CAMPUS/AREA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, April 26, 1993
3
Rachel G. Thompson KANSAN
World-renowned photographer Gordon Parks shares his life experiences in the Lawrence High School Auditorium. The Hall Center for the Humanities was the host of the Frances and Floyd Horowitz Lecture Saturday night.
Gordon Parks talks about life in Kansas inspiration for works
Artist speaks at LHS
By Terrilyn McCormick
Kansan staff writer
At Lawrence High School Saturday night, there could have been no better source to convey the message of unlimited human capability than Gordon Parks, photographer, poet, composer, screenwriter and novelist.
Frances and Flovd Horowitz Lecture series.
“There is no end to what the average person can do if they try.” Parks said to a full auditorium at Lawrence High School. “The difference between me and other people is that I am stupid enough to think that I can do anything.”
The program, entitled "Creativity," was a multimedia presentation including slides of his work accompanied by three of his musical compositions. Parks' program was the first in the Hall Center for the Humanities'
"I feel more creative at 80 than I have all my life," he said. "It is such a wonderful feeling to leap out of bed and know I can work on a sonata or write a poem or create a screenplay."
Parks was born in Fort Scott and lived there until he was 14 years old, when his mother's death separated his family of 14 brothers and sisters. Parks said his experience of growing up African American in Kansas was not a pleasant one.
"Kansas gave me a lot," he said. "I gave it a awful lot of misery, but also some success."
His childhood in Fort Scott was the subject of his first novel and film, "The Learning Tree."
William Andrews, professor of English who introduced Parks at the program, said that Parks' novel was an important lesson for Kansans.
"To explore his frank but always just experience of growing up in Kansas is educating," he said. "It is necessary but also very painful."
Parks said he used his anger from discrimination positively. His book "A Choice of Weapons" explains how he chose the camera to gain civil rights instead of a gun or knife.
"I instead of letting the anger well up in me against humanity, I decided to store it up and use it in my art," he said.
He related this to a story he did in the 1960s for Life on the Black Panthers. He was riding in a car with three Black Panthers being chased by the police. One of the Panthers asked him if he would choose a gun instead of a camera with police chasing him.
Parks again said he would choose the camera because if his story got out, it would do more good than the Panther's guns.
"He died three weeks later in a police ambush in L.A., and my story got out," Parks said. "I still think I was right."
Parks, who never graduated from high school, is the recipient of 25 honorary doctorate degrees. Saturday night, he received an honorary diploma from Lawrence High School given to him by his nephew, Charles Parks, assistant principal of Lawrence High
Allen may get safety update
$1.9 million recommended for field house improvements
By Ben Grove Kansan staff writer
The Senate could follow the House's lead today and include in a comprehensive appropriations bill money for Allen Field House improvements.
A 1991 state fire marshal's report revealed that the field house's upper tier seated more people than could safely exit the building in an emergency.
State lawmakers in each of the Legislature's two appropriation committees last week worked on the omnibus bill in preparation for the wrap-up session, which begins Wednesday. The committees each are considering parts of the bill.
The House of Representatives included the $1.9 million recommendation for field house improvements in the bill. The Senate Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to continue its consideration of the bill today.
The money would be spent on three stair towers and a walkway connecting the field house and the parking garage.
At the beginning of the legislative session in January, Gov. Joan Finney recommended the state contribute $1.165 million for fire safety improvements in two years. She also recommended the KU Athletic Corporation contribute $735,000 during that time period.
State Rep. Betty Jo Charlton, D-Lawrence, member of the House Appropriations Committee, said the House recognized an immediate need for the improvements.
"It's dangerous and it's a state building." Charlton said. "That makes the state liable."
Charlton said some legislators had suggested that the Athletic Corporation, a private KU entity, pay for the improvements itself.
"So we just had to say it's a state building, it's the state's responsibility," she said.
State Sen. Sandy Praeger, R.Lawrence, said she was pleasantly surprised the House had included the improvement request, and said she hoped the Senate was equally receptive.
State Sen. Gus Bogina, R-Shawnee, head of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said he would make no predictions about what the Senate would do.
"We did not include it in the regular session," he added.
When the session resumes Wednesday, one of the Legislature's main tasks will be to decide what cuts can be made so that the state's budget balances. Veteran senator Bogina said he was not surprised the House had included more expenditures for the field house improvements in the omnibus bill.
"Nothing surprises me anymore," he said.
Daron J. Bennett / KANSAN
The title for the Battle of the Bands is on the line, so Steph Weaver, Lawrence senior, gives the vocals all she's got. Weaver sang with the Lawrence punk band Way Back Machine on the front lawn of McColluim Hall Saturday.
Battle of the Bands
Finals panic sets in; tutors busy at work
By Kathleen Stolle
Kansan staffwriter
A Math 101 requirement and a summer course are all that stand between Greg Evans, Olathe senior, and graduation. And he's counting on math tutors to pull him through his feel.
"They help, when there's enough of them," he says.
As the number of days before finals counts down, the number of students tapping into KU's supply of tutors is increasing, according to tutors and some tutor services. But they also agree that whether a tutor can benefit a student at this stage in the game depends on the student's situation.
"There tends to be a rise around midterms and again at finals," said Marshall Jackson, administrative associate at the Student Assistance Center. The center provides a tutor listing service available to all KU students.
Jackson said that some problems, such as poor attendance, were not easily remedied by tutors. He suggested students analyze their problems and confer with their professors or advisers before looking for tutors.
John Koshy, a Singapore senior who tutors math through Supportive Educational Services, said that his students recently had begun increasing the number of sessions scheduled with him. He said that late in the semester, a tutor could help improve the overall grade if the student had a good understanding of the subject.
"If they're in the D range, I think it's unlikely we can do anything," Kosyah said. "I think if they're in the C range and they still have a final or a test to go, they might still have a chance."
SES,Located in the Military Science Annex, is one of the most comprehensive tutor resources on campus, employing 40 student tutors and serving an average of 200 students a semester. Students must demonstrate a financial need and meet other requirements to qualify for the free tutor service.
London Bonds, academic coordinator at SES, questioned the ability of tutors to salvage a failing grade late in the semester, but said that they could help some students raise test scores.
"We would encourage anyone to come over," she said. "Our doors are always open."
Bonds said she had not noticed an increase in recent weeks.
At the Student Assistance Center, 123 Strong, students are responsible for verifying their chosen tutors' credentials.
"We tell them to ask about teaching experience,ask about tutoring experience,the grades they've made,and the classes they've had in the certain area." Jackson said.
Math, chemistry, Spanish, French and English tutors are listed at SAC. Hourly charges range from about $5 to $20. Both KU students and independent tutors are listed, Jackson said.
Another listing service is available at Naismith Hall. Independent tutors also post their services in the appropriate schools. For special student populations, such as engineering students, minority students, international students and student athletes, tailored tutor services are available through their coordinating department or center.
Latin American Solidarity
Paul Doughty
Advertisement funded by Student Senate
"The Effect of the Drug Economy in the Andes on the Indigenous Populations"
Professor of Anthropology, University of Florida
Monday, April 26
100 Smith Hall (across from the Kansas Union)
8 p.m.