FRIDAY, NOV.2, 2001
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
'Plague' hits close to home
By Brent Briggeman Kansan staff writer
Professor Sandra Zimdars Swartz has taught Albert Camus' novel, The Plague, for more than 10 years, but it has never carried the significance that it will this year.
"It is going to be so relevant this year," said Zimdars-Swartz, who taught Religion 101: The Search for Meaning for 23 years. "I really thought about doing it earlier in the semester."
She decided to cover the book at the end of the class, as she always does. That way, she said, the dust could settle after the Sept. 11 attacks and the anthrax scare that has followed.
Zimdars-Swartz said The Plague, which was published in 1947, was likely a metaphor for
Nazi-occupied Germany. She said a similar comparison could be made to a country living under the claustrophobic control of fear and evil.
The book tells the story of a plague-ravaged North African town and the human crisis that ensues. More than anything, it explores the actions of people who are under the control of a dangerous power. In the case of the book, it was a disease that controlled the town. Zimdars-Swartz said the disease in the book could have easily been replaced with a biological weapon such as anthrax.
In looking at the reactions of people in trying times, Zindars-Swartz said, "What we find is that in times of crisis, there is more to admire than to despair."
The book also looks at the role of religion in determining morality
and humanity. It says people are good with or without a belief in a higher power.
Jodi Sims, Newton senior, took the class a year ago and said the book provided a message that people needed to be reminded of in times such as these.
The book was part of a body of work that helped Camus win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957
"I think people can get overwhelmed by the type of events that have happened recently," Sims said. "The book just shows that all people can have good in them. I think maybe we tend to forget that at times."
The class of more than 200 will begin reading The Plague after Thanksgiving.
Contact Briggeman at 864-4810
Class offers online security tips
by Jeremy Clarkson Kansan staff writer
A University of Kansas professor is teaching students self-defense against cyber-attackers and other online problems.
Last fall, Gary Minden, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, began teaching a class for EECS students, Topics in Information Security I, that focuses on basic Internet security issues. He's teaching the same course again this semester, and in the spring, he will teach a more hands-on security class, Topics in Information Security II.
Security tips for all computer users:
The Security I course teaches students about authorization and confidentiality, while the more hands-on course focuses on installing and configuring software and demonstrating how it works.
Minden said people who used the Internet for more than just recreational purposes shouldn't feel uncomfortable online, but he suggested any business transactions should be encrypted.
Security tips
Choose passwords that are difficult or impossible to guess. Give
different passwords to all accounts.
Make regular backups of critical data at least once each day.
Use virus protection software.
- Use a firewall software product as a gatekeeper between your computer and the Internet.
Do not keep computers online when not in use.
Do not keep computers online
Do not open e-mail attachments from strangers, regardless of how enticing the subject line or attachment may be. Be suspicious of any unexpected e-mail attachment even from someone you do know; he or she may have unknowingly sent it from an infected machine.
Regularly download security patches from your software vendors.
Source: National Infrastructure Protection Center
"You should not provide any information about yourself unless you feel comfortable about the company you are dealing with," he said.
Although the classes are offered for only EECS students, Minden said he wanted to offer a short course for other students.
Molly Coplen, Lawrence grad
uate student who is enrolled in Security I, said, "It's interesting to figure out how data can be protected and how businesses can implement security measures to protect the information they have."
Contact Clarkson at 864-4810
CHRIS BURKET/KANSAN
Students visit the different booths at the study abroad fair in the Kansas Union. Yesterday's event allowed students to look at different programs available in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Programs providex unique classrooms
By Matt Norton Kansan staff writer
The Office of Study Abroad sponsored a fair at the Kansas Union yesterday to inform students of the variety of places and programs they could investigate for course credit next summer.
University of Kansas students interested in field research on the behavior and ecology of bats in Costa Rica or touring the stadium of the ancient Olympic games in Olympia, Greece are in luck.
Andrzej Karez, assistant professor of Slavic languages and literatures, is planning to take a group of Polish students to Krakow, Poland. He said the University had had programs with 637-year-old Jagiellonian University before, but this would be the first trip back in several years.
Krakow, where Pope John Paul II lived before assuming the papacy, contains the historic Wayel Castle, Karez said. All of Poland's kings are
buried in the castle, Karcz said, making it much like Westminster Abbey in England.
"It's a very holy place for Poland," Karcz said.
Susan MacNally, assistant director for study abroad, said each year between 500 to 600 students enrolled in summer or short-term programs.
Erin Joler, Lawrence junior, spent last summer in Hiratsuka, Japan, in a language and culture program. Even though she had two years of Japanese, she encouraged students with no language experience to take the trip.
MacNally said students could choose from 30 programs. Students should go to the office of study abroad, 108 Lippincott Hall, to pick up applications, which need a one-page personal statement, a copy of their ARTS form and two academic references. Deadline for the summer applications is March 1, 2002.
Contact Norton at 864-4810
COLONY WOODS
1301 W. 24th & Nailsmith
1301 W. 2th& Naismith
842-5111
colony @lawrence.tks.com
www.colonywoods.com
On KU Bus Route
- 1 & 2 Bedrooms
- Indoor/OutdoorPool
- Exercise Room
- 3 Hot Tubs
M-F10-6 SAT10-4 SUN12-4
Support the Families of Freedom Fund and Be a Responsible Tailgater!
By Regents and university policy, alcohol may be consumed at KU-sponsored fund-raising events. "Proud to be a Jayhawk" fund-raising in the designated tailgating areas at Saturday's game benefits family members of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack.
Proceeds from the $10 T-shirt featuring KU's "Fighting Jayhawk" from 1941 will go to the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund. Purchase the T-shirt from volunteers in the designated tailgating areas or at KUstore.com at the south end of the stadium or at the KU Bookstores.
And don't forget these key tailgating guidelines:
Alcohol is allowed only within designated tailgating areas (a perimeter around 10 parking lots adjacent to Memorial Stadium).
Alcohol is allowed only during the 3 hours before kickoff. No drinking after kickoff—including halftime or after the game—while you are on university premises.
No underage drinking or other unlawful conduct will be tolerated. Laws will be enforced!
No alcohol in Memorial Stadium.
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