Friday November 22, 2002 Vol.113.Issue No.65
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
Tell us your news Call Jay Krall, Brooke Hesler or Kyle Ramsey at 864-4810
KANSA
Women's basketball team opens official season against UTEP p.1B
KANSAS
Budget cuts on horizon
By Molly Gise
mgise@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The University of Kansas is waiting with other state schools for what seems like the inevitable fall of the ax on their budgets.
In the meantime, Chancellor Robert Hemenway continues to talk to legislators, the public and anyone else who will listen about the value of higher education to the state.
A $310 million deficit is predicted for the state's current budget year, and Gov. Bill Graves said this week that more budget cuts were on the way.
"You're basically in a constant mode of selling the University, selling higher education as a means to a successful exit from the hard times you're experiencing." Hemenway said.
Even during economic troubles, the state must recognize that education is not expendable, Hemenway said.
do that, a university has got to be invested in and supported by the taxpayers."
Student Senate is also working to protect the interests of education. Johanna Maska, legislative director for Student Senate, said members of the Student Legislative Awareness Board and student senators had been speaking to state legislators about preserving the education budget.
The hope is that the development of a personal bond with students will make it more difficult for lawmakers to cut edu
cation, said Maska, Galesburg, III., junior.
The election of Kathleen Sebelius as governor has raised hopes that education won't be cut deeper than it already has been. Hemenway said educators were waiting to see how Sebelius would handle the budget crisis.
"She said she doesn't want to cut K-12 education, and she doesn't want to cut higher education. That was a promise," Hemenway said. "My hope is that will
SEE BUDGET ON PAGE 6A
'Like a party for a big family'
University celebrates with World at KU event, thanks students, faculty
By Erin Beaty
eebatey@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
The University of Kansas conveyed a message yesterday to international students and faculty: thank you.
The World at KU, a celebration hosted by the Office of International Programs, was the main event commemorating International Education Week.
Students, faculty, KU administrators civic leaders and consulates attended the event, which was held at the Kansas Union Ballroom.
Jared Soares/Kansan
Students and friends gathered at the Kansas Union for a reception to commemorate the third annual World at KU celebration. Yesterday's event was the University's way of saying "thank you" to international students and faculty.
"We wanted to bring all the international students together in one place and thank them," said Anne Merydith-Wolf, International Programs communications director. "They bring a very strong dimension to the University."
Vahid Haidarnejad, Sharood, Iran,
SEE CELEBRATION ON PAGE 6A
Journalist discusses world conflict
Chris Burket/Kansan
Robert Kaplan, correspondent for Atlantic Monthly, signs one of his books for Jennifer Waldschmidt, Ellis, Kans. senior.
By Nathan Dayani
ndayani@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
"It's not a matter of being a pessimist or an optimist," said Kaplan, who has been a foreign correspondent for the Atlantic Monthly for more than 20 years. "It's a matter of being an analyst."
Last night, Kaplan — who has traveled to some of the world's most dangerous countries — presented the lecture "The Roots of Future Conflict" at the Kansas Union Ballroom. About 500 people attended the lecture.
Some think Robert Kaplan's vision for the future is overly pessimistic.
Kaplan said the United States' promotion of democracy in thirdworld countries was often destabilizing because those countries generally lacked the infrastructure and public support for a
Kaplan spoke about how the growth of urbanization and the population explosion of young men in third world countries could create instability. Men aged 14 to 30 are more likely to commit acts of political and social upheaval than women and men of other age groups, he said.
democratic transition.
you don't go overnight from Mao's China to Tony Blair's United Kingdom," he said.
"This situation is going to get worse in a whole bunch of countries," he said.
Gary Reich, associate professor of government, said Kaplan's views about democracy were often criticized.
"As with anyone who makes a lot of big arguments, he's always open to criticism," Reich said. "Part of his argument suggests that developing countries would be better off with stable, more authoritarian governments than democratic governments that are unable to keep order."
SEE KAPLAN ON PAGE 6A
University examining possibilities for KJHK
By Jenna Goepfert
goepfert@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Officials from the School of Journalism say they support the mission of KJHK but don't want to continue to do so financially.
James Gentry, dean of journalism, said the provost and officials from the school had been discussing several options for transferring the operation of KJHK to other organizations, but nothing has been decided yet.
The University owns KJHK, 90.7 FM which the school of journalism operates.
Partnerships with organizations such as KANU, Kansas Public Radio, had been considered to form an alliance with the station.
"My mantra on this is I love KJHK, but I just don't want to pay for it," Gentry said.
Budget cuts, tight resources and new curriculum in the school have made it difficult to cover the cost of running the station, he said.
"The school of journalism has indicated that it would like to shift the oversight of KJHK somewhere within in the University," said Kevin Boatright, executive vice chancellor for University Relations. "Now we're looking to see, 'Is that something that Kansas Public Radio could be a part of?'"
Janet Campbell, station manager for KANU, 91.5 FM, did not want to comment on a potential alliance because she said she hadn't heard enough about it
Gentry stressed that no decisions about KJHK's future had been made and weren't likely to be made soon.
"Tough times call for some creative thinking," said Gary Hawke, the station's general manager. "I think the executive staff of KJHK and I are anxious that KJHK remain a vibrant, healthy student radio station."
Hawke thought some of the options available to KJHK would actually be beneficial to the station.
Both Hawke and Station Manager Bill Colburn said they wanted to preserve the tradition of the station but understood that times at the University were difficult.
"Personally I think everybody at KJ would like to keep things the way they are just because it's more stable and we have a long history at the j-school," Colburn said.
Despite the uncertainty, Colburn said he wasn't concerned about the future of the station.
"I was impressed by Dean Gentry's concern for the student body," said Colburn, about their previous meetings. "He wants to do what he feels is best for the journalism department and for KU, but we're not some renegade thing that nobody is listening to."
Edited by Christina Neff
Harry Potter brings magic to classes
By Louise Stauffer
lstauffer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
It may be basketball season on the court, but in some classrooms Quidditch is the preferred sport.
Quidditch is the most popular sport played in the magical world of the Harry Potter books. The books, intended for children, have captured the attention of all ages, including lecturer Leah Hattemer. Hattemer uses the first book of the
series Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, in her Children's Literature class. Hattemer said she chose the book because of the themes it emphasizes.
Hattemer said most of her students liked the book. Those who didn't found it silly and thought the plot was underdeveloped in some parts, she said.
"It's about good versus evil, it teaches that friendship is all important, and that the individual person can succeed despite all his problems," she said.
She has included Harry Potter and
the Sorcerer's Stone, in her curriculum since last semester.
"It belongs there," she said.
Alice Emanuel, Hull, England, junior said she had read the book in a class and had seen the movie.
"I think it's great because it's got kids reading again," she said.
But not everyone has gotten caught up in the Harry Potter fanfare.
Jeff Cary, Leavenworth senior, said he was oblivious to the whole trend.
Scott Silverman and Luke Greene don't have much interest in Harry Potter, but not because they don't like wizards and magic. The Overland Park juniors are die-hard fans of The Lord of the Rings series.
"It's a children's book," he said.
"We even have the date the next movie comes out marked in our planners," said Silverman.
"There was never anything like this when I was a kid, nothing ever turned into a movie phenomenon."
And despite the books' commercial
appeal to children and adults, Hattemer said it's still good literature.
"It goes back to the universal
themes, good triumphs over evil," she said.
Edited by Jessica Hood