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SPORTS: Kansas' football future looks bright with a promising recruiting class. Page 9.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
KANSAS STATE
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TOPEKA KS 66612
VOL.103,NO.83
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1994
ADVERTISING: 864-4358
Debate squad in line for title
(USPS 650-640)
NEWS:864-4810
By Stephen Martino Kansan staff writer
It is Kansas' only competitive team that runs at 100 mph. At the mouth, that is.
The KU debate squad is one of the nation's most successful, winning four national championships in the past 40 years, second only to Dartmouth College. In the past 30 years, more than 900 students have passed through the debate program.
Yet, in many ways, the debate squad is something of an enigma to the University community.
"At the institutional level, I'm sure that there is support for debate," said Scott Harris, debate coach and assistant professor of communication studies. "At times, we might be so focused on competition that we lose sight of self-promotion."
But there is plenty to promote about KU debate, including its position as the fourth-ranked team in the nation and its first legitimate shot to win the national championship in the past few years. The championship will be March 17 in Louisville, Ky.
Josh Zive, Reno, Nev., senior, and Ryan Boyd,
Lee's Summit, Mo., Junior, have competed against top-ranked teams in debate this year, and the results have been encouraging.
"We probably have the best winning percentage against teams in the top 10 of any team in the top 10," Zive said. "We have as good of odds as anyone to win the national championship."
It will be another feather in the cap of one of America's most elite debate squads if Zive and Boyd win this year's championship, Harris said.
"The history of KU debate is tremendously strong," he said. "When you consider that we go up against squads like Harvard, Dartmouth, Northwestern, Texas and Michigan, the competition is intense."
The modern history of Kansas debate goes back to 1924, said Donn Parson, professor of communication studies and KU debate coach from 1964 to 1988. In 1946, KU joined the circuit of the National Debate Tournament, winning the championship in 1954, 1970, 1976 and 1983.
If anything holds KU debate back, it is money, Harris said.
"Many schools we compete against don't have the same problems with scholarships that we do," he said.
K-State has won two national championships in the past four years in a different tournament than KU teams. The championships have resulted in signs posted on the interstate proclaiming K-State's prowess.
He said that if students were talented, schools such as Harvard University and Dartmouth would find money.
Despite the limits on scholarships, the University attracts some high-quality debaters. Zive said.
Yet, for all the hard work and sleepless nights of cross-country travel to reach tournaments, nothing chafes the KU debate squad more than the publicity generated by the success of the Kansas State University squad.
"K-State gets a tremendous amount of publicity for its success at a lower level," Harris said. "Their championships are comparable to winning the NAIA tournament. Any tournament win is great, but we compete against the tough teams."
One man's desire to maintain arts in the community led to the expansion and development of KU's department of theatre and film.
Studio aids film department
Oldfather Studios, 1621 W. Ninth St., has been a part of the department for two and a half years. The building was bought by the University after Charley Oldfather, Lawrence resident, donated the money, saidJoe Anderson, professor of theatre and film.
By noberta Johnson
Kansan staff writer
Darrin Lile, Lawrence graduate student, said the acquisition of Oldfather Studios had dramatically changed the production possibilities for theatre and film students. He said that before, there had only been sound equipment.
Oldfather Studios has recording studios, editing rooms and a sound stage.
Students also create short movies for class projects, Anderson said. A few films, such as "Eyes Upon Us" by Lile, have won awards at the local Kan Film Festival.
Anderson said that the facilities were open to use and that appointments could be made by calling 749-1130.
One student said the department's development was the reason he had come to Lawrence.
"Before there was hardly any film program at all," said Phillip Brown, Tulsa, Okla., sophomore. "Oldfather Studios is the reason I came back to school."
Enrollment drops at professional schools
By Jamie Munn Kansan staff writer
Although total KU enrollment for the spring semester dropped only 1 percent from the 1993 spring semester, few schools survived the transition without losing students.
Total enrollment for the University drop, ped to 26,079 students, a loss of 274 from last year, according to KU reports.
The School of Medicine gained 35 students, the largest gain of any school.
Rise and Fall
Rise and Fall Some schools experienced increases in enrollment though others had considerable losses.
However, the School of Journalism led the schools in losses with a decrease of 143 students, followed by the Schools of Architecture and Urban Design, Business and Social Welfare.
