MONDAY,SEPT.10.2001
NEWS
New graduate association to support minority recruitment and retention
By J. R. Mendoza Kansan staff writer
Danielle Brooks remembers the surprise she got when she arrived at the University of Kansas.
"Coming here, it was kind of like a culture shock," said Brooks, a graduate student in architecture from New Orleans.
That's one of the reasons why she joined the Black Graduate Student Association, a new organization on campus. She said she was used to having other African-American students around her at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University — a historically African-American university where she earned an
engineering degree.
Members formed the association to deal with problems concerning minority graduate student recruitment and retention, said Jamel Bell, a graduate student in communication studies from St. Louis and the group's president.
"I felt the need for another support system," she said. "It provides a place for us to get together as an outlet for us to relax amongst ourselves. It's a good place to bridge the gap between Black faculty, staff and undergraduates."
Some of the group's goals include mentoring undergraduates to help with their retention. Bell said.
"One of the things that kills our
retention is the lack of being around your people," she said. "If we can help with retention efforts, then we help all students have a diverse campus and community."
The group has eight members so far. Bell stressed that the group was not limited to African-American graduate students and that it also wanted to reach out to other campus organizations.
"We're specific in name but broad in our approach," she said. "This organization can benefit campus and the Lawrence community at large. It won't just benefit Blacks but will help across the board for every student on campus."
Karl Bell, Jamel Bell's husband and graduate student in education from Kansas City, Mo., said the group would also prepare graduate students for challenges they would face in looking for a career.
"We have one another in our support system for our pursuits," Karl Bell said.
The group is planning a kickoff event from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28. The location will be announced later. For more information about the group, e-mail jbell@ukans.edu.
Contact Mendoza at 864-4810.
New dean of education enthusiastic for job
By Eve Lamborn Kansan staff writer
Roy Williams is not the only person on campus who has coached basketball at the University of North Carolina.
Angela Lumpkin, the new dean of education, coached the women's basketball team at UNC from 1974 to 1977. She assumed her new position at the University of Kansas in June. She said that she loved her new job so far.
"The people here are superb," she said. "The School of Education is ranked 17th in the nation and it's an honor to have to opportunity to serve as its dean."
Paula Naughtin, program assistant for the school, said she was impressed with Lumpkin.
"She knew all our names before she got here," Naughtin said. "She was
well-prepared when she came."
Since moving into her new office at Joseph R. Pearson Hall, home of the School of Education, Lumpkin said she worked to make the building more
welcoming to students.
"I learned that JRP could be an impersonal building," Lumpkin said.
She said she posted signs, kept office doors open, and tried to make all the offices more inviting and accessible to students.
Randv Holt. president of the School of Education Student Organization, said working with Lumkin had been a great experience.
Lumpkin: Said it was an honor to serve.
"She's quite a motivator," the
Belleville senior said. "She really gets people going and excited. There's a new energy in the office."
Education isn't the only thing Lumpkin is passionate about. She also loves basketball.
After playing on the first-ever women's basketball team at the University of Arkansas, she went to Ohio State University for post-graduate work.
At the age of 24, fresh from earning her doctorate in sport history, Lumpkin moved to Chapel Hill and took on the head coaching job for the Tar Heels.
Lumpkin said she gained the respect of her team.
"I had absolutely no problems with that," she said. "I earned their respect, and they knew I was experienced."
That year, the women's basketball program moved from the physical
education department to the athletics department, making the 1974 to 1975 season the official inaugural year for women's basketball at UNC, and Angela Lumpkin the first head coach.
She coached women's basketball at UNC for three years.
Basketball became time-consuming for Lumpkin, who also worked as a professor at UNC. Because she did not want to give up teaching, Lumpkin said she had to give up coaching.
"I love to teach, and I'm committed to teaching, so it was absolutely the right thing to do," she said.
After becoming a full-professor at UNC, Lumpkin moved on to North Carolina State. In 1997, she became the dean of education at the State University of West Georgia.
Contact Lamborn at 864-4810.
No group billing for KU housing vandalism
By Jeremy Clarkson Kansan Staff Writer
Other universities in the Big 12 Conference use a community billing program when residence halls are vandalized. The University of Kansas doesn't.
A community billing policy requires residents on an entire floor to be billed for damages to university property in communal areas, such as lobbies and bathrooms. The University currently pays for damages out of the Department of
Student Housing's budget.
Ken Stoner, director of student housing, said a community billing program is not necessary.
"Our vandalism is not considered out of line and very minimal in the scheme of things," Stoner said.
He said community billing sounded simple and easy, but in the long run it could become tedious and time consuming.
"You have to have a mechanism to excuse people from
the community," Stoner said, referring to students who aren't present during the vandalism.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Although community billing may be difficult, Janet Ackley, custodial supervisor, said she is in favor of the idea.
"I think it would cut down on the vandalism because a lot of them have the opinion if they don't get caught, they don't have to pay," Ackley said.
She said if residents of an entire floor were to begin paying, they would be more willing to report vandalism and it would limit the act.
At the University of Nebraska, Ina Luhring, coordinator for residence hall administration, said a community billing policy was effective and limited vandalism.
"If you walk down one of our halls, most of the time there isn't going to be anything damaged," Luhring said.
She said when vandalism occurred and residents had to
pay for reparations, there was some peer pressure toward residents to take responsibility.
Chris Weiss, Olathe senior and former McCollum Hall resident assistant, said the policy wouldn't be fair to other residents who weren't responsible for vandalism.
"I don't think people should be punished for other people's mistakes," he said.
Contact Clarkson at 864-4810.
Students can learn about wellness options at fair
By Matt Norton Kansan staff writer
Do you exercise three to five times a week?
Do you drink five to eight glasses of water a day?
Do you get regular sleep? Do you feel like your life has meaning and direction?
Students can attend the health fair Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the lawn in front of Strong Hall.
If the answer to any of these questions is no, University of Kansas health officials suggest you attend "2001: A Wellness Odyssey," the 14th annual health fair sponsored by Watkins Memorial Health Center.
Randall Rock, medical director of health education, said one of the event's goals was to shift students' notions of health care from treating illness to promoting wellness.
"Wellness is a concept that would promote maximum functioning, and hopefully in doing so avoiding or delaying dysfunction," Rock said.
Tim Glassco, third-year law student, said in jest that for him, wellness meant tailgating all day at the football game after a week's worth of school-related stress.
"I try to exercise every other day if I can. I'm pretty much the picture of health," Glassco said.
Health Fair
What: "2001: A Wellness Odyssey," the 14th annual health fair sponsored by Watkins Memorial Health Center
Where: the lawn in front of Strong Hall
When: 9 a.m.
to 3 p.m. this
Wednesday
Students who attend the health fair can receive information on immunizations, get their blood pressure checked and receive coupons to have their cholesterol levels measured. Students can also visit representatives from an array of campus and Lawrence organizations.
Among those groups scheduled to attend the fair are Lawrence Memorial Hospital; Headquarters Crisis Counseling Center; the American Cancer Society; KU Fit; Bacchus, a group advocating responsible drinking practices; and Community Mercantile Co-op, a local health food store.
Rock said wellness also included the health of the community. Students can receive information about becoming a certified peer educator, to help make the University and city as a whole a better place to live, Rock said.
He said students should not be concerned about being preached to at the event. As the name implies, students are encouraged to come and create their own map for a healthy life.
"We want people to be aware of the parameters, then create a plan for this wellness journey," Rock said.
Contact Norton at 864-4810.
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