Get a cue here's where to play Late afternoon light pours through a window at The Crossing, 61.8 W. 12th St., as John Sykes, Lawrence sophomore, left, and Paul Barbosa, Coimbra, Portugal, senior, discuss the next shot. A steady hand is a must to keep the cue in line and to sink the shot. Different people have different styles for holding the cue. When students want to take a break from homework and relax with friends, many head to the nearest tavern for a game or two THE POOL ROOM: taverns, the billiards table is a hub of activity where seasoned sharks and novices alike plunk down their quarters to shoot colorful balls into uncooperative pockets. Lawrence has many places to play pool, each with its own atmosphere. For billiards afficados and weekend players, here is a brief guide. the Pool Room, 925 iowa St. is, the place for hard-core pool players to go. With 27 tables, two rooms and a pro shop. The Pool Room is the largest billiard parlor in Lawrence and the second largest in Kansas, owner Dana Hacker said. The Pool Room has four nine-foot tables, one snooker table and the only right-angle table in Kansas. Hacker described The Pool Room as spacious, adaptable to both families and pool sharks and especially good for dates. Peter Monaghen, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., senior, said he enjoyed the people at The Pool Room. "There are a lot of locals in here, so you get a family atmosphere. It's one of the few towny bars where students are welcome," he said. "There are guys here who've been shooting all their lives, and they'll teach you." KANSAS UNION JAYBOWL: One hour of pool at The Pool Room is $4 50. Eight-ball coin-operated tables are 50 cents and nine-ball tables are 25 cents. Hacker said he was planning a ladies night. oems. "We're right here on campus, so it's easy to come in and play for a half hour between classes," he said. The Jaybow, located on the first floor in the Kansas Union, has three Brunswick Gold Crown nine-foot tables purchased in the 1940s. The tables have a retro look with blue felt, rounded corners and silver trim. Fine said the Jaybowl's convenient location makes it popular with students. "They're wonderful old tables," sad Michael Fine, recreation coordinator for the Kansas and Burge Unions. "They're kind of classy." The standard rate for students at the Jaybowl is $2.40 an hour in the afternoon and $3.60 after 6 p.m. Mike Whalen, York, Pa., law student, lines up his shot on the snooker table at King Arthur's, 2228 Iowa St. There are two snooker tables in town, one at King Arthur's and one at The Pool Room, 929 Iowa St. Story by Sara Bennett Photos by Tom Leininger KING ARTHUR'S: root is free every day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at King Arthur's, 2228 Iowa St. After 1 p.m., patrons can play for $4 an hour on King Arthur's four six-foot regulation Brunswick tables, two nine-foot tables and snooker table. Richard Ramos, Kansas City, Mo, senior and King Arthur's employee, said the bar took special pride in its tables. "They're great tables," he said. "We get them refelted constantly and brush them down two times a day." Damon Carreiro, Tulsa, Okla. junior, said he liked the drink selection and atmosphere at King Arthur's. "They have the best bar selection for a pool hall," he said. "And the ambiance we love the locals." THE CROSSING: The Crossing, 618 W. 12th St., may have only one table, but where else in town does a pool table double as a dance floor? When bands visit the tiny bar at the edge of campus, a special covering is put on the table for people to stand on. Tom Conroy, Clearwater, Fla. senior and Crossing employee, the atmosphere at The Crossing drew people in to play pool. "It's alternative and laid-back, a mix of everybody," he said. "They can shoot a game of pool then sit on our big front porch and get a tan." BENCHWARMERS BENCHWARMERS SPORTS BAR AND GRILL: Tuesday night is "Neighborhood Hang- out Night" at Benchwarmers, 1601 W. 23rd St. That means free pool all night on the bar's five tables with no cover charge. Owner Reed Brinton said the night honors those who live around the bar, but everyone is welcome. the house and take a break," he said. "I like the atmosphere and the sports. It's laid-back, and there's always a game on." Jeff Konkel, Harper junior, said he went to Benchwarmers because it was close to home. "It's the closest place to get out of ASTRO'S Astro's, 601 Kasold Drive, may be out of the way, but that's the way they like it. Tim Terfler, Chicago junior and Astro's employee, said Astro's is a good place for a quiet game of pool. "It's a little bit more relaxed here," he said. "It's not bad for a date. You can find your own table and have your own conversation." Steve Kluck, Olathe senior, said he feels more comfortable shooting pool at Astro's. "All pool rooms are smoky and cheesy, and this is pretty much the cheesiest," he said. "But it's still fun to play pool, and you're not intimidated here. Other places, everyone's real good." Astro's has 10 tables. Six are coin-operated, and the four nine-foot tables are rented for $4.50 an hour. Damon Carreiro Tulsa, Okla., junior music Japanese visitors share music, culture By JL Watson Kansan staff writer The choir from a women's college in Sendai, Japan, traveled to Kansas to study with KU faculty and give concerts. The halls are alive with the sound of music. Murphy