University Daily Kansan, January 26, 1983
Page 9
KU staff, faculty boost women athletes Group raises funds for women's sports
By ANDREW HARTLEY
Staff Reporter
Vernell Spearman, KU director of minority affairs, emerged from behind a table piled with pamphlets and membership forms, walked up to an unsuspecting student inside the Kansas Union Bookstore yesterday and began her sales pitch.
"Have you heard about Kansas Women's Sports Inc.?" Spearman asked the student as she subly tore a card and kicked the ticket off a pad and banded it to him.
The student shrugged his shoulders and said he hadn't.
But within minutes, Spearman had the man signing up for a raffle, buying a 50-cent button and competing for a free calendar by throwing a miniature football into a trash can 10 feet away.
HE ALSO WALKED away more aware of women's sports.
That was the purpose of the first annual Kansas Women's Sports Day — to tell students more about women's sports, raise money by selling buttons
and T shirts and gain members, the organizers said.
The sports day was sponsored by the Union bookstore, Zercher Photo and KLZR radio.
Mike Reid, assistant manager of the
Also at the bookstore were video displays of women's basketball games and track meets.
'I think there's a mystique about athletes. But once people see them and get to meet them, they become fans and follow the team more closely.'
Marian Washington, head women's basketball coach
Union bookstore and one of the event's organizers, said that when he thought of the idea of the Kansas Women's Sports Day, he saw a need to get public attention for the women's program and
thought the traffic though the store each day would help bring that exposure.
BY THE END of yesterday he said that he did not know how many supporters had signed up, but he said many people had been exposed to the group through the promotion.
"I think there's a mystique about athletes," Washington said. "But once people see them and get to meet them, they fall in love and follow the team more closely."
Marian Washington, head women's basketball coach, attended the promotion with several athletes during the noon hour. She said she thought the best result of the day was the interaction between students and athletes.
She also thought it was important for athletes competing in different sports to get together, because each team practices separately.
Carol Shankel, president and co-founder of the organization, said Kansas Women's Sports Inc. was formed four years ago because leaders in KU women's sports saw the need for a strong support group.
"WE HAD WINNING teams," Shankel said. "Lyneette Woodward was just getting started but not many people seemed to know about it. We felt we needed more publicity, more attention."
Woodard, who graduated in 1981, was an All-American basketball player.
The corporation new has more than 100 members, and Shankel said the company has made a good deal.
group was granted the benefits of the group. Shankel said, are periodic luncheons featuring guest speakers and a monthly newsletter with stories on coaches and athletes.
We are very proud of our teams accomplishments both on and off the field and would like to share them with everyone in Lawrence.
The Gentlemen of the Kansas Jayhawk Rugby Football Club would like to invite you to an open house and Chili Supper Benefit. On Sat., Jan. 29 from 12-3 p.m.the "Rugby Clubhouse" above Johnny's Tavern will be open to the public. Members of the club will be there to serve refreshments, show films, and answer any questions you might have. At 1 p.m. there will be a team meeting for all those interested in playing Rugby this Spring. At 3 p.m. there will be a Chili Feed and Contest at Johnny's Tavern to benefit the teams summer tour to New Zealand.
So come by and have a beer and a bowl of chili with us.
Cheers, Gentlemen of KURFC
THE GERMAN CLUB will sponsor an international lecture about the Erlanger Year Abroad in Germany at 4:30 p.m. in 4067 Wescow.
EPISCOPAL EUCHARIST will be at noon at Danforth Chapel.
On campus
THE PRE-PHYSICAL THERAPY club will meet at 7 p.m. in the Watkins Hospital Cafeteria.
BACCHIUS will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the conference room of the Satellite
Partially funded by the Kansas Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. A University Arts Festival presentation,
THE EGYPTIAN Students' Association will sponsor a lecture at 7 p.m. in the Forum Room of the Union.
THE GAY AND LESBIAN Services will have a support group organizational meeting at 7 p.m. in Parlor A of the Kansas Union.
UNIVERSITY FORUM will feature a lecture by Takerei Higuchi, KU chairman of pharmaceutical chemistry, on "Drug Research and Society's Sake in Drug Research" at 11:45 a.m. at the University Ministries Center, 1204 Oral Ave.
Tickets on sale in the Murphy Hall Box Office
All seats reserved/For reservations, call 913/846-3982
Public ticket prices range from $9.00 to $10.00
Special discounts for students and senior citizens
The University of Kansas Concert Series Presents
THE THEOLOGICAL Seminar will study the book "Agenda for Biblical People" at 4:30 p.m, at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries Center.
Amatute Radio" at 7 p.m. in Room 3.
Lineincardin.
KU SWOOD AND SHIELD will meet
at 7:30 p.m. in the Oread Room of the
"...Space is used unconventionally, dangerously. Nast formations tend to splatter on, clump up, dive through other formations. Dancers often look as if they're trying to invade each others' territories, even trip each other up..." The New York Times
TWYLA THARP DANCE
TODAY
KANSAS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB will show the film, "Wide World of
The program will include Brahms' Paganini, The Fugue,
Eight Jelly Rolls
8:00 p.m. Thursday, February 3, 1983
Hoch Auditorium
A DOCTORAL RECITAL by Robert McFadden, piano, will be at 8 p.m. in Swarthownd Recital Hall in Murphy Hall.
Shoes—1st Floor