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CAMPUS/AREA
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, February 3, 1994
Taize worship offers service without a sermon
Many faiths congregate at chapel ceremonies
By David Wilson
Special to the Kansan
A cluster of candles flickered in the slightly darkened Danforth Chapel. The worshippers sat cross-legged on the floor while the musicians reviewed their sheet music.
But one thing was noticeably absent from what appeared to be the beginning of a traditional worship service — the minister.
Participants in the Christian worship ceremony Taize, pronounced "TUH-ay," say the absence of a minister is part of the point. They want to break down the barriers between different Christian denominations and focus on worshiping Jesus Christ, said Leah Peck, Prairie Village senior.
Breaking down those barriers included making sure that Taize services are open to everyone, Peck said.
"We wanted to focus on the ecumenicalism of it." she said.
A Taize service alternates between music and silent meditation. The worshippers read prayers, but there is no central sermon.
Peck said that while traditional worship services tended to bolster the beliefs of a specific denomination, Taize was intended to introduce Christian spirituality to anyone interested.
Taize also attracts students who are unsure of what they believe, said Peck.
"There's no theological doctrine," she said. "It really does attract people from all different backgrounds."
Thol Holcombe, a campus pastor for Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Acre Ave., agreed
"We've got a Lutheran on the organ, two Catholics on guitar, two Presbyterians on strings and an Episcopian on flute." he said.
Holcombe said that meditative traditions such as Taize always had been in the Christian church but that many worship services did not reflect them.
Taize takes its name from a monastic community headquartered in a town outside of Paris called Taise. Peck said.
"It picks up on traditions common to some
strands of Christianity and centers them," he said. "it's contrary to what we're used to doing."
The movement began shortly after World War II and eventually spread throughout Europe, Africa and North America.
"I'd been interested in coming for a while," she said. "It's very relaxing, very peaceful."
Rosalind Mitchell of Baldwin said Taize was not a religion but a style of worship.
Valerie Garver, Omaha, Neb., senior, said she first had heard of Talze while studying in the Netherlands.
Brian Trigg, Lea's Summit junior, said Taize was the closest hegot to going to church.
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"It's a peaceful time," he said. "I enjoy hearing the cantor."
The Taize worshippers at the University have been meeting regularly since the middle of November. The services are 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays in Damforth Chapel.
People of various Christian faiths observe a moment of silence at Danforth Chapel. The services, called Taize, are at 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays.
James Wilcox / KANSAN
Kids in the hall
Two hundred students from Noble Prentis Elementary School in Kansas City, Kan., break for lunch in the tunnel connecting Memorial Stadium's parking lot and the Kansas Union. The children visited the Museum of Natural History yesterday.
Conference to explore Asian-American culture
By Denise Nell Kansan staff writer
Asian-American high-school students will learn to explore their identities and fight stereotypes tomorrow at the first leadership conference for Asian Americans at the University.
"There have been leadership conferences for other minorities on campus, but there has never been one for Asian Americans," said Arthur Chiu, Joplin, Mo., senior and president of the Asian American Student Union. "In the Midwest, where there's not as many Asian Americans as in the West, there may be a sense of a loss of identity."
About 200 students from high schools across Kansas and Missouri will participate in a day of events at the Kansas Union, which will include speeches and group discussions. The theme of the conference, "Breaking the Silence," was chosen to represent the continuing struggles of Asian Americans against negative stereotypes, Chiu said.
"We just want them to be able to be proud of their heritage, but at the same time, they shouldn't feel constrained as individuals to stereotypes." Chin said.
Chiu said two types of stereotypes existed about Asian Americans. The old stereotype is what people see in movies — characters that are either sinister or completely naive, Chiu said.
But a new stereotype in which Asian Americans are portrayed as "model minorities" is emerging, Chiu said.
"The model-minority stereotype basically says that Asian Americans are better off than other minorities," he said. "It's simply not true."
Teresa Hu, Gladstone, Mo., senior and external vice president of the group, agreed that the model-minority stereotype was an obstacle for Asian Americans.
"It negates all the needs we have," she said. "If we are the model minority, we don't have any needs."
Students who attend the conference will focus on three topics: developing leadership skills, preparing for college and professional careers and exploding stereotypes and labels through individualism and learning Asian-American culture.
The day's events will include a tour of campus. During the tour, students will receive information from various schools and departments.
Chiu said the conference would be an opportunity to interest high-school students in choosing the University.
"Not only do we want to enlighten them on a personal level, but we also want to show them a quality atmosphere for a quality education," he said.
Alliance leader promotes awareness of diversity
Lisa Blair, coordinator
Lisa B. coordinator of the Lawrence Alliance, an anti-racism group, works to educate the city and the University about racism and diversity.
Bv Susan White
By Susan White Kansan staff writer
After moving from Los Angeles, Lisa Blair found herself in Lawrence without a job—but with a goal in mind.
"I found myself in need of employment, wanted to make a change and had always been interested in civil and human rights," said Blair, coordinator of the Lawrence Alliance, an antiracism group in the city.
Blair moved from Southern California to Lawrence four years ago with her family hoping to get a job at the University of Kansas, but no positions were available.
"I found myself in a part-time position with Downtown Lawrence Inc., becoming something of an advocate for the downtown community, which was in one respect my indoctrination into life in Lawrence," Blair said. "I'd also probably call it my inauguration into the world of civil rights and human rights and community rights."
Blair said that shortly after she came to Lawrence, she and another woman
formed an organization for African-American women.
"The name of it was ISIS, meaning Integral Sisters in Society," she said. "It was an opportunity for us to just bring a diverse population of women of color together to talk about issues and concerns."
The longer she worked for Downtown Lawrence, Blair said, the more opportunities she had to sit on diversity advisory boards and to join a few civic organizations.
"I think that all of those things combined led me to where I am now," she said. "There's a sincere dedication to not only verbalize that changes need to be made, but to act in a way in which those changes can be made."
Blair said that she did not think that
changes in attitudes toward diversity should end with Lawrence and the alliance. However, she said, it was a good place to start.
"I think that the entire nation needs this kind of service badly," she said. "But what I've found, and I'm optimistic because of it, is that people are willing to speak up about discrimination and discrepancies that they used to hide under the carpet."
The alliance's primary goal was to make the public more knowledgeable about diversity and to help eliminate racism and discrimination, Blair said.
"Our attention this year is to become more involved in providing educational information about situations that could be eased with public communication," she said.
Blair said she worked with the KU Coalition Against Racism and Discrimination and KU police in addition to the alliance and Downtown Lawrence.
Sherwood Thompson, director of the Office of Minority Affairs, said that Blair worked with the office to create a
better understanding about racial issues on campus and in Lawrence. Her optimism about their work makes the program positive, he said.
"She is truly an individual who makes a difference," Thompson said. "She believes that if we all roll up our sleeves and work together, we can make a change."
Richard Orr, professional development specialist for human resources at the University, said he and Blair were in charge of the Diversity Network, a program for multiculturalism awareness in the community.
"She is an excellent trainer and motivator for diversity," he said. "She is willing to enable others to do the work rather than doing it all herself. I think that is the thing that makes a strong administrator."
Most of Blair's free time, which is not much, is spent with her family.
"They haven't seen me many nights in the last three weeks," she said. "They're not too sure who I am when I to the house right now!"
Amy Solt / KANSAN
Lisa Blair, coordinator of Lawrence Alliance, works with the KU Coalition Against Racism and Discrimination and other organizations to combat racism.