THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2012
PAGE 3
NEWS OF THE WORLD
Associated Press
Iran will discuss compromises
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran is ready to revive talks with the U.S. and
other world powers, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday, but suggested that Tehran's foes will have to make compromises on no
Ahmadinejad
Iran's insistence that it will never give up uranium enrichment the process that makes mate-
vent negotiations from again collapsing in stalemate.
the process that makes material for reactors as well as weapons
scuttled negotiations a year ago
and still looms as a potential deal breaker even as tougher Western sanctions target Iran's critical oil exports.
The European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton had welcomed the proposals to restart talks — possibly in Turkey — but urged Tehran to bring "some concrete issues to talk about."
"It it is very important that it is not just about words. A meeting is not an excuse, a meeting is an opportunity and I hope that they will seize it," she said Monday in Brussels as the 27-nation bloc adopted its toughest measures yet on Iran with an oil embargo and freeze of the country's central bank assets.
Russian cargo ship has lifted off
MOSCOW — Russia's space agency says an unmanned cargo ship carrying 2.6 tons of supplies and equipment has lifted off for the international Space Station.
EUROPE
The space station's six members include three Russians, two Americans and a Dutchman.
Roskosmos says the Progress M-14M blasted off early Thursday from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan atop a Soyuz-U booster rocket.
The ship is scheduled to dock at the space station early Saturday with a cargo of oxygen, food, scientific equipment and gifts for the crew.
The decade-old station is orbiting about 225 miles (360 kilometers) above Earth and consists of 13 modules.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Progress M-14M blasts off early Thursday from the Baikunur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The ship carries 2.6 tons of supplies and equipment.
Mexican lawmakers suspect spies
MEXICO
MEXICO CITY — A search of several Mexican lawmakers' offices turned up recording equipment, leading legislators to believe they have been spied on for years, a congressman said Wednesday.
Congressman Armando Rios said security personnel found microphones and other devices that seemed to have been installed years ago.
Congress president Guadalupe Acosta, also of the PRD, on Tuesday filed a complaint with federal prosecutors, who opened an investigation.
Rios said the offices of key committees and of several lawmakers from different political parties were bugged.
"Some of the equipment has newer technology, but other devices are from a long time ago, which leads us to believe they were installed years ago," said Rios, a member of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, or PRD.
"What is at stake is the vulnerability of the legislature, of one of the powers of the union." Rios said.
Acosta wouldn't identify the lawmakers who were being spied on or who he thinks was behind the espionage. Rios blamed the government of President Felipe Calderon, who belongs to the conservative National Action Party, or PAN.
Elephants now poached for meat
ASIA
BANGKOK — Thailand's revered national symbol, the elephant, may face a new threat of extinction: being poached not just for their tusks, but for their meat.
Two wild elephants were found slaughtered last month in a national park in western Thailand, alerting authorities to the new practice of consuming elephant meat
"The poachers took away the elephants' sex organs and trunks ... for human consumption." Damrong Phidet, director-general of Thailand's wildlife agency, told The Associated Press.
Consuming elephant meat is not common in Thailand, but some Asian cultures believe consuming animals' reproductive organs can boost sexual prowess.
Poaching elephants is banned, and trafficking or possessing poached animal parts also is illegal. Elephant tusks are sought in the illegal ivory trade, and baby wild elephants are sometimes poached to be trained for talent shows.
Soraida Salwala, the founder of Friends of the Asian Elephant foundation, said a full grown pair of tusks could be sold from 1 million to 2 million baht ($31,600 to $63,300), while the estimated value of an elephant's penis is more than 30,000 baht ($950).
"There's only a handful of people who like to eat elephant meat, but once there's demand, poachers will find it hard to resist the big money," she cautioned.
EDUCATION
Plan to reduce required credits
MARSHALL SCHMIDT mschmidt@kansan.com
The University's general education is getting revamped to expand learning opportunities and remain competitive with fellow universities. The curriculum rework is part of the greater "Bold Aspirations" strategic plan announced by the provost last year.
The reform aims to reduce the number of general education credit hours from 72 for a Bachelor of Arts to 30 to 40 hours for every KU student, said Professor Chris Haulfer, special advisor to the provost and chair of the chancellor's task force to improve retention and timely graduation. These policies are planned to go into effect for freshmen entering the University during the fall 2013 semester.
"We are reforming the core curriculum to ensure that KU students get the best education possible and to ensure that KU graduates remain competitive with graduates from peer institutions," said Libby Johnson, a senior from Lawrence and student body president. "My hope is that this reform will assist with our graduation in four years rate and with retention."
Those 30 to 40 hours will be designated to achieving six goals laid out by "Bold Aspirations" for educational development and allow students to more easily obtain a minor, double major and explore other classes.
"We are developing more flexibility for students to chart their own course," Haufler said. "Since many programs are so lockstep, students are unable to take advantage of the huge set of options offered at the University."
The ways to obtain these six goals are also flexible, and can be accomplished through a variety of different opportunities.
