CAMPUS/ AREA
University Daily Kansan / Friday, February 21, 1992
3
AFRICANSTYLE
Cultural awareness inspires campus clothing trend
By Jerry Schmidt
Kansan staff writer
KU students have different ways of expressing a connection to their ancestors, and some like Deba Briscoe do it with clothes and jewelry.
Briscoe, Topeka freshman, said the clothes she wore helped her to understand her African heritage.
"I like the jewelry and the clothes because I like to find out about our heritage," she
sad. Really, it's worn out where you come from, the history of it all."
Black History Month
Briscoe, an African studies major said that her mother collected masks and statues from her grandfather's ancestors in the West Indies and West Africa.
Her mother also sews African hats and clothing for relatives and friends, Briscoe is a fine cook.
As cultural awareness increases, so does interest in African fashions and jewelry from Maicolm Xhats to beads. Some students wear them for fun, but others say the items are tools for learning about the African culture.
Jill Legler, manager of the Sunflower International Casbah. 803 Massachusetts St., said African clothing and accessories were among her most popular items.
"I think in general there is a renewed appreciation for things with African features," Legler said. "Everybody is buying them, not just African-Americans."
Legler said the most popular items were trade beads and cowry shells.
The trade beads, used for necklaces, were made in Europe and traded in Africa about 200 years ago for gold, ivory and slaves.
The cowry shells, which are glossy molusk shells, are used to make necklaces, belts, bracelets and earrings. Legger said the shell was a symbol of fertility and plenty.
Other popular accessories at the store are kente cloths and mud cloths. Both are woven in strips and can be stitched together to make bigger cloths and rues.
"Most all of our things are made authentically," she said. "We make sure that it's not African-like. An African woman who lives in New York makes some of the things."
Another current fashion trend is the Malcolm X hat started by director Spike Lee, who is making a movie about the slain civil rights activist whose hats are black with a large X on the front.
Giles Smith, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands,
senior, said the hats were trend but also
common.
*People who are knowledgeable will wear it to show they are truly in what Malcolm X
Smith said the hats served a purpose.
Crystal Henry, East St. Louis, III., senior, agreed the hats were trendy but said people who wore African-style clothing and accessories did it to express themselves.
"I think if people see the Malcolm X hats, they will try to find out about him," he said. "It's trendy in a positive way."
"It is a little trendy, and a lot of people see Spike Lee on 'Arsenio Hall' and start to wear it," she said. "I'm all for people wearing the clothing. It's freedom of expression."
At the Sunflower International Casbah, 803 Massachusetts St., Aaron Lucas holds a talking drum and models traditional African accessories, including a kente cloth strip from Ghana, a cowry shell necklace and millefee trade beads.
Marnee Dietnch/KANSAN
Couple shows how to fight back hard Model Mugging simulates realistic attack scenarios
By Annette Brill Special to the Kansan
He hissed profanity at her and smothered her with his hands.
The woman pretended to sleep, seemingly unaware of the man creeping toward her, until he suddenly forced himself upon her.
She freed herself with a forceful elbow jab to his head.
The room exploded with the spectators' deafening shouts as she continued to target her shots to her assailant's groin and eyes.
This simulated rape scenario was one of several presented by Cindy and John Chamberlin, instructors of Model Mugging of Kansas, at a Gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas meeting last night.
"Model Mugging lets us take power into our own hands." Cindy Chamberlin told approximately 60 spectators at the demonstration. "We teach our students they can fight through the terror of sexual assaults."
The Model Mugging program uses realistic attack scenarios to teach students self-defense techniques. Instructors emphasize using lower-body strength because sexual assault victims usually end up on the ground.
A male instructor acts as the model mugger and wears a helmet the size of a beach ball and a heavy suit of protective padding.
John Chamberlin said the program was unique
Cindy Chamberlin, black shirt, kicks John Chamberlin to demonstrate a self-defense technique.
because it taught students to use full-force punches in the first class.
"This is down and dirty street fighting," he said.
John Chamberlin also said Model Mugging focused on preventing attacks by describing students as "peaceful warriors."
Cindy Chamberlin said students spent 25 percent of class time on self-discussion or talking about their
"Rape is a soft term for what actually goes on," Cindy Chamberlin said. "Often the victim thinks, 'What did I do?' The truth is, this should never happen to anybody."
She said that many students had been sexually assaulted and that they formed bonds by supporting each other.
According to FBI statistics, a woman is beaten, shipped, punched or raped every 18 seconds. Cindy Katz
She also said that one of three women and one of seven men would be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.
"We're not saying that you will be able to walk down a dark street and not be afraid at all," she said. "The fear won't be paralyzing, because you'll know how to move in that state."
Student reaction to the presentation was enthusiastic
Michael Hayes, Dallas sophomore, said the Model Mugging self defense demonstration was one of the most successful in the school.
"I think it's really important how they focus on the empowerment of women and also on women's emotions," she said.
Michael Danovsky, Minneapolis graduate student and Eric Barnhart, Lawrence resident, said they enjoyed the program but felt it should have included more men's issues.
Model Mugging will offer its third Lawrence class from March 7 to 21 at the LawrenceCommunity Center. The class consists of five sessions on Tuesdays and Saturdays and the cost is $395. Space in the class is still available.
Committee cancels admissions bill vote
By Greg Farmer Kansan staff writer
TOPEKA — As Board of Regents staff recommended that Regents members quiet their support for a qualified admissions bill yesterday, the head of the Senate committee considering the bill said that he would not call for a vote until he knew the committee would pass it.
The Senate Education Committee conducted three days of hearings earlier this month on a bill that would enact admissions standards at Regents universities. The committee was scheduled to vote yesterday on bills it previously had heard.
The committee did not vote on the bill vesterday.
"The votes just aren't there," Harder said, "I don't have a vote on this bill (for) you."
Ted Ayres, the Regents legislative liaison, told Regents members and university presidents, including Chancellor Gene Budig, at yesterday's Regents meeting that their efforts were changing opinions on the qualified admissions issue.
"But I would like to suggest to the Board that members cease their efforts for this particular session."
Ayres said, "My sense is that this year is not the best time to push the issue.
The Regents should wait to see what the Legislature does with other education efforts.
Regent Rick Harman, who spoke on the Regents behalf at legislative hearings on the bill, said that he agreed with the recommendation.
"Westill feel very strongly that qualified admissions is necessary for our students to remain competitive," he said. "Our first priority has got to be the budgetary process. This is not the time to push the Legislature on qualified admissions. If we press on, we could jeopardize budgetary issues."
Stanley Koplik, Regents executive director, said that admissions standards could be added onto another bill this session.
*Qualified admissions may still come around.* Koplik said. "Be open to the idea presented in a different way."
The Regents also discussed the following legislative issues:
Ayres said that a bill had been introduced in the House of Representatives that would require the Board to have a curriculum for high school students.
The Regents voted to oppose part of a House bill that would abolish the Student Advisory Council. Sarah Scribner, head of the council, urged the Regents to oppose the bill. The bill has been introduced but is awaiting legislative action.