Monday
January 27, 2003
Vol. 113. Issue No.83
Today's weather
42°
Tonight: 28°
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
Contact Kristi Henderson, Jenna Goepfert and Justin Henning at 864-4810 or editor@kansan.com
Kansas moves on after loss, meets No.4 Texas tonight p.1B
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Brandon Baker/Kansan
Tech N9ne fans wait outside The Granada to enter the Tech N9ne show. The Granada sold out the remaining 720 tickets Saturday morning before the show.
'Half-angel, half-demon' rapper returns to The Granada to promote new album
By Lauren Bristow
He's a player and he's a slacker. Well, that's what his lyrics say.
But Tech N9ne described himself differently Saturday night after appearing onstage wearing a black bishop's robe with a white cross painted across his face.
"I'm half-angel, half-demon," he said. "My heart is good, but my mind is bad."
Although he said demons surrounded him while he performed, the robe and cross kept him safe.
Even demons respect Jesus Christ, he said.
Saturday's sold-out show at The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St., could be called a homecoming for Tech N9ne, who is promoting his album, Absolute Power. In the early '90s, he was part of the group Nutt Howze that frequently performed there.
"The Granada is kind of the birthplace of Tech N9ne," he said. "They let us play here a lot when we were just getting started."
Two hours before show time, more than 75 fans waited outside hoping to get tickets to the sold-out show. Many said they had seen last month's show at the Uptown Theatre in Kansas City, Mo. The 720 available tickets sold out about five hours before show time, said James Radina, owner of The Granada.
"The last time they played in Lawrence, they played to about 300," Radina said. "So to sell out ahead of time, it's very good."
Tech N9ne, who got his start in Kansas City, Mo., credits his large fan following to his time in the business and his lyrics about true-to-life experiences. People relate to songs like "Suicide Letter" because they've been there, he said.
Matt Conley, Topeka freshman, had never seen Tech N9ne in concert before but had heard his music through friends. Before the concert he wasn't sure what to expect, but after the show he said that he would definitely see Tech N9ne again.
"I'm a slacker. He's a slacker." Conley said referring to Tech N9ne's song, "Slacker." "Since we're both slackers, we might as well hang out together."
Many fans said they or their friends had hung out
with Tech N9ne.
Lauren Odell, Kearney, Mo., sophomore, first saw Tech N9ne last summer when he performed at a friend's house party in Lawson, Mo. Odell introduced Tech N9ne's music to her friends including Tess Cooney, Cincinnati freshman.
"I've heard about him all year from her, so we had to come see him," Cooney said.
The Granada featured Tech N9ne's signature drink, Caribou Lou, as the special. He said he and a friend came up with the recipe. The drink is made with Malibu rum, Bacardi 151 and pineapple juice.
"We named it after a mean pirate on Woody Woodpecker," Tech N9ne said. "The drink is mean. It will sneak up on you."
Edited by Brandon Gay
Brandon Baker/Kansan
Tech N9ne adorns his face with a white cross to protect him from the demons that surround him while he performs. Tech N9ne performed at The Granada on Saturday night to a sold-out crowd of loyal fans and followers.
Learning communities to make debut in fall
By Jessica Palimenio
jpalimentio@kansan.com
kansan staff writer
Next fall's incoming freshmen will have the opportunity to eat, sleep and study with 20 other students with similar academic interests.
tation.
Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, senior vice provost, initiated much of the planning for the program. She said the goals of the program were freshmen retention, classroom success and university orien-
The housing department is developing Thematic Learning Communities in four residence halls, including McCollum, Oliver, Ellsworth and Hashinger halls.
Students with a specific academic interest can live together on the same floor and attend two core classes within the interest and a seminar class intended to help freshmen learn more about the University of Kangas. About 200 students will be able to participate in the program's first year.
In addition to a resident assistant, a peer educator will live on the floor. and a faculty leader will be assigned to help the participants succeed in the program.
The program has been in the planning stages for about five years under a committee of administrators and staff members, McCluskey-Fawcett said. A new
committee that will include students picked by the department will now put all the planning into action.
Dan Bernstein, director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and committee member, has had experience with similar programs at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., and University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. Bernstein said there was evidence that these programs helped freshmen make the transition from high school to college.
Planning committees said they didn't foresee a problem with the amount of time the residents will spend together.
"People are very good at finding spare time to move away from each other."
Bernstein said.
McCluskey-Fawcett said no additional housing costs were planned.
The program will be paid for by department funds that are being reallocated.
If the program is successful, the committee would like to see the program grow to include about one-fourth of incoming freshmen, or about 1,000 students. Additional funding would then be needed, McCluskey-Fawcett said.
Freshmen will be receiving information about the program with their housing contracts next month.
Edited by Ryan Wood
Ellsworth to expand program
By Jessica Palmenio jpalmenio@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
The Experiencing Excellence in Ellsworth, or 3E, program that was in place before the hall closed for renovations will be expanded throughout the hall.
Physical appearance is not the only thing that will be changing at Ellsworth Hall.
If participants do not follow a signed agreement, they will be evaluated by a community standards board, said Diana Robertson, director of residence life. The process will be similar to Lewis Hall's community service agreement. If a student violates the
Previously the program was limited to one floor. Now, all of Ellsworth's 580 residents will be involved.
On the agreement form, students will indicate interest within eight groups of study. The groups include journalism, engineering, education, health science, business, prelaw, social sciences and undecided.
agreement, he or she would not be able to return to the hall in the future, she said.
Incoming freshman will receive information about the program in late February.
Students will attend meetings for their groups. During meetings they will work to improve job skills and career planning.
If a student's interests change throughout the year, the student can begin to attend meetings for another interest group.
Returning students also have a chance to help the program.
In addition to residence assistants, each floor will also include a
peer educator who is at least a sophomore to help the residents.
"We have been cranking up recruitment to get some of our upperclassmen involved in our programs," said Ken Stoner, director of student housing.
The housing department is informing current on-campus residents of the peer educator program through information sessions and floor meetings.
The hall will be hiring 11 peer educators, one for each of the floors. These residents will receive free room and board. Robertson said she has had several students call about becoming peer educators.
The returning upperclassmen will be expected to attend training sessions, maintain bulletin boards and help students achieve career and academic goals.
"People are very good at finding spare time to move away from each other."
Dan Bernstein Director of the Center of Teaching Excellence
In order for upperclassmen to — Edited by Michelle Burhenn
become involved in the program, they will first need to return their intent-to-return card between Jan. 27 and Feb. 7 and fill out a peer educator application.
The selection process will include personal interviews as well as the application.
The housing department expects to have these positions filled by April, Robertson said.
Slap happy
Eric Braem/Kansan
Basketball fans cheer by slapping their thundersticks together. Announcers reminded fans during the game that using the souvenirs during Arizona free-throw shooting could result in a technical foul against the Jayhawks. Kansas lost to Arizona 74-19. 'Hawks hope to rebound from loss. See page 1B.
A19
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