Hall is home to the music department, so it is not uncommon to hear music wafting through the air. During the past week, the regular voices were joined by those of Japanese students. The choir from the Miyagi Gaukin Women's College in Sendai, Japan, traveled to the University of Kansas to study with faculty and give concerts in the area. "It's a once in a lifetime trip for them," said Richard Reber, professor of music and dance. "There are about 65 members, all junior and seniors, and they've been saving for this trip for two or three years." KU has had a relationship with the Miyagi Gaukin Women's College for many years, Reber said. The relationship began early in the twentieth century when a graduate of KU, Kate Hansen, went to Japan as a missionary and music teacher. She founded the music program at the college. one idea behind the trip is to bring a group of students to visit the school where the founder was from," Reber said. "This is a small way for them to get to know the school." Japanese culture at the concert," Reber said. "It should give us an awareness of the musical life going on in Japan." The students must pay for the week-long trip but later may qualify for added benefits, Reber said. "There is a scholarship for them to come to KU to study at the master's level." he said. "Over the years, several students have taken advantage The students are staying at McCol- "It should give us an awareness of the musical life ... in Japan" Richard Rebei shup and have graduated from KU." The students perform traditional music, including Brahms, but also include Japanese folk songs in their repertoire. Richard Reber The audience should get an enjoyable musical experience and a bit of Richard Reber professor of music and dance staying at McColum Hall but also have spent time with host families in Lawrence. Louis Copt, Lawrence artist, has spent time in Japan and painted a picture that was presented to Lawrence's sister city of Hiratsuka, Japan. He and his wife, Phyllis, had a barbecue for several of the students. Copt said, "It gives them a chance to interact with a family and visit a real house. Since we've been to Japan, we know some of their customs, so we can make them comfortable." Chie Ito said she had come on the trip because it would be a different experience and she had wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. Haskell Indian Market, shopping and on a tour of Lawrence. Copt took the students to the "Taking the private lessons and shopping have been the most memorable experiences," she said. Ho's classmates were surprised at the size of the KU campus. Yuriko Sugita said, "it's bigger than I thought it would be." "We felt safe in coming because we were with a big group." Sugita said. The students' parents were concerned about safety in the United States because of the recent killings of two Japanese exchange students The students have had nothing to fear on the KU campus. The students here have been helpful and nice to talk to. It said. The Miyagi Women's Choir performed at Washburn University last night. They will be performing at 7:30 tonight at the Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vermont St. People and places at the University of Kansas. Chicken-fried cocaine leads man to forging Leadstory Gary. Williams, 38, pleaded guilty to forgery in Louisville, Ky., in August, involving checks totaling more than $4, 800. Williams told the judge that he needed the money to pay off a man who had just threatened his life in the group house in which he was staying. Williams said it all started when he fried some chicken gizzards using what he thought was flour; it was actually the other man's cocaine. The democratic process Hermosa Beach, Calif., City Councilman Bob Benz helped run this year's annual July Fourth "Ironman" competition, which requires contestants to run a mile, paddle a surboard a mile and then down a six-pack of beer without vomiting. Benz was co-producer of a video of the event that aired on local cable TV and featured contestants for the "most picturesque vomition" award. "Ironman" was held on a public beach, where drinking is illegal and spilled over to nearby homes, whose owners complained of contestants urinating publicly. Said Councilman Benz, "I had a great time." Generous guy Among the winners in Russia's local elections in April was billionaire Kirsan Yuzhnimzhin, elected president of the republic of Kalmyk. One of his campaign promises was simply to give the equivalent of $100 to every family in the republic. Gambling saves the day A team from the North Carolina Legislature scheduled a basketball game with a team from the South Carolina Legislature in May to help decide where to build a nuclear waste landfill. If the North Carolinians won, the landfill would be close to the border; if they lost, it would be located in the interior of the state. The South Carolinians played the game, but renounced the stakes, which they said would violate their state's anti-gambling laws. Just doesn't vote Woodruff Adams II, 36, the Republican candidate for mayor of Toledo, Ohio, in this month's combined primary, told the press in July that he had never registered to vote before this year because he needed to avoid jury duty because of the obligations of his financial consulting business. (Candidates for jury duty come from voter registration lists.) See WEIRD,Page 7