CAMPUS AND AREA
University Daily Kansan, March 4. 1985
Page
Former carpenter is carving a living
The art of wood carving is enhanced by the skills of Murlen Downing. Downing, who lives near Clinton Lake, said Saturday that his home location helped him get closer to nature and study the different birds
By SHELLE LEWIS Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
Murlen Downing has carved his place in life.
Waterfowl, of all shapes and sizes are Downing's specialties.
"As much sawdust as I breathe sometimes, I'll probably turn into a piece of wood," said Downing, dressed in faded jeans and a western shirt, as he whitted at a duck-shaped figure Saturday.
Downing, who gave a demonstration of his wood carving talents this weekend at the Museum of Natural History, was a carpenter before he turned to his hobby of wood carving as a full-time job three years ago.
"I've got all sorts of fancy tools, and I resort back to an ordinary pocket knife," said Downing, looking at the cuttin' cutting instruments before him.
"I'll see a pose and try to capture it," he said.
DOWNING, 38. SAID he got ideas for his carvings by walking in the woods near Clinton Lake as well as at domesticated ducks and sketches.
A native of rural Lawrence,
stewarding life in the home,
standing firm when he was raised.
Downing said he tried to work on more than one piece at a time to help keep his creativity flowing.
"If you're working on one thing it becomes a chore," he said.
Quite often, Downing said, he goes back to a piece and changes it until he likes it.
"I won't turn loose any of my stuff until I am satisfied with it," he said. "It may not look exactly right, but at least I am satisfied."
"It is the wood burning and the detail that take the time." he said
Using a special wood-burning knife, Downwine gives his carved feathers a soft, realistic texture that fools the eve.
Blocking a figure, or forming the basic shape, takes the least amount of time. Downing said.
Downing uses stains and dyes to give his creations their color and personality.
"THERE ARE TWO reasons I don't use paint," he said. "For one thing I'm not good with paint, and the
other is that I don't like to do something in wood and then cover it up with paint."
Some pieces, such as a duck in flight, are composed of as many as 12 parts glued together, Downing said. However, they are secure and he said the wood probably would break before the glue separated.
Most of Downing's creations are made in password, which can be and local.
Wood carving can be dangerous, said Downing, who gives demonstrations at craft festivals and shows.
"The secret to not getting yourself cut is keeping the tools sharp so you don't have to push so hard on the
wood," he said. "And the other secret is keeping your hand out of the way."
Downing said he never had cut himself seriously and wanted to keep it that way.
"I'll cut a finger open someday and six people will probably faint and one of them will be me," he said.
English director to teach next year in France
By PATRICIA SKALLA Staff Reporter
for the position, but had been invited
Springer said he had not applied
Students might miss a familiar face when they return to campus next year.
Haskell Springer, director of the freshman-sophomore English program, plans to teach in France next year as a visiting professor of American literature at the Sorborne University of Kansas since 1988.
Michael Johnson, chairman of the English department, said yesterday that James Hartman, professor of English, would serve as acting director of the freshman-sophomore program while Springer was n' France.
the positions, not only open invaded
by the Center of American
Research in North America,
at literature at the Sorbonne. The director
knew of Springer because of their mutual interest in writing about the sea.
SPRINGER he would be in France the entire academic year, from October through May, but he plans to stay in Lawrence through September to work on projects he is involved with.
Springer is in charge of Writer's Workbench, the new computer program that helps students by evaluating their essays, and writing across the curriculum. a program being developed to ensure that students in all schools of the University are able to write well.
the Sorbonne, he would teach two
American literature to graduate students.
HE SAID HE hoped that teaching in a foreign country would help him become a better teacher. He said he thought teaching in another culture would help him understand the problems encountered by foreign students when they came to the United States.
Springer said that while he was at
Springer said he would not spend his entire year teaching at the Sorbonne. Although he does not have definite plans, he said he hoped to travel in Europe and speak at several universities.
Springer said he was excited to go to France because his only previous trip to Europe was 20 years ago.
taking classes in French and has 4 tutor.
But before he leaves, Springer is trying to polish his French. He is
ROBIN NARAMORE, Lawrence senior, said Springer's ability as a teacher would compensate for any lack of proficiency in the language.
