Campus/Area
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Sociology teacher fills professorship
By Angela Baughman
Kenyan staff writer
Kansan staff writer
One of eight prestigious Chancellors Club teaching professorships has been awarded to Robert Antonio, professor of sociology.
The professorship is awarded on the basis of outstanding teaching ability, use of thorough and innovative teaching materials and recognition of excellence by his students and colleagues.
Antonio, who is on sabbatical at the University of Texas at Austin, will receive a $ 8,000 stipend every year for the rest of his teaching career at the University of Kansas. The professorships are funded by unrestricted contributions from the university, which is the Kansas University Endowment Association's program for primary donors.
The professorship became available when James Seaver, professor of history, retired in May. Antonio said he greatly appreciated the professorship.
"I'm very honored," he said. "I know there are many other ex-situers who have been filtered to be among a group of people I've considered models."
Norman Yetman, who was chairman of the sociology department last year, nominated Antonio.
"Bob has consistently been recognized as an outstanding and committed teacher, both by his colleagues throughout the University and by students at all levels,"
"Ⅱ
I'm very honored.I know there are many other excellent teachers at KU. I'm very flattered to be among a group of people I've considered models.'
— Robert Antonio professor of sociology
Yetman said in his nominating letter.
Antonio came to KU as an assistant professor in 1971. He received the Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence in 1979 and Mortar Board's Outstanding Educator Award and the Chancellors Club Career Teaching Award in 1988.
Antonio earned his bachelor's degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and received his master's and doctorate from the University of Notre Dame in 1970 and 1972.
the seven other Chancellors Club professors are: N. Ray Hilner, professor of history and educational policy and administration; Robert Hudson, chairman of the department of history and philosophy of medicine; John Kepes, professor of pathology; Norman Martin, professor of diagnostic radiology; Elizabeth Schultz, professor of English; Lawrence Sherr, professor of business; and Fred Van Vleck, professor of mathematics.
Robert J. Antonio will receive a yearly stipend of $5,000 while he remains at the University.
Pell Grant drug-pledge enforcement a tall order
By Holly Lawton
Kansan staff writer
Although the mandatory signing of a drug-free pledge by Pell Grant recipients was established with good intentions, it is almost impossible to enforce, KU officials said.
By Holly Lawton
Under the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, anyone receiving a federal grant must sign an oath stating they will not "engage in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation or use of any controlled substance" while receiving aid. This law affects the Department of Education's Pell Grant program, which provides up to $2,300 for eligible college students.
Jerry Rogers, KU director of financial aid, said he was not sure the pledge was worthwhile.
"The intent is OK, but it can't really be enforced by the school," he said. "If we have knowledge of a student's conviction on a drug offense, who is a Pell Grant recipient, then it must be reported to the Inspector General's office. That is KU's obligation.
"But we do not want to be a police force."
Gwen Bohling, assistant director of Pell Grants for KU Student Financial Aid, said she hoped the drug pledge as a statement to college students.
"It might increase public awareness of the issue," she said. "And I know there are students who take it seriously.
"But this has been a question for schools all over the country. There's no way we can go creeping around in the night watching students."
A student who applies for the Peli Grant and does not sign the drug pledge will not receive federal assistance, Rogers said. He said there had been many students who had been the Peli Grant and had left the pledge unsigned.
"In that case, we've had to send them back for signatures," Rogers said. "But it's normal for people to sometimes forget to sign things. That doesn't necessarily mean anything."
Students who are caught breaking the pledge must repay the money, Bohling said. They also can be prosecuted for fraud for making false statements to obtain federal aid. This carries a potential $10,000 fine and jail sentence, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Despite the questionable worth of the pledge, Rogers said so far there had been no opportunity for KU to enforce it. No Pell Grant recipients at KU have been convicted on drug charges.
"It hasn't caused us any extra work yet," he said.
was one of more than 2,800 KU students who received a Pell Grant this year. He said he thought the drug pledge was worthwhile only to a degree.
Jeff Petterson, Topeka sophomore,
"I had to sign so many places, it was just one more thing for me to sign," he said.
Petterson said the drug pledge was meaningless to him.
