and his willingness to help students that set him apart from the rest.
MEIGS
"He is already deeply missed," Hachmeister said. "Not just by faculty, but by the students as well."
He was also an avid reader. He read about environmental
art and architecture. He left behind numerous notebooks filled with his thoughts about art.
"There was a literary side to him that I never knew," his mother said.
In his death, Meigs saved seven others' lives. Meigs was an organ donor and donated both of his kidneys, his liver, pancreas, heart valves, tissue recovery, long bone and cornea.
Linda Meigs said her son's art would be displayed at the Florence Mill this summer from June 1 through Aug. 31. The exhibit will be open Tuesdays through Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. at 9102 N. 30th St. in Omaha, Neb.
The historical mill, which Meigs helped restore since he was 14, will be named the Connor Meigs Memorial Gallery.
Meigs is survived by his father John Meigs; mother, Linda Meigs; twin brother, Doug Meigs; brother, Brandon Meigs of Chicago; and sister Katherine Meigs of Tempe, Ariz.
A service and celebration of his life was held in his honor on Dec. 29 at Central Presbyterian Church in Omaha, Neb.
Edited by Azita Tafreshi
Professor loses battle with cancer
BY JOSHUA BICKEL
jbicket@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
Andrew Debicki, professor of Spanish and Portuguese, died yesterday after a battle with cancer that lasted almost two years. He was 70.
Colleagues who knew him will remember him as a tremendous scholar who never let others, or himself, dwell on his disease. He remained dedicated to his work and the University, said Danny Anderson, chairman of the department of Spanish and Portuguese.
"He always liked to know what was going on and was very involved in university life," Anderson said.
Patricia Manning, professor of Spanish and Portuguese, met
Debicki four years ago when she first came to the University of Kansas. Debicki, a well-known professor, befriended her almost immediately. For the past few years, Debicki has been her role model.
"He was a tremendous mentor," Manning said. "He had literally read everything I've ever written."
A teacher and scholar until his death, Debicki often guest lectured for western civilization and Spanish classes while fighting cancer.
His colleagues also said that he was very supportive of everyone he worked with and always went out of his way to help new faculty members, especially young professors.
Diana Carlin, dean of the Graduate School, said that
Debicki helped her prepare for her job when she was first hired and that he was the first to call and congratulate her when she became dean. She said he set the standard for her and personified everything good about a teacher.
"He was always instructive and anything he said always made an impression," Carlin said.
He also remained an enthusiastic fan of KU basketball and didn't let his disease stop him from attending the Jan. 5 basketball game at Kentucky or watching last Saturday's match-up with Colorado on TV with a friend.
services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Lawrence
A rosary is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Warren-MeElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th St, followed by visitation until 8:30 p.m.
Catholic Center, 1631 Crescent Road. The family suggests memorials to the KU Endowment Association for the St. Lawrence Catholic Center or to the Andrew P and Mary-Elizabeth Debicki Graduate Fellowship. It may be sent in care of the mortuary.
Debicki is survived by Mary-Elizabeth Debicki, wife, of Lawrence; two daughters, Mary Beth of Whitewater, Kan., Margaret Cooney of S. Pasadena, Calif.; two stepdaughters, Melissa Pedron of Elizabethtown, Ky., Betsy Burrus of Nashville, Tenn.; two stepsons, Michael Gwin of Jackson, Miss., Christopher Gwin of Atlanta; a brother, Father John P. Debicki, of Chicago and nine stepgrandchildren.
- Edited by Lisa Coble-Krings