"These reforms will help students take part in more out of classroom experiences like studying abroad, interning or researching," said Andrew Toth, senior from Colby and member of the Transition Committee, which is responsible for developing the mechanisms of this change further this semester.
SIX GOALS
2. Strengthen written and oral communication
3. Develop a background of knowledge across fundamental areas of study
1. Build core skills of critical thinking and quantitative literacy
4. Gain the ability to integrate knowledge and think creatively
5. Respect human diversity and expand cultural understanding and global awareness
6. Practice social responsibility and demonstrate ethical behavior.
The reforms mainly apply to the liberal arts and science degree programs where the general education requirement is higher. However, the professional schools will still see their students' general education change to incorporate the six goals.
The ultimate goal is to foster students with greater global awareness, appreciation for lifelong learning, and a broader set of skills.
"Part of being a student at the University of Kansas will help you compete better for jobs," Hauler said. "We are building a universal foundation of knowledge, skills, and values for all KU students."
Students are encouraged to give their input through this process by having conversations with faculty, other students and their student government representatives.
Conversation is one of the most important things students can do to make their voices heard," Johnson said.
LAWRENCE
Edited by Nadia Imafidon
KELSEY CIPOLLA / KANSAN
The second floor of Tapas is decorated with murals painted by Jose Crespo. Crespo will be finishing the murals in front of restaurant patrons during Final Fridays.
Mexican restaurants strive to be unique
KELSEY CIPOLLA
kcipolla@kansan.com
Salsa replaced ketchup as America's top selling condiment in 2000. More than a decade later, the increasing popularity is evident in downtown Lawrence, which is home to a constantly growing number of Mexican and Latin American restaurants.
Although free chips and salsa are standard offerings for Mexican restaurants, Juarez hopes to attract students by offering free tapas, or small portions of food, in the afternoons with drink purchases. Tapas originated in Spain, but was later adopted by other countries, including Mexico, where they are called "Botanas."
Tapas opened two weeks ago on Massachusetts St., although owner Gustavo Juarez said he initially wanted to avoid opening in Lawrence because of all the competition. After scoping out the other restaurants, he is now less concerned.
"I don't think we have anybody on this street that has the same thing we make," said Juarez.
Tapas has also partnered with its neighbor Tonic to increase business. The popular bar won't charge a boxer fee on Thursday nights if you have a receipt showing you ate at the new restaurant.
restaurant, weren't worried about Downtown Lawrence's other Mexican and Latin American options.
Competition for Tapas, Fuzzy's Taco Shop, opened in October. Unlike Juarez, owner John Records and his son, Spencer, who manages the
Despite the increase in competition, La Parilla has thrived for almost 14 years. Owner Subarna Bhattachan, said any restaurant in Lawrence is a competitor not because of population growth, but because Mexican and Latin American restaurants are always particularly threatening.
Fuzzy's lov key, walk-up to order atmosphere sets it apart from many of the sit-down restaurants, as did the style of food, which Records described as "Baja West Coast."
"We're from Texas, where there's a Mexican restaurant at every corner," Spencer Records said.
Students are still loyal to the restaurant, including Erin Carlson, a senior from El Dorado, who appreciates La Parilla's inexpensive, high quality food. She also has a theory as to why so many Mexican restaurants have recently popped up.
"Normally whenever a new restaurant opens up downtown, for the first six weeks we see business drop off a little bit, but then it comes back again," Bhattachan said. "Our key to staying in business is consistency, the quality of the product."
"Its a really popular kind of food," Carlson said. "You never hear anybody say I hate Mexican food."
Edited by Amanda Gage
WHEN YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TO CAMPUS...
The KANSAN is available at OFF-CAMPUS LOCATIONS.
Beat the Bookstore
Carlos O'Kelly's
Downtown Barber
Dunn Brothers Coffee
Fuzzy's Taco Shop
Johnny's Tavern
Johnny's Tavern West
The Oread Hotel
Zen Zero
McDonald's @ 23rd Street
PepperJax Grill
Pickleman's
Yello Sub
Bigg's BBQ
Community Mercantile
Rudy's
La Parrilla
Genovese
The Wheel
Wednesday, February 8th Supersuckers w/Spitin' Cobras Wednesday, February 15th Tomorrow's Bad Seeds w/Pacific Dub
The Bottleneck 737 New Hampshire St. Lawrence Ks
Wednesday, February 1st
Old 97's
w/ Caitlin Rose
presented by
Wednesday, February 22nd Elephant Revival w/Olassa
Thyan Adams new album Ashes Fare out on PAK-MV-Capital
pipeline.com
www.thebottlenecklive.com
THE MUSIC HALL KANSAS CITY
WED FEB 1 RYAN ADAMS
Find Pipeline Productions on Facebook for concert announcements, giveaways, and more!
THE GRANADA
1020 MASS ST • LAWRENCE KS
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 8
RAILROAD EARTH
www.pipelineproductions.com
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 12
moe.