WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30, 2002
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 5A
AARON SHOWALTER/KANSAN
Wichita sophomore Cassie Cool maintains a close relationship with her family, especially her parents, grandparents and pets represented here in photos.
Parents inspire 'Cool' student
By Adam Pracht Kansan staff writer
Cassie Cool has a last name that seems to jump out of the student directory.
"I take a lot of pride in it," the Wichita sophomore said.
Herfather, David Cool, said that "Cool" is a name that fits her well.
"She's confident, she looks for challenges, and she holds her head up every dav" he said.
Cassie has faced challenges in her life. She has dealt with her parents' divorce, struggled with grades and tested
ner limits. Cassie has spent the last six years on color guard for the Marching Jayhawks, and next year will be her last before she pursues a law degree.
Faces in the Crowd
Cassie said she wanted to move to the East Coast and work as a corporate lawyer, specializing in international business. Her long-term goal is to be a member of the Supreme Court of the United States. Her mother, Kim Cool, said she thought that Cassie would reach her goal.
"She's going to be successful. She just has this drive in her." she said.
Yet the road has still difficult for Cassie. Her parents' divorce left a lasting impression on her.
"When I was little, you didn't want to hurt one parent by wanting to be with the other parent. You didn't want to spend too much time with them because then that wouldn't be fair," Cassie said. "I hate asking my parents for things and I'm afraid to speak up in front of them just because of it. I'm just like,' Am I
going to hurt them? Am I going to offend them in some way?' That has to be the hardest thing that I've ever had to do in my life."
Kim said that she thought Cassie's experience in divorce court led her to pursue a law degree.
"She wasn't happy with things and wanted them changed," she said.
Kim was a young mother when she had Cassie. She had Cassie's older brother Ieremv at 16 and Cassie at 18.
"You have to deal with how people look at you," Kim said. "You're a young mother and you're alone. In turn, maybe that's what brought us closer."
Along the way, Cassie's parents pushed her to succeed. She said her father was a role model for her, academically.
"He was the only person in my family to graduate from college," she said. "My brother and I are in college, so he kind of set the path for us."
Cassie said her mother provided an example of character. Kim overcame her alcoholism 10 years ago and is now successfully self-employed cleaning houses.
Kim played an important role in keeping Cassie in high school. Now that Cassie is in college, her mother continues to keep her going.
“It's hard to keep your head above water, but she calls me on Thursdays and she's like, 'I just want you know that I'm proud of you, and it's OK to fail as long as you try harder the next time around,'” Cassie said. “She just keeps me going forward and when I feel like quitting, she doesn't let me.”
Contact Pracht at aprachtskansan.com. This story was edited by Andy Gassaway.
County hopes for heritage area recognition
By Lauren Beatty
Kansan staff writer
Douglas County may be named a National Heritage Area because of its history of abolitionist struggles. Quantrill's Raid and the underground railroad.
"We want to try to make local people more aware of what Lawrence is all about and to promote it for tourists," Dunfield said.
A local group, the National Heritage Area Task Force, will prepare an application for the congressional designation, said David Dunfield, city commissioner.
"In part it has to do with history and heritage issues," Dunfield said. "Recently there has been historical interests like Hobbs Park. It has caught a lot of attention."
Hobbs Park is a new city park at 10th and Delaware streets that features a restored Civil War-era house.
Judy Billings, director of the Lawrence Visitor and Convention Bureau, said a designation as a National Heritage Area would have positive implications.
"Heritage tourism is quite a buzzword now," she said. "It's been proven that people who travel for history spend more money and more time in the area. That brings more money and more hotel rooms."
Billings said the report they will present to Congress would focus on the Bleeding Kansas story, which was the fight over whether Kansas would be a slave- or free state.
"It will give us a better understanding of our roots," she said. "It will generate pride and provide opportunities for community development and preserving historic sites."
The task force began Friday and Saturday with subcommittee meetings. The subcommittees consist of historical and sociological impacts; architecture and geography; and economic impacts of the possible designation.
The first step in the process is to gather information for the study.
"We're aiming to present our findings to the city commission by June or July," Dunfield said. "We're putting together a report to see whether the feasibility study is appropriate. Until then, it will be a lot of subcommittee work."
The project is in preliminary stages and involves illustrating Lawrence's resources and how the town would preserve and promote history, he said.
Billings said it could take a year or more to finalize the study.
Contact Beatty at beatty@kansan.com. This story was edited by Jeremy Clarkson.
in association with
Live Q&A with Arnold Schwarzenegger after the screening
Fragrances for men and women
Present a
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS @ Woodruff Auditorium 6:00 PM Tuesday, February 5, 2002 FREE ADMISSION
INFO?: call 785-864-3477 www.ukans.edu/~sua
- Pick up passes at SUA Office, Kansas Union, 4th floor, 2 passes per KU I.D. Passes will be distributed from the SUA office the day of the event.
Passes required. Seating is limited and not guaranteed. Please arrive early. ID required. No one under the age of 17 will be admitted without parent or legal guardian. Presented in association with Student Union Activities.
while passes last*
also sponsored by
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**COMMUNITY MERCANTILE** *901 Iowa, Lawrence, KS*
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FREE advanced screening January 30
Vouchers are available on the day of the show in the SUA Office, Level 4, Kansas Union. All movies shown in Woodruff Auditorium, Level 5, Kansas Union. A yourselves do not guarantee a seat
FREE advanced screening February 5 Cellular Damage
All movies shown in Woodruff Auditorium, Level 5. Kansas Union Tickets are $2.00 and can be purchased online or show at Haskell Park & Kansas Union
Italy Exhibit Through January 31
Vouchers are available on the day of the show in the SUA Office. Level 4, Kansas Union All movies shown in Woodruff Auditorium. Level 5, Kansas Union. Any doctor should guarantee a seat.
February 8
The KU School of Fine Arts and the Kansas Union Preser
Thursday Afternoon Tea
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