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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THURSDAY DECEMBER 13,2001
ISSUE 73 VOLUME 112
International students take English exam to be GTAs
Passing proficiency test lets graduate students teach at University
By Eve Lamborn Kansan staff writer
A test that some international students will take tomorrow could mean the difference between paying to study at the University of Kansas and getting paid.
The Kansas Board of Regents requires international graduate students who want to be teaching assistants, to prove their proficiency in spoken English, said Mark Algren, Speak Test administrator at the Applied English Center
Students who pass are eligible to possibly forego out-of-state tuition.
The Speak Test is administered by the University and clears students to teach at KU only. There is no cost to take it. The Test of Spoken English is administered by the Educational Testing Service and students who pass can teach at any university, Algren said. This test costs $130 to take.
Chuck Seibel, director of the Applied English Center, said students at KU had to pass one of the two tests to prove this proficiency.
Takako Yano, Iwakuni, Japan, graduate student, took the Speak Test last December and was hired at the beginning of this semester to teach Japanese 104. She said she still had a lot of things to improve about her English, but she enjoyed the opportunity to teach anyway.
"I have great students who are eager to learn, and they're so helpful," she said.
Yano said that when she became a teaching assistant, she started earning money and didn't have to pay any more out-of-state tuition.
"Teaching in Japan is a career goal and I'm getting a lot of experience from being a GTA," she said. "I'm really lucky."
Algren said the Speak Test was administered monthly. He estimated that about 350 students would take the test during this school year, through the end of the summer term. Algren said 38 students are signed up to take the test tomorrow.
He said the University had a need for teaching assistants, and international students gained experience and learned new ways to approach teaching. Algren said the test was designed to minimize complaints from undergraduates about being unable to understand their TAs. Algren said he advised students to continue to practice their English skills, even if they passed the test.
Ann Moser, Hemingford, Neb., junior, leads a conversation group through the Applied English Center that helps students practice their conversational English. She said some of her best teaching assistants were international students because they provided a different perspective.
"Most of them are experts in their field, or they wouldn't be here," she said. "They know a lot about their subject matter and if you can get past the English barrier, there's a lot to be learned from them."
Contact Lamborn at 864-4810
New fraternity may get charter
Student looks to start gay, bisexual chapter this spring semester
By Jeremy Clarkson Kansan staff writer
Two years after a failed attempt to establish the first fraternity at the University of Kansas focused on gay, bisexual and progressive men, another student is trying again.
Galen Stoeber, Garden City junior, has been working to recruit members for a KU chapter of Delta Lambda Phifrater-
nity, In 1999, Matthew Skinta, then president of Queers and Allies, attempted to have a meeting for students who were interested in bringing the fraternity to the University, but his meeting did not draw any interested students.
Stoeber has renewed the subject and is completing the necessary paperwork so that the group can be established by late January.
Kelly Jo Karnes, assistant director for Student Organizations and Leadership Development Center, said she had been in contact with Stoeber to assist in establishing the chapter.
students and has found that it was something that has been an interest," she said.
On Nov. 19, Stoeber said he had a meeting to see how many people were interested in helping establish the fraternity. So far, Stoeber said there were seven people who wanted to join.
Erik Wilhelmi, Shawne junior, is one of them. He said he had an interest in greek life when he came to the KU, but he never joined a fraternity.
"I like the sense of brotherhood, but I wasn't sure if the fraternities would be willing to accept me as a gay man." Wilhelm said.
Karnes said she supported the frater
nity because it would help serve gay and bisexual students who might feel uncomfortable in the traditional greek system. She also said it would be a positive addition to the greek community.
"They want to have the greek experience." she said.
Stoeber said he had no concerns or fears of establishing a fraternity that was focused on gays and bisexuals.
He said his only concerns were finishing the application and paying the $250 fee to establish the fraternity on campus.
Niagara: A sexual energy drink?
Contact Clarkson at 864-4810
Makers of aphrodisiac claims it increases women's sex drives
By Lauren Brandenburg
Kansan senior staff writer
An aphrodisiac drink marketed as "Viagra for women" is slowly coming to Lawrence. In Manhattan, Niagara is slightly more popular, where bars are beginning to serve it.
