Thursday, August 31, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 2
Make academic plans for the remainder of the year
make.plans for commencement (i.e. order cap and gown)
Appointments can be made from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Please call 864-3500
Seniors urged to prepare soon for graduation
By Jennifer Valadez
writer@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Seniors at the University of Kansas anticipating a spring graduation will find themselves participating in one of the University's time-honored traditions as they proceed through the Campanile to Memorial Stadium.
There are preparations to be made, however, before the day of pomp and circumstance arrives.
Before receiving a degree from the University, seniors are required to complete a process that will prepare them academically before graduation.
"We suggest that students don't wait until the last minute to do this," said Karen Huettenmueller, assistant director of undergraduate services. "We really want to see them midsemester of the semester before they plan to graduate."
She also said that an average of 1,000 applications for graduation are filed for spring graduation, which typically sees more graduates than the fall.
Huettennueller said spring graduates should meet with a graduation adviser to complete paperwork such as an application for degree, a major certification sheet and a Board of Regents survey.
During this time, the adviser will review the student's academic record to make certain that credit hours, grade point average and major requirements are fulfilled.
"The real problems are for those who don't come in at all after having filled their file out and receiving a letter in the mail," said Chris Bishop, graduation adviser. "It's certainly not the best way or timely way to find that out."
Natalie Lucas, Kansas City, Mo., senior, said she had already met with an adviser.
"In essence, I feel more academically prepared," she said. "My adviser mapped everything out for me. If I hadn't gone, I would have been clueless as to what I should do."
Regardless of professional school, all students need to fulfill the requirements set by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences before graduation, said Pam Houston, director of the undergraduate services.
Huettenmueller added that seniors would benefit from making certain everything was planned out, down to the last class.
"Some students see this as a checklist," Houston said. "We really want them to see is as an intense advising. The adviser in the office looks at the whole picture. By coming in, the student will have the time and flexibility to have adjustments made."
Kathy Mason, director of the graduate division of the college, said that most graduate students' pregraduation requirements included completion of either a master's thesis or dissertation for Ph.D., which are due by May 2.
"Of course, that's a pretty major thing," she said.
In addition, Mason said that master's students must complete a departmental final exam, while doctoral students are required to schedule a presentation of dissertation.
Mason said that graduates did not typically complete these tasks during the fall, but that being on task is kev.
"They need to be doing this no later than February," she said. "However, it doesn't hurt to think about it the semester before."
- Edited by Shawn Hutchinson
Shawn Pence, Lawrence senior, heads to his locker after a class in the new Murphy Hall addition. After more than a year of construction, the Murphy Hall addition is open for classes. Photo by Heather Young/KANSAN
Music addition pleases students administration
By Jennifer Valadez
Kansan staff writer
writer@kansan.com
A 52,000-square-foot addition to Murphy Hall is music to the ears of students and administrators in the School of Fine Arts.
The addition, which was built to fulfill space and facility needs, houses three rehearsal halls, a music and dance library, multiple classrooms and offices, a computer technology center and expanded storage for musical equipment.
"This has definitely been long awaited," said Toni-Marie Montgomery, dean of fine arts. "It has been a big plus for the students."
Montgomery said that before the addition was completed, musicians rehearsed in the Lied Center.
Daniel Berghout, music and dance administrative aide, said students, faculty and staff had made positive comments about the new facility.
"It's been a morale booster," he said. "It's state of the art, one of the finest in the Midwest."
The addition is already being used by students and faculty for classes and rehearsals.
"All of my classes are here except one," said Becky Harris, Gardner sophomore and drum major for the Marching Jayhawks. "It's nice not to have to walk from Murphy to Bailey."
Patrick McCarty, Emporia sophomore, said the building was a positive asset to the fine arts program.
"This is an outstanding facility to be working in," he said. "There's a lot of places that don't get this opportunity."
The addition expanded rehearsal space for the 250-piece marching band, as well as other
"It's been a morale booster. It's state of the art, one of the finest in the Midwest."
