Friday, November 3, 2000
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The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Week offers opportunities for nontrads
Bv Leita Schultes
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
KU officials hope the first National Nontraditional Student Week will shine a spotlight on a group of students who may often feel alienated on campus.
The Association of Nontraditional Students in Higher Education and a number of other national organizations have designated next Monday through Friday Nontraditional Student Week. Campus organizations will recognize the event with various activities at the Kansas Union.
"We appreciate the chance to highlight this group of students who may often feel invisible on campus," said Laura Morgan, assistant director of the Student Development Center.
But despite their low profile, Morgan said nontraditional students compromised at least 19 percent of the student body — a total of about 3,742 students.
Because of marriage, age, children or commutes, they faced different challenges than the typical student, Morgan said.
She said that she hoped workshops and discussions throughout the week would provide such students with information about resumes and careers, writing skills and the Internet.
Discussions on nontraditional student issues, a meet-a-professor event and program about Student Union Activities for nontraditional students will also take place.
Deena Hardie, nontraditional student senator amd Lawrence senior, said that the chill feed would be a way for students to meet each other and exchange tips on how to juggle their busy lives.
The week will end with free chill and bowling from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Jaybowl.
"I think most nontrads on campus don't realize there's a lot of people out there just like them," she said
Michelae Koessler, a former nontraditional student who became a graduate student during the summer, said he felt plugged in to the student body through his participation in Student Senate and as president of KU Non-Trads.
But he said many students did not feel the same, and the week's events would help them succeed in and after college.
and after college. The University of Kansas has recognized nontraditional students with awareness days in the past, Morgan said, but next week will be the first national event for the students.
Edited by Clay McCuistion
Nontraditional Student Week programs, discussions and workshops (All will take place in the Kansas Union)
Monday through Friday information tables will be set up in the main lobby
Monday, Nov. 6
"Writing Resources"
11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
at the Regionalist
Room
■ "Internet Resources for the Nontrad" 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Regional Room
Thursday, Nov. 9
"Child Care Resources" noon to 12:30 p.m. at the Pine Room
Wednesday, Nov. 8
"Nontraditional student needs and perspectives" discussion 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Pine Room
"Winning Resumes for Adult Career Seekers"
11 a.m. to noon at Arrow C.
- "Writing Resources"
noon to 12:30 p.m. at
Alcove C
Meet-a-Professor 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Alcove A
"SUA Programming with/for Nontrad" discussion 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Alcove C
"Child Care Resources" 1:30 p.m.
to 2 p.m. at Alcove C
Chili Supper for non-
tradis and their families
4:30 p.m. to 7:30
p.m. at Jawbowl.
■ *Interviewing* Skills
Make a Difference*
11:30 a.m. to 12:30
a.m. of A.M.
Friday, Nov. 10
Free bowling and pool, free food and drinks, pictures with Baby Joy.
Speed racer
Mike Mercer, Wichita senior, and Chris Dundon, Chosterfield, Mo., senior, discuss their engineering team's Formula Society of Automotive Engineers race car. The car was on display in front of the Kansas Union yesterday. Photo by Jamie Roper/KANSAN
Civil war claims civilians' limbs
Sia Kalle, 12, a refugee from Sierra Leone, draws pictures during a presentation of the perils of life in the west African country. Photos by Matt J. Daughterhy/KANSAN
By Cassio Furtado
Special to the Kansan
The hand of Sierra Leone native Sia Kallie, 12, shows evidence of wounds from guerillas. Photos by Matt J.Daugherty/KANSAN
Bv Cássio Furtado
At first glance, Mariatu Kargbo and Sia Kallie seem just like other children. They're not.
Kargbo, 14, has had both of her hands amputated, and Kallie, 12, had her hand and arm bones stretched and exposed two years ago. She never healed.
The two girls are victims of Sierra Leone's civil war. Rebel forces there have made a practice of cutting off civilians' hands in the western African nation.
Feed My Lambs International, a relief and development organization based in Raymore, Mo., brought Kargbo and Kalle to the United States three weeks ago.
Kallie had her first surgery Tuesday.
The African and African-American students department and Olivia Ceesay, Sierra Leone native and graduate student, presented a seminar yesterday on the civil war.
"Victims have had their arms, legs and ears chopped off," Ceesay said. "These victims are not people in the war front, but ordinary civilians whose towns and villages were raided by rebels."
She said international intervention was needed to end the atrocities.
"The people anticipated active U.N. involvement like the NATO involvement in Bosnia," Ceesay said. "They need both domestic and international assistance in achieving this goal."
Lonny Houk, Lambs member, said he and his wife hoped to keep the girls here permanently and put them through school. He said that most of the survivors were children.
The civil war has created a mass of orphans living in the streets or in amputee camps, where Kargbo and Kallie lived for two years before coming to the United States.
"They heal faster," he said.
"We neglect this issue here," Houk said. "Maybe because we are more interested in Harry Potter." Edited by John Ackholm
Debate team seeks another season worthy of bragging
By Nathan Dayani Special to the Kansan
The University of Kansas' tradition in college basketball is wellknown, but the KU debate team has had a similar tradition of bragging rights.
Last year, the team finished the season ranked No. 5 in the country. This year, the team is ranked No. 25 in the country.
Scott Harris, assistant specialist of communications studies and the debate team's head coach, said this year's KU debate squad was younger and more inexperienced than teams in previous years when the University had some of the top teams in collegiate debate.
Harris said this would be a rebuilding year with only freshmen and sophomore debaters. However, he remains optimistic. He said he thought the 14-member team was committed, hardworking and improving.
"We have a very talented group of young debaters, but it takes some time to adjust to college debate," he said.
Harris is enjoying this year's debate season, which began in late September and will end in late March. He said his perspective had changed a bit this year.
"When you have one of the top three teams in the country and you go to every tournament expecting to win, when you lose a tournament in the semifinals or quarterfinals, you go home upset." he said.
"Now every round that you win is exciting as you watch people learn and grow with the experience. It's an opportunity to get excited about each small victory."
Despite the transitional period, the debaters have remained successful.
After this fall's first tournament, at least one KU team advanced to elimination rounds in subsequent tournaments. Recently the squad advanced three teams to semifinals at the Southwest Missouri State tournament. The team competes this weekend at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Roger Saad, Omaha, Neb., sophomore, is one of the veteran debaters. He said he thought one of the squad's greatest attributes was its coaching staff.
"We have some unbelievable coaches," he said.
Along with Harris' success as a coach, the assistant coaches were great debaters in their collegiate careers, Saad said. One of the assistant coaches, Rich McCollum, a graduate research assistant, previously won the Cross Examination Debate Association national tournament.
Like Harris, Saad thinks this season has been a good learning experience and also is optimistic about the future and strengths of the squad.
"We have one of the best, if not the best, coaching staffs in the country," he said. "Our team is young, but we have a lot of talent and people who want to work, and that's a winning combination."
Edited by J. R. Mendoza
CONQUER THE WALL... YOUR GROUP STILL HAS TIME...
-The KU Challenge Course provides 15 different mental and physical challenges to encourage teamwork.
-We are taking reservations for the outdoor course until November 19.
-Reservations can be made at any time for the portable challenge course.
-Also call for information on bonfires and hayrides.
The KU Challenge Course is located near Clinton Lake.
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