"I think that in the classroom his greatest talent is that he is so good at having a meaningful discussion," she said. "That will be obvious to everyone regardless of whether he speak their language fluently or not."
His wife is a professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and plans to stay there. His oldest daughter plans to study during the spring semester in Paris, and the remaining members of his family plan to visit him throughout the year, he said.
Four run unopposed for AURH positions
By MICHELLE T. JOHNSON Staff Reporter
The election for Association of University Residence Halls offices begins today, but it won't be much of a contest. Only four candidates are running for the four AURH offices.
James Jeffrey, AURH president,
announced at last week's AURH
general assembly meeting that he
would not run in this year's
election.
The four candidates who are running are members of the Alliance coalition, headed by Andrew, Blossom, AURH chairman for the Board of Appeals and Ellsworth Hall resident.
Liz Walz, Topea freshman and Hashinger Hall resident, is Alliance candidate for vice-president. Margie Houston, Columbia, Mo., freshman and Lewis Hall resident, is secretary and Mike Pringle, Scholars III., junior and Oliver Hall resident, is running for treasurer.
Hall residents can vote at hall cafeterias during dinner today and tomorrow.
JEFFLEY SAID HE and his coalition of Laurie Strait, Topeka sophomore and Barbara Pratt, Lincoln junior, had filed petitions to run in the election. But he said he decided not to run so he could concentrate on finishing his last year of school.
The rest of his coalition was satisfied with his decision, Jeffey said. Strait and Pratt also dropped plans to run in the election.
Jeffley and Blossom had planned to run on the same coalition. But a week before the filing deadline, Blossom said, he decided he would run against Jeffley for president.
Blossom said running as the only candidate had made the past week easier. He said there were no hard feelings between him and Jeffrey.
"I've got 700 campaign posters, don't know what to do with." Blossom said.
The main goal of his coalition in the coming year, Blossom said, is to have AURH work more for the residents.
BLOSSOM SAID AURH had developed an image problem among residents that his coalition wanted to correct. He said many residents perceived AURH as a form of urbanization like the Student Senate.
"We have to look at the residents and see what we can do for them." Blossom said. "We need to make sure the halls better for the people."
Blossom said his coalition planned to keep in touch with the residents so ideas could begin with the residents and move up to the officers from the residents from the officers as past AURH administrations had done.
"Each of the four officers is going to be assigned two halls and that person is going to be responsible for knowing what's going on in those two particular halls," Blossom said.
Jeffley said he would work with Blossom in the next few months to provide a smooth transition.
As AURH president, Jeffrey said, he had a chance to see the organization accomplish several goals.
Jeffley said the most outstanding achievement was the new visitation policy that continues 24-hour visitation for residents but residents of all halls to register visitors during security hours.
Study shows increase in teaching graduates
By United Press International
EMPORIA — The number of prospective teachers graduated from Kansas colleges and universities in 1984 increased 2.7 percent over 1983 to first rise since 1977, according to an Emporia State University study.
In 1984, Kansas' six universities graduated 1,414 prospective teachers and 16 private, four-year colleges graduated 494 education majors, according to Emporia State's study. The 1,908 teacher graduates in 1984 compares to the 1,857 graduated in 1983.
Researchers said it was unclear whether the 1984 figure was the beginning of a trend or merely a statistical blip.
The study was prepared by Jack Skillett, dean of Emporia State's College of Education, and Bill
Scofield, an Emporia State professor of educational administration.
Although the number of prospective teachers rose, there remains an inadequate number of teachers in mathematics, the sciences, language arts and special education, the study says.
"There are teacher shortages in these areas and there is evidence that the shortages are beginning to extend into other areas as well." Skilllett said. "And to respond to the recent reforms in public and higher education . . . we will need a larger supply of teachers."
In order to make the teaching profession more attractive, Skilllett and Scofield said, teacher salaries must rise and the profession must have more prestige. They also said colleges and universities should recruit better students to pursue degrees in teacher education.
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Special Thanks to
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and all the Greek Endeavor Staff for a successful and enjoyable Greek Endeavor.
IFC
Panhellenic
Black Panhellenic
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Creative Writers and Editors.
Hallmark representatives will discuss current marketplace, employment opportunities and supply Writer/Editor applicant portfolios.
Tuesday, March 5th.
Room 100 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
2:30-3:30 p.m. and 4-5 p.m.