THURSDAY, JAN. 17, 2002
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Alternative breaks reward students
By Sarah Hill Kansan staff writer
Sixty-one University of Kansas students traveled to places such as Zellwood, Fla. and Phoenix during winter break to volunteer.
These students participated in the University's Alternative Winter Break, a Center for Community Outreach program in its third year. This program featured 10 sites.
"It's a chance for people to get out of Lawrence, to help out," said Annie McBride, Omaha, Neb., senior and co-coordinator of the program.
Students paid a $180 fee to cover transportation, housing and meals. Besides the fee, students needed to enroll in Liberal Arts and Sciences 492/792: Special Projects in the Community, for up to three credit hours.
The class was designed to make volunteers familiar with their site and group. Each student writes a research paper about his or her site.
"The paper forces you to learn about your site and their goals, so you know all about it before you get there," said Kimber Alexander, Wichita sophomore who took the class.
The University also offers Alternative Breaks during spring break and on some weekends.
McBride said more students volunteered during winter break than spring break.
"People have more of a break between classes during winter break," she said.
McBride said an average of six students traveled to each site.
"Over half of the sites are a 20-to 24-hour drive," she said.
Jessica Sullivan, Wichita senior, worked in Atlanta at Project Open Hand.
ALTERNATIVE
WINTER BREAK SITES
AND VOLUNTEER
PROGRAMS:
Atlanta - Project Open Hand
Columbia, S.C. - City Year
Dallas, UCB Dallas
Elgin, Ariz. - National
■ Elgin, Ariz. - National Audubon Ranch
■ Hammond La. - Bural
Houston - AIDS Foundation
Audubon Harbor
Hammond, La - Rural Wetland Work
Nashville, Tenn. - Senior Citizens Inc. Victory Over Crime
Phoenix - Teach for America
Shiprock, N.M. - Shiprock Home for Women and Children
Zellwood, Fla. - Anthony House Homeless Shelter
source:www.ku.edu/~albreaks/winter.htm
Sullivan said the best part of her trip was working with the staff at Project Open Hand.
"We made, packaged, and delivered food to people living with AIDS, senior citizens and people who are ill and cannot shop for themselves," she said.
"They took us in with open arms," she said. "They were definitely inspirational. If I had to pick somewhere else to volunteer, I would pick something like that."
Alexander was a site leader for the trip to UCP Dallas in Dallas, a center for people who have mental and physical disabilities.
"I was absolutely astounded by what I learned." Alexander said. "I took away so much more than I could give."
contact him at shill.kansan.com. This story was edited by Jeremy Clarkson.
Contact Hill at
Mother asks for reward money
University should donate to help solve murder, she says
By Rachel Keesee
Kansan staff writer
The mother of a KU student who was murdered last May in Costa Rica has asked the University of Kansas to offer a $50,000 reward for evidence leading to the arrest and conviction of people involved.
"The University of Kansas, on behalf of my daughter, should do everything possible to see the assailants arrested and convicted." Jeanette Stauffer said.
Her daughter, Shannon Martin, was murdered on May 13,2001, while doing fieldwork on tropical ferns in Golfoft, Costa Rica. She was studying evolutionary biology, biodiversity and
ecology. Martin was one week away from graduating and planned to return to Lawrence for commencement.
Shannon Martin
Stauffer posted a $10,000 reward but said that wasn't enough to compel informants to come forward if they thought providing information might put their lives at risk.
Although a Costa Rican woman, Katia Vanesa Cruz Murillo, was arrested in November, Stauffer said she had been told by the FBI that there were other assailants.
"If no reward is posted, the assailants will go free," she said.
Lynn Bretz, interim director of University Relations, said she had talked with Stauffer on Jan. 5.
"We're very sympathetic to the situation that Shannon's family is in," Bretz said. "We've been talking with the family since the incident occurred. We're waiting to hear officially what the charges are to the woman who was arrested."
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica said no official charges had been made, but in Costa Rica, suspects could
be detained for an indefinite period while a case was built against them. Generally, charges would not be filed until the end of the process, she said.
Contact Keesee at kreeese@kansan.com. This story was edited by Jeremy Clarkson.
Contact Keesee at
Downtown seeks new vendors
Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence is recognized as having a variety of popular shops, restaurants, and bars. Vacant storefronts like this 717 Massachusetts market very quickly as companies compete for arguably Lawrence's best location.
By Mike Gilligan Kansan staff writer
Bob Schumm knew he was taking a risk. Two months after Alley Cat Records closed down, Schumm tore down the property and built a new structure at 717 Massachusetts St. even though he didn't have a tenant.
have received "There always the risk," Schumm said. "A year from now the building could still be vacant."
Schumm, however, is optimistic that buying the lot was a good idea.
"I think the market is strong enough to support new businesses," he said. "The location is A-plus being downtown."
Even though he does not have a tenant, Schumm said he knew what kind of business he didn't want.
The sign in the window of his building says "No restaurants or bars."
"The market is saturated," Schumm said. "I think it would be a poor tenant to open up a restaurant or a bar. The chance for success would be minimal."
A clothing or furniture store is more what Schumm has in mind for his 7,629-square-foot building, he said.
Someone in the same position as Schumm, but taking a different approach.
is Dale Miller.
Miller owns the lots at 707,709 and 711 Massachusetts St. He said he did not plan on breaking ground until there was at least one tenant in place.
Miller plans to build a 24,000-squarefoot building with four levels and would like to have a tenant for the fourth floor as well before the building is built.
Miller and Schumm said the historical significance of their sites had presented hurdles for their development.
Schumm said he had to get approval from the Historical Resources Commission on tearing down the building and on his new design. The building was eventually approved on a 5-2 vote.
Schumm said that when dealing with historical sites, a builder had to submit plans to the commission.
Dennis Enslinger, head of the commission, said Miller's property was significant because of its location next to The Eldridge Hotel. 701 Massachusetts St.
"There's a state law that requires anything within 500 feet of a building listed on the National Register to go through design review," Enslinger said.
Contact Gilligan at mgilligan@kansan.com. This story was edited by Anne Mergenmeier.
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