6A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2003
Jared Soares/Kansan
Mike Feld, Denver freshman, and Troy Hirsch, Hays freshman, run through a scene in the play. The Boys Next Door. Feld and Hirsch rehearsed yesterday for the play, which stars five freshmen and runs today and tomorrow at the Hashinger Hall Theatre.
Freshmen perform Broadway play
By Jessica Palimenio jpalimenio@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Get acquainted with The Boys Next Door.
A group of freshmen Hashinger Hall residents will present a version of the Broadway play this week at the residence hall. The Boys Next Door gives a glimpse into the lives of four handicapped men and their caretaker, Jack.
"It's about how they go through their existence and how it affects them a little bit but they really aren't that different," said Colin Elliott, Lawrence freshman, who plays Barry, a 28 year old schizophrenic who believes he is a golf pro.
The four men live in an apartment where they all have to work together to make it through the day.
Jack has been supervising the
group home and helping the men through their problems for eight months and is beginning to get burned out.
Monologues throughout the play give insight into thoughts and emotions of each of the main characters.
Some of the cast had to play mentally handicapped characters, but they did not find it to be a challenge.
After an open casting call in the beginning of March, the group held rehearsals several times a week.
"I really just fell in love with the character," said Mike Feld, Denver freshman. "He's really fun."
The play was originally scheduled to run after spring break, but they had a casting problem. The student originally cast as Jack, Brandon Anderson, was deployed to Iraq in March.
"We lost about two weeks trying to figure out what we were
going to do," said Will Russell, Chicago freshman and show director.
Russell took over the role.
"Will brings all the characters together like no one else could," said Danny Magariel, Overland Park freshman.
The cast operated on a limited budget — about $150, Russell said. Hashinger Hall Arts Council supplied the funds.
"We had to scrape together for posters and stuff," said Beth Chronister, Topeka freshman.
The cast has also used their own clothes for costumes.
"It's just part of our characters. They are just everyday people." Magariel said.
The cast will perform the play at 7:30 p.m.today and tomorrow in the Hashinger Hall Theatre. The show is free and the doors will open at 7 p.m.
Cast members
Lucien P. Smith — Danny Magariel
Arnold Wiggins — Troy Hirsch
- Edited by Michelle Burhenn
Norman Bulansky Mike Feld
Barry Klemper — Colin Elliott
Jack & director-
Will Russell
Sheila — Beth Chronister
Mr. Klemper Brian Wacker
Additional female characters Heather Brown
Additional male characters — Chad Simmons
Online shoppers should know risk
By Nicole Roche
nroche@kansan.com
kansan staff writer
Bv Nicole Roché
Computer-savvy students have been buying and selling online for years, but some students are still unsure whether these purchases are worth the risk.
Last week eBay.com reported a 119 percent increase in profit, according to USA Today. With earnings of $104 million, eBay is racing to become the first online Fortune 500 company.
Despite its success, some students choose to avoid the site and its potential problems. Others emphasize that careful use can ensure users will have a positive experience.
Nathan Rigney, Louisburg sophomore, said he bought audio equipment online to avoid the sales tax. But despite eBay's popularity, Rigney said he hadn't purchased anything on the site for security reasons.
Recently his brother purchased several $300 subwoofers and never received them from the seller.
"It's a big-name company, but you're dealing with people one-on-one." Rigney said. "It's tough to know who you're dealing with."
Students should make sure they are only making purchases on secure sites, said Ann Brill, an associate professor of journalism who teaches online journalism.
She said one key way to determine if a site was secure was to look for an "s" after the http in the Web address. The "s" stands for secure, she said.
"If a site asks me for something personal, and they don't have that 's,' I wouldn't give it to them," Brill said.
Unfortunately, Brill said, the Internet is not only a way for people to sell but also to steal.
"It's like anyone else with a too-good-to-be-true policy." she said. "You have to ask yourself those same questions a consumer would ask."
Brill said some of those questions included: Is this a reputable
business? Is this a legitimate offer? Is this a secure site?
Secure sites will display seals at the bottom of the screen from companies such as Verisign or Authorized Internet Retailer. These companies monitor and regulate monetary transactions online and ensure the authenticity of the business.
It's easy to be taken advantage of if you don't know what you're doing online, said Mark Hadley, Prairie Village sophomore.
Hadley has purchased hundreds of eBay items for his past two jobs. While working for Collector's Cache in Overland Park, he ordered collectible cards, ornaments and other memorabilia. Now, at Mass Street Comics, 938 Massachusetts St., Hadley buys comics from the site.
Hadley said he hadn't had problems with eBay. He said students should carefully scrutinize sellers before deciding to buy.
"You have to judge each one, but there are tell-tale signs that a seller is kind of shad." Hadley said.
These signs include sellers who are overly persistent or have unusual requests for the transaction, he said. People should check the sellers' rating before buying.
EBay.com offers a fraud protection program that can be accessed at its Web site.
Jennifer Overstreet. Maize junior, said she had heard of people having problems with the popular site although she does not use it.
She occasionally buys books, rare compact discs and concert tickets online — mostly anything she can't find locally.
Although online merchants are popular,OverstreetsaidInternet purchases would never replace face-to-face customer interaction.
"I like to sift through the CDs myself. I like to walk through a store and smell that bookstore smell," Overstreet said. "I just don't feel the same way about browsing online."
—Edited by Michelle Burhenn
Local protesters push message while war in Iraq dwindles
By Kelley Weiss
kweiss@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Although the war in Iraq is winding down, peace activists in Lawrence have not backed off.
Students and residents gathered Saturday at the Douglas County Courthouse to demonstrate and said they would continue until the troops came home.
Allan Hanson, coordinator of the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice, said that before the war started, about 300 people came out to protest the war every Saturday. That number fell to about 100 people after the war began.
The message against the war — "Don't Attack Iraq" — used to be simple, Hanson said. Now it is harder to get people to demonstrate and to get the message across, he said.
Hanson said there were two parts to the message now. First, the coalition does not want the United States to reconstruct Iraq unilaterally because that would
tell the world that Americans are imperialists. The threatening language the United States is using against Iran and Syria has also concerned the local coalition.
Sarah Sawyer, assistant professor of philosophy, held a sign that said "Stop the Crusades" Saturday at the courthouse. By continuing to demonstrate, Sawyer said it raised awareness. If people disagree, at least they will be considering the issues, she said.
"The American public in general seems to be so apathetic about the Iraq issue and international politics," Sawyer said.
Eric Haar stood alone across the street from the demonstrators holding a tattered "Bush 2004" sign. Haar, Lawrence resident, said he had been protesting the war protesters for nine weeks. He said that he believed in what president Bush was doing and that the approximately 100 people across the street demonstrating against Bush was a pointless gesture.
Approximately 100 people demonstrate for peace Saturday at the Douglas County Courthouse, 111 E. 11th St. Although the war in Iraq is slowing, activists said they would keep demonstrating because they wanted to make sure the United States was not the only country involved in the reconstruction of Iraq and that other preemptive attacks don't happen.
Even though Haar was by himself on Saturday he said he didn't mind being alone.
"I like it because they see a number of people with shaved heads who are not in the mainstream and then they see me, a bright light of reason and common sense."
Eric Haar
Eric Haar Lawrence resident and protester of war protesters
Kelley Weiss/Kansan
Although the KU group Students for Peace was not at the rally Saturday, co-director Amanda Flott said the organization would still demonstrate for peace. The purpose of Students for Peace is not just protesting a war in Iraq, she said. The group
"I like it because they see a number of people with shaved heads who are not in the mainstream and then they see me, a bright light of reason and common sense," he said.
was formed to address conflicts throughout the world and advocate peaceful resolutions, she said.
"My friends who went to war
aren't home yet," Flott said. "And if the administration is going to say it is still for humanitarian reasons, we can't say the war is over because we have a whole lot of
rebuilding to do before we can get people home."
— Edited by Lindsay Hanson
Earn $5000-$8000
offers excellent wages potential overtime. and long term job security for college students looking for summer employment.
this Summer
Fry-Wagner Moving Storage
Call Roclo ext. 331
1-800-394-0049 or 913-905-1035
serve your spot on the summer crew
FRY-WAGNER
WORKING & LIVING
Fry-Wagner is proud to be an
Equal-Employment-Opportunity Employer
SUMMER STORAGE
FREE
FREE DELIVERY
FREE
PICK-UP
FREE BOXES
TAPE
SAVE $25 when you reserve your store space by May 2nd Store Anything: Furniture, Futons, Bikes, computers, etc. Basic Package is $135 for the entire summer!
WE CAN PACK AND SHIP ANYTHING RIGHT FROM YOUR DORM OR RESIDENCE AT UPS COUNTER RATES!
The UPS Store
865-0004
Formerly Mail Boxes Etc.
$50
Admin Assistant
Office Staffing
New Applicant Bonus*
Summer Employment Johnson Country
File Clerk
Word processor
Data Entry
Receptionist
Bank Teller
Admin Assistant
$50
Call Ann or Jennifer
913.491.0944
11025 Metcalf
Overland Park
www.hootbite.com
annduwe@bosslerhix.com
Y