Tuesday, March 17, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 7
Pet owners seek psychics to assist, talk to animals
The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH — When Tracy L'Hirisson's champion llama, Copper Penny, got sick last fall, she made two phone calls.
One was to her veterinarian. The next was to an animal psychic.
From her home in Eagle, Idaho,
L'Herisson called Dawn Haman in
Clinton, N.Y., to ask for help.
Through Haman, the aliling llama was able to tell his owner his troubles, or so L'Herisson believes.
"Copper Penny said, 'I was eating something I've always eaten with leaves on it. But right after, there was a lot of pain in my stomach, and it hurt to walk, and I feel very weak now," L'Herisson said.
The lama's problem turned out to be life-threatening colic, a diagnosis the vet reached with Haman's help and was able to treat. L'Herisson said.
L'Herisson, an interior designer who has used psychics for a decade to talk to her llamas, dogs and cats, said Haman has been correct too many times to disbelieve her.
"We've had enough situations that have been so accurate ... that it doesn't behove you to doubt anymore," she said.
Haman is one of a few dozen people, mostly women, who profess an ability to probe the psyche of any animal. They call themselves animal psychics or animal communicators.
Psychics have been consulted to deal with human problems for years. But Matt Nisbett of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal said military intelligence officials experimented for two decades on practical uses for purported psychic ability and produced no meaningful results. It dropped the program in 1995.
The psychic industry in the United States, where a poll found 26 percent believe in clairvoyance, soon will be worth $2 billion a year, according to reports he quoted.
An estimated 50 people in this country are professional animal communicators, said Penelope Smith of Point Reyes, Calif., who maintains an informal listing.
Professor raps about Nietzsche
Fees range from $15 to $25 for a 15-minute session with one animal and up to $100 for an hour session with multilet animals.
"Seven out of 10 times I will have something really strong and earth shattering for the owner," said Diana Beuchert, a psychic from Mount Airy, Md.
And their claimed accuracy rates?
Psychics cannot explain the process. "I can't tell you how it happens," said Haman, who also runs a nonprofit sanctuary for about 200 animals. "I am constantly amazed."
Julie Maybee, assistant professor of philosophy, speaks about the similarities between Friedrich Nietzsche's ideas and rap music. She spoke yesterday at Strong Hall as part of a lecture series. Photo by Corie Waters/KANSAN
Julie Maybe made a connection yesterday between the ideas of a 19th-century German philosopher and modern music in her lecture titled Nietzsche, Rap and the Blues.
By Emily C. Forsyth
eforsyth@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Maybe, assistant professor of philosophy, spoke to about 60 people at Strong Hall. Her presentation included a reading from her research paper and an audience discussion. The lecture was the first in a semester-long series sponsored by the humanities and Western Civilization programs.
During her lecture, Maybee focused on the similarities between the ideas of Friedrich Nietzsche and rap music. She argued rap music fulfilled Nietzsche's concept of a tragic art form.
Some of the similarities Maybe drew between Nietzsche's idea of tragic art and rap music were that both celebrated life while acknowledging its terrible problems, providing pleasure through pain.
She said Nietzsche longed for a new art that originally was creative and rap music satisfied his criteria for tragic art.
Richard Buck, Chicago graduate student, said that Maybee gave a new perspective about Nietzsche.
"Many people interpret Nietzsche as either racist or anti-Semitic," Buck said. "She gave a convincing argument that some of his main ideas are
exemplified in rap music — nonwhite music — so I think it goes a long way to dispel common misinterpretations of Nietzsche."
Cotten Seiler, Louisville, Ky., graduate student who teaches a Western Civilization course, said the lecture helped refine his idea of Nietzsche's sense of tragedy. He also said it was important to discuss topics such as rap at the University.
"More academic, so-called high culture discussions of popular culture need to go on." Seiler said. "I think it's important to bring popular culture into academia and quit talking about it as if it's something beneath academic inquiry."
"I've tried very hard in this paper, as I did in the course, to rely on Black readings of Black art in making my case," she said. "It helps to allay fears about what has happened often when white folks have used white theories to talk about Black art."
Maybee said there were political concerns in applying a Caucasian theory to African-American art.
"People often say why not use Black-generated theories to discuss Black art," Maybee said.
"He may yet have had to grow new ears in order to hear the way in which rap and the blues answer his call for a rebirth of tragedy," Maybe said.
