Friday October 11,2002 Vol.113. Issue No.37
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Jayhawks of all kinds get prepared for Saturday's homecoming. p. 1B
Tell us your news Call Jay Krall, Brooke Hesler or Kyle Ramsey at 864-4810
Incredible edible campus
Abby West/Kansan
Ready/Doom
The edible fruit of this persimmon tree in front of Strong Hall grows sweeter as it ripens. Persimmons are ripe enough to eat from late September to early December.
By Justin Henning
jhenning@kansan.com
Kansan Staff Writer
Students looking for a free lunch may only have to glance at the branches above them.
All over the University of Kansas, trees, shrubs and plants bear fruits, nuts and berries that can become a quick snack.
A pecan tree on the south side of Watson Library, a persimmon tree in front of Strong Hall, a pear tree in front of the Art and Design building and day lilies scattered throughout campus are only a few of the options.
"But we don't want people pulling up day lilies, please," said Mike Lang, landscape manager for Facilities Operations.
The buds of lilies can be used like seeds in a salad, and the parts of a bloomed lilly can be boiled and eaten as desired.
The boiling eliminates the toxic part of the plant.
"Everything on campus was planted by someone at some time," Lang said.
Since the first days of the University, trees and plants have been planted in and around the area.
Dr. Philip Wells, a retired professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, used to teach a class called "Trees and Shrubs," which dealt with what was planted on campus. He said campus has approximately 100 species of trees. One of his favorites was the fruit of the persimmon tree.
“It's quite delicious,” he said, emphasizing that they get sweeter as it ripens. “It's better than an apricot.”
But the determined student could find even more natural snacks.
Black walnut trees grow all over campus. The Visitor Center has a June berry bush, which yields berries that taste like cranberries.
A grove of Kentucky coffee trees grows behind Marvin Hall, producing a
delicacy with a quirk.
"They call it a coffee tree because you have to grind up and roast its nuts to eliminate the poison." Wells said.
Students do not typically practice the art of foraging. In fact, Lang had never considered eating off of anything planted on campus.
"We don't put poison on them," he said. "It's just that I've never really thought about it before."
It's not something that crosses the minds of students either. Kate Wilkinson, Colorado Springs, Colo., junior, had never thought about eating off of trees as she walked to class.
She said she had other things to think about.
"I've never been hungry enough to eat stuff off the ground,"she said.
Lilly Spicher, Milwaukee freshman, was receptive to the idea of natural snacking once she heard about it.
"It would be a pretty handy thing to go up to a tree and eat what's on it," the Milwaukee freshman said.
Other exotic trees grow outside the boundaries of campus. A pawpaw tree grows in the front yard of a house just off 14th Street, past the scholarship halls.
"It tastes like a mix between pineapple and banana," Wells said. "It has a soft, creamy interior and a tropical flavor."
Currently, only one campus-grown treat is in season.
The persimmon tree bears fruit ready to be eaten, but there may not be any left. Lang said he hadn't seen much fruit
from the tree this year.
In the meantime, students can wait and see what other sorts of fruit and nuts crop up on campus, and wait is just what Lang wants them to do.
"If the plants aren't mature, then picking stuff off of it might cause damage to the plant," he said.
Regardless of the plethora, some students are still oblivious and uninterested to their edible surroundings. Douglas Waterbury, Wichita sophomore, said he never noticed the edible products of trees and shrubs and thought it would still be dirty to eat off of them if he did know.
"The idea is completely odd," he said.
— Edited by Amanda Sears
Groups fighting domestic violence
Month of October focuses on ending domestic violence
By Lindsay Hodel
hodel@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
October is domestic violence month and some student and community groups are using this month to make sure the entire community is focused on ending the problem.
The Women's Transitional Care Services, a shelter and counseling center in Lawrence for battered women and children, is cosponsoring a candlelight vigil and "Speak Out" against sexual violence at Potter Lake, Oct. 24, with the Emily Taylor's Women's Resource Center.
"It's very important to raise awareness
about domestic violence, because survivors of domestic violence may not have that name for it and may not fully realize they are a victim," said Sally Puleo, program director for WTCS.
According to the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Oct. 15: Last day to see the Clotheline Project, Kansas Union
Oct. 24:
Candlelight vigil and speak out against sexual violence, 7 p.m.
Potter's Lake
Battered Women's 1995 report, over four million women are assaulted each year by their boyfriends or husbands.
SEE VIOLENCE ON PAGE 7A
Local group happy to party Thursdays
By Louise Stauffer
lstauffer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Each Thursday residents of 922 Tennessee gather with friends to celebrate Thursdays.
TvlerLonnine/Kansan
On a sunny afternoon yesterday, about 15 people gathered in the driveway of 922 Tennessee St. Conversation flowed along with the beer; viking hats were donned, and almost everyone wore a T-shirt that read "Happy Thursday."
Since April, every Thursday save one, Sean Collins, Garden City senior, Skyler Marsh, Lawrence resident and Doug Owings, Lawrence resident have thrown a party outside their apartment. For them, the day of the week is reason enough to celebrate.
They are known as the "Happy Thursday guys."
Collins said the idea was born one beautiful Thursday afternoon last April
"We decided we should go outside, drink, and wave at people," Collins said.
Everyone is welcome at a Happy Thursday party and cups for the keg are $5. Marsh said. The viking-esque horn helmets appeared when the group bought them at last year's final four tournament.
Marsh said he began making and selling the T-shirts three weeks ago, and he started making business cards that say,
"Happy Thursday, come join us! 922
Tenn," a month ago. He said the cards
A sign, which said "Happy Thursday," used to sit on the grass next to the street, until about 4:15 yesterday, Collins said. He said the City of Lawrence asked the group to move the sign onto their property because it was in the city right-of-way.
and T-shirts, were a good way to spread the word.
Mike Wildgen, City Manager, said no one was allowed to place a sign on a city
"I have a lot of fun at parties handing them out." he said.
right-of-way.
"A lot of it has to do with sight distances, people backing out of driveways." Wilden said.
Wildgen said he had not received any complaints about the group's activities, but other city officials might have.
Collins said since the launch of Happy Thursdays, the crowd had been increasing.
"One or two weeks ago there were
SEE THURSDAYS ON PAGE 7A
More to custodian than 'dirty work'
by Cateb Nothwehr
cnothwehr@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Hewitt is a custodial specialist on two floors of the all-girl residence hall, but her job lets her see more than how dirty students are.
While tidying the halls of GSP-Corbin, Wendy Hewitt becomes the eyes and ears of KU student life. And, every once in a while, she has to clean footprints off the wall.
"I like it here because I get to see the next generation come of age," Hewitt said.
Hewitt, who has been a custodial specialist for three years, is one of more than 40 workers who keep the residence halls clean.
On a typical day, Hewitt clocks in at 6:55 a.m. and begins cleaning the student housing office. By 8 a.m., she moves into the residence hall, dusting furniture and vacuuming lobby floors.
Cleaning up after 26 girls has afforded Hewitt the opportunity to see some unusual messes.
"I walked into a room one summer to clean it, and there were footprints on the ceiling," she said. "I said, 'I don't even want to know this one.'"
Now two months into the school year, Hewitt said she couldn't be happier with the girls on the floors she cleans.
Anton Bubnovskiy/Kansan
Wendy Hewitt, custodial specialist, works in GSP-Corbin. Hewitt said the Thursday morning vacuuming was part of her daily routine.
One resident said she
"All my girls this year are real friendly," she said.
"She's like a part of the floor," LaRae Kelly, Wichita freshman, said.
Kelly said although some residents
SEE HEWITT ON PAGE 7A