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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
MONDAY
APRIL 8,2002
MULTICULTURAL RESOURCE CENTER
ISSUE 125 VOLUME 112
Students rally for new center location
50 people show support at Saturday rally sponsored by KUnited
By Leah Shaffer
Kansan staff writer
Outside of the Multicultural Resource Center, about 50 students spent Saturday afternoon rallying for support of the University of Kansas' diversity programs.
Tiffany Lopez, a senator for the Asian American Student Union, said the rally showed that students were willing to take action in support of the
center and the need for a new facility. Lopez, Minneapolis, Kan., junior, said a new center should be located near the Kansas Union.
When Alicia Ellingson, Milford Neb. senior, first saw the outside of the Multicultural Resource Center, she couldn't believe that the small structure next to the Military Science Building was home to so many multicultural programs.
"I think it would be awesome if it could be at a more accessible place," she said.
the importance of diversity. Throughout the afternoon, the bands Hot Sauce and Inspirational Gospel of Voices performed and tours of the center were given.
The rally started at 3 p.m. and was sponsored by KUnited, Rev. Tim Dupree, a KU alumnus, spoke about
Jonathan Ng, Leawood junior and KUnited candidate for student body president, helped organize the event. He said the rally was a step in the right direction.
Robert Page, director of Multicultural Affairs, said the administration currently was reviewing the program but not searching for a new facility. He said that the process of getting a new facility could take awhile.
"I'm not going to speculate on how
long it would take to get a new MRC, but I know that if we don't initiate the process right now, it's going to be a lot longer." he said.
Santos Nunez, director of the Multicultural Resource Center, said she hoped the rally would raise awareness of the programs offered by the center.
"I would like to emphasize that these programs are open to everyone regardless of whether they are minority students or not," she said.
Contact Shaffer at lshaffer@kansan.com.
This story was edited by Brandon Stinnett.
'I was not aware of the homeless problem in Lawrence.'
Sleepout benefits charity
Into the Streets Week participants brave windy weather to raise awareness of homeless
Lawrence residents Vincent and Sara Harding chat with Garnett juniors Andrew Hermreck, far left, and Teresa Schreffler about issues affecting the homeless community in Lawrence. Students gathered pledges and camped out Friday night in Burcham Park to raise money for the homeless.
By Lauren Beatty Kansan staff writer
AARON SHOWALTER/KANSAN
The sleepout, part of Into the Streets Week, was designed to raise money for Jubilee Cafe, a food kitchen that serves free breakfast to the homeless and needy twice a week.
Students braved brisk wind and temperatures below 40 degree Friday night while sleeping outside to benefit the homeless.
Melissa Williams, Chicago junior and communications director of the Center for Community Outreach, the organization that sponsors Into the Streets Week, said the event also raised awareness about the problems Lawrence homeless faced, such as hunger.
Jen Bacani, co-coordinator of Into the Streets Week, said only 10 to 15 people stayed the entire night, but people constantly came and went throughout the event.
"I was very pleased," the Fredonia senior said. "We raised a little over $400."
Participants slept in Burcham Park, Second and Indiana streets. They raised money for Jubilee Cafe by collecting pledges, and every participant had to raise a minimum of $10.
To begin the night, local band The Draft played a concert for the attendees. After the concert, guest speakers, including Joe Alfred, the minister who started Jubilee Cafe, facilitated a discussion of issues surrounding the homeless.
Carey Wolktamp, Olathe freshman, said she participated in the sleepout because she wanted to do another service project after going on an Alternative Spring Break.
"I was not aware of the homeless problem in Lawrence and I thought this would be a good way to learn
about it,"she said.
Woltkamp decided to attend the sleep out about an hour before it started, so she donated the minimum $10 instead of raising pledges.
Kai Lu, Topeka senior, came to the sleep out with Woltkamp. He said he attended because he was concerned about the homeless and the lack of a shelter during the summer months.
Into the Streets week concludes today with a panel discussion from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Big 12 Room in the Kansas Union, presented with the Service Learning Center, titled, "The Role of Higher Education in the Community."
able to donate about $1,200 to Jubilee Cafe from the fundraising efforts of all the events.
Bacani said she thought the entire week had been a success. She said the Center for Community Outreach was
"I got to meet a ton of different people," she said. "Hopefully they were first time volunteers and they will continue over the summer and next year."
Contact Beatty at beatty@kansan.com.
This story was edited by Eve Lamborn.
Pride Week to celebrate educate raise funds
By Leah Shaffer Kansan staff writer
Education, outreach and, most of all, pride, headline the 2002 Pride Week at the University of Kansas. The event, themed "Setting the record straight?" in this, its 18th year, kicks off today with two events and will last until Friday.