Maybe said that despite the correlations in her study, Nietzsche still might have a difficult time relating to today's style of music.
Safe Break deals with student safety
Playing cards right theme of activities throughout week
By Carl Kaminski
ckaminski@kansan.com
Kansan stuff writer
Elvis impersonators hope to teach students to play their cards right during Spring Break.
According to Watkins Memorial Health Center, 42 percent of college students binge drink and one in eight sexually active students at the University of Kansas have a sexually transmitted disease. More students binge drink and students are more likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease during break.
Safe Break Week, Sunday through Thursday, will include activities to educate students about how to protect themselves.
The theme for this year's Safe Break is "Play Your Cards Right."
Activities in front of Wescoe Hall today will feature University representatives dressed in Elvis costumes and casino-type games, including blackjack, said Jennifer Kinney, Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol adviser.
GAMMA, Watkins Health Center, KU Police, Student Housing and Boost Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students are sponsoring the week of activities.
Students can learn about everything from how to keep from getting sunburned to how to not get alcohol poisoning, Kinney said.
Kinney said that there was no guarantee that the activities would help but that she hoped students will take some of what they learn during Safe Break Week with them.
"If you help just a handful of people, then that's more than you had helped before," she said.
To kick off the week, Alpha Gamma Delta sorority invited speakers to come to the University.
Gene and Peggy Schmidt, who lobbied for the passage of the Kansas sexual predator law, and Mike Green, a former college
"If you help just a handful of people, then that's more than you had helped before."
Jennifer Kinney GAMMA adviser
athlete and a speaker on alcoholism, spoke Sunday night in Hoch Auditorium.
Literature and games sponsored by different living organizations where held in front of Wescoe Hall yesterday and will continue today, weather permitting. Kinneva said.
There will be two wrecked cars on campus to show students the consequences of driving drunk, and the Kansas Highway Patrol will demonstrate its Rollover Machine, which simulates the effect of driving drunk. No activities are planned for tomorrow.
Thursday, the last day of the Safe Break activities, bicycle safety demonstrations will be at Stauffer Place Apartments.
All of the events of Safe Break week are free.
SAFE BREAK WEEK
Sunday
Yesterday and Today
Speakers, sponsored by Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, spoke about alcoholism and safety.
University representatives in Elvis costumes and living organizations representatives hand out literature and run casino-style games to promote personal safety
■ Kansas Highway Patrol demonstrate its Rollover Machine and wrecked cars are placed in front of Jayhawker Towers and in the lawn in front of StaufferFlint Hall
Tomorrow
Tomorrow No activities planned.
Thursday
Bicycle safety demonstrations in front of Stauffer Place Apartments
Next year's SUA board appointed
By Marcelo Vilela
mvilela@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Student Union Activities has selected a new board of coordinators and officers for next year.
The eight coordinators and four officers will hold office hours after Spring Break and officially will be responsible for their committees and offices starting in summer.
The new SUA coordinators were chosen during the past week. The officers were selected three weeks ago.
The first board meeting for the new officers and coordinators will be today, and the meeting will resemble a training session, said Kielyn Scott, Wichita senior and new SUA president.
"We will plan events and try to get the new people assimilated to SUA," Scott said. "It will be kind of a crash course."
Scott said the new coordinators were selected according to their approachability, creativeness, responsibility and ability to cooperate.
The new coordinators were selected by current SUA officers, coordinators and advisers. A new coordinator position of public relations also was created.
Most of SUA's new officers and coordinators previously were involved with SUA. Scott was the coordinator for special events. Brett Generaux, Kansas City, Kan., senior was the film spectrum coordinator and has been appointed the new vice president for membership development.
Cody Simms, Wichita junior and the new forums coordinator, has been involved with SUA for the past two years.
"SUA is the most valuable student organization to broaden the overall mind of students on campus." Simms said. "It gives opportunities beyond the classroom. The programs that SUA puts on are different from anything else you can find on campus."
Jeff LaCroix, Olathe junior and new vice president for university relations, said he wanted to become an SUA officer because the organization provided students with a final say about some events at the University.
"SUA allows an opportunity to do real-work programs at the university." LaCroix said.
Jerry Oleary, Lawrence senior, was selected as the spectrum films coordinator. He said his goal was to bring to students movies that were not under the feature films blanket, such as foreign and classic films.
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