Monday
November 4, 2002
Vol. 113. Issue No. 51
Today's weather
47°
Tonight: 37*
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or Kyle Ramsey at 864-4810
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN Kansas men's and women's basketball special section p.1B
Women in Black hold vigil downtown
Eric Braem/Kansan
Kristen Zucht, Lanexa sophomore and Sara Zafar, Wichita sophomore, protest in silence against the use of military force on Iraq. The Women in Black, a movement for peace, gathered at Ninth and Massachusetts streets Saturday afternoon to spread its message.
By George Schulz
gschulz@kansan.com
Kansan scrip writer
Wearing black to symbolize their resistance to war, 24 women held a vigil at Ninth and Massachusetts streets Saturday to contest President George Bush's proposed preemptive strike against Iraq.
Braving frigid and damp weather, the group acted in coalition with an international network of women opposed to violence and militarism known as Women in Black. The network formed in 1988 in Israel to engage in "the politics of resistance which inspires women in different parts of the world to organize actions and protests" according to a flier distributed at the vigil.
"I'm out here because I think war in Iraq is unjust," said Sarah Hoskinson, a recent University of Kansas graduate.
"In terms of the security of our nation, it's going to make us less safe."
Hoskinson added that she was concerned about the possibility of large-scale civilian deaths.
According to The Washington Post, the Pentagon foresees military conflict in Baghdad, an Iraqi city of five million residents where the death toll could be high.
Members of Women in Black believe an attack on Iraq would result in even more Iraqi civilian casualties than America's war on Afghanistan.
A CNN/USA Today Gallup Poll conducted Oct. 3-6 states that 52 percent of Americans still favor invading Iraq with U.S. ground troops in an attempt to remove Saddam Hussein from power. Forty percent of those polled opposed an invasion.
Carolyn Micek, Baldwin City resident, said news outlets were not doing enough to cover the amount of dissent among
Views on a war
U. S. public support for invading Iraq 53 percent favor 40 percent oppose Has diplomacy been exhausted? 46 percent yes, it has 49 percent no, it has not Invasion with U.N. and ally support 79 percent favor 19 percent still oppose Source: CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll conducted Oct. 3 to 6
U. S. citizens against a war with Iraq.
"I feel in our mainstream media, there is no opposition to the war," she said. "All we hear is support for the war. We want to let others know there are people who oppose the war."
Alexa Redford, Prairie Village senior, said civilian women in the United States had just as much of a stake in the war as men.
"I'm here because I don't think war is a solution to our problems," she said. "I feel like as a woman, our opinions are not taken into consideration as the government sends our brothers and sons off to die and to kill."
According to the flier, Women in Black believes an attack on Iraq would further ignite anti-American sentiment around the world and counter efforts to combat terrorist networks.
Sara Zafar, Wichita sophomore and columnist for The University Daily Kansan, said the vigil was designed to help U.S. citizens understand the potentially negative repercussions of an attack on Iraq.
"The preemptive strike idea doesn't seem conducive to what we're trying to achieve," she said. "Attacking them gives them the excuse to attack us."
Graduate degrees aid job search
Edited by Lauren Beatty
By Erin Beatty
ebeaty@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
These days, getting a job may depend on students getting graduate degrees.
John Augusto, assistant dean of the Graduate School, said a tight job market created competition for positions and that employers would be more likely to hire applicants who had graduate degrees over those with only bachelor's.
A graduate degree gives an employee job security and helps with promotions and job retention during a tight economy, said Bonnie Eissner, a representative from Kaplan Test Prep, a company that provides test preparation and admission services for students.
During the economic slump, more people are applying to graduate schools, she said.
Students can attend a free workshop today that provides information on the application process. The Graduate School and University Career and Employment Services are sponsoring the workshop, "Getting Into Highly Competitive Graduate Schools," from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.at 4007 Wescoe.
The workshop includes a videotaped presentation by Donald Asher, a nationally-recognized expert in graduate school admission, and a panel discussion with KU graduate school students and staff.
Students will learn how to make a portfolio and what graduate schools look for in applicants.
Kaplan had a recent increase of more than 20 percent in revenue in its graduate test preparation division. Eissner said the largest increases were in the preparation classes for the Graduate Record Examination, or GRE, and the Law School Admission Test, or LSAT.
Zach Barnes, Little Rock, Ark., senior, said he planned to take the Graduate Management Admissions Test, or GMAT He plans to get a graduate degree in accounting and take the Certified Public Accountant test. He said students need a certain amount of credits to take the exam.
Edited by Melissa Shuman
Chris Rurket/Kannan
Erin (left) and Kristen Maxwell, Chesterfield, Mo. freshmen, get the crowd fired up at the game against Kansas State on Saturday. The Maxwell twins are one of two sets of twins on the Crimson Girls this year.
DOUBLETROUBLE
By Jenna Goepfert
jgoepfert@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Kansan staff writer
This year, Crimson Girls practices and performances look more like a Doublemint gum commercial.
"People always ask us about being twins, but it's just the same as being a single sibling," said Amber Burkemper, St. Charles, Mo., freshman. "I'd be just like, 'How does it feel to be a single person?' but I'll never know."
Two sets of identical twins, Amber and Ashley Burkemper and Erin and Kristen Maxwell, have joined the squad.
The phenomenon has attracted some attention from onlookers and created a little confusion for the rest of the squad, but the twins said they didn't get tired of those reactions — or each other.
The Burkempers began dancing when they were 3 years old and competed against the Maxwells, Chesterfield, Mo., freshmen, during high school. The Maxwells began dance lessons when they were 4.
Erin Maxwell said she and her sister met the Burkempers when they came to audition for the school of dance at the University. She said they encouraged her and her sister to try out for the Crimson Girls.
"Usually sisters follow in older sisters' footsteps," said spirit squad coordinator Cat Jarzemkoski. "This is my first experience with a double set of twins — and from the same area."
Jarzemkoski said she still had difficulty identifying the twins, although the twins said the rest of the squad is finally starting to catch on.
The Burkempers said their personalities were nearly identical, but people could tell them apart because Amber has a beauty mark on the right side of her neck.
"We're kind of known as the short twins and they're the tall twins," Ashley Burkemper said.
"At first, everyone was like, 'I'll never get it.'" Kristen Maxwell said. "But we have such different personalities that, once they know it, we have no problems."
The Maxwells said they were more easily distinguishable than the Burkempers because of their different characteristics and facial expressions.
It was interesting to watch the twins dance, Jarzemkoski said, because their movements were so similar.
The twins said they practiced together and pushed each other to learn the choreography, just as they had when they were growing up.
The Crimson Girls has two sets of twins this year
Both sets of twins said it was easier to live with their twin than with strangers. They said having separate classes helped relieve any tensions.
"We're just used to it," Kristen Maxwell said of living with her sister. "There are times when Erin and I will be in our room and not talk to each other for a period of time. Other than that, we know how to be in each other's face."
A new experience for both sets of twins was being around another set, they said.
"We got the biggest kick out of watching each other," Kristen Maxwell said. "Just to watch them, I was more like Amber and Erin was more like Ashley. We could just see it."
But being around each other and answering the same questions from curious onlookers were constant.
"People just plain-out ask us if we're twins." Amber Burkemer said.
Ashley Burkemper said the most common questions were when their birthday was and if they ever trick people.
"We get a lot of attention for it," Kristen Maxwell said. "People will be like, 'Oh, twins' and then they'll turn and, 'Oh, another set of twins.'
— Edited by Chris Wintering
Location important for voters
By Molly Gise
By Molly Gise
mgise@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer.
Students who vote in Precinct 21 must go to a different polling station this year.
Voting is more than just showing up. You at least have to show up at the right spot.
For a registered voter in Douglas County, his or her name will be listed on the registers of only one of more than 50 polling stations in Lawrence.
Many voting problems stem from confusion about where to vote, said Jo Dalaluve, deputy county clerk of elections. If a voter's name does not appear on the register, poll station workers will call the county clerk's office.
"We'll try to find out the reason. It could just be they're at the wrong spot," Dalquest said.
The approximately 800 registered voters in Precinct 21 must go tomorrow to the KU Visitor Center instead of the St. Lawrence Catholic Center to cast their ballots. The change in polling stations is due to construction of a parking garage at the church.
To avoid long lines at the polls, students should vote early, Dalquest said. Lunch time and after-work hours are typically the busiest times at polling stations on election day.
There are at least 3,428 new voters this year, thanks to a Student Senate campaign to get students registered, said Jeff Allmon, organizer of the Save Johnson voter registration campaign. He said this year voting is especially important.
"The state budget is in a terrible, terrible situation," Allmon, Wichita senior, said. "Higher education is an easy thing to cut."
The polls will be open tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. People who received advanced voting ballots must return them to the county clerk's office, 1100 Massachusetts St., before the polls close.
Registering to vote is only the first step,
Allmon said. Voting completes the cycle.
"The whole campaign is not going to be successful if people don't get out there and vote," Allmon said.
- Edited by Chris Wintering
To find out where to vote:
Check your voter registration card
Look at a complete list of voting sites at www.douglas-county.com/Clerk/voting_sites.asp
Call 832-5281
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