TODAY'S WEATHER: Sunny with a high of 74. FOOTBALL: A look at interim coach Tom Hayes' history at the University.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
TALK TO US: Contact Kursten Phelps or Leila Schultes at (785) 864-4810 or editor@kansan.com
KANSAN
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
WWW.KANSAN.COM
TUESDAY
NOVEMBER 6,2001
ISSUE 50 VOLUME 112
Haiti's Roots movement a course topic next semester
By Eve Lamborn Kansan staff writer
Four years ago Kiran Jayaram took a Haitian language class for beginners. Now he's preparing to teach his own course on the Roots movement in Haiti.
in Haiti:
The Lawrence graduate student arbitrarily enrolled in the language class while earning his undergraduate degree in math at the University of Kansas. During the class, he met one of the main figures of the Haitian Roots movement, Yatande Boko. Boko invited Jayaram to drop by if he ever went to Haiti.
Jayaram did drop by later in 1997, watched a woodoo ceremony and got his first glimpse of ___
the first glimpse of the Roots movement
Jayaram said the Roots movement in Haiti distinguished itself from the strong U.S. and French culture in the country by associating with the Haitian culture and language of the rural peasants. He called it way of life, pulling in elements of
Haitian 320:
Offered
from 10 to 11:20 a.m.
Tuesdays and Thursdays next semester only.
Thirty-three slots are open in the class.
dress, speech, ideology, religion, politics and music.
That first glimpse led to several more trips to Haiti for Jayaram, including an extended trip last summer and a thesis project on the movement. Jayaram will use this first-hand experience to teach a one-time course next semester, Haitian 320, Cultural Politics and Identity: The Roots movement in Haiti. The course can enroll 55 students, and slots are still open. It isn't listed in the timetable, but students can check availability at www.opencsesku.edu.
Jayaram will incorporate his own research, which includes several hundred photographs and hours of recordings about the movement, into the course.
"There are a few things written on it, but nothing very thought-provoking or thorough," he said. "The course will be infused with my personal takes on the culture."
on the culture.
He said the course would also examine other examples of cultural movements, including Rastafarianism in Jamaica and maybe Islam.
Jayaram said he hoped to bring people from the Haitian movement to the University.
"When you have the possibility of bringing the topic and material of the course into the classroom to have it standing in front of you, there is no better education than that," he said.
better education than that. Jayaram said he would graduate next spring, making this the first and last time he would teach the course at KU.
Peter Ukpokodu, chairman of African and African-American studies, said graduate students did not usually develop their own courses without working together with a professor.
"It means you have a whole lot of confidence in the ability of the graduate student," he said. "His various experiences in Cuba and Haiti have made that possible."
Contact Lamborn at 864-4810
'Charismatic'studentdies
Family, friends confused by an apparent suicide, mourn freshman's death
By Courtney Craigmile Kansan staff writer
Robert Justin Aycock, a 20-year-old Dallas freshman, died yesterday morning at his home, said Lawrence police Sat. Mike Pattrick.
Sge Mike Patricks. The initial investigation showed the death appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Patrick said.
shot wounds, fractures.
An autopsy would have to be completed before the death could be ruled a suicide.
Aycock's roommate, Scott Sachse, Ottawa sophomore, notified police of
the death about 10 a.m. yesterday. Sache could not be reached for comment yesterd afternoon.
Robert Aycock, the father of Robert Justin Aycock, said the death shocked the family
"Saturday was my 50th birthday," Robert Aycock said. "I talked to him three times that day. Nothing seemed wrong. His only complaint was that there were too many Nebraska fans in town."
raska tails in town. Aycock was remembered as an upbeat, friendly person by his friends and neighbors.
"He was a really charismatic guy, and
Robert Justin Aycock
that will be missed," said Cameron Emmott, Kansas City, Kan., junior, and Aycock's neighbor. "He brought a Texas flavor to Kansas."
Grant Jones, Prairie Village senior and president of Phi Delta Theta, the fraternity Aycock pledged last year, remembered Aycock and his cowboy attitude.
"He was always wearing his cowboy boots and cowboy hat," Jones said. "He wore Wrangler's, and he kind of spoke with that twang."
Jones said the fraternity brothers would discuss the death at their chapter meeting last night.
meeting last night. The fraternity was going to do something to remember Aycock, but Jones wasn't sure would be.
Aycock was employed by The Hawk,
1340 Ohio St. John Heleni, owner of
The Hawk, had no comment about the death other than to say it was a tragic event.
Chancellor Robert Hemenway released a statement about Aycock's death: "On behalf of the entire KU community, I want to express my profound sorrow at the death of Robert Aycock. We are all deeply saddened by the tragic loss and offer our condolences to his parents, his family and his friends."
Counseling and Psychological Services will offer grief counseling services to students, the statement said.
Contact Craigmile at 864-4810
ONE FINE DAY
Cassandre Connolly (left), New York City sophomore, reads and listens to music in front of Strong Hall as Amber Ashbrook, Wichita freshman, waits for her class to start. Both students enjoyed the relaxing sunshine yesterday. "I love it" Connolly said. "It's too nice. We're getting spoiled."
Students say resource center needs attention
ByJ. R. Mendoza Kansan staff writer
Some students who use the Multicultural Resource Center for work or class agree it is time for a new, improved building or location.
Multicultural Resource Center
David Utter, Minneapolis, Kan., junior, and center ambassador, said he has worked there for three years.
worked here to answer. "The biggest problem is the location and the amount of resources we have," Utters said. "The space and the amount of resources doesn't cover it. We're to the point where we need better stuff."
Utter said the center had more student traffic this year than any of the three years he has worked there.
He said some of the improvements needed to the building included repairs to a leaking roof, better computers and a paint job to the building's outside.
paint job to the Building of Chris Haydel, Philadelphia graduate student, said he was a Students Together Excelling as Peers mentor at the center. He said he also used the building, located between Anschutz Library and Summerfield Hall, to study. Haydel said students needed a new building to use.
"That one is getting run down," Haydel said. "A better classroom atmosphere would be nice."
The Multicultural Resource Center is by the Military Science Building. The center was established to promote an educational environment that recognizes the diverse composition of the Lawrence campus, but some students said the center could use some improvements.
SEE RESOURCE PAGE 3A
INSIDETODAY
U.S.NEWS...2A
HOROSCOPES...5A
WEATHER ...6A
CROSSWORD ...6A
COMING IN TOMORROW'S KANSAN
NEWS: The sentencing of the man who hit and killed Shyra McGee will be announced.
BASKETBALL: A preview of the season, complete with men's and women's profiles.
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.
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