Thursday March 6,2003 Vol.113,Issue No.111
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KANSAN
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
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Ready,set,Rock Chalk
By Jessica Palimenio
jpalimenio@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Photos by Kelley Weiss/Kansan
Above: The Rock Chalk Revue members from Pi Kappa Phi and Pi Beta Phinish dress rehearsal of their show, "In Your Dreams." The proceeds from the Rock Chalk Revue performance will be donated to the United Way.
The 54th annual Rock Chalk Revue takes stage tonight at the Lied Center.
The show themed "Wanted" will be presented today, tomorrow and Saturday at 7 p.m.
The five pairs of sororities and fraternities chosen on Nov. 25 will perform their original skits each night.
The participants said they were excited and nervous about the upcoming performance.
"I was getting nervous toward the beginning of the week, but I think we really pulled it together," said Kyle Monson, Leawood senior and Sigma Nu Rock Chalk director.
Each of the group's directors have been preparing since August.
Left: Shannon Bell, Albuquerque, N.M., junior and Alpha Gamma Delta member, puts makeup on Scotty Karin, Overland Park junior and Lambda Chi Alpha member, before their rehearsal. The two were preparing to perform in their show, "The Comeback Squid."
"It's different being a director," said Matthew Allen, Overland Park junior and Pi Kappa Phi Rock Chalk director. "You're not just worried about yourself; you're worried about the entire show."
About 250 participants have been working since January to complete 50 hours of required rehearsal time. Amy Lee, Topeka senior and executive director of Rock Chalk Revue, said groups were well prepared for the upcoming performances.
Jennifer Huang, Rock Chalk community service coordinator and
SEE ROCK CHALK ON PAGE 8A
University childcare hard to get
By JJ Hensley
jhensley@kansan.com
Kansan writer
When Lisanne Pluth decided to pursue a doctoral degree in art history last summer, she was delighted to discover two on-campus child-care centers to watch her 19-month-old son, Christopher. That was almost a year ago, and Pluth is still waiting for one of those on-campus centers to start caring for her child. As it turns out, so are a lot of other parents on campus.
"I've had him on the list since July and they said I might get a spot next fall," Pluth said. "To have to wait more than a year for child care is ridiculous."
Pluth is not alone in her plight to find child care at one of the two centers that
"I've had him on the list since July and they said I might get a spot next fall. To have to wait more than a year for child care is ridiculous."
Lisanne Pluth
La Jolla, Calif., graduate student
receive student funding on campus. The Hilltop Child Development Center was founded to offer child care to families of KU students, faculty and staff. The Sunnyside Infant-Toddler Center, in the Dole Human Development Center, was designed to offer child care to those families and the
Lawrence community in general. Both are woefully short of space when it comes to caring for toddlers like Christopher.
"One and 2-year-olds have the longest waiting list and it's the hardest list to get on," said Hilltop executive director Pat Pisani. "People get their children on that list when they're 3 months old."
The Sunnyside Infant-Toddler Center starts accepting children into its program at 3 months old, said program assistant Wendy Swartz.
The problem is only nine spots are available for those infants up to 15 months old. Though the demand for more child care was there, the center, staffed by students pursuing human development and family life degrees, couldn't expand if it wanted to, Swartz said.
department and they have regulations that only allow three infants for every one teacher." Swartz said.
"We're governed by the state health
The lack of space to care for infants and toddlers plagued the Hilltop Center for years, said vice provost and former Hilltop board member Lindy Eakin. The situation reached a critical point a few years ago when there was demand to expand the building, leased from the University of Kansas for $1 per year since the early '70s.
Until the expansion, Student Senate granted about $15,000 annually to the center to provide scholarships for children of KU students. With no more money available to help the center's expansion, Student Senate approved an
SEE CHILDCARE ON PAGE 8A
Institute's opener to focus on WW II vets
By Kevin Wiggs
kwiggs@kansan.com
Kangan staff writer
Graduation ceremony — small potatoes. Jersey retirement ceremony — virtually insignificant. The Dole Institute of Politics dedication ceremony in July could be the biggest thing anyone has seen in Lawrence. Ever.
