THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, OECEMBER 3, 2013
BUSINESS
PAGE 3
Grad student's company sells school-themed shoes
PAIGE STINGLEY
pstingley@kansan.com
You wouldn't expect your typical graduate student in geography to own a shoe line. But then again, Austen Thelen isn't your typical graduate student. Thelen and his cousins started their own shoe company, The Chant, two years ago in 2011. They make high-quality boat shoes, similar to those made by Sperry's. But what sets their products apart are the collegiate logos on the shoes, which are styled to match the school's colors.
Dawson Stellberger, Thelen's cousin and The Chant's director of business development, originally had the idea when he was down in the Dominican Republic working on another shoe line for Urban Outfitters.
"I went to the University of Michigan, and while we were down there I saw a boat shoe that had a yellow sole, almost the exact same yellow as Michigan's colors," Stellberger said. "That's when I thought it would be a cool idea to have a University of Michigan shoe, and that's where the idea started."
Austen's cousins have been in the shoe business for almost seven years. One of them also works full time as a shoe designer for Marc Jacobs.
The factory where the shoes are
Working toward a doctorate degree and running a company may seem like a lot of work, but Thelen's wife, Anna, is heavily involved in the most time-intensive tasks. Thelen says proper time management has also been key to his success.
As the director of accounts and operations, Thelen's main roles include keeping track of the inventory and trying to find wholesale accounts and other outlets to sell the shoes.
Thelen said. "A lot of people just don't realize how much time they actually have in a day."
BROOK BARNES/KANSAN
"Austen is really connected with the college marketplace," Stellberger said. He's good at talking to schools and students and finding out what kind of products they want."
"You'd be amazed at how productive you can really be if you manage your time well."
Thelen's job also includes promoting the shoes for charitable contests, as well as sponsoring events to get the brand name publicity. The Chant recently sponsored a geography quiz bowl put on by the KU Geography department. The company also participates in clothing drives by donating a few pairs of shoes.
Graduate student Austin Thelen, co-founder of The Chant shoe company, makes high-quality boat shoes that are styled to match the school's colors.
make me a better professor."
made is located in the Dominican Republic, just west of the Haitian border. The Dominican Republic has a long-standing reputation for making high-quality shoes, especially boat shoes. It is also known for being very socially conscious of its workers. "We really like the Dominican Republic because they give their workers the best stake in the factories. They don't exploit their workers. That was a big issue for me," said Thelen.
Helen earned his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in geography and Slavic languages. After he graduated, he spent a year working in Russia as a consultant in language acquisition. His main job was to be a translator and an interpreter for various Russian companies. He met his wife in Russia, and shortly afterward came back to the United States. He earned his master's degree from the University of Kansas and is currently working towards his doctorate degree in geography.
to make shoes for 20 schools, and is working to expand to others. It has licenses for a majority of the SEC, Pac-12 and Big 12 schools. They are also working on three prototypes for new shoes in the future: a line of sandals, another style of boat shoes and a line of retro sneakers, all with the collegiate logos. "Our goal is to build a more design-focused, fashion-forward,
"This company is just one thing that can come out of the skills you apply in geography," Thelen said. "Part of being in college is to start thinking. Just because you don't have an academic discipline doesn't mean you can't have real life applications. For example, I want to be a professor one day. Being part of this shoe business will
The shoes are sold for a retail price of $89.95, and are available in both men's and women's sizes. They can be found online at the chant.com or in local retail stores including Shark's Surf Shop, Kansas Sampler and the KU Bookstore located by the Chi-O fountain.
collegiate line of footwear" Stell- berger said.
Edited by Sylas May
KUinfo
The Chant currently has licenses
The last self-defense class of the semester is today, from 4:30-5:30 in the Aerobics Room of the Ambler Rec Center. Email emilytaylorcenter@ku.edu to
.
cHenry
register.
Information based on the Douglas County Sheriff's Office booking recap.
POLICE REPORTS
- An unidentified adult black male attempted to lure a 9-year-old male into his car yesterday near the intersection of 19th Street and Anna Drive. The target described the car as large and brown. Anyone with information to identify a suspect is encourage to contact Crime Stoppers at (785) 864-8888 or the University Public Safety Office at (785) 846-5900.
- A 25-year-old male was arrested Sunday on the 1500 block of East 24th Street on suspicion of domestic battery and criminal restraint. No bond was posted.
—Emily Donovan
CAREER FROM PAGE 1
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ment institute.
nusance service.
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acceded other
groups," Sitz, a senior from Andover said.