At 8 tonight comedian Jason Stuart will perform "Gay Comedy for the Whole Family." From 4 to 8 p.m. at Hashinger Hall the Multicultural Resource Center will sponsor the "Tunnel of Oppression," an interactive walk-through exhibit that confronts hate issues.
Chase Richards, McPherson sophomore, and member of Queers and Allies, said that this year's Pride Week will again have the "Donate-Against-Hate-A-Thon" in anticipation of protests by Fred Phelps, a Topeka minister known for his antihomosexual protests. Richards said that anyone could pledge to donate money for each minute that Phelps and his followers protest an event. At the end of the week, the minutes will be tallied up and the donations collected and distributed to Queers and Allies and the Multicultural Resource Center, among other organizations and causes. Phelps protested the event last year, unknowingly raising more than $1,000 in pledges for the organization.
"I'm almost certain that at least some of his followers will be here," Richards said.
If Phelps does not protest, the organization said that while pledges would not be collected, anyone could still donate.
Also tomorrow at 3 p.m. in Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union, Stacey Ann Chin, a slam poet, will conduct a workshop and performance of slam poetry.
Richards said he was most looking forward to the Pride March, which begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at the "Train Park" at Seventh and Tennessee streets. The march will start at the park, move down Massachusetts Street and finish with a picnic.
Christine Robinson, Lawrence graduate student and an event organizer, said that said that other events for the week would include the performance of the play "Questionable Origins" at 7 p.m., Thursday at Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union. A workshop will precede the play at 3 p.m.
The Brown Bag Drag Show will take place at noon, Friday in front of the Kansas Union.
In addition to the festivities at the University, Robinson said that tomorrow night, the Lawrence City Commission will declare April 8 to 13 to be Lawrence Pride Week.
Contact Shaffer at lshaffer@kansan.com. This story was edited by Sarah Warren.
Former astronaut returns to University to inspire students
SARA SHEPHERD/KANSAM
Astronaut Steve Hawley (left), a Kansas native, visits with admirers after giving a talk Friday afternoon in Wescoe Hall.
"I do come back, not just to KU, but to Kansas when I can," he said. "I think it's
By Sarah Hill Kansan staff writer
Hawtey, a Kansas native and former astronaut, visited classes at the University of Kansas Friday. He spoke about his experiences and the value of making the most of one's education. Hawley now works as the director of flight crew operations at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
andartner than most people will ever go — and he's done it five times during a career as an astronaut that took him on multiple space missions.
Steve Hawley has gone higher, faster and forthcoming most people will ever go
important for students not only at the college level, but in high school and junior high, to see that somebody that just grew up in Kansas and might have a background like their own could end up getting to be involved in some pretty fun stuff."
space shuttle mission Hawley's experience in astronomy helped him on his five space shuttle missions. He maneuvered the robotic arm that deployed the Hubble space telescope from the space shuttle in 1990. The Hubble telescope helps astronomers because it is outside Earth's atmosphere.
Hawley, who grew up in Salina, graduated from the University In 1973 with a bachelor's degree in physics and astronomy. He was selected for NASA's first space shuttle class in 1978.
INSIDETODAY
Although he does not work as an astronomer now, Hawley keeps up with new advances in the field. He said he would return to astronomy in the future, maybe as a professor, if he had the chance. He said he would like to return to the University to teach.
Hawley was also involved with launching the Chandra X-ray telescope in 1999. The telescope uses X-rays to see inside stellar objects like exploding stars, black holes and colliding galaxies.
"I think that would be fantastic, if I ever had the opportunity to do that," he said.
Trevor Sorensen, associate professor
This cuts down on distortions and allows the telescope to take clearer pictures.
"The department has been traditionally focused on aeronautics." Sorenson said. "Bringing in speakers like Dr. Hawley draws attention to astronautics and space studies."
of aerospace engineering, said Hawley's visit was part of the department's attempt to build a space program at the University.
Lisa Baghal, Leavenworth junior, agreed that there wasn't as much as an emphasis on space in the department, so getting to hear Hawley talk was beneficial.
"A lot of us still hold aspirations to be astronauts," she said.
CAMERA ON KU ...2A
STATE NEWS ...5A
WEATHER ...8A
CROSSWORD ...8A
Contact Hill at shill @kansan.com. This story was edited by Eve Lamburn.
COMING IN TOMORROW'S KANSAN
STUDENT ELECTIONS: Complete coverage of the coalitions' debate
PHONY PERMITS: Students have been nabbed with counterfeit permits to enroll.
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