4
PAGE 5
+
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2014
arts & features
HOROSCOPES
Because the stars
know things we don't.
Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is a 9
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Today is a 9
Figure out the budget so you can take off on a trip. The data tells you a story. New opportunities present themselves. You're very persuasive now. Your wanderlust is getting worse. Love sets you
Today is a 9
The next two days favor a rise in your professional status. Associates boost your morale. Get back to work! You can get what you need. Prepare for the test. Your good research impresses. Study now and relax later.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Today is an 8
free.
You gain a financial advantage. Collect data for review. Talk about the numbers with your partner. Make a commitment. Delegate actions that you can afford to pay for. Generosity is a good thing. Improve working conditions.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Today is a 9
A good coach makes learning much easier. Everything gets farther with teamwork over the next few days. Everything seems possible. Determine which role to play, and parcel out tasks between group members. Rewards are outstanding.
exceed expectations.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Today is an 8
Focus on the fun side of your job.
Go for the gold. It's another busy day, and your work's in demand.
Don't hesitate to enlist assistance when you need it. Pass on smaller jobs to colleagues.
+
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Today is a 7
Today and tomorrow bubble with fun. It could even get profitable.
Play with a talented and competent team, and improvise together. Practice what you love and it grows. Focus on passion, and money provides a pleasant benefit. Bring it home.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Today is an 8
A home project grows bigger than imagined. Find what you need in your own closets or attic. You're good at solving problems. The gentle approach works best now. Use persuasion rather than force.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Todav is a 9
You've got the talent; now do the homework over the next two days. Soak up information like a sponge. Summarize and clarify the main point. Communicate the most important aspects, and share what you're learning.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Today is a 9
Crank up the action and you can earn more today and tomorrow.
Pay expenses before divvying up the loot. Learn new tricks from an experienced friend. How can you make routines more efficient? Trim waste.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-jan. 19)
Today is a 9
Make future plans. You're extra confident today and tomorrow.
You're getting stronger (and more impatient). Start out now. No more procrastination.
Determine what you want and on for it
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Today is an 8
Private plan proceeds on course. You personal vision is right on the money. Meditate in seclusion. You're extra sensitive now. Make your place more comfortable, and contemplate potential outcomes.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today is an 8
Pacces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today is an 8
Your career benefits from social interaction and networking today and tomorrow. Accept encouragement. It's a good time to ask for a raise. To discover your best qualities, ask your friends. Have them help with your resume.
Autism advocacy group gets adviser
CODY SCHMITZ
@Cody_Schmitz
At the start of the semester, Phillip McGruder wanted to create an autism advocacy and support group on campus. Today, McGruder has expanded his original goal, and the club is on its way to having its first meeting.
McGruder, a junior from Kansas City, Kan., is the president and co-founder of the unnamed organization. McGruder was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder, at birth. McGruder said because he understands the struggles of autism, he is passionate about creating an organization at the University to help others in similar situations.
Nona Golledge, director of KU Dining Services, is the organization's new adviser. She said she read the article the University Daily Kansan printed about McGruder's intentions to create an advocacy group. She said she had been interested in some kind of support group or club
"I have family members that are on the spectrum." Golledge said. "Through my experience, I know that it's important for others to be aware of those that fall on the spectrum. I know the concerns of wanting to do what's best and not quite knowing where to turn."
on campus for autism, so she contacted McGruder.
"I want to help make it a place, almost like family, where people can come and speak and get support and feel like they're valued and an important part of society," she said.
Golledge assists McGruder and the organization's executive board.
Golledge said she wants to see faculty, staff, parents and alumni also involved in the group.
McGruder's original plan for the club was to become a chapter of the national organization Autism Speaks U. Autism Speaks U is a program created to help college students in their awareness and advocacy for the disorder, according to
He said the first order of business is to decide whether the club will connect with the national Autism Speaks organization or if it will organize a separate autism spectrum support group.
CODY SCHMITZ/KANSAN
the official website.
The advantage of creating their own support group is that all the funds the club raises will benefit those with autism in the University and Lawrence area, instead of a majority of funds going to a national brand.
Junior Phillip McGruder, right, started an autism advocacy support group. Nona Golledge, left, recently became the organization's new advisor.
By creating a support group, McGruder said the organization would inform and educate the University and Lawrence about autism spectrum disorders. The group would fundraise to establish scholarship support for University students who have autism spectrum disorders and similar learning disabilities. The group would also bring speakers to Kansas, fund various programs, advocate for those in the community with autism and connect with the Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training located
on the KU Edwards campus. McGruder plans to hold the first meeting in the first week of December. The meeting will be open to anyone who is on the autism spectrum, anyone who has a friend or family member with autism or anyone who wishes to be supportive.
"We want to help be peoples' guides and let them know that it's all right and there's nothing wrong with what they're going through," McGruder said. "We can help show that KU is a great community for people with autism."
