Monday
March 3, 2003
Vol. 113. Issue No. 108
Today's weather
48°
Tonight: 30°
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Tell us your news
KANSAN Victory over Texas Tech tonight vital for conference title p.1B
Contact Kristi Henderson, Jenna Goepfert or Justin Henning at 864-4810 or editor@kansan.com
Cuts cause concern
By Jessica Hood
jhood@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Departments and offices on campus are just now reacting and starting to cope with the loss of funds from the KU Endowment Association that was announced Thursday.
Gail Sherron, associate director of scholarships for the Office of Admissions and Scholarships, said the office was not sure of the exact impact of the reduced funding. Sherron found out about the reduced funding Friday morning.
"Our strategy will be to take a look at what we have done so far," Sherron said. "We're not panicked because we're fairly
confident in our awarding process."
Sherron said current students who remained eligible would receive their scholarships with no changes. Incoming students who have already received notification of their award also will see no change in scholarships, Sherron said.
"We are still in the process of awarding scholarships and don't know how it will affect those who have yet to receive awards because we're sitting on knowledge that is just six hours old," Sherron said Friday.
Members of the University community, including school deans, received news Thursday that the Endowment Association would give 20 percent less from the association's permanent,
endowed funds. The reduction in funding is due to a change in spending policy because of the declining stock market.
Kim Wilcox, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said he was concerned about three areas: departmental student scholarships, named and distinguished faculty salaries and unrestricted funds, which are used for student travel and awards and lectures on campus.
The permanent, endowed funds to be cut pay for part of some professors' salaries. As those funds are reduced, the University will find other ways to pay salaries. Wilcox said.
KUnited kick off
SEE CUTS ON PAGE 7A
Johanna Maska, Student Senate SLAB legislative director, Catherine Bell, KUnited vice presidential candidate, Andy Knopp, KUnited presidential candidate, Collins Wade, a Student Senate candidate, and Mark Dupree, Nunemaker senator, introduce their organization to the crowd at the Granada.
Photos by Eric Braem/Kansan
Above: A group of about 300 dish up and eat African food at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries building before attending the African Student Association's celebration of African culture Saturday night. Sira Konare, ASA secretary, said she didn't expect many people to show up "Fortunately we have cooked a lot of food," she said.
Left: Performers represent Senegal with traditional clothing and dance at the ASA's "Door to Africa" show. In addition to African dances, the event also included musical performances and a parade of flags.
Annual celebration opens door to Africa
Music, food, dancing help students learn about African culture
By Henry C. Jackson
cjackson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
In an effort to explain the nuances of African fashion, Kelly Barah used a simple analogy.
While rapper Jay-Z's clothing line may not yet be marketing traditional African clothes, Barah and other members of the African Student Association did their best to demonstrate fashion and other aspects of African culture Saturday night at the group's annual Door to Africa celebration.
"You see this?" Barah said, preening in traditional Cameroonian clothes. "This is like the best Rocca Wear in Africa. I look pretty good in it, don't I?"
at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave., with a buffet of traditional African food.
The event kicked off at 5 p.m. Saturday
About 300 people came to the ECM Saturday to eat food from countries like Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon and Kenya.
Though there was plenty of food to go around, organizers of the event were surprised by the turnout.
"There were much more people this year than came last year." "we Sira Konare, ASA's secretary." "we expected
like 50 people. Fortunately we have cooked a lot of food."
After dinner, which took nearly two hours to accommodate the large crowd, the Door to Africa moved to the Kansas Union ballroom where students demonstrated various aspects of African culture.
Among the traditional African performances were African music, drumming, dancing and a fashion and flag showcase.
Other acts showcased the spread of
African culture throughout the world. Members of ASA performed jazz pieces, sang gospel songs like "Wade in the Water" and performed a hip-hop step dance to rap artist 50 Cent's "In Da Club."
One of the highlights of the evening was an impromptu dance by freshman basketball player and Senegal native Moulaye Niang. Niang performed a dance to the beat of Senegalese dance music.
SEE AFRICA ON PAGE 7A
A tearful farewell
Kirk Hinrich, senior guard, wipes tears from his eyes while talking about his family during his Senior Day speech. Hinrich ended his speech after thankinig his relatives. "When I go to my family I wasn't going to keep talking while I was up there crying so that was it," Hinrich said. See "Seniors shine in home finale" on page 6B for more on Senior Day events.
Hydrogen-fueled cars spark reaction
President George W. Bush announced this month that by the time a child today was old enough to drive, automakers should be selling pollution-free cars powered by hydrogen.
By Amy Potter apotter@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
By Amy Potter
The statement made by the president could be a positive move for professors at the University of Kansas who work on hydrogen car research.
The new emphasis on the development of hydrogen cars could mean an increase in grant money for future research.
"It's always nice to have the president say this is an area that's important to the nation," said Susan Williams, assistant professor in chemical and petroleum engineering. "Those ideas will then be funded."
Williams is currently researching methane as a possible source of hydrogen for the hydrogen car.
This new push to switch from petroleum to
Trung Van Nguyen, associate professor of chemical and petroleum engineering, is developing a fuel cell that would convert hydrogen to electricity that could be used to power electric vehicles.
hydrogen would also mean changes for students who are entering the petroleum engineering field.
For more on hydrogen-fueled cars, see "New fuel type" more safe" on page 84
Nguyen said petroleum engineers should not be worried.
"There will always be a job." Nguyen said.
"Just the application will be different."
Nguyen said engineers could end up making plastics and polyester instead of jet fuel and gasoline.
"There will still be a need in my lifetime for what-have-you." Esiert said. "I don't know
Karl Eisert, Lawrence junior, is a petroleum engineer major. He said he was not concerned that the switch in fuel type for cars would affect his future occupation.
Gasoline Engine: Burns fuel to generate heat. The heat is converted to drive the vehicle.
Fuel cell: Converts hydrogen to electricity to run the engine.
WHAT EACH FUEL TYPE DOES
where exactly the whole fuel thing will be going, but I'm sure I'll be able to get a job somewhere the way it's going right now."
Nguyen said he was the only professor working on fuel cell research at KU. To prepare students for the new technology, he is writing a proposal to develop a fuel cell course within the School of Engineering that would be offered in Spring 2004.
"We need to educate our students and prepare them for this new technology." Nguyen said. "It will give our students and edge over students from other schools."
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Edited by Ryan Wood
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