Freshman hit by car on campus
By Paula Parrish and Andres Caveller Kansen staff writers
A KU student was slightly injured last night after being struck by a car in front of Wescoe Hall.
Robert Rothman, St. Louis sophomore, said that he had stopped on the south side of the street to drop off Buekert, who was going to attend a class at Strong Hall.
KU police said that Jennifer Bueckert, freshman, was hit at 7:28 p.m. as she was crossing Jayhawk Boulevard from Wescrose Hall to Strong Hall.
KU police closed off Jayhawk Boulevard from Snow Hall to the intersection of Sunflower Road for about 15 minutes so that ambulances could reach Buekert.
KU police closed off Jayhawk Boulevard from Snow Hall to the intersection of Sunflower Road for about 15 minutes so that ambulances could reach Buekert.
Buekert was transferred to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, where she was treated and released at 9:30 p.m.
Jeff Black, nursing supervisor at Lawrence Memorial, said that Buekert suffered some minor contusions.
Avery estimated that the car that struck Buekert was traveling 5 mph, although one witness said that the car was traveling 25 miles mph.
Both the driver and the passenger of the car that hit Buekert refused to comment.
"She started crying, but she appeared to be OK," Griffs said.
Meggan Griffs, Olathe freshman, was standing in front of Wescoe when the accident occurred.
Kelly Salber, Lawrence freshman, said she did not think the car hit Buekert that hard.
"It sort of sent her flying a little bit, but he wasn't going that fast," she said.
Minority affairs directors plan to reach out
Bv Jennifer Metz
Kansan staff writer
Recruitment and retention of minority students are goals of both the new associate director and assistant director of the KU Office of Minority Affairs.
"The number of minority students has decreased. We're severely concerned," said Norma Norman, who began work this week as associate director of the office.
Norman, a 1989 graduate of the KU School of Law, previously worked at the office as a graduate assistant.
"Recruitment and retention have to be a two-pronged attack," Norman said. "We need to have minority students recruited but also have completion of their degrees."
Changes in the outreach program
will be considered over the next few weeks, she said. The outreach program focuses on the Kansas City area because KU draws such a large number of minority students from that area.
"It is a perfect time to look at redesigning the program," Norman said. "It's always exciting to be able to design a program and tailor it to the institution."
The outreach program will be a hands-on identification program for students in junior high and high schools, she said. As it is being drafted now, three components will comprise the program.
The first component will be a community outreach component, which will reach counselors, parents, students and school administrators, Norman said.
"The outreach program will identify students early and follow them through all components of the program." she said.
The program will be a mechanism for getting students on campus through a series of visitations, which is the second component of the program, she said.
Four to five weeks will be devoted to a summer enrichment program, which will be the third component of the program and will enhance academic skills for students, Norman said.
"We are targeting seventh, eighth and ninth grade students, because studies are telling us it's too late in sixth and eleventh grade," she said.
Thomas Herrera, who began work this week as the new assistant direc
tor of the office, said it would be a challenge to retain minority students once they arrive at KU.
"The graduation rate in high schools is increasing for minorities, but it is our job to make sure they continue on in higher education," Herrera said.
Herrera recently received his master's degree from Kansas State University in community and economic development. He also worked as an education specialist at the Guadalupe Center, Inc. in Kansas City, Mo.
One step in the retention of minority students is a peer-counseling program, Herrera said. New students at the University will be matched with older students to help provide academic and emotional support for the student.
Thomas Herrera and Norma Norman discuss minority recruitment possibilities.
phere on campus where everyone feels at home," he said.
A mentor program will provide a further step for retaining minority students, Herrera said. The mentors will serve as role models for the students and work hand-in-hand with the peer-counseling program.
Norman said that she reminded herself about what it was like to be a
student because it was difficult to operate in a world of academics, as well as socially and personally.
Students must be able to operate in all of those worlds to complete a degree. Norman said.
The offices of associate director and assistant director have been vacant for the past year, Norman said.
NOTICE
The Associated Students of Kansas is looking for students interested in lobbying for
Higher Education
A brief informational meeting will be held in the Big Eight Room of the Kansas Union.
Tuesday October 17th at 6:30 p.m.
Everyone is welcome to attend!
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