Section A • Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, July 22, 1998
Latina sorority plans active second year
By Beth Janes
Kansan staff writer
After its first year as a chapter sorority, Sigma Lambda Gamma continues to be the only Latina-based sorority at the University of Kansas , and its members have big plans for the future.
The idea to found Sigma Lambda Gamma began at a Hispanic American Leadership Organization meeting where a transfer student from Kansas State University talked about the sorority, said Aurora Marin, Leoti junior and SLG president.
Ten founding members completed the necessary steps designated by the Sigma Lambda Gamma National Board and became a chapter in September 1997.
"We had to become an interest group, then a colony and submit a packet with members' grades, our purposes and advisers. It was paperwork galore," Marin said. "When we found out we got it, we were so happy because it had taken almost a year."
Trina Ramirez, Lawrence graduate student and SLG adviser, said that she was impressed by the maturity level and enthusiasm of the founders because many were freshmen and sophomores.
"The sorority brings a lot to the University. The women will enhance the multicultural experience for all students," she said. "They have leadership and a pride of heritage that are contagious and electric. It opens doors for a stronger community on campus."
Marin said she hoped to see more women attend interest meetings this semester, but after inducting new members for the first time last semester, for a total of 17, she said the quantity of new members was not a big concern.
"Before we started, we had to
deal more with quantity. Now that we've been established, it doesn't matter if we cross over one or five. We are looking for quality women to represent the sorority." Marin said.
Several new activities are being planned for SLG's second year, Marin said. A philanthropy with the American Red Cross, working as Big Sisters, and helping new minority women with their studies are three of the activities planned.
"We want to establish a good network with the other fraternities and sororites," she said. "We'd also like to sponsor a conference for Latino and Latina Greeks from around the country. This would bridge gaps between the greeks, so we could work together."
Marin said that the sorority also was planning party nights at the Burge Union beginning on October 17 and a Gamma Week in November with different programs every night.
In the past year, SLG participated in a number of campus activities and community service projects. The women brought boxes of donated food and clothing to battered women's shelters and volunteered for Red Cross blood drives and with the Boys and Girls Club.
Community service is one of five principles that sorority members follow, including morals and ethics, academics social interaction, and cultural awareness. Members participate in one activity a month for each principle.
Ramirez said she looked forward to seeing the women's personalities evolve further as they interacted with one another to reach a higher on-campus profile.
"They are so excited about the sorority and their mission," she said. "They are working hard to carry out their scholarship and service."
Smartcards may do laundry
By Kristi Hartley
Kansan staff writer
The Department of Student Housing is busy preparing for students returning to residence halls in August.
Kansan staff writer
KUID functions will be converted to the smartcards beginning July 27.
"If everything works the way it's supposed to work, it would do everything their cards last year did," said Ken Stoner, director of student housing.
Functions from the old card, such as entrance into the Ekdahl Dining Commons and after hours check-in at the residence halls, will be used
An added function for residence hall students is with the laundry machines. Students can pay to wash their clothes using the smartcard.
in the same way with the new smartcard. Stoner said.
To use the laundry machines with the smartcard, students have to put money on their card at the Card Center in the Kansas Union or any of the five cash-to-card machines on campus.
The machines are located in the Kansas and Burge unions, Wescoe Hall, Watson Library and Strong Hall, said Mary Ann Graham, University Card Center Manager.
Stoner said that if the card did not work in time for the fall semester, the department would issue students living in the residence halls a temporary card with the same functions as the old KUIDs.
Students will still be able to wash their laundry.
"Our backup on the laundry is we didn't take the coins off," Stoner said. "The first year we're running both arrangements."
Students also can take advantage of computer hookups and cable television in every residence hall
on campus beginning in the fall.
"Over the last few years, we've been trying to bring up ethernet or data connections in each of the residence halls." Stoner said.
Data connections were installed in Gertrude Sellards Pearson-Corbin Hall and Hashinger Hall this summer. These were the two remaining residence halls without the data connections, Stoner said.
Prior to data connection installations, students had to use a modem on the telephone lines. Students could not use the computer and the telephone at the same time.
Skateboarding facility approved
Centennial Park arena set to open by this November
By Jenny Oakson
Kansan staff writer
LAWRENCE SKATE PARK
For Benjamin Tuttle, the proposed skate park in Centennial Park will be more than a place to have fun. It will represent a year and a half of hard work put in by himself and other area skateboarders.
Tuttle, Moraga, Calif., senior, was one of many audience members who applauded when the Lawrence City Commission approved a bid for the proposed Lawrence skate park at its meeting last night. The commission voted 3-1 to move ahead with the skate-park design by BG Consultants Inc.
"We put everything we have into this project," Tuttle said. "We did the fund raising and helped with the schematic details — we've really earned it."
The skate park, which will include eight steel and concrete structures, is scheduled for completion by mid-November. Its location in Centennial Park, Sixth Street and Rockledge Road, will give Lawrence skateboarders an authorized arena which would replace makeshift skating facilities in areas such as Burcham Park.
"Iwas driving by the new swimming pool and saw about seven or eight kids skating on the basketball court with their own homemade obstacles," said Commissioner ErV Hodges. "I am satisfied with the fact that our kids will use this facility for a long time."
Commissioner Bob Moody had no applause for the project.
"We agreed to an $80,000 design," Moody said. "I cannot accept this project for $120,000, as it is."
A reason given for the increased price was the complex contracting necessary to ensure the park's longevity. Tuttle said that on-site moldings and special varieties of asphalt and concrete were necessary to ensure that the complex would withstand hard wear.
The park's proposed ten-foot, chain-link fence also drew debate. Paul Markham, a representative of the Sunset Hills Neighborhood Association, said that unless the fence would be locked to prevent skating after dark, it should be removed for aesthetic reasons.
"We need a fence with a skate park because there are going to be fast-moving skateboards that tend to get away from people, not to mention the nearby disc-golf field." Tuttle said. "Also, there will probably be spectators we need to protect."
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