Section A ยท Page 6 The University Daily Kansan Thursday, February 26. 1998 Association to promote study African-American organization starts campus chapter Aaron Knopf aknopf@kansan.com Kansas staff writer African-American History Month ends Saturday, but a new organization at the University of Kansas will work to promote the study of African-American history and culture throughout the year. The Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History will establish its first university-based chapter at the University of Kansas. The association is an 82-year-old international organization dedicated to the conservation, preservation and perpetuation of African-American history and culture. The KU chapter of the association will celebrate its founding at a dinner tomorrow night in Adams Alumni Center. Edward Beasley, the association's international president, said the University was chosen because of the commitment that many at the University had shown to the associ- ation. "You have some dynamic people there who have been members ... for many years," Beasley said. Jacob Gordon, University chapter president and associate professor of African and African-American studies, said he had been working for two years to establish the University's chapter. He said the chapter would promote scholarship at the University and, eventually, in the Lawrence community. He said the goal was to help build a more cohesive society. "We want to do something to address our No.1 national problem right now; our race relations," Gordon said. "We want to be problem solvers through our academic research." Gordon said the chapter would create a collection of faculty and student scholarly work on African-American history and life for exhibition throughout Kansas. Students and faculty from all disciplines could contribute to this exhibit. to meet people who are interested in this subject that are outside of their department." Gordon said. "This is another avenue for them William Turtle, chapter vice president and professor of history, said that he hoped the University chapter would work with Lawrence's public schools. He also said the chapter should publicize to the community the resources on campus. "We do have a wealth of wonderful materials that we would hope to get people interested in studying," Tuttle said. Beasley said that opening a University chapter helped further the goal of the organization's founder, Carter G. Woodson, to bring together academics and laypeople in the examination of African-American history and culture. Woodson started Negro History Week in 1926, the event that now has grown into African-American History Month. The association determines the month's theme every year. It also sponsors national conferences and publishes a journal of African-American historical and cultural research. Anyone interested in becoming involved with the University's chapter should contact Katie Woods, chapter secretary, at the Center for Multicultural Leadership. 864-3990. Spring-breakers sign up for SUA trip By Marcelo Vilela mvilela@kansan.com Kansan staff writer Students to take a break in Florida Wescoe beach is not Nick VanDeven's idea of fun in the sun, so the St. Louis sophomore signed up for the Student Union Activities eight-day spring break trip to Panama City, Fla. "The most interesting part will be the drive," VanDeven said. "The city is pretty much like a college town, and it's going to be warm. It's what I call good, wholesome fun." Michael Weiss, Champaign Ill., junior and SUA's recreation and travel coordinator, said the trip had been popular during past years. "Just from what I heard, it sounds like it's a great trip. There's the beach, volleyball, going out at night and people from all colleges." Weiss said. The final day to sign up for the trip is Tuesday. The cost is $260, which includes registration, insurance and a $25 deposit that will be returned by April 15. The trip package offers optional excursions such as a party boat, snorkeling and deep-sea fishing. SUA is working with a tourism company called Intercampus Tours, which provides charter buses to take students to their destinations. The bus will hold 45 people, and it is available for an extra $100. Weiss said that bus seats were limited. "We want to fill the bus with KU students," Weiss said. "This way, the bus will go straight to Panama City without stopping at other schools." Weiss said the bus would leave the evening of March 20 and would arrive on the afternoon of March 21 in Panama City. A mandatory meeting to sign contracts, arrange roommate agreements and pay the full price of the trip will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Kansas Room in the Kansas Union. An orientation meeting for all participants will be 6 p.m. March 17 at Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union. SUA last sponsored a trip to Panama City in 1995. Last year, SUA offered a trip to Daytona Beach but not enough students signed up, so the trip was canceled. Sue Buckley, SUA manager, said that was not a worry this year because 70 students already had signed up. Weiss said that SUA decided on the trip to Panama City to give students a different spring-break atmosphere. "It's still going to be a great time at the beach," he said. INSERTS ARE JUST ONE MORE WAY THE KANSAN KEEPS YOU INFORMED. AFTER YOU PUT THEM TO USE, PLEASE PUT THEM IN THE SPECIAL BOX RIGHT BELOW THE NEWSPAPER BIN. LET'S ALL LEND A HAND TO KEEP OUR CAMPUS CLEAN. Kansan END OF SEASON ONCE AND FOR ALL SALE 1/2 of PRICE 1/2 A LARGE SELECTION OF FALL AND WINTER MERCHANDISE IS NOW MARKEDDOWN TO 1/2 OF 1/2 PRICE SUITS SPORTSCOATS TIES DRESS SHIRTS CASUAL CLOTHING HALF OF HALF HALF OF HALF HALF OF HALF HALF OF HALF HALF OF HALF ALL SALE MERCHANDISE WILL BE MARKED ENTIRE INVENTORY NOT INCLUDED ALL SALES FINAL! ALL SALES FINAL! 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