6B
* THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
HOMECOMING
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FRIDAY,OCTOBER11,2002
Award recognizes student excellence Murals showcase enthusiasm, talent
Two students will be receiving Ex.C.E.L award
By Kate Sullivan
correspondence@kansan.com
Kansan correspondent
Eight students will be crossing their fingers tonight in anticipation of tomorrow's Homecoming game, when the winners of the 11th annual Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership (Ex.C.E.L.) Award will be announced.
Student Union Activities and the Board of Class Officers sponsor the award, given to one male and one female on the basis of academic scholarship, leadership and involvement in the University of Kansas community.
This year's group of finalists, two men and six women, are picked by a selection committee consisting of University of Kansas students, faculty, staff and administration.
"The award is often considered one of the most prestigious awards given in the fall semester and the caliber of this year's candidates has really proved that that's the case," said Leslie Heusted, program director for SUA and adviser to the Ex.C.E.L. selection committee.
Heusted said the significance of the award and the excellence of its candidates made homecoming an appropriate time to showcase it.
Though the award is given to both a male and a female during the game, it should not considered the same as winners of a modern homecoming king and queen.
Laura Dakhil, Ex.C.E.L. chair on the Homecoming committee, said the value in giving the award over having a homecoming royalty is that winners must be completely well-rounded, not just popular.
"The beauty of the award is that it's so encompassing," she said.
"Year to year, the finalists have proven to be involved in totally different things, look totally different and have totally different interests than years past."
The winners, who will be announced between the first and second quarters of the Homecoming game, receive a $500 scholarship and will be responsible for coordinating the Blueprints Leadership Conference, which is put on in the spring with' the goal of developing the leadership skills of emerging leaders at the University. Ex.C.E.L. winners are chosen to direct this, Dakhil said, because they are the ideal role models for leaders on campus.
Maggie Mason, Elmira, Ont., Canada, junior and finalist for the Ex.C.E.L. award, said student leadership was crucial to the welfare of the University and of student life.
"What student leaders do for the school is so impressive," she said. "Students run the campus
Scott Aripoli, Springfield, Mo., junior
Males:
Irakli Mirzashvili, Lawrence Junior
Females:
Maggie Beedles, Lawrence senior
Jennifer Huang, Wichita senior
Paige Isaacson, Salina junior
Maggie Mason, Ontario, Canada, junior
Erin Michaelis, Lawrence senior
Casie Olberding, Lawrence junior
and work with the administration to make campus an awesome place to be. Students have so much influence. They have heart, they desire to make it better."
Edited by Jessica Hood
By Denise Spidle
By Denise Spidle
correspondence@kansan.com
Kansan correspondent
With the flash of bright fall foliage emerges a homecoming tradition just as striking in color — the annual mural contest.
Beginning its second year in the lineup of homecoming activities, students utilize the mural contest as a way to both illustrate their creativity and show pride in the University.
Participants in the contest submitted sketches of their mural designs and eight finalist groups were selected. Those finalists were each given a 6- by 6-foot canvas on which to paint their murals. And today, each canvas will be displayed for evaluation by a group of judges.
Anna Clovis, the daily events chair on the homecoming committee, said students who were selected as finalists possessed both great artistic ability and creativity, and had presented a unique interpretation of this year's theme. Judging of the final
murals will follow a similar format, with an emphasis on expression, originality and adherence to the theme. The winners of the contest will be awarded points that contribute to their overall homecoming score.
According to Clovis, Fairfax, Okla., junior, mural painting is unique to the University of Kansas and includes both groups and individuals.
"Our goal for daily events is to get as many students involved, regardless of organizational affiliation. The murals are artistic displays of school spirit — I don't know of many other universities that offer such an event," she said.
Completed murals are to be turned in between 12 and 2 p.m. today, with the judging taking place at 4 p.m. The displays can be viewed this afternoon at the Kansas Union and also they will be hung off the west side of the Union parking garage for the Homecoming football game.
Homecoming royalty outdated tradition
By Erica Wolfe
—Edited by Andrew Vaupel
correspondence@kansan.com
Kansan correspondent
Students shouldn't expect a queen to be crowned at tomorrow's homecoming game; royalty appointment is a tradition of the past at the University of Kansas.
The last homecoming queen at the University was in 1969, after disputes about whether a black queen could be crowned alongside the traditional queen at halftime of the football game.
When the Black Student Union's request was denied, questions arose as to whether one or even a few queens could truly represent such a large student
body.
In 1970 the homecoming committee voted to bring an end to the queen contest.
"It seems inappropriate in a multicultural environment such as a university to select one or a group of young women to represent that community," according to a statement from the 1970 homecoming committee.
To some students, homecoming isn't the same without a queen.
Joan Pinnell, Wichita freshman, said many students agreed with the decision of the homecoming committee because of the diversity of KU.
"It's a cute idea, but it's a high school thing, and I don't think one girl could represent a whole college," Pinnell said.
"The girls look forward to it, it's a high school pastime and I think it increases moral and support for homecoming," said Adam McLeod, Dallas freshman.
Since the cut of the queen, for 20 years there were no awards given to students during homecoming.
The Ex.C.E.L. award began in 1991 and is awarded to male and female students who represent academic high achievement and character.
"Ex.C.E.L. is a good idea, it's not just a popularity contest, it honors hard-working students," Lindsay Laurila, Edina, Minn., freshman said.
"It seems inappropriate in a multicultural environment such as a university to select one or a group of young women to represent that community."
1970 Homecoming Committee
The Ex.C.E.L. award will be presented between the first and second quarters of tomorrow's Homecoming football game at Memorial Stadium.
Edited by Christina Neff and Chris Wintering
Abby West/Kansan
Stuffed Jayhawk tailgaters barbecue buffalo meat at a picnic in the Chancellor's Office, 230 Strong Hall. The barbecue took place yesterday as part of the 'Crimson and Blue Office Challenge,' in which departments around campus decorated for Homecoming.
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