MGMT 498, the capstone course for the business school, is a bit different since it doesn't deal with a client or designate money to fix problems. This class instead focuses on analyzing larger companies.
In the beginning of the semester, Venkat Bendapudi, senior lecturer at the business school teaches students about managerial systems and frameworks. Once students are comfortable with these concepts, he picks a company for each group and lets students research the company, analyze why the company may be having financial or marketing problems and decide how they could fix the problem.
"The point is at the end of the semester] they put it all together," Bendapudi said.
During the second part of the semester, each group chooses a company and repeats the process. Once groups combine all of their research for each company, they present their findings and proposed solutions to the class for their final project.
"This integration and big-picture approach effectively translates into being able to make business decisions in the real world," senior Joshua Hood from Olathe said.
In the end, big projects give students something to show for their years of schooling. Not only are Sitz, Schultz and Hood able to show current employers their experiences, research methods and skills through a tangible portfolio, but they are also able to mention this project in graduate school applications if they choose to continue their education at the graduate level.
Edited by Sylas May
RECYCLE FROM PAGE 1
into the trash and continues her conversation with her friend.
Why would someone care about learning to recycle? Abarca's answer is blunt.
"You don't. That's kind of the challenge," he said.
Abarca said the concept of recycling has only been around for 40 years, but composting is a new idea for urbanites of the Midwest, where it's easier to throw things in a landfill because land is abundant.
"It's the psychology of the individual and their habits of throwing stuff away that we're trying to change and alter, and we realize it's going to take time to do that," Abarca said. "I could hang as many signs as I want, I could label this giant bin with all kinds of stickers and signs. People just don't care because they're used to a hole and it goes away."
To change habits requires work and dedication.
So far, Rock Chalk Recycle has sent more than 20,000 pounds of material to recycling and compost that would otherwise have gone in a landfill. Among the six participating Big 12 schools, the University placed second in waste diversion percentage, waste minimization and recycling, and first in organic composting.
"That's why we chose to bang our heads against the wall and try to get our 10 volunteers for football and 45 volunteers for basketball games," Abarca said. "It's not an easy task, but if it's done correctly and if it's continued, it will be the path for us to reduce our overall waste on campus."
Each student at the University pays $4.20 out of his or her student fees to fund KU Recycling. About 10 percent of the funds are
generated revenue.
Cause vs. cost
After the game, recyclables are transported to the KU Recycling facility. Trash is taken to the landfill in North Lawrence, and Missouri Organics, contracted by KU Recycling, collects the compost.
"At this point, we're doing it because it feels good inside. It's not necessarily cost-effective," Abarca said. "The idea is to change the mindset so they eventually can change that, and we don't have to have a million landfills in the Midwest because we decided to keep throwing stuff away."
'Legacy'
Atop the whiteboard in Abarca's office at the recycling warehouse is the word "legacy"
The job of a waste ambassador is thankless. They're there to make a difference in a culture that doesn't want to be changed. For Abarca and his volunteers, everything goes back to creating the legacy of a recycling culture.
"If we develop a program that works effectively, we will leave the legacy of waste reduction for the City of Lawrence and KU," he said. "That's the ultimate goal: to create this culture that becomes a tradition at KU."
Abarca and Friedel said they think the program has succeeded by starting the conversation about recycling on campus. It's a part of the culture at games.
"Now it's embedded so much that it will never leave," Abarca said.
Friedel has yet to determine what she'll contribute to the legacy. The more she learns about the environment, the more she understands there may be alternative options to explore in the future.
"You have to use energy to recycle, and you have to use energy to make more stuff," she
Rabbi Tiechtel encourages students who are struggling with their faith, or who may have questions, to come to the Chabad Center and become involved with other Jewish students.
She offered one simple piece of advice.
"Think before you throw something away," she said. "Be aware. Don't just look and see three trash cans."
perfect place to start.
RELIGION FROM PAGE 1
Chabad Center has been her rock during her time at the University. It has helped her stay connected and it has helped her answer questions she has had about her faith.
Tiechtel believes that college is the time for students to make their own religious decisions, and said that the Chabad Center is the
"When you're in college it's the greatest opportunity to reinforce what you truly believe," Tiechtel said. "When you're in college it's your call and it's your opportunity to stand up for what you believe in."
Edited by Sylas May
said. "I don't necessarily know if I think recycling is the answer, but I know that it's helping to get [students] interested in everything about helping the environment."
Even if it's not an end-all answer, she said she wants her nephews and future children to grow up like she did — with an environmentally friendly outlook.
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