Niagara, a blue energy drink, is being sold as the "Viagraf for women." The Palace, Eighth and Massachusetts streets, started carrying the drink on Oct. 18, but not many people have purchased it. Some people who have tried Niagara said it was a disappointment.
Seth Hansen, bartender for Rusty's Last Chance Restaurant & Saloon in Manhattan, said he mixed it with vodka when people requested it.
Lawrence bars don't sell it, however, because no one is asking for it.
The Palace, a gift shop at Eighth and Massachusetts streets, started selling Niagara Oct. 18th, said Kathy Sexton, manager-buyer for the store.
She said she hadn't received too many comments about it.
"People look at it, but we haven't sold very much of it." Sexton said.
Sexton said she thought people usually purchased Niagara as a gag gift for bridal showers.
"I've been told it works better for older women, but I'm not sure." she said.
Niagara, which was created in Sweden, came to the United States in 1993 when a woman from Arkansas tried it, liked it, and decided to distribute it in the United States.
Those who have tried it in Lawrence said the drink didn't
meet their expectations.
Laura Jones, Canton, III., senior, said she was disappointed when she tried it.
"I didn't feel anything," she said.
Erin Adamson, Lawrence senior and Kansan opinion editor, said it definitely had more caffeine than cola or a few cups
of coffee,but she couldn't understand why it would be an aphrodisiac.
"It was an aphrodisiac in the sense that if I was sitting next to someone I cared about, I would probably jump on them," Adamson said. "But other than that, I couldn't understand what was sexual about it."
What she felt instead was instantly energized.
"It was like a big rush, and my heart was racing," she said. "Everything looked way too bright."
Adamson said drinking the Nijagara was fun, though.
"It tastes good, and it smells kind of like lavender. It's fizzy,
kind of like an antacid. It's fun to drink." she said.
She said she wouldn't buy it again for the purpose of arousal but that she would definitely consider it if she needed to pull an all-nighter.
Contact Brandenburg at 864-4810
Student Senate finishes stagnate fall semester
By Luke Daley Kansan staff writer
Senate dealt with several matters including improving minority recruitment and retention, getting better student seating for basketball games at Allen Fieldhouse and creating the Off Campus Student Living Center, but no plans were finalized this semester.
Student Senate members who ran with the Delta Force coalition last spring hoped to tackle an assortment of campaign promises this semester, but most of those pledges will have to wait until next semester.
Kyle Browning, student body vice president, said minority recruitment and retention was heavily discussed, but that nothing was really accomplished.
"I think we have started a lot of things," Chiles said. "But I thought Senate was very quiet."
Changing where students sit or stand - for KU basketball games will depend on continuing debates between Senate members, the Athletics Department, the Alumni Association and the management staff of Allen Fieldhouse.
"We're still facing a problem with people talking and making suggestions, but no one wants to put themselves on the line to do something about it," Browning said.
Matt Dwyer, Delta Force off-campus senator, said he didn't think reconfigur-
ing Fieldhouse seating would be a big problem.
Dwyer and other students presented their plans last month to the Athletics Department.
"I really don't know what will happen next semester," Dwyer said. "We went above and beyond what they expected us to do. I'm pretty confident in Al Bohl."
However, Chiles said changing Fieldhouse seating would be difficult.
"I see that getting crushed pretty easily," she said. "I think we have great seating."
INSIDETODAY
The Off-Campus Student Living Center took a major step toward establishment at the final full Senate meeting of the semester. Senate passed a bill allocating $17,000 toward production of the
center.
Browning said the office should be ready for operations by the beginning of the fall semester.
Campaign platform issues weren't all that Senate dealt with this fall.
Senate members argued whether credit card solicitation should be banned on campus. Many senators were split on the issue, but it passed in Senate by a 35 to 20 vote during the last full Senate meeting of the semester.
The resolution asking for a ban on credit card solicitors goes to Provost David Schulenburger, who will decide whether solicitation should end or be limited.
Contact Daley at 864-4810
WORLD NEWS ...2A
HOROSCOPES ...2B
WEATHER ...6B
CROSSWORD ...6B
KANSANS YET TO COME
WINTER BREAK: Be sure to catch basketball game coverage online during the break at kansan.com.
A LONG WINTER'S NAP: The Kansan will return to publication on Jan. 17, 2002.
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall.