TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2003
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Filmmaker talks of politics, music
John Nowak/Kansan
British filmmaker Tony Palmer speaks to students in Matt Jacobson's experimental film and video class in Oldfather Studios. Palmer, who has traveled with and filmed bands such as the Beatles and Led Zeppelin, visited the University of Kansas this week to present his work.
By Kevin Wiggs
kwiggs@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Music fans can only dream of hanging out with rock stars such as John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and Mick Jagger.
Tony Palmer got to know them all while making a slew of documentaries and films about the 1960s and 1970s rock scenes.
The British filmmaker is visiting the University of Kansas this week. He began with a presentation titled "Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll" last night at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. His lecture series continues today with "Biography on Film: Constructing a Public History" at 3:30 p.m. in Alderson Auditorium at the union. He will spend tomorrow making appearances in various film classes at the University and the University of Missouri—Kansas City.
During the 1960s and 70s, Palmer, at the request of his friend John Lennon, began touring with bands such as Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, and almost every other popular group or artist of the time, to get insight on their lives and record it on film.
"It was an amazing moment," Palmer said about the years from1965 to 1973. "Then commercialization took over and made it bland, sanitized and packaged for us. They had something to say about the world — which is long gone from today's music."
Palmer has won more than 50 international prizes for his films about musical genres. He said the trait that ties musicians together and makes them interesting was their moral and social courage.
"They're all people with the ability to translate their feelings into something with personal appeal — something most of us are incapable of," he said.
Palmer said one problem with today's musicians is the lack of social awareness, or at least the desire to show it in public — something not missing from the Vietnam era.
"Today's artists do not protest," he said. "There is no 'singing in
the streets," which is shameful."
John Tibbetts, professor of theater and film at the University, said he enjoyed Palmer because of pure range of interests and that he never sold out to Hollywood. For now, Palmer said he hoped students would admire the
courage of yesterday's musicians.
"we need people that will stand up and say 'it's not good enough' instead of brow-beaten by presidents who think they know better," he said.
- Edited by Erin Chapman
By Jessica Palimenio
jalimenio@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Fraternity earns awards, plaque
After a semester of hard work, the men of Theta Chifraternity received recognition and compensation for their scholastic efforts.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway was also in attendance to honor the men's achievements.
At an awards ceremony during its chapter meeting last night, the group received a plaque for the highest fraternity grade point average for Fall 2002 and individual scholarships from its Alumni Corporation/ Housing Board.
He also noted the importance of setting and achieving goals as a group.
Before the awards were given, Hemenway said the fraternity community was a great environment for learning, where people were dedicated to helping each other and living together, and Theta Chi represented what fraternity and sorority life was about.
The organization had an overall GPA of 3.2. The group has received this award for two consecutive semesters.
Joe Aaker, Theta Chi president and Spearfish, S.D., junior, said the group accomplished this goal by making sure older members continued to do well and helping younger members make the transition to college.
"We really try to help out our younger members by pairing them up with older members in their major, and making sure they are doing well," he said.
"We really try to help out our younger members by pairing them up with older members in their major, and making sure they are doing well."
Joe Aaker
Theta Chi president and Spearfish, S.D.
junior
Fifty of the 86 members also received scholarships for their personal GPAs. The men needed to be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours and have a 3.0 or higher GPA to qualify for the scholarships.
The scholarships totaling $5,500 were divided into five tiers based on GPAs from 4.0 to 3.0. The scholarship amounts were decided on a graduated scale set up by the Theta Chi Alumni Corporation/ Housing Board.
The board consists of seven alumni who oversee the operation of the chapter.
Last semester, board member Bruce Weldon said they would double the scholarships if they received the overall award again because of its difficulty.
"We just figured it was a one-time thing," said Weldon.
The members said they appreciated the effort their alumni had put forth to help them.
- Edited by Andrew Ward
54th Annual
Principal-Counselor-Student
Conference
Wednesday, March 26, 2003
Kansas Union
Room Schedule for Student Conferences
1:30-2:30 p.m.
Room Guide
Rooms in the Kansas Union
B = Ballroom - Level 5
12 = Big 12 Room - Level 5
Jayhawk Room - Level 5
Kansas Room - Level 5
Parlors - Level 5
Pine Room - Level 6
Jay hawks
IS YOUR SCHOOL LISTED BELOW?
Your high school counselor needs you! Please stop by and visit with a representative from your high school any time between 1:30-2:30 p.m. This is your opportunity to share your KU experiences and transition from high school to KU with a representative from your high school.
KANSAS HIGH SCHOOLS
Blue Valley (Stillwell) - 12
Blue Valley North - 12
Blue Valley Northwest - 12
Buhler - B
Chaparral - B
El Dorado - B
Ellis - B
Emporia - B
Eureka - B
DeSoto - B
Downs/Waconda East - B
Atchison County - B
Lansing - B
Lawrence High - Pine
Haven - B
Haviland - B
Hayden - B
Hays - B
Hiawatha - B
Hoxie - B
Hutchinson - B
Kickapoo Nation - B
Fort Scott - B
Jefferson County North - B
Maize - B
Paola - B
Piper - B
Plainville - B
Riverton - B
Rock Creek - B
Royal Valley - B
Sacred Heart - B
Salina South - B
Seaman - B
Sedan - B
Shawnee Heights - Kansas
Shawnee Mission Northwest - Kansas
Shawnee Mission West - Kansas
Southeast of Saline - B
St. Thomas Aquinas - B
Summer Academy - B
Olathe East - Jayhawk
Olathe North - Jayhawk
Olathe South - Jayhawk
Oxford - B
Thomas More Prep-Marian - P
Uniontown - B
Wichita East - Parlors
Wichita North - Parlors
Wichita South - Parlors
Wichita West - Parlors
OUT OF STATE HIGH SCHOOLS
Lee's Summit North - B
Liberty - B
Student Forum
Sponsored by the Recreation Advisory Board
Wednesday, March 26 7-8 p.m. Governor's Room, Kansas Union
Your opportunity to give the Recreation Advisory Board your ideas about building hours, programs and services that will be offered when the Student Recreation Fitness Center opens in September 2003.
Please visit our website at www.ku.edu/~recserv or stop by 208 Robinson Center.