THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2003
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN - 3A
Multicultural scholars program receives push
By Erin Ohm
eohm@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Janet Murguia told a group of about 50 students in the Multicultural Scholars program yesterday that the American dream was out there.
"You can make it happen for you," said Murguia, executive vice chancellor for University Relations. "You are only limited by the dreams and abilities you set for yourself."
Murguia is a first-generation Hispanic American and a KU graduate who served in the White House in various capacities for six years. Yesterday in Summerfield Hall, she challenged scholars program students to take their education beyond undergraduate degrees.
The Multicultural Scholars program began in the School of Business in 1992 to provide scholarships and social and academic enrichment for minority undergraduate students at KU. The program expanded in 2001 to include programs in the areas of education and journalism and mass communications.
This semester, it will include minority students in human development, family life, African and African-American studies. About 60 students are participating in the program.
Renate Mai-Dalton, associate professor of business, began the scholars program for the School of Business and now directs the Multicultural Scholars program for the University.
had an undergraduate retention rate of 85 percent since it began
Mai-Dalton said the program
That rate is consistent with Chancellor Robert Hemenway's goal of increasing minority student numbers at the University, said Lisa Pinamonti, interim director of admissions and scholarships.
Yesterday's meeting allowed the students to meet with fellow students in their areas of study, and they had to meet with an adviser.
The meetings allows us to connect with other students in our classes, said Marcos San Martin, Wichita sophomore.
"We can base our classes off each other, and then we go through it together," he said.
By Cal Creek
ccreek@kansan.com
Kansan Staff writer
By Cal Creek
Forum addresses religion
Last night, a panel of eight representatives discussed and answered questions about the differences between the panelists' belief systems.
Student Union Activities presented "Are You Spiritual?": A Forum about Religion" at the Kansas Ballroom in the Kansas Union.
A panel of students, clergy and faculty represented seven religions and atheism.
The representatives gave a brief history of their beliefs and answered questions from the audience of about 100 people.
Grant Randall, Baxter Springs senior and forum mediator, said he hoped to keep the discussion civil.
Edited by Todd Rapp
Randall asked several "hot topic" questions that examined religious issues such as gay and lesbian clergy, Catholic church scandals and the of role Muslim Americans in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Audience questions ranged from "Who can lead a Muslim prayer service?" to "Why does the Catholic Church place so much emphasis on Mary?" to "Why does Wicca reflect a more feminist tradition?"
Larissa Rothe, Wiccan-Pagan Alliance president and Omaha senior, represented the Wiccan faith.
"The questions were respectful," Rothe said. "No one asked if I ate children."
The event attracted students with unique perspectives. Bala Baskaran, South India graduate student, was born a Hindu in India but was raised in Saudi
Arabia, a primarily Muslim country.
He is now Christian. Baskaran said he listened for disputes between the speakers.
He said he hoped for a peaceful coexistence between forum members and between people of different beliefs around the world.
Greg Brown, professor at Pittsburg State University, was scheduled to represent Buddhism but did not attend because of health reasons.
"I loved listening to what they were saying," said Chris Kittle, president of the Latterday Saint Student Organization and Leavenworth senior. "It was nice to find things we have in common. You're really closer than you think."
Conference to gather HALO groups from nearby schools
Edited by Andrew Ward
By Henry C. Jackson
cjackson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Last week the United States Census Bureau announced Hispanic Americans were the largest minority group in the country.
The announcement was a challenge to members of Hispanic American Leadership Organization.
"It's a number that carries great weight, but it doesn't mean anything if we don't do something with it," said Raymond Rico, HALO's sergeant at arms and Kansas City, Kan., sophomore. "I feel we could be easily overlooked if we aren't united."
For Rico and the other members of the University's HALO chapter, the push to take advantage of their strength in numbers starts now.
This weekend, the KU organization will host the HALO regional conference, a weekend event designed to bring Hispanic-American college students throughout Kansas and Missouri together.
Melanie Weiser, HALO's president and Dallas junior, said this weekend would be an opportunity to build cooperation and understanding with other HALO groups throughout the region.
"We're hoping to strengthen our bonds both within our group and with the other HALOs," Weiser said.
THE HALO regional meeting for Kansas and Missouri usually takes place once a semester. Weiser said.
The conference site is rotated between Kansas State University, Wichita State University and KU.
to attend. The conference is open to anyone who wants to attend.
the conference focuses on issues common to HALOs throughout the region.
Issues such as a affirmative action, minorities in education and Hispanic prominence within the United States will be discussed, Weiser said.
Weiser said the conference would address how HALO could help its own people. "We want to stress the importance of education and social action," she said.
She said that aside from national Hispanic issues, HALO's regional conference offered the opportunity to learn more about other campuses' issues.
"Since all these colleges are so spread out, it gives us a better perspective," she said. "We can hear
about things they're going through that we might not have known about."
Among the activities planned for the weekend, Weiser said a social is scheduled for tomorrow night at La Tasca, 943 Massachusetts St.
Weiser said one of the biggest goals of this year's conference was to see whether the groups could meet more than twice a year.
"We're hoping to get a lot of the visitors to the social," Weiser said. "It gives us a chance to get to know each other and celebrate our own diversity within HALO."
"We're trying to bring everyone together like a big family," she said. "And hopefully we can expand the program."
Edited by Julie Jantzer
Friday
HALO REGIONAL CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES
Fundraiser/Social
10 p.m. Party at La Tasca, 943 Massachusetts St.
Saturday
Fundraiser/Social
7 p.m. Dinner at Pancho's Mexican Food, 711 W.
23rd St.
All activities at Ecumenical Christian Ministries,
1204 Oread Ave.
9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Icebreakers/Team-building
9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Introduction with keynote speaker, Claudia Mercado
10:10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Workshops on Hispanic issues
11:15 a.m. to noon General assembly
1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Hispanics of Tomorrow (HD) conference
2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. HALO regional reports
3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. HALO regional reports
3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. HALD regional reports
3 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Rap up
For more information, contact Melanie Weiser, HALD pres-
ident at academia@ku.edu or 843-HALD.
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