SEE AUTISM PAGE 6
Campus groups spread trans+ awareness
MARIA SANCHEZ
@Maria Sanchez
On a Tuesday evening, graduate student Roze Brooks, along with members of Spectrum KU, decorated the front office window of the Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center. The window was not covered with images or designs, but with the names of more than 200 people who died worldwide in the past year due to anti-trans+ violence, in light of Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is held annually on Nov. 20.
For Trans+ Awareness Month, the KU Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity joined with Spectrum KU, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity to create conversation about trans+ awareness and gender.
Throughout November, the
KU Center for Sexuality and Gender, Diversity featured a variety of discussions and events. Among these discussions were two series that had never been done before: "TRANSlation: A Trans+ and Ally Discussion" and "Breaking Gender Bread." Brooks, who is also the co-adviser of Spectrum KU and Coordinator at the KU Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity, said conversations like these are vital for students.
"I think it's good for students to engage in those conversations because if they're not introduced to varying perspectives on things, then they're always going to assume their perspective is the only perspective," Brooks said.
These discussions could potentially continue as a monthly or bimonthly event; separate of Trans+ Awareness
Month. Brooks said with gender being something people aren't taught to question, these conversations do more than introduce different perspectives — they encourage action.
"I'm really hoping it will give students a little bit more perspective on stuff they can change," Brooks said. "Just being able to have a conversation about gender that has more substance."
"It humanizes [trans+ people] in a way that these are real people, and they have these real identities," Fugate said.
Garrett Fugate, a graduate student and Spectrum KU officer, said he hopes these conversations also simply educate others on the fact there are people who identify with gender identities outside of the binary.
Breaking Gender Bread was a lunchtime discussion
geared toward faculty and staff, but anyone was welcome to attend. This month's theme focused on gender-neutral bathrooms. Brooks said they hope for the future discussions to also be themed. The TRANSLation conversation's goal was to start a casual talk about gender identities and breaking gender binaries. Brooks said one of the criticisms of Spectrum KU has been that their speakers and programs have a lecture feel to them, so they felt giving students an area to relax and talk was useful.
"If you're not ready to be taught about gender, it's hard for you to latch onto that," Brooks said. "So I think having everybody in the room contribute what level they're at in terms of gender conversations was more beneficial than a training or a lecture."
Brooks said ideally, Breaking Gender Bread would be picked up by the Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity as a program and Spectrum KU would pick up TRANSlation. Brooks said TRANSlation has the potential to even become its own organization.
But in order for TRANSlation and Breaking Gender Bread to flourish as monthly discussions, student interest is needed.
"I think it will take additional student buy-in from people besides Spectrum to keep it going and want to have these conversations proactively," Brooks said.
Fugate said although these conversations are centered on gender and trans+ identities and experiences, they impact everyone.
"Trans+ issues are not just
SEE TRANS+ PAGE 6
Student launches birthday card foundation
MARISSA KAUFMANN
@Mariss193
University student Ray Li launched a Kickstarter campaign today with the mission of providing a unique, customized birthday card for every homeless child in America. Li, a freshman from Lawrence, is head of design and founder of MakeACard. "No one wants generic birthday cards," Li said. "Every child is unique; what they receive should be unique to them."
MakeACard will be contacting shelters and community organizations to reach out and distribute the cards through the shelters. Li said he also plans to launch a portal where people can request birthday cards to connect with those who may not be affiliated with a shelter. Li started the birthday campaign earlier this school year and is now turning to Kickstarter with the final goal of raising $80,000 to create a foundation that is primarily self-sustaining but also has a source
of funding, allowing for more to be done to help homeless children, he said.
Li said he was inspired by a self-help book, "100 Ways to Motivate Yourself: Change Your Life Forever" by Steve Chandler. The book urged him to make a difference in his life by thinking back to his childhood and finding something he could change. The book encouraged him to change or fix the issue for others.
Li's family immigrated to the United States from China,
To combat those feelings, he decided to try and bring birthday cards to homeless children who may not get a card on their birthday. He said it is also an initiative to
and he said giving birthday cards was not customary, so he never received birthday cards as a child. Though Li looks back now on his childhood and remembers the happy and positive moments in his life, Li said growing up he felt as if he was missing out on many experiences and sometimes felt left out.
His initial inspiration came from an experience in seventh grade, when he was given a birthday card by someone he did not know very well. Li said he considered this gesture a bright and positive point in his life and has used this moment to help him get through more difficult times later on in life.
include every child in America and to make sure that no one feels left out.
SEE CARDS PAGE 6
"I'm going to say the Whataburger restaurants, and that the Panda Express here doesn't have a drive-thru. Apparently they don't have [that] here in Kansas."
QUICK QUESTION
"WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN TEXAS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE IN LAWRENCE?"
RICHARD PRUITT, FRESHMAN FROM FRISCO, TEXAS
Richard Pruitt and Shaquan Malone are roommates at Kansas this year. The duo came here from Texas and have been friends since elementary school. This week, the Kansan caught up with the two while they were playing video games in their dorm room.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
"Well as they say, everything is bigger in Texas, and Texas has heat."
SHAQUAN MALONE, FRESHMAN FROM ALEDO, TEXAS
+