THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2002
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Local currency use declines
Lawrence's money not succeeding as organizers once hoped it would
By Lindsey Hodel
Kansan staff writer
The REAL dollar program is in real trouble.
Lawrence's own currency, the REAL dollar, has been declining in use and organizers realize the program needs a shot in the arm. said David Highberger, member of the Lawrence Trade Organization.
The REAL dollar program, which the organization started in September 2000, is a program designed to keep Lawrence residents' money within local businesses.
REAL dollars, which stands for Real Economic Alternatives in Lawrence. can be used as cash at several locally-owned businesses. Lawrence's local currency consists of paper bills featuring Pelathe, a Shawnee tribe scout, author William S. Burroughs and poet Langston Hughes, all residents of Lawrence at one time.
Chuck Mager, owner of Free State Brewery, 656 Massachusetts St., said his restaurant
received between $900 and $1,000 per month in REAL dollars in 2000. He said Free State now received about one-third of that amount.
"The effort that was associated with the start up of the program proved to be more daunting than expected," he said. "I don't think the REAL dollars have much visibility anymore. They aren't something you see everyday."
everyday
Richard Payton, manager of M&M Office Supply, 623 Massachusetts St., said his store stopped accepting REAL dollars about a month ago and no one seemed to mind.
"We didn't really have anyone using them," he said.
The Community Mercantile 901 Iowa St., still accepts REAL dollars. Mike Rundle, owner of the co-op and city commissioner, said the program did not achieve its goal of keeping local money within local businesses.
"At something like the Merc,
whose suppliers are usually not in
town, it didn't really seem to have
an effect on local business," he said. "People use them more to identify with others in the community."
Highberger said several factors caused the decline of the local currency.
"We haven't figured out how to get them into circulation because people don't use cash for transactions anymore," he said. "Our organization also lost a couple key people so we aren't doing as much footwork."
However, REAL dollars have not disappeared entirely and Highberger said he was working on revitalizing the project.
"We are looking at setting up banking systems so people can deposit REAL dollars," he said. "We have no budget for advertising but we gain visibility at public events and by posting directu-
ries of businesses accepting REAL dollars."
Lowen Sapp, Dallas junior, said she had never seen REAL dollars and the program didn't seem convenient.
"I think it's a good idea for Lawrence, but I am supporting local businesses already by shopping there. I don't need go through the hassle of exchanging my money," she said.
Lawrence residents can pick up REAL dollars at Free State Credit Union, 901 Iowa St.; the Liberty Hall box office, 642 Massachusetts St.; or by asking any participating business for change in REAL dollars.
Contact Hodel at ihode@kansan.com. This story was edited by Lauren Beatty.
Contact Hodel at
New program will pay to study in East Asia
By Katie Nelson
Kansan staff writer
Zip, zilch, zero is how much students participating in the new Kansas/Asia Scholars Program will pay to travel abroad.
The Center for East Asian Studies hopes its newest study abroad program will attract students to the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures.
"We want people to get beyond the superficial stereotypes and gain an appreciation for the depth and complexity of these societies," said William Tsutsui, director of the program and associate professor of history.
The three-week, three-credit hour trips to China, Japan and Korea are geared toward sophores and juniors who haven't considered Asian studies as an area of concentration. The trips are scheduled for June 2003.
Sheree Willis, an Asian studies and School of Business staff member who is leading the China trip, said she was an example of the many things that could be done through Asian studies.
After Willis studied Chinese at the University of Kansas, she
"We want people to get beyond the superficial stereotypes."
William Tsutsui
Kansas/Asia Scholars Program director
worked as a diplomat for a U.S. embassy in Beijing. She now escorts Chinese delegations around the United States and American groups through China.
The program will cover most of the students' travel costs.
After the students return, they will develop a community service project that will benefit the area's Asian population or educate others about Asian culture.
Interested students can attend an informational session from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. today at 102 Summerfield and from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Friday at Alcove D in the Kansas Union.
Applications are due September 15 and can be picked up at the sessions or at the Center for East Asian Studies in 202 Bailey Hall.
Contact Nelson at knelson@kansan.com. This story was edited by Katie Teske.
Freshmen survey reveals interest in student organizations
By George Schulz
Kansan staff writer
student groups.
Interest in student organizations ranged from rock climbing to working with children, according to a recent survey administered by the Student Organizations and Leadership Development Center.
The "summer interest survey," asked 2,900 incoming freshmen to select which organizations appealed to them from a list of 90
"This is a great thing our office does to try to connect incoming freshman students to student groups on campus," said Aaron Quisenberry, associate director of the center. "I think it's very effective."
The Center for Community Outreach, a volunteer work placement center, was one of the surveyed organizations, which attracted the most interest with 637 checks by freshmen. The
CCO connects students to 11 different volunteer programs, and Work with Children - which provides educational assistance to kids.
The program includes student and child mentoring opportunities literacy programs, music programs for children and the GROW community garden project.
Margaret Perkins-McGuinness, co-director of CCO,said the service places 5,000 to 7,000 students a year in volunteer posti-
tions with organizations or one-time events.
"There are some programs that inherently get less volunteers," she said. "But I would say we find a way for every person that wants to volunteer. ... We can find an agency that will suit them."
Perkins-McGuinness said Mentors in the Lives of Kids (MILK), a program that matches volunteer student mentors to area youth, was one of the most popular CCO organizations of those
on the survey.
Jubilee Cafe, a food service program for the homeless that is part of CCO, was also among the top three most popular organizations.
"We have had a lot of freshman come in," said Jameson Jones, Dallas senior, and program coordinator for Jubilee Café. "We're in the process of getting back to all of the people we've talked to. But we've had a really good amount of volunteers show up in the first couple of weeks."
Jones said 20 to 30 volunteers would wake up at 6 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays to help out at Jubilée Café.
Other student groups that received high marks on the survey included the Rock Climbing Club, Student Senate, Student Union Activities and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Contact Schulz at editor@kansan.com. This story was edited by Andy Samuelson.