6A NEWS
BODY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS
MONDAY MARCH 23 2009
"One of the great things about doing this over spring break is that it gives people an entertainment option that they otherwise wouldn't have," Humphrey said.
(CONTINUED FROM 1A)
She said it was the sixth year for the spring break exhibit. This year's exhibit brought in more than 4,000 visitors, exceeding all previous attendance records.
"As we like to say, 'School out, science is in.' Humphrey said.
The exhibit featured Anatomy Alex, a life-size version of the board game Operation. Guests used tongs to simulate removing bones during surgery, just like in the board game, touching the metal edges resulted in a loud buzzing noise. The museum also had a seven-foot nose complete with Velcro nose hairs, a game to test patrons' sense of smell
Marcus Gomez, of Topeka,
brought his 9-year-old son Jaden
to the museum for the third year
in a row.
Gomez said the two always enjoyed the varying exhibits and that it was a great way to entertain his son while he wasn't in school.
Jaden said the giant nose and Anatomy Alex were his two favorite exhibits.
"I would rather go to Disney World," Jaden said, "but it's still fun."
Saira Khan, Lawrence junior, was among the 18 employees who staffed the museum for the exhibit. She said children enjoyed the exhibit because the activities were interactive and sometimes messy.
"The kids seem to be pretty excited about it," Khan said.
Danielle Mears, of Overland Park, said her family chose to stay at home this spring break because of the poor economy.
"I think this is the first spring break in many years that we haven't traveled," Mears said.
Mears and her 9-year-old son Devan have been to the museum before, but never to the spring break exhibit.
"We're staying local and free."
Mears said. "I think a lot of people
Dawn Kirchner, museum educator, said the video displayed how the brain uses "inattentional blinding" to concentrate and focus.
Devan said his favorite part of the exhibit was a video about concentration.
are."
The video asked viewers to focus and count how many times a group of people passed a basketball back and forth. What many viewers didn't see was a person in a gorilla suit walking onto the screen.
"They missed it because they were so concentrated on the task at hand, the brain just chops it out," Kirchner said, "Of course, when we play it again, people kind of laugh."
Devan admitted he missed it the first time.
"I didn't even see the gorilla!" Devan said.
Humphrey said that students and museum employees worked on the exhibit for about a year and plans for next year's exhibit were already underway.
Edited by Realle Roth
Alex Vidian, 6, left, stands against the "trait wheel" at the Natural History Museum's Body Science exhibit Thursday as Avery Bolar, 11, examines her hair line. The exhibit was open Tuesday through Saturday, drawing several hundred onepole each day.
LAWRENCE (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
ing city election because he was interested in how politics could effect change
"I got really involved in the presidential campaign and learning about the issues," Bell said. "It made me more aware,
"I think it's important to have a say in those decisions," Bell said.
Ryan Lawler, Bolingbrook Ill. senior, is the community affairs director for the Student Legislative Awareness Board.
not only of the
"I think it's important to have a say in those decisions."
STUART BELL Lawrence junior
national scene, but the local scene."
Bell said he thought it was important to have a voice in local government because there were many issues, such as zoning ordinances and the smoking ban, that affected students.
Lawler said the goal of SLAB was to promote student interest in government at the city, county, state and federal levels and educate voters.
SLAB is currently working to
student issues, campus related ... especially neighborhood issues as well."
create a forum for the local candidates where students can ask them questions about their campaigns.
Lawler said he hoped SLAB would have the forum organized soon.
"We are looking to put together a student-run forum," Lawler said. "Particularly pertaining to
"I haven't done anything of that nature before, so it will be interesting to see how it turns out," Lawler said.
SLAB is also working to create a candidate issue packet explaining the stances of each candidate and the issues they will face in the future. The packets will be distributed to residence halls, sororities, fraternities and other organizations on campus.
"It's a matter of reaching out to the students," Lawler said. "Instead of expecting them to come to us."
Edited bv Sonva Enalish
GET INVOLVED STAY INVOLVED
On March 16, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner makes remarks to small business owners, community lenders and members of Congress in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Geithner is putting the finishing touches on a plan to get toxic assets off the books of the country's struggling banks, according to administration and industry officials. The plan could be announced as soon as Monday.
David Wilcox
"I get involved to surround myself with talented individuals who help make the KU experience so valuable. One day, I hope to encourage, inspire and support the next generation of Jayhawks through my alumni involvement."
Junior in English and Chemistry, Manhattan, Kan
ORGANIZATIONAL INVOLVEMENT:
University Scholars, Class XXVII
2008 Homecoming Steering Committee, Co-Director
KU Honors Program, Ambassador
Owl Society
Jubilee Café
Alternative Breaks
Beta Theta Pi Fraternity
Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars
KU
ENDOWMENT
The University of Kansas
KU Endowment and the KU Alumni Association want all students to know that students who get involved stay involved.
Obama focuses on budget
ECONOMY
WASHINGTON — Amid the continuing backlash over AIG bonuses, President Barack Obama is defending his embattled treasury secretary and touting his ambitious $3.6 trillion budget proposal as a boon for ordinary Americans.
Obama used his weekly radio and Internet address to turn the focus back to his budget proposal, calling it "a firm foundation of investments in energy, education and health care that will lead to a real and lasting prosperity." He plans a network television interview airing Sunday and a prime-time news conference Tuesday to continue bolstering his case.
And, as early as Monday, the administration is expected to roll out a plan to rid banks of their toxic assets and speed the flow of loans. Some industry officials familiar with the details said they expected the approach would try to remove as much as $1 trillion from banks' books.
The disclosure that American International Group Inc. paid out $165 million in bonuses to employees, including to traders in the financial unit that nearly collapsed the insurer, has dominated the news this week. It has left the Obama administration on the defensive and seeking to refocus attention.
Obama said that if Geithner offered his resignation, the answer would be, "Sorry buddy, you've still got the job." CBS released excerpts Saturday.
Minutes," Obama made clear he was standing behind bequealured Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who was roundly criticized over the bonus flap and steps to revive the economy.
Obama said ordinary Americans are more concerned about having
a paycheck and being able to pay college or medical bills than they are about "the news of the day in Washington."
Those are the concerns, he said, that he addresses in his budget, which he calls an economic blueprint for the future.
Lawmakers are wrangling over taxing people who got big bonuses and worrying the president's budget could generate $9.3 trillion in red ink over the next decade.
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