The event will encompass three days, from July 20 until the actual dedication on July 22. Richard Norton Smith, the director of the institute, said it would be a salute, not so much to former senator Bob Dole himself, but to the entire World War II generation.
Dole made it clear that he does not want the ceremony to be focused on him, but instead on the 'greatest generation' — the entire World War II generation, Smith said.
"We want to keep the focus on that group, and have a time to say thank you," he said.
The ceremony will have 14 events during the three days, including an ongoing World War II veteran reunion, an air show above the institute, an evening of dancing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra at the Holiday Inn Holidome, 200 McDonald Dr., and a "Salute to the Heroes," a United Service Organization-style show, and star-studded salute to the World War II generation.
"It's going to be something," said Erik Nelson, assistant director of the institute. "Any one of these events is great, but altogether people won't be able to resist."
The orchestral performance and "Salute to the Heroes" will be ticketed events, with tickets going on sale April 1. They will be $40 and $35, respectively. All other events will be free and open to the public.
Smith said the first goal was to honor the veterans, but the second was to involve the public.
"We want to make it as accessible, affordable and inviting as possible," he said.
The actual dedication ceremony will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 22, which is also Dole's 80th birthday. Possible
SEE INSTITUTE ON PAGE 8A
Grandmothers' living room front-row seat for games
By Nicole Roche
nroche@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
By Nicole Roché
Most KU fans can remember when the Jayhawks won the NCAA championship in 1988.
Few can say they've lived long enough, however, to be around for all four KU national championships.
"The number one thing they live for is KU basketball," said Misty Beck, Wilma's granddaughter and Opal's great niece.
Wilma and Opal live in Pratt, a town of about 6,800 in south central Kansas. Sixteen years ago, the women, who are sisters and widowers, decided to move in together. It was then that their obsession with the sport began.
Wilma Beck and Opal Hemphill didn't follow KU basketball back in 1922, 1923 and 1952 - they had school to attend and children to raise. But Wilma, 91, and Opal, 97, don't miss a game these days.
"We have watched KU because they are a nice, clean-cut, sportsman-like
team," Wilma said. "And we also like the coach."
Opal said the two women played basketball in high school and one of their children played basketball for Pratt Community College, which may have sparked their interest in the sport.
Family members are amused at how dedicated these women are to their KU basketball, Misty said.
"You can't go to their house during a game unless you're going to sit down and watch it with them," Misty said.
Wilma said the rumor was true.
The two women recently purchased a 35-inch television, Wilma said, so they could clearly see the score and the players' jerseys.
"We suggest to our relatives that they shouldn't call or stop by during a basketball game," she said.
When asked what would be acceptable reasons for missing a game, Wilma said it would have to be "illness or something drastic."
"Our eyesight isn't what it used to be," Wilma said.
But last year, even illness didn't stop these women from watching their favorite team. Opal suffered a heart attack and had to be taken to the hospital.
The women couldn't recall which game it was, but they do remember how adamant Opal was at the time.
"Opal had to have a TV brought into ICU." Wilma said.
Misty said the family was worried because Opal had been in intensive care for two days, and they were afraid she wouldn't pull through.
"When she still had to watch the game, we knew she was going to make it," Misty said. "She wasn't sick enough to miss a game."
The KU team members are like family for these women. Both said they were concerned about Wayne Simien and his injured shoulder.
Tamm风Vair/PfattCommunities College Baver Tale
Tamm麻风Vair/PfattCommunities College Baver Tale
Wilma Beck and Opal Hemphill, Pratt residents, watch Kansas play Texas A&M from the comfort of their home. Kansas triumphed 85-45 in the Feb. 26 game.
"We look on Roy as our son and the players as our grandsons," Opal said.
Opal and Wilma said they looked forward to the upcoming NCAA tournament. They said they wished the team the best of luck.
Although these two women have never been to a KU game, they said it seemed like they were there each time they settled in for a night of basketball.
"We feel that we have a front-row-center seat right here in our family room," Wilma said.
Edited by Melissa Hermreck
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