WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2003
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Firing up new growth
John Nowak/Kansar
Jerry Baker, Baker University senior, cuts down a tree in the Baker Wetlands just north of 31st and Louisiana streets. Baker University students used controlled flames yesterday afternoon to stimulate new growth in the wetlands.
Couple gives $3M for hall
By Jessica Palimenio
jpalimenio@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Funding for the 11th scholarship hall at the University of Kansas has been found.
Roger and Annette Rieger of Seattle donated the $3 million needed to build the new student living quarters on Ohio Street.
Roger Rieger, a 1967 accounting alumnus, was a resident of Battenfield Hall when he attended the University and wanted to give other students the opportunity to enjoy the scholarship hall experience.
Roger Reiger, a residential real estate investor and developer, and Annette Rieger, 1967 sociology and social welfare alumna, have a history of supporting education in their own area.
In 1988, the couple developed
the Seattle chapter of the "I Have a Dream" foundation, which provided scholarships to 65 innercity students. They have also supported the Seattle school district.
Annette Rieger said she and her husband read an article in an alumni magazine about the KU First Campaign and the scholarship hall efforts and decided it was a good opportunity for them to help support the University and to help KU students succeed.
The gift is an expendable pledge that will go straight to funding the construction. Jerome Davies, vice president of development for the endowment association, said the staff actively had discussions with the donors and explained some options. In this case, the donors responded favorably, Davies said.
The gift also counts toward the $500 million goal of the KU First:
Invest in Excellence campaign.
During a two-hour meeting yesterday, the designers at Treanor Architects, 110 McDonald Drive, presented the plans for the building to the Riegers. The development and plans were explained in detail and the Riegers were able to ask questions.
Ken Stoner, director of student housing, said department was trying to make the building as unique and appropriate as possible.
"It will be warm, inviting and personal building," said Stoner.
The building will be named as a memorial to Roger Riegers brother, Dennis, 1972 political science and 1974 MBA alum, who died of diabetes.
Dennis E. Rieger Hall is sched uled open in the Fall 2005.
— Edited by Anne Mantey
French TV interviews students
Bv Nikki Overfelt
By Nikki Overfett
noverfelt@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Speaking in a foreign language is hard enough, but try doing it in front of a camera.
That's what 26 KU students did yesterday in their "France Today" class.
"It's not like you have that every day," said Michelle Chaves, Campo Grande, Brazil, junior. "Everybody was prepared. It weighs a lot more when your view is going to be on television."
A French correspondent, Pascal Golomer, and a camera man, Tristan Le Bras, from France 2, a French television network, visited Bruce Hayes' French class to get students' views on current events.
"We have to promote a mutual understanding," Le Bras said.
Golomer and Le Bras wanted to let the French people see that some Americans supported President Bush and some didn't. They chose to focus on Kansas for their story because they wanted to "meet real Americans," Golomer said.
"It's our role to explain that there are a lot of different individuals in the United States with different views," he said.
Hayes' class this semester has focused on Franco-American relations surrounding the war in Iraq, so he said he thought this experience would help dispel myths on both sides.
"Conflicts are always based on stereotypes, without any effort to get beneath the surface," he said.
The crew only will be speaking to students only from the University of Kansas. On Monday the French journalists talked to radio hosts at a Topeka radio station for the same story.
His first trip to Kansas has been a good one, Golomer said.
"We have met some people with very different points of view but very friendly and happy to explain their points of view," he said.
The people they have talked to have also been more tolerant and willing to listen to other points of view than most people in France, Golomer said.
The story is set to run tomorrow night on the French evening news.
— Edited by Anne Mantey
THIS WEEK GRANADA
at the
WEDNESDAY
it's the OWNER'S BIRTHDAY! (but we're gonna part like it's your birthday) Come help us celebrate James' 24th! 25 CENT DRAWS! FREE BACARDI sampling with the Bacardi girls
SIN
THU
"It's like Spring Break, Cancun every week."
Every Thursday $2 Double Wells DJ Nick Riddell
DESTINATION: Spring Break Granada
Bring your student ID for 1/2 off cover!
DJ BRANDON MORGAN
$3 Red Bull & Vodkas
18+ to enter, 21+ to drink