Volume 124 Issue 134
kansan.com
Friday, April 13, 2012
Study says an aspect of business overlooked in classes
THIS YEAR AT THE KANSAS RELAYS WE NEED YOU TO HELP US BREAK A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD
Have a plateful of the world's largest serving of freshly made* nachos at the Kansas Relays. The nachos are free with a suggested donation of $1 or a canned good to benefit L.I.N.K., a local-hunger outreach center. Admittance is FREE with Student ID.
*Includes: ground beef, nacho cheese, fresh salsa, tomatoes, cilantro, beans, jalapenos, tortilla chips and Salty Iguana's famous Iguana Dip.
SPECIAL THANKS FOR MAKING THIS COMMUNITY EVENT POSSIBLE:
APRIL 21,2012 NOON-2:30PM @ Memorial Stadium
www.kansasrelays.com
GREEN
XANSAN
Student's memory honored among Greeks
RACHEL SALYER
rsalyer@kansan.com
The Third Annual Jason Wren Initiative reminded the Greek community of the importance of moderation and understanding the effects of alcoholism yesterday evening in Budig Hall.
The initiative, hosted by University chapters of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and Delta Gamma Sorority, is designed to honor Jason Wren's memory. Wren was a freshman SAE pledge who died of alcohol poisoning March 8, 2009.
Toren Volkmann, a recovering alcoholic and author of "From Binge to Blackout," shared with the audience his own story of alcoholism and the idea that it can happen to anyone. He showed pictures of his own party experiences. Wren's name, and the names of the event sponsors, were displayed on a banner hanning behind him.
The event was open to everyone free of charge, but event chair and SAE member Austin Wagner said that, of the about 700 people in attendance, the majority were sorority members. In the past, SAE asked 20 percent of all members from University sororities and fraternities to attend. Wagner said SAE did not do so this year because of a miscommunication.
Volkmann, who started drinking at age 14, said he never would have expected himself to become an alcoholic.
Angela Guist, a freshman from Ottawa, said she and her friends attended the event to support
"I was from a normal family with a decent recipe for a very good outcome," Volkmann said, "but once I put myself in the category and started exhibiting that behavior, I was just as likely to become an alcoholic as anyone."
Before dismissing the audience, Chapin McLane, SAE president, reminded those in attendance that the point of the conference was not to tell students to be sober, but to ask them to drink responsibly.
Wren talked about having repeated blackouts even though he thought he was drinking socially. Eventually, those blackouts led to his alcohol dependency.
their sorority, Sigma Kappa, which donated to the event.
Jason would have been a senior
"I have unfortunately blacked out a few times, and it's not a good feeling when you have no idea what happened," Guist said. "People say it's a part of the experience, but listening to him makes you think of how dangerous it can be."
"Even after we're all gone, the message will still need to be said," he said.
The initiative started in 2010 and continued after Wren's father, Jay Wren, filed a wrongful death suit against the fraternity.
Wagner said he hopes to see the organization's efforts continue.
CHRIS NEAL/KANSAN
3
SEE WREN PAGE 6
Toren Volkmann, author of "From Binge to Blackout" speaks to students in the Greek community about alcoholism Thursday night at Budig Hall. Volkmann was the guest speaker for the annual Jason Wren Initiative which was created to spread awareness about drinking and alcoholism after the death of Jason Wren in 2009.
CLASSIFIEDS 11
CROSSWORD 4
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPIMION 5
SPORTS 12
SUDOKU 4
All contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
Today is National Scrabble Day. So if you've got a seven-letter word and don't mind upsetting a chum, thrown it down and don't apologize.
Today's Weather
Slight chance of storms and thunderstorms, some possibly severe.
Avoid golf courses for now.