WEDNESDAY,APRIL30,2003
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
AASU elects leaders, focuses on improvements
By Henry C. Jackson
cjackson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The Asian American Student Union's newest president didn't face stiff competition in taking office, but that's not to say she wasn't prepared for it.
Anna Kowalewski, Overland Park sophomore, was the only candidate for AASU's presidency. But Kowalewski was prepared to argue her case, opponent or no opponent.
"I had a speech all prepared, so I'm kind of let down," she said. "But I'm relieved. This is what I wanted and I want to continue to get the word out about AASU."
Kowalewski said she would use her new position to increase communication among minority groups at the University of
Kansas. She also said she wanted to develop more programs emphasizing academic success.
Along with a new president, AASU elected 10 other executive board positions at the group's last general meeting of the spring semester, which was held last night at the English Room in the Kansas Union.
Members of the group gave brief speeches summarizing what changes they would make to the organization and where they would like to see the organization go.
Most of the candidates and newly elected officers said they wanted to see more cooperation with other Asian groups and minority groups in general.
"I haven't seen a lot of interaction," said John Tran, who was elected external vice-president. "It's a deficiency on our campus."
Tran, Overland Park junior, said AASU's efforts to work with other organizations had improved this year but that they could improve with more effort.
Tran also said he wanted to increase AASU's membership base.
"There's plenty of Asian students that we haven't even reached," he said.
By being elected social chair last night, Pauline Sung, Overland Park freshman, followed in her sister Sarah's footsteps. Sarah Sung, Overland Park senior, was the co-public relations chair last year for AASU. She will be graduating in the fall, but said she was glad her sister would continue to play an active role in AASU.
Pauline joked that she was reluctant to run because of her sister's legacy.
"My sister being in AASU and me living with her almost made me not want to do it," she said.
Tiffany Lopez, AASU's outgoing president, said next year's executive board would continue the progress this year's had made.
"I definitely feel like I'm leaving the group in good hands," the Minneapolis senior said.
Pilar Pena/Kansan
Lopez will be returning to the University next semester and plans to continue to be an active member of AASU.
Because last night's meeting was the last of the year, board members gave brief speeches thanking members for their hard work, particularly on Asian Week and Taste of Asia, two of AASU's biggest activities this year.
In the evening's shortest
Anna Kowalewski, Overland Park sophomore and new president of the Asian American Student Union, participates in the group's final meeting for the semester with Tiffany Lopez, Minneapolis, Kan., senior. Lopez was this year's AASU president.
speech, outgoing social chair Takuya Jay Inoue summed up the evening.
"Thanks, congratulations and
good night," Inoue, Countryside junior, said.
- Edited by Leah Shaffer
Panel of experts discusses role of academic research in law
By Jessica Hood jhood@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
A court case involving a transsexual and her husband became one example of the importance of academic research last night at a panel discussion at the Kansas Union.
A panel of experts discussed the use of academic research by judges in preparing legal opinions last night. About 30 people attended the discussion and were able to ask questions at the end.
The discussion centered on the case of J'Noel Gardiner, a transsexual, who had a sex change and then was married in the state of Kansas.
Her husband died without a will, and under Kansas law, the spouse gets half the estate and the heirs get half.
Her husband's son challenged the legality of the marriage because Gardener was born a man. The case went to the Kansas Supreme Court, which ruted in favor of the son.
Pilar Pana/Kansan
Kansas Supreme Court Justice Robert L. Gernon, a presenter, said a unique relationship existed between academics and the court system.
Kansas Supreme Court Justice Robert L. Gernon and professor Milton Diamond from the University of Hawaii, speak about the role of academic research in legal decisions at a panel discussion yesterday. During the discussion, Diamond said it took a certain type of research to have an impact on court decisions.
He told audience members who did academic research what they were doing was terribly important.
Milton Diamond, professor of anatomy and reproductive biology at the University of
and Society, also spoke. Diamond, who has been a cited
Hawaii at Manoa and director of the Pacific Center for Sex
source and expert witness in cases relating to gender and bioethics research, was contacted by Gernon who wrote the opinion on the Gardiner case at the Court of Appeals level in Kansas.
Diamond said it took a certain type of research to have an impact.
The decision in the case by the Supreme Court of Kansas was partially based on politics because Kansas is a conservative state, he said.
"It is an issue that is very much alive," Diamond said.
Gernon said judges needed to become aware of the results, research methods and validity of the research they are looking at.
"We want good research," Gerson said. "We have to educate ourselves on what that is."
Diana Carlin, dean of the Graduate School and International Programs, said the new program would allow students to see what people with graduate degrees from the University are doing with their lives.
"Incredibly distinguished people are Jayhawks," Carlin said.
The lecture was sponsored by the Graduate School as part of the inaugural Graduate School Alumni Days activities.
Charlene Muehlenhard, professor of psychology and women's studies at the University of Kansas, also spoke.
- Edited by Leah Shaffer
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