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Volume 128 Issue 63
Tuesday, January 20. 2015
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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Kansan.com | The student voice since 1904
ALLDOVER/KANSAN
A member of Aloha Phi Alpha fraternity lights a candle for a person in attendance at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration Monday evening
CELEBRATING KING
ALI DOVER/KANSAN
Candlelit walk, performances highlight Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Members of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity lead a candlelight march from Strong Hall to the Kansas Memorial Union during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.
ALICIA GARZA
@Aliciaoftheudk
Over 50 students, faculty and alumni, as well as Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little, gathered at the Strong Hall rotunda Monday evening to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with guest speakers and vocal and acting performances.
The group walked with candles in groups of three, singing songs down Jayhawk Boulevard to the Union.
Maddi Duncan, a sophomore from Lenexa, walked with Genuine Imitation, the University's a cappella group.
"He's important to the University because of the amount of inclusion and diversity we have at KU, and obviously he's done so many great things for the progression of communities," Duncan said.
Patrick Jacquinot, a senior from Parsons, said honoring King is important to the University and its need for diversity.
"The ideals that [King] has set for our country, those radiate in our University, too," Jacquinot said. "It's all about brotherhood and being together, it's important to be here and be supportive of the ideals of Martin Luther King Jr."
Schuyler Kraus, a senior from
"The civil rights and equal
rights movement will never be
over really, and kind of what
we're doing here is really sup-
porting that movement and
Allen, Texas, said she thinks King opened a door to modern civil rights and equality movements.
offering our protection for everyone" Vera said
pus with groups dedicated to diversity and acceptance.
"I think the longevity of his legacy and discovery inspires us as students, to step forward into rights movements and help us help each other," Hoose said.
The celebration of King's life continues throughout the week with a screening of his "I Have a Dream" speech 3 p.m. Thursday on the fourth floor of the Union.
Edited by Emma LeGault
LeaderShape helps build students' skills
Danica Hoose, a junior from Parsons, said she thinks King's legacy and ideals exist today on cam-
KELLY CORDINGLEY
@kellycordingley
More than 60 university students enhanced their leadership and communication skills during a six-day program last week, hosted by the LeaderShape Institute. The program, which started Jan. 13, marked the 18th year of the Institute's presence on campus. According to the Student Involvement and Leadership Center's website, more than 530 students have graduated from the program since it began at the University in 1998.
Assistant Vice Provost of Student Affairs Jane Tuttle said the program prompted students to think about themselves and the world differently.
"It's not like what you do in high school about leadership." Tuttle said. "This is about how you can take your passion and use it to change the world, and the world can be the whole world or the world you live in right now."
LeaderShape welcomes anyone from freshmen to graduate students, from all corners of the country and the world.
"I think one thing that was impactful for me was that I went in knowing that people come from different places and are all different," said Jonathan Crane, a sophomore from Shawnee. "After leaving, I truly have a better grasp of how important it is to keep that knowledge in my mind. It isn't always about fixing everyone's problems in the world, but about having that conversation."
Kassandra Villes, a sophomore from Mission, said the experience was unlike anything she imagined.
"I came in knowing a few people that had gone through the program before, and they told me not to be afraid to be vulnerable and to cry," Villes said. "I was like, 'what am I going to be doing here that I'll be crying,' but it was good."
On the first day, students were split into groups of nine people who they spent the majority of their time with.
"We talked about our values and what we want to see happen in the world," Villes said.
"We got to hear personal stories, and so we made personal connections."
Villes said the small-group bonding was crucial to her growth at LeaderShape.
"By the end, it was like all things added together and it just kind of clicked," she said. "They're people I wouldn't have met, so it was eye-opening to see a connection happen on a deeper level. I can take what I gained from these relationships and use that in my personal relationships."
Tuttle moderated a panel of KU faculty members on the third night. She said the speakers touched on how to be a good leaders, how to prioritize, how to be ethical and how to be more efficient.
"They were all fascinating," Tuttle said. "They gave three different perspectives on often the same concepts, but they approached it differently."
As part of LeaderShape, students participated in activities such as writing a newspaper headline with a future goal.
Villes said her goal is to create a more culturally accepting country.
"The goal is to reduce discrimination, hate and racism." Ville said. "Within that goal, I want to create an exchange program, but not across countries, across communities. Maybe even an after school program where a tutor would come in and teach a different language that might be in the minority in the community."
Crane's goal centers around accessibility for students on campus, something he said is currently lacking.
"It's easy to think that yeah, accessibility is important," Crane said. "But, I didn't comprehend how much. KU as a campus needs to grow in how we address accessibility on campus. We want KU to be this place of growth, and we have these issues where people can't be involved."
Ticket Information for President Obama's visit on Thursday, Jan. 22
President Obama's speech is free and open to the public, but those attending need to have picked up a ticket before the event.
Villes said she encourages everyone to apply.
Students, faculty and staff must have a valid KU ID to pick up tickets.
"Don't be afraid to take that chance," she said.
Time: Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Location: Anschutz Sports Pavilion at 1575 Irving Hill Rd.
President Barack Obama participates in a service project at Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
EVAN VUCCI/ASSOCIATED PRESS
— Edited by Emma LeGault
KU Student, Faculty and Staff
Tuesday, Jan. 20
Beginning at 9 a.m.
SUA Box Office, Kansas Union
(Level 4)
Public Tickets:
Tuesday, Jan. 20
Beginning at 5 p.m.
Douglas County Fairgrounds,
Dreher 4-H Building at 2110
Harper St.
Professor named interim CLAS dean
KITTY TANKARD
@Kit10tank
Retired and settled into a life of ease at his farm in western Kansas, the last thing that Don Steeples expected was a job offer. One morning, however, he received a phone call from his former place of work: the University of Kansas. Checking his phone, he was surprised to see it was jeffrey Vitter, the provost from the University, calling.
The provost was calling to inform Steeples of his nomination for interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
"I wondered 'What in the world might he want to talk about?" Steeples said.
While the phone call was
Index CLASSIFIED 7 CRYPTOQUIPS 6 SPORTS 8
CROSSWORD 6 OPINION 4 SUOOKU 6
Steeples is replacing Danny Anderson, who will leave the University to become president of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.
unexpected, it was an offer he felt he should not refuse. Steeples drove into Lawrence for the interviews and within a few days learned he had been hired as the new interim dean.
Steeples has worked in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for 39 years, primarily as a geology professor, a position he held for 20 years. He went on to serve the college as chair of the Department of Geology, and then as provost. While teaching geology, he also spent 17 years doing research with the Kansas Geological
DON STEEPLES Interim dean of the CLAS
Don't Forget
"The motives of education have changed drastically in the last 15 years and even a bit in the last five to 10."
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has more than 50 departments. As interim dean, Steeples will be responsible for hiring new faculty, conducting faculty appointments and handling budget issues.
Survey.
Steeples' position as dean of the college will begin in
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2015 The University Daily Kansan
"The motives of education have changed drastically in the last 15 years and even a bit in the last five to 10," says Steeples. "The college has to respond to that, and they're in the process of responding with the Core and the move toward additional online instruction."
Edited by Sarah Kramer
To enjoy your first day back from sweet, sweet break.
March and only last a few months as a nationwide search for a permanent dean will be conducted. He says he will be working to implement the changes that are taking place within the University's largest academic unit, focusing on modernizing its teaching methods.
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