Dana Leibengood, placement director for journalism, said that he wasn't surprised that the school had lost students but that he was surprised by the number.
■ Applied English Center + 9.433 %
■ Special University + 19.750 %
■ Architecture & Urban Design - 8.259 %
■ Journalism - 18.77 %
"It's more than we expected," he said.
Another reason for the drop in enrollment, she said, is that social welfare has an admissions and enrollment-management program that can restrict admittance.
Max Lucas, dean of architecture and urban design, said that the losses
Source: Department of Educational Services
Leibengood said advertising and business communications specifically had experienced losses.
Black said she thought the question of finances that affected social welfare had influenced total campus enrollment.
"We're all suffering under the constraints that the budget dictates," she said.
"We're taking additional steps to brace ourselves for that," Kautsch said.
Mike Kautsch, dean of journalism, said, "We did take steps to control the enrollment in the early 1990s."
Kautsch said the school had experienced an ebb two years ago in pre-enrollment interest from high-school graduates. But this summer the interest was un again, he said.
Edith Black, assistant dean of social welfare, said she also had expected the decline but for slightly different reasons, including a lack of money.
had been expected because undergraduates would be allowed to enroll in a new professional master's degree program in architecture this fall.
Downsizing enrollment is just part of a 10-year transition plan for the new program, he said.
Joe Bauman, dean of business, said that although the University was experiencing a decrease in undergraduate enrollment, graduate enrollment had slightly increased.
"We just have so much space available for the professional program," Lucas said.
"It's a trough in terms of interest experienced nationwide," Bauman said.
Bauman said that freshmen and sophomore interest in pre-business courses had increased but that enrollment was at the bottom of a two-year valley.
Marginal increases at the Applied English Center, however, didn't reflect the total number of students in the program, said Elizabeth Soppelsa, director of the center.
Bauman said enrollment in business courses at the Regents Center had grown because employed people saw the courses as career enhancers.
She said that more than 200 students who were enrolled in other degree programs also took courses at the center.
A line forms in front of the Enrollment Center and stretches past the rotunda in Strong Hall while students wait for an evening add/drop session. Many students waited in line for more than an hour before entering the center. Add/drop will continue until Tuesday.
On their toes
The University Dance Company auditioned dancers for its Lied Center performances.
Page 3.
Mentor program smooths transitions
By Denise Nell Kansan staff writer
When Topeka freshman Christina Carey's grandmother had a stroke during final week this fall, Carey had no time to get money together for a trip to Arkansas to see her.
Not knowing where to turn. Carey called her mentor — Sandra Olivas, Kansas City, Kan., junior.
The two were introduced in the Students Together Excelling as Peers, or STEP, program through the Office of Minority Affairs. The program is designed to connect minority freshmen with minority upperclassmen, who help them adjust to University life.
Olivas said she had taken Carey to the office, where they had been able to arrange an emergency grant to obtain the money to send Carey to
Arkansas.
"Itook the bus home and was able to see my grandmother," Carey said. "And she's doing much better."
Enrique Torres, assistant director of minority affairs, said the program had existed for about five years. Six mentors, who are upperclassmen in good academic standing, serve as mentors to about 25 freshmen and transfer students.
"What we're trying to do is make them feel comfortable, make them feel welcome at the University and try to alleviate homesickness and personal pressures," Torres said. "The number of minority students not going to college is very high, and the number dropping out is even higher."
Torres said the mentors were not only academic tutors to the new students. Besides studying together, the students go to movies or get together
Olivas said the program was helpful for students who had not been exposed to life on a college campus.
and talk, he said. The program also sponsors cultural events and provides information about subjects such as financial aid.
Olivas said she helped motivate Carey to study. The two often go to the library together, or Carey meets her at the Chi Omega sorority house, where Olivas is a member, for dinner and studying.
The program may even keep minor-
students in college, Torres said.
"A lot of students come up here, and they're first generation KU students," Olivas said. "Their parents can't help them."
Valerie Bontrager / KANSAN
Christina Carey, Topeka freshman, studies with her mentor, Sandra Olivas, Kansas City, Kan., junior, at the Chi Omega sorority house, 1345 West Campus Road. They are participants in the Students Together Excelling as Peers program, which connects minority freshmen and transfer students with minority upperclassmen to help them adjust to University life.