Daniel Berghout
Music/Dance administrative aide
instrumental ensembles and music education classes. Room-to-room fine tuning created acoustic and soundproofing control, so classes can take place without being disturbed by rehearsals in the next room.
Berghout said this was a huge benefit.
"As with other programs at the University, they need labs," he said. "These are our laboratories."
Montgomery said the addition, which was scheduled to be dedicated in February 2001, had yet to be named.
"We're looking for a donor to dedicate the addition to," she said.
The space that became free in Murphy Hall after the move is being renovated to house the music education and music therapy departments, which now are in Bailey Hill, Montgomery said.
"This will be the first time they will join their music colleagues," she said. "They can now feel part of the department community."
Montgomery said the addition, along with the new School of Education, would be one of the last facilities on campus to be built using state funds.
"This says that these are programs that are, in the University's eyes, important," she said. "We are very thankful for that."
- Edited by Kimberly Thompson
Lawrence abortion provider's business may be hurt by ruling
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Bv Melissa Davis
Lawrence's only abortion provider may not be able to keep her business open because of a state medical ruling.
The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts has prohibited Kristin Neuhaus from using conscious sedation, which eases pain but does not interfere with a patient's respiration, on her patients until she can prove that she abides by national standards for that type of anesthetic.
The order is enforced until the entire Board of Healing Arts, which distributes licenses and regulates doctors, can meet again, said Donald Strole. Neuhaus' attorney.
The board is not scheduled to meet again for two months, which could hamper Neuhaus' practice. But Strobe said he thought he would be able to get an earlier board date.
"We are going to submit a request for a hearing officer and hopefully
get her back in business," he said. Neuhaus refused to comment, but Strole confirmed the ruling.
For now, Neuhaus still can perform abortions using only local anesthesia on her patients until the board decides on the future of her office.
Because of the decision, Neuhaus will have to refer patients who want general anesthetics to other doctors, which may force her to shut down her practice because of lack of business. But Neuhaus is the only abortion provider between Kansas City and Wichita.
The ruling follows a hold the board issued earlier this month on Neuhaus' practice after she asked for permission to use Ketamine in conjunction with Valium on her patients. The board issued the hold because it was concerned that Neuhaus would not be well prepared if an emergency occurred, Strole said.
The board decided Tuesday that Neuhaus would have to follow national guidelines and improve
her record-keeping and then prove to the board that the improvements had been made.
Tuesday's decision followed the testimony of a Kansas anesthesiologist, James Glenski, who said poor record-keeping could reflect the level of care patients received.
Strole said that Neuhaus had never received any complaints from patients and that he thought she would be capable of handling emergencies.
Neuhaus has records showing no patient complaints and no emergencies during abortions, but her records were not adequate to the board.
Megan Murphy, a member of the University of Kansas pro-choice coalition, said she fully supported Neuhaus.
"We, as a group, support Dr. Neuhaus," Murphy said. "We understand that her services are important and valid. We will do our best to ensure that she will be able to provide services in Lawrence."
— Edited by Warisa Chulindra
Beating the heat causes crabbiness in living quarters
Jackson said the heat had sparked her temper when others failed to do their chores.
Miller Scholarship Hall is one of four scholarship halls without air conditioning in the private rooms. Students living in Miller have become abrupt with each other since Lawrence's heat wave began, said Sarah Jackson. Abilene junior and hall president.
"We've been trying to be nice and friendly this first week," she said. "But we have had short tempers and been quick with people."
Continued from page 1B
Audrey Hickert, Morland junior, works in the kitchen at Miller. She said refrigerators breaking and students slacking on cleaning had made her cranky.
"Heat makes people less motivated," Hickert said. "I've found that I use more explicit language in the hot weather."
Temperature shifts are not the only weather changes that affect people's moods and actions. Some researchers believe that shifts in humidity, cloud cover, wind speed and barometric pressure influence health and behavior. Edited by Kimberly Thompson