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CAMPUS/AREA UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, March 10, 1994
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Center plans for expansion
By Cheryl Cadue Kansan staff writer
The Lawrence Arts Center is a popular place these days, says Ann Evans, the center's director.
"We have to turn away a lot of people," she said. We don't have enough walls or weeks in the year to support more artists."
The center, 200 W. Ninth St., receives more than 35,000 visitors a year, and its art gallery is booked for the next two years, Evans said. To handle increased growth, the center has developed an expansion plan.
"Lawrence is growing and growing rapidly," she said. "It's the solution that meets our needs now and in the future."
Included in the $4.45 million plan is a 280-seat auditorium, dance studios and preschool and performing arts classrooms, Evans said.
Evans said that because of a lack of space, many of the classes had long waiting lists. The plan will allow the center to accommodate more people, she said.
"A lot of the people understand our problems," she said. "They see paintings stacked three and four high on the wall. That is not a good way to exhibit work."
In the first of four phases, the center would acquire five houses located just west of the center, Evans said. The other phases include additions to the north and west side of the building and renovations.
Bob Johnson, president of the center's board of directors, told the Lawrence City Commission on Tuesday night that the center would look for private donations before seeking funds from the city.
The center has an operating budget of $370,000,
and the city contributes $12,250 for program activities, Evans said.
"The community would be much more excited about the project if we had private support," she said. "The taxpayers will not support this and a second high school and the parks and recreation comprehensive plan and a new fire station."
Bob Schulte, city commissioner, said that the center had a good plan and that financing was the only thing missing.
"There is a tremendous need for expansion," he said. "Since they started, the programs and people have increased 10 times."
Schulte said the plan would most benefit the youth in the community.
"The City Commission is concerned with improving programs and facilities for the youth," he said. "The arts center serves a larger percentage of youth than parks and recreation."
Matt Hood / KANSAN
Staying at home-by choice
Amy Solt / KAMSAN
Candi Baker, dance director, is interviewed at the Lawrence Arts Center.
Some women happy being full-time moms
By Susan White Kansan staff writer
Although more women in the '90s have entered the work force, some women feel their best work is at home.
Angel Kwolek-Folland, assistant professor of history, said women still were having children at the same rate as in past decades despite being on career tracks. So many women, when faced with continuing in their careers or raising their children at home, choose the latter.
"Most women work outside the home, but a lot of women stay home still and see raising a family as a fulfilling thing to do," she said.
Linda Lungstrum of Lawrence
Women's History Month
said that before her first child had been born, she had been the typical
"I was a physical therapist, and I worked a lot," she said. "When I had my first child I decided to stay home."
Lungstrum said she did not regret her decision.
"I first decided to stay at home until all my children were out of preschool, but here I am 10 years and three children later," she said. "I have enjoyed the flexibility I have to participate in my kids' activities."
Marsha Buhler, Lawrence resident and president of the Hilldrest Elementary School Parent Teacher Association, said she also had decided to stay at home with her children after she had spent some time in the work force.
"I have three children," she said. "I worked full time before my first child was born. I continued to work part time until my third child was born. I just realized it was better for my husband and I that I stay home."
Buhler said that she had not regretted her decision, either.
Martin said she admired women who stayed with their children.
"I am lucky that I can do it," she said. "I feel like I'm contributing more to my children's lives and in their school activities. There is less money, but there will be plenty of time to go back to work if I want to."
"I only left the work force for two months maternity leave for both my children," said Sara Martin, assistant dean for research, graduate studies and public services. "The decision to work while my children were still infants was because of economical reasons."
Some mothers would stay home if their husbands earned enough money to support the family.
a career her brain would rot and she would not be sufficiently challenged," she said. "But my friends who stay at home say it is a lot of work."
There used to be a myth in the '60s and '70s that if a woman didn't have
Carrie Griffin, a Lawrence resident who stays at home, said she thought that taking care of her children was no less difficult than going to an office every day.
"With no other adults around all day it is sometimes difficult," she said. "There is nobody to talk to at times and there is no intellectual stimulation."
Lungstrum said she and other women should not be stigmatized for wanting to spend time with their children.
"People feel women should be out there doing something," she said. "There is a lack of respect for women who make the decision to stay home. I just think everyone should respect the decisions other people make. I feel what I am doing is valuable. The pluses more than outweigh the minuses."
African-American empowerment limited by media
By Jennifer Freund Kansan staff writer
The inability of African Americans to define themselves in the media is the main obstacle to African-American empowerment, panelists said last night.
"Impediments to Black Empowering: Past and Present" took place at 7 p.m. in Snow Hall.
Arthur Drayton, professor of African and African-American studies, said that one obstacle to African-American unity was that African Americans continued to see themselves in terms of white definitions.
"Blacks do not control discourse," he said. "We adopt the discourse of the racist, which takes away from the essential issue."
One example of the inability to control discourse was shown through the term "Black-on-Black violence," Drayton said.
The term was used originally to describe violence in South Africa, Drayton said, but was later used to refer to African-American violence against other African Americans.
He questioned what was implied by the term Black-on-Black violence.
"Does Black-on-Black crime mean that Blacks should go out and kill whites instead?" he said.
The panel also focused on obstacles to African-American unity and education.
Sherwood Thompson, director of the Office of Minority Affairs, expanded on the topic of defining discourse to include isolating African-
American youth from pop-culture.
Thompson said that African Americans should stay busy. He used the words of conservative politician Pat Buchanan to encourage African Americans to better themselves and their communities.
"Pat Buchanan had a point when he said that since Blacks are unemployed, it seems they should have the most beautiful neighborhoods," he said.
Thompson said that although Buchanan was a racist, his statement held some truth.
African Americans should take this philosophy further, Thompson said.
"African Americans need to have a second job or personal progress," he said. "We need to burn the candle at both ends because we're in darkness. We need to light it at both ends and get really busy."
Octavio Hinojosa, a Hutchinson senior who attended the discussion, said he empathized with the panel's concerns. He said that Hispanics faced some of the same impediments from the media and the government.
"Labels by the media add to stereotypes and build walls." Hinojosa said. "We have a responsibility to be more in tune with how others are interpreted."
Other panel members included Flecia Thomas, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs at Washburn University in Topeka, Maurice Bryan, assistant executive vice chancellor and director of the Office of Affirmative Action; and Cliff Wiley, attorney at Legal Services for Students.
CAMPUS BRIEF
Dance to raise money for funeral
Kansanstaffreport
The resident assistants of McColum Hall are sponsoring a benefit dance at 9 tonight to raise money for the Anthony Thomas Memorial Fund.
Following his death, Thomas' family set up the fund through the Brotherhood Bank and Trust in Kansas City, Kan., to help pay for funeral expenses, which the family can not afford.
Thomas, Kansas City, Kan., Junior, died Feb. 18 after contracting meningitis.
the dance will be in second floor of the McCollum Hall lobby.
McColum resident assistants are asking for